         
What a month November was! Two more Joining the Dots events,(see report below) a packed launch of the Oxford Bread Group, energy talks and debates in Churches, village halls, pubs, galleries, national community networking events..and the National Climate March in London last week, which saw a large contingent from Oxford. 2008 has been a full year in Oxfordshire, with more community groups forming, the Earth from the Air exhibition providing a stunning focus for events and activities, and heaps of events. Many thanks to everyone who has taken part in and organised events, and taken then next step on their climate journey. Do help round it off in style - come to the ‘Reality Show' tomorrow evening (free mince pies for the first 20 people), and the Green Fair on 13th - rest up well and see you in 2009. Jo
1. REPORT BACK FROM EVENTS Heart and Hand - workshop report The ‘Heart and Hand' workshop on 18th November gave participants a chance to delve into the interior landscape of climate change through some participative exercises. The workshop drew on the on the work of Joanna Macy (see http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?id=2295 for a taste), and followed the talk given by Chris Johnstone in October (see http://www.chrisjohnstone.info/ for further info). Both workshops generated more interest locally - if you'd like to be informed of similar events in Oxfordshire please contact jo@climatex.org Oxford City Council - Carbon Management Plan Oxford City Council launched its report ‘Getting our House in Order' on Thurs 4th December. The City Council are committed to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions from our own buildings and operations by at least 25% compared to 2005/6 by March 2011 (and 3% year on year thereafter). You can see the report online here: http://www.oxford.gov.uk/files/seealsodocs/77713/Getting%20Our%20House%20in%20Order%20v4_10.pdf
You can see West Oxfordshire District Council's Environmental Management Strategy here: http://www.westoxon.gov.uk/files/download/1948-1150.pdf And Cherwell Environmental Strategy for a changing Climate here: http://www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk/media/pdf/0/l/Climate_change_for_web.pdf
2. IN THE NEWS
2.1 While the effect that human activity has on the environment is a question for climate scientists, the effect that humans have on each other is something that social scientists are better qualified to assess. See the recent Guardian Article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/27/climate-change-carbon-emissions
Online reports / blogs:
2.2 COP (Conference of the Parties ) 14 in Poznan, December 2008 Approaching 40 researchers and students with affiliation to the ECI will be attending the COP negotiations in Poznan. Read online blogs from the Environmental Change Institute at the Poznan talks: http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/cop14/index.php
2.3 Climate Denial has posted a new item, 'CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EMPATHY DEFICIT' You may view the latest post at
2.6 China Dialogue - see the latest reports and commentary on this comprehensive website : http://www.chinadialogue.net/
2.5 Corporate Watch report on Technofixes Corporate Watch has just launched our new cutting edge report, Technofixes: A Critical Guide to Climate Change Technologies. It investigates the large scale technologies that corporations and governments are putting on the table, including hydrogen, agrofuels, carbon capture, biomass, electricity from nuclear, solar, wind and water, as well as a range of ideas to reflect the sun's energy or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3126 **
2.4 Oxfordshire Based RM has received the TechMARK Sustainability award (for most sustainable listed technology company) http://www.techmark-event.co.uk/winners/index.php
2.4 Climate Change Act The UK has passed legislation which introduces the world's first long term legally binding framework to tackle the dangers of climate change. The Climate Change Bill was introduced into Parliament on 14 November 2007 and became law on 26th November 2008. More info: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/provisions.htm This wouldn't have been possible without thousands of people lobbying, campaigning and letter writing...thankyou if you were part of it. 3. COMMUNITIES 3.1 Joining the Dots feedback / info Two more Joining the Dots events happened in Wallingford and Banbury at the end of November. You can see a report of the events, plus links to the groups in attendance and presentations from the events here: http://climatex.org/articles/lo-carb-communities/joining-dots-south-oxfordshire-and-cherwell/
From the three events we heard about plans for micro-hydro project at Goring and Streatley, the different Thermal Imaging projects in Blewbury and Brightwell cum Sotwell, a new Sustainability group in Milton Under Wychwood, how Transition Henley's film screenings, raising climate change awareness and taking action in communities and in the workplace. More events are planned for next year, but all the district wide events have helped to strengthen the community contacts locally.
3.2 Café (Community Action for Energy) conference A kind of National ‘Joining the Dots' - over 200 people crammed Oxford Town Hall for a day of presentations and workshops. Many groups from Oxfordshire were in attendance - and workshops included vital info about funding you community energy projects. See For specific advice on funding, see here: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/cafe/Community-Action-for-Energy/How-we-help/Funding-Advice and for group presentations on the day see here: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/cafe/Community-Action-for-Energy/How-we-help/Training-and-Events/Community-Action-for-Energy-conference-2008
3.3 The Transition network newsletter is available online for Dec , featuring info on the recent Transition cities conference, food and farming in the 21st century, and other gems - see it all here: http://transitionnetworknews.wordpress.com/december-08-newsletter/
3.4 Oxford Eco-build offer To celebrate we are offering a very special community issue for the Low Carbon groups in Oxfordshire as follows: 3 homes in any one low carbon group in the county who install PV or Solar Thermal from us will be given a discount of 5% each plus any grants. This offer also extends to our external wall insulation and loft insulation with eco fibres. Contact Rumi for more info rumi@oxfordecobuild.co.uk
UPCOMING EVENTS If you have a climate change event to add please either send through the details to jo at climatex.org , or add them yourself , simply click on 'submit a new event' on http://climatex.org/whats-new/ .
** Tuesday 9th December Climate Change and Peak Oil and Economic Meltdown - The Reality Show 7.30 - 9.30 pm, , Friends Meeting House, St Giles, Oxford OX1 Oxford Town Hall **
Green Drinks on the 8th January 2009. 6.30pm onwards - join the mailing list: greendrinksoxford@yahoo.co.uk
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For further info and to get involved, contact info@climatex.org Email upcoming events to info@climatex.org
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