         
The latest news and events from the active climate change community in Oxfordshire
Subscribe to the email newsletter: email jo.hamilton@ouce.ox.ac.uk with ‘subscribe CXC' in the title' In this update:1. ClimateXchange highlights 2. Low Carbon Wolvercote launch 3. Toolkit - the low down 4. IPCC report 5. April showers? 6. Low Carbon Travel - new resource from Sustrans 7. Climate in the news - a selection of the many climate news stories 8. Coming events - new events highlighted amongst the 1. Happy May time to you all!Whilst the rain's been away, there's been a downpour of climate activity across Oxfordshire - here's a taste of some of the highlights: A packed Methodist church hall in Blewbury, for An Inconvenient Truth screening, hearing about the wonderful Blewbury Energy Initiative and being able to pass regards on from Wolvercote, who had their launch meeting that evening (see below); speaking to Chalgrove Parish Council AGM about the wonderful initiatives happening across the county, hearing feedback from the Midcounties Cooperative Members meeting in Oxford, attending the West Oxford Community Association AGM for their Solar Panel switch on, hearing Myles Allen and Jon Cox from Oxford University Atmospheric Physics speak about climate predictions at the Tom Paine Society in Witney (which was competing with the Queen (film) and the Man United / Milan match), and promoting our work to the Ecology Building Society AGM at Oxford Brookes Uni. If Weds May 9th isn't already in your diary, come and join over 25 people finding out more about ClimateXchange (and sampling delicious food from the Global Deli) - see events below for more info. 2. Low Carbon Wolvercote LaunchA sell-out crowd came to our village hall to launch the Low Carbon Wolvercote project on Friday 27th April 2007. With "No room at the Low Carbon Inn" , Revd Mark Butchers was Master of Ceremonies... introducing local renowned author Mark Lynas (High Tide, Six Degrees) and his "Wolvercote Weather Forecast, Year 2049". A quiz, beer and cakes, and the Low Carb Diet top 10 hits kept the climate buzz going all evening ...supported by the infamous ClimateX washing line. See pictures at: http://climatex.org/articles/lo-carb-communities/low-carbon-wolvercote-launch/ . 3. Washing lineI'm the ‘bottom line' of the climate toolkit - and have had public airings in Chalgrove, Wolvercote, Banbury and Oxford Town Hall. If you'd like to borrow me, contact the ClimateXchange office. Guaranteed to raise a smile wherever I'm put up. You can see a picture here: http://climatex.org/images/288/
4. Latest IPCC Mitigation reportThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change working Group III ‘Mitigation of Climate Change' report has been released today. See the report on http://www.ipcc.ch/ . Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the panel that convened the meeting described it as ‘stunning in its brilliance and relevance', whilst Peter Lukey, a member of the South Africa delegation said:" The message is: we have to do something now." The report concludes that emissions need to start declining by 2015 to avoid the worst effects of global warming. From this peak, emissions should then gradually fall by 50% to 85% below 2000 levels. 5. April showers?When that Aprilis, with his showers swoot*, Met Office forecaster John Hammond said: "This has been the warmest April on record and certainly one of the driest." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6615083.stm How have you found April's weather? How's your garden growing? Write and tell us your experiences. 6. *NEW! Low Carbon travel info sheet from SustransPrivate motor travel is the dominant source of CO2 from transport, 90% of people favour measures to improve conditions for walking, cycling and public transport.. and Sustrans, the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, is working on practical projects to do just that. Download the info sheet from: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/webfiles/Info%20sheets/ff44.pdf 7. In the news:Black widow spider on the march ... thanks to global warming, the false black widow spider is on the march across the country, posing a threat to gardeners and anyone else spending time outdoors. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=452264&in_page_id=1766&ito=1490 Busy gardeners say it's down to global warming ... two thirds of gardeners are reporting earlier blooming bulbs, almost half had to start mowing earlier, and over a quarter are convinced it is caused by climate change. Read more: http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,2072187,00.html British companies forecast chilly outlook in face of global warming Millets gets into sunwear, British Gas saves energy and Boots slaps on sunscreen Read more: http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,2072257,00.html Six Steps to Hell: Review of Mark Lynas' Six Degrees in the Guardian. Read more: http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/scienceandnature/story/0,,2063401,00.html ***** 8. Upcoming eventsjust in case you were wondering what to do in May...all these and more can be viewed on our online events calendar http://climatex.org/events/ . Got a climate event coming up? Email us the info and we'll add it. Been to one recently? Why not share your experiences online by signing up for a blog? Weds May 9th 6.30 - 8.30 pm ClimateXchange introductory event Come find out more about ClimateXChange!
Snacks and refreshments will be provided. We'd love to see you - bring a friend. Please let us know by Tues 8th May if you'd like to attend. Venue: Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY For more info contact: jo.hamilton@ouce.ox.ac.uk ***** **NEW EVENT Sat 12-Sun 13th May: Take Heart participatory weekend workshop Based on the approach developed by Joanna Macy and others - the Work that Reconnects
***** **NEW EVENT: Mon 14th May: Christian Aid Question Time: Climate Change 7.30pm, Old Library, Oxford Town Hall Panellists: ***** ** NEW EVENT: Words and World: Climate Change Performance Poetry ***** Tues 15th May, 7.30 pm Film Screening: Those Who Dance ‘Those Who Dance' is a film about Shell's activities in Co.Mayo, Ireland, and Ogoniland, Nigeria, made by an Oxford based film maker. Evening includes music and poetry too. At: ArkT Centre, Crowell rd, Templars Square, Cowley ***** Thurs 17th May - An Inconvenient Truth screening 7.30 pm Wantage Civic Hall brought to you by Wantage and Grove Green People. Further info: culshaws@talktalk.net ***** **NEW EVENT: Weds 23 May 7pm Something to Celebrate......the Centenary Birthday Party of Rachel Carson £10/7 (includes refreshments) . Venue: Science Oxford1-5 London Place, Oxford, OX4 1BD For bookings call 01865 7289 53 or events@oxtrust.org.uk ***** **NEW EVENT: Thurs 24 May Combating Climate Change with Carbon and Currents: Scientists on the Sofa 7.30pm Free of charge Venue: Science Oxford1-5 London Place, Oxford, OX4 1BD For bookings call 01865 7289 53 or events@oxtrust.org.uk ***** Sat 26 May 2007 10 am - 5.30 pm THE OXFORD SYMPOSIUM - "CHANGE THE DREAM" ***** May 30th The Hottest Story - Tale of a warming world, At Science Oxford, 1-5 London Place, OX4 1BD Three performances 11am, 1pm, 3pm Story teller and Musician Chris Smith brings to life the theme of climate change issues through a terrific tale of vanishing villages , fabulous fables , questing kids, tantalising transformations and a very murky monarch. Learn about the power of story and music to change the world in this unique and powerful approach to this important issue for our times. Suitable for children aged 6 - 11. Developed in partnership with ClimateXChange. More info: events@oxtrust.org.uk £3 per person or combine it with a visit to Hands On for £6 only. ***** ** NEW EVENT: Tues 5th June Oxford is my world Launch 2 - 8pm Contact Paul Spencer for more info: pspencer@oxford.gov.uk To coincide with World Environment Day, this event will inspire individuals to make a difference in tackling climate change. It will include an inspirational film, conference, debate and an exhibition. If you'd like more information to get involved or to make a suggestion for the event, please contact: PAUL SPENCER, Climate Change Officer, Environmental Health, Oxford City Council. ***** **NEW EVENT: Sat 9th June Cycle for Change - a ride against climate change Do you like to cycle? Would you like to combat climate change at the same time? If so, come join Christian Aid in the Cycle for Change on 9 June 2007! Starting outside the Oxford University Parks at 10:00 AM, riders will cycle to Sutton Courtenay and back Contact: shannon.brescher@.linacre.ox.ac.uk ***** Venturefest 2-3 July Venturefest is a free two-day conference, open to all, celebrating enterprise and innovation and promoting the commercialisation of new technology. This year will include a whole day of sessions focussing on climate change and its impact for business and the investor environment, and will be held at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot More info: http://www.venturefest.com/ ***** Thanks for reading, more soon! Article by
jo_hamilton
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