No.3 November 3rd 2020 The Re-Peater |
|
|
Hello again everyone! Thanks for joining us for our November newsletter. We really appreciate your continued support! Remember, this newsletter looks best in your browser! |
|
|
So, what have we been up to? |
|
|
On the 15th of October we shared a video of the Peat Anthology being read cover-to-cover - that's 2.36 hours long!
It's a great resource to tune into going about your day, to listen alongside the written version, and to revisit and ground your love for peatlands with those who share this love! |
|
|
On the 23rd of October, alongside youth, farmers, activists, environmental groups and citizens from across Europe, we anxiously awaited the vote of the MEPs on the Common Agricultural Policy. #VotethisCAPdown started trending on twitter, reaching over 40,000 tweets. Unfortunately it was a vote against agriculture being a tool to fight the climate and ecological crisis and a vote against biodiversity fostering and ecosystem protection. This includes peatlands, recognised as vital for reaching the EU's own climate targets. This was a disappointment to many at a time when such decisions are so critical. RE-PEAT, along with other groups, is exploring what we can do now to continue pushing for an agricultural system in Europe that serves the climate, biodiversity, farmers, consumers, and the future! For a concise and clear explanation of the CAP proceedings, check out this summary from Ecosia. We also recommend taking a look at the META website or search the hashtags on twitter to see more insightful articles on this important topic. To urge the EU Commission to withdraw the CAP, please follow the button below and sign the petition, started by Fridays for Future. |
|
|
On the 24th of October, RE-PEAT featured on a panel discussion entitled "natures ecology" during The Great Imagining's action research symposium. This was an online one-day event that was focused on building a curriculum for an exciting new schools program in the UK called The Great Imagining. They have a wonderful website for you to explore! |
|
|
On the 28th of November, we shared some images of the team under the #BantheBurn. On this date 12 months ago, the UK Government promised to ban peat burning. In 12 months time, the UK will host the UN climate conference, COP26. The time has come (and gone!) for the UK to ban peat burning to maintain any sense of credibility; to take a low-hanging fruit solution to achieving climate targets; to safeguard the value of peatlands, which include flood prevention, biodiversity fostering and water purification.
See the photos here, here & here! The hashtag is still running so feel free to add your voice! We also wrote a blog post for Youth4Nature. Take a read for some wonderful reflections on time, peatlands and memory. |
|
|
About Peatlands On the 4th of November, we will join the Boerengroep, a student organisation at Wageningen University, and Ruud Hesselink & Maarten Vermeer, both involved in peatland research, in a conversation about what peatlands are, various types of peatlands, and how peatlands can help the Netherlands to become climate neutral. | | |
|
|
On the 11th of November, we will be taking part in the Youth Climate Summit, a week long festival for school-aged children across the UK. Each day features a different theme about the climate and ecological emergency, including nature, travel and pollution, food and farming, and sustainable fashion. Check out the primary timetable and the secondary timetable to see all of the fantastic sessions taking place, and if you know a school that would like to take part, follow the link to sign up! |
|
|
We will also be taking part in the Mock COP, which is a youth-led, youth-run online conference demonstrating the way by which youth would lead and make decisions were we in the political positions to do so. The conference itself will run from 19th November to the 1st of December, with the date for RE-PEAT's session to follow. Keep an eye on our social media for more info! |
|
|
Looking Back Breath of Soils Workshop, Amstel Park, 9 September 2020 |
|
|
“People, plants and animals breathe, but earth also breathes.... Is soil alive?” - Jacqueline Heerema Peaty layers under the Amstel Park were exposed at an interdisciplinary workshop hosted by Zone2source as one of the final events of the Exploded View Exhibition. A soil core taken from Amstel Park’s ‘moeras’ was at the centre of a discussion led by conceptual artist Jacqueline Heerema. Bert van der Valk (Deltares), Phd candidate Tanya Lippman (VU) and Matthijs Boom’s added geological, climate science and historical perspectives of the soil core. Lietje Bauwens introduced the collection ‘Welkom in het moeras’ (Welcome to the morass). Finally Tanya Lippman read poetry at the place the core had been taken, concluding a session challenging participants to rethink human relationships with ecological systems. Follow this link for more info! |
|
|
What else have we been up to this month? |
|
|
Lots of our team members also share a great passion for fungi, and this month proved a great one for engaging with them as well! We tuned into the wonderful Fungi Film Fest. Explore the website to see what amazing films were shown, and tune in next year for more! |
|
|
| | One of our team is just diving into Entangled Life, or Verweven Leven in Dutch (which is great because of the rhyme!), by Merlin Sheldrake. We've heard fabulous things! Have you read it? | | |
|
| | Amsterdam Noord is currently showing off some wonderful mushrooms, including this one captured this week. Do you know what kind it is? Have you been mushroom foraging recently? | | |
|
|
Finally, We have plenty of other projects in the works. This of course we need some funds to see them through to the best we can! So look out for our crowdfunder launching soon. We are also looking for someone who is skilled at and interesting in filling a finance role, either as a member of the team or in an advisory manner. Let us know if funding applications and budgets speak to you! Thanks everyone for reading. We look forward to connecting with you all by some means! Be well and take care of each other! |
|
|
|
|
