Iffley is ready to move towards a lower carbon economy - if the number of people ready to leave their firesides on a cold winter's evening to attend and contribute to the meeting on February 3rd is anything to go by!

We were fortunate in having excellent speakers to give brief presentations and then field questions and chair discussion groups. Cliff Jordan led on car clubs, Chris Jardine on home insulation and micro-generation, David and Andrew on church action, and Jo Hamilton and Simon Kenton on community action.

 

Useful information and suggestions included:

• Buying low energy light bulbs locally (Light Bulb Company in Magdalen Road) and hosting the "bulb library" so that Iffley residents can find out what best suits their needs. 
• Meters for measuring how much each electrical appliance consumes (from B&Q).
• The economics of giving an under-used car to a local car club to save up to £4000 a year in running costs, while being able to book and use it free.
• More active management of churchyard and burial ground compost to make it available to gardeners and allotment holders.
• Sharing transport for trips to Redbridge with waste not collected by the council
• Allowing under-used gardens to be cultivated for growing vegetables, both parties benefiting from the harvest! 
• A swap-shop to recycle unused paraphernalia as well as using the recycle website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OxfordFreecycle/ for cash-free "shopping".

 

The possibility of Iffley generating electricity from its weir, with profits devoted to local good causes, raised enthusiastic interest. Here we can learn from Goring and Osney, already well ahead in their projects. It has been estimated that the 44 weirs on the River Thames could generate electricity for 1200 homes. 

Communities like Iffley already enjoy the pleasure and benefit of working with friends and neighbours toward the Common Good. With global warming a frightening reality and oil and gas supplies approaching exhaustion, we can set an example of personal and collective action that will warn our politicians that we care enough to use our votes as well!

Come to the next meeting on May 5th to see a DVD on how Cuba became a low carbon economy almost overnight, and to help in planning our summer activities. Meanwhile, leave your contact details in the shop if you would like to be on our circulation list.

For further info contact: grimley.evans340@ntlworld.com 

CJ & J Grimley Evans