Join The Big One at Westminster; Making a difference - next Planet Shaftesbury meeting; The People's Plan for Nature; Fresh shoots - local initiatives this spring; Other news from Dorset & beyond |
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Join The Big One The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that only swift and drastic action can avert irrevocable damage to the world. (20 Mar 2023) The UK's independent adviser on tackling climate change says: 'Climate change has arrived, yet the country is still strikingly unprepared'. (29 Mar 2023) Meanwhile the government's latest plan has been met with intense criticism from experts and environmental groups. (See BBC report from 30 Mar 2023 link below) Do you feel we're being let down? Planet Shaftesbury, along with Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, EarthDay.org, A Rocha UK and more than 70 other organisations, is supporting The Big One (21st-24th April), a major action coordinated by Extinction Rebellion (who have changed their tactics). The aim is to attract 100,000 people to Westminster to demonstrate support for a citizen-led democracy to end the fossil fuel era and a fair society that includes reparation. Themes for the separate days: Friday 21st – unite to survive - flooding Westminster in a wave of flags and banners and forming pickets outside government departments Saturday 22nd - Earth Day – an enormous celebration and family-friendly march for biodiversity. Sunday 23rd - running out of time. Coexist with the London Marathon as it cuts across Parliament Square, providing opportunities to engage with the huge crowds of spectators. Monday 24th – choose your future - People's pickets return, the demand is delivered. Groups going from Shaftesbury will be travelling on different days/times by bus or train. There is a Whatsapp group for co-ordinating travel or meetings there. To be added to the group please email Robin Walter with your mobile number, robinhdwalter@gmail.com STOP PRESS: COME AND LEARN SONGS AND CHANTS TO BE SUNG AT THE BIG ONE Sunday April 16th 11am -12.30; Shaftesbury Arts Centre, 13 Bell Street Shaftesbury SP7 8AR Led by Karen Wimhurst, Planet Shaftesbury |
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Next Planet Shaftesbury meeting, Thursday 20th March, 7.30pm Playing our Part, Making a Difference We'll create a place to share ideas, seek support for continuing projects, and consolidate plans. This will include new initiatives and outlines for forthcoming meetings; the growing programme of events for Great Big Green Week (GBGW 10-18th June) including a session at the Library, market stalls, our own meeting on June 15th, and any linked publicity; and our collaboration with local schools and with the town council. And we mustn't forget to have fun! Enjoy needle craft? Could you make hearts for GBGW? Chris Harwood, our co-ordinator for GBGW, has obtained permission to decorate the outside of the town hall throughout the week. His plan calls for many green fabric hearts, approx. 15cm diameter. There is a collection box at St Peter's (next to the town hall) to receive completed hearts. Library: books to mark GBGW? We'll have a small table with information through the week and will be there along with children's activities on Saturday morning, 10th June. The librarians will put GBGW-appropriate books on display and have asked for suggestions (adults & children, fiction, practical guides, nature appreciation, ... all ideas welcome). Please email suggestions by end April to planetshaftesbury@gmail.com. |
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Other requests & opportunities Shaftesbury Town Council will host the Annual Town Meeting on 25th April at 7pm. Along with a spread of other community groups, we've been invited to set out information on a side table and be there from 5.30pm to engage with the public; to attend the meeting with an option of providing a short presentation; and to offer a short report & photo for incorporation to the Annual report. Want to join in? Expressions of interest to planetshaftesbury@gmail.com asap please! Planet Shaftesbury's website and linked mailing list facility has been serving us well but Wix is increasing the charges and reducing the number of mailings included. It's time to think of changing our provider. Would you like to join Ed Bersey (website supremo) and Rachel Bodle (newsletter editor) in tackling this before another year's subscription is due? Suggestions and offers of help to them c/o the email address above. The town's allotment holder policies are being reviewed by the town council and Rachel has been invited to attend a meeting on 25th April (11am). If you have experience or views that could be helpful, including on beekeeping, please share them - rachel.bodle@gmail.com Planet Shaftesbury has a connection to other climate action groups associated with Friends of the Earth. FoE provide specific campaigning materials to interested groups, for example on warmer homes. They also host regional meetings of group representatives. We don't currently have anyone liaising on our behalf. If interested please email Planet Shaftesbury. |
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The People's Plan for Nature (PPfN) launched in March by the National Trust, RSPB, and WWF, provides a vision for the future of nature, and the actions we must all take to protect and renew it. It makes inspiring reading (link below) - all the more so because it was created for the UK using a People's Assembly representative of the people of the UK. The three groups involved have also collaborated on the Save Our Wild Isles documentary that complements David Attenborough's Wild Isles series for BBC. Together these initiatives are highlighting public concern about nature in ways that motivate an effective response. The PPfN will be one feature of our meeting in June. Making Space for Nature Swallows are safely returning to the area. Our first report was accompanied by a plea that we should highlight the petition to make swift bricks compulsory in new housing.The link is below. To connect with Shaftesbury Swifts group email shaftesburyswifts@gmail.com The Wildlife Trusts have launched the Great Big Nature Survey, an invitation to share thoughts on nature, how it affects you, and what society should (or shouldn’t) do to protect it. They are also campaigning for a rethink around HS2, the levels of biodiversity loss, and impacts on nature. Links below. Wildlife-friendly gardening features in the latest newsletter from Dorset Wildlife Trust, whilst Plantlife has provided a reminder about No Mow May - leave grass long to enable wildflowers to bloom and pollinators to feed. The Soil Association is seeking more funds for tree and hedgerow planting to provide wildlife habitats and carbon capture. Links below. |
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This is the season for fresh shoots ... ... when green abundance returns to the earth and the sun rises higher in the sky. We can celebrate the end of winter (and a successful tree-planting season)! Now is a time for renewal, for getting in touch with intuition, and for launching new initiatives. This is just a selection from across our network! Shaftesbury Larder: Not only does this help those struggling to make ends meet, but it's helping to reduce food waste. Members pay no more than £5 per visit - and receive an average of £10 - £15 of food and sundries from this shopping top-up service. Weekly, 9am-10am Fridays at Shaftesbury Primary School, Wincombe Lane. Membership application forms from the school office, or via email: FSSouthernCentral@fareshare.org.uk Hawkers Farm: This local sustainability hub, co-ordinated by Jenny Morisetti (chair of Sustainable Dorset and based in Stour Provost), now has a mailing list: sign up using the link below. Ongoing activities include Creating Healthy Homes, a clothing library and Hawker's Re-creatives. Watch out for a 2-day event promoting fibre growers & makers and a local clothing culture; Defashion Dorset, 26-27th May, includes speakers, workshops, demonstrations, film and more. Semley Eco-church: Congratulations to St Leonard's, where they now have the bronze A Rocha UK eco-church award, the first in this Benefice. A Rocha UK is a Christian charity working to protect and restore the natural world and committed to equipping Christians and churches in the UK to care for the environment. More information via the link below. Vision for Shaftesbury: Rachel Bodle is gathering support for a new community group to oversee the development of a comprehensive long view of the town. The objective is to generate a clear statement of what the town wants for the next generation, based on the views of a representative cross-section of townspeople. To be made available to town and county councils, businesses and other organisations. Watch this space for more details. 8.9ha from ffinlo Costain and others: a multi-media news channel to be launched on 17th April to support people working in land-based sectors and linked supply chains from food to fashion —people who have the ability to deliver food and fibre production integrated with climate mitigation and adaptation and biodiversity regeneration. Website will be 8point9.com |
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Other news from Dorset and beyond Dorset Climate Action Network is encouraging both individuals and groups to join as a demonstration of support for a shared vision of a clean, green, sustainable, zero carbon Dorset. It's free. See their website for the full range of activities and how to join - link below. When will there be another Open Greener Homes event? Over the two weekends 23-24 September and 30 September-1 October. As the old website has become unstable, the organisers are producing a new one. The objective this year is to feature some fresh homes to keep the interest up. It would be particularly useful to get more retrofitting projects, perhaps in course of work in September. If you are or know of a potential host - please contact planetshaftesbury@gmail.com |
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Energy costs issue: NESTA is an innovation foundation that explores ideas for achieving a fair, healthy & sustainable future. They have just produced an explainer on the electricity to gas price ratio which highlights the extent to which high electricity prices reflect political choices. See link to their website below. |
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