Transition Liverpool Newsletter, December 2019
Transition news
Food, farming, gardening, nature
Food
Permaculture special feature
Gardening
Nature and rewilding
Co-Housing, buildings, etc
Waste and Recycling
Fundraising
Seasonal Meetings special feature
Climate Change and Air quality
Green News
Local News
Global and Development
New Thought
Arts and media
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Transition Liverpool
Transition Café,
December 11th’s Transition Café, This will be a “bring and share” Winter Social. It will be an opportunity to meet each other in a social space and share a meal together. We will celebrate some of our achievements from the last year and look forward to projects we will be focusing on in 2020.
It's at the Liverpool Quaker Meeting House, School Lane, and begins at 6.30 for home-made soup and brin and share food, The meeting begins around 7pm until 8.30pm.
Report on the last meeting
Last month's Transition Café featured reports from the action groups that came out of the Annual Gathering in October. In the open space session in the afternoon of the gathering, people came up with problems, themes or topics they wanted to address and then split into groups to discuss ideas. The resulting groups came to the regular café event to update on their progress.
PR/Emotional Connections group. Stephanie gave a fascinating presentation of insights from the advertising and PR sector of how their methods can be used to affect people's feelings and behavior towards the climate emergency.
Schools group. They talked about their plans to encourage local schools to adopt renewable energy and other relevant approaches. They've done a lot of initial research and are formulating good ideas. A few useful contacts were passed on in the meeting, and the group will begin to make contact with local Heads and report back.
The Digital Content group. Local professional filmmaker Han has offered to run a free workshop in how to effectively make and edit short films using a mobile phone. His company, Handstand Productions, will also offer to produce 2 short films (under 5mins) per year to groups or individuals working towards Transition Town values and combatting the climate emergency. There will be an application process to ensure projects or events are eligible and properly prepared.
There were several other groups set up at the gathering, and these may report back at a future café.
Nick Drew of Planet Heswall has made a map showing that there is now a transition or incredible edible group in all the local boroughs (see above)
Rob Hopkins talk now online (from his recent book launch) – 100min YouTube video
Local Transition Groups
Transition Liverpool on Facebook - website - enquiries email
Transition Waterloo on Facebook
Transition St Helens on Facebook
West Kirby Transition Town on Facebook
Transition Northwich Have a very active Facebook page !!
NW transition network on Facebook
Food, farming, gardening, nature
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L- lentil heart from Refill shop - R - Meloncholy cartoon
Food
Greens for Good fundraising kickstarter – please support this – Farm Urban and Baltic farm are raising funds to install the first major vertical farming set-up in Liverpool. Please watch the video and make a donation – kickstarter page
Aquaculture Produce Pod – the Greens for Good produce pod has been created by Farm Urban
Fish live in the bottom sector, and the water from them is used for hydroponic production of salads. They cost around £250, and are suitable for indoor home use (or you can download the free plans !) - visit their webpage
Underground farm growing greens in Liverpool - Liverpool Echo report about Greens for Good
Giant hydroponic farm in Holland – 1 min video
How the Open Food Network helps local food producers: interview with Lynne Davis (Part 1) – Low Impact article
November forage of the month with Ruby Taylor – Low Impact article
Permaculture special feature
Permaculture magazine is wonderful !! You can request a free trial copy from their website if you don’t believe me !!
The latest issue features the following organisations:-
Permaculture Design in Practice – this article by Jasmine Dale begins to give an idea of some of the stages and perspectives involved in Permaculture design - her website
Whistlewood Common – how a committed group bought a redundant cabbage field and turned it back into biodiverse, fruitful community-owned land (it’s 10 acres in South Derbyshire). Their website
The Healing Life of Cows – this farm in the French Pyrenees has some local rare breed cattle that seem to have an especial healing effect on people who are troubled – they have “listened to their land” and this is what it wants them to do. Their website
Voices from the Wood – the owner bought a 70 acre wood as an investment, but it hs grown on him and become the focus of his life to create a biodiverse, vibrant educational centre which has an amazing effect on visitors of all types. Hazel Hill is near Salisbury. Their website
Biomimicry has inspired a lot of people – here are some examples.I need to look at these more, and there are more biomimicry sites too .....
Biomimicry 3.8 is the world’s leading bio-inspired consultancy offering biological intelligence consulting, professional training, and inspiration. Their website Life on earth presents elegant solutions to many of the challenges that designers and innovators face every day.
AskNature Explore this site to find biological strategies, inspired ideas, and resources relative to your own innovation challenges, so you can begin to emulate the time-tested forms, processes, and systems that already thrive in balance with Earth’s complex systems.Their website
Gardening and farming
Farmers call for customers' number plates to be printed on takeaway bags to help stop littering – a very good idea and an extremely rare link to the Telegraph !!
How to start a small garden in your apartment (Parts 1 and 2) – Low Impact article -- Part1 -- Part 2
Nature and rewilding
Wales is trying to save their “Celtic Rainforest” – 1 min video
Rewilding: What might be – 3 min video of beautiful ancient woodland near Cork, Ireland
How rewilding can save the environment – 15min video by Isabella Tree
How to grow a forest really, really fast – TED article
Forest shelters by Tim Norris – photo set on his website – he’s English and you can do workshops with him (example lower down the newsletter)
Blue spaces: why time spent near water is the secret of happiness
Coastal environments have been shown to improve our health, body and mind. So should doctors start issuing nature-based prescriptions ? – Guardian article
Are you suffering from 'nature deficit disorder' ? Jon Young Speaks About The Role of Deep Nature Connection in Culture Repair – 1 hour video
‘Commoning’ – and why ‘the Tragedy of the Commons’ is wrong – Low Impact article
Co-Housing, buildings, etc
Co-Housing Meetup, Wednesday 18th December, 4-5pm in the Café of the Central Library
We will continue in the New Year, hopefully at Egg Café, but we need to talk with them about it !! join our Facebook group for more info.
You can also read the last newsletter which is available online
Brief Co-Housing report
We had a very successful meetup last time. It was just George and Vicky meeting with Lilly our architect, however, it was a great success.
We made a lot of progress, and the central point is that we have both lived in community, so that we know in practice what it is like, and “we know how to do it”. It’s nice to have your own warm cosy room (and Lilly is designing those), but, in practice, when you live in community you mostly go out and sit in the shared areas and talk to others, or work together, or do other shared activities. Then, you need a relatively small room of your own, and this is a major part of the design brief we are developing with Lilly.
We also described the range of shared facilities we want, which divide into 4 main areas
- Community - food, drinks, cake, kitchen and dining being key words for this, plus gardening
- Spiritual – a room for meditation, yoga, dance, therapies
- Arts and creativity – a studio / creative space for craft workshops, etc
- Activities – film night, music night, games night, tours, takeaway night
Lilly said that it began to sound more and more like The Collective which is a group of 4 state of the art development in London, aimed at super-rich high-fliers in the City. We agreed that we all want something like that !! (in fact Lilly has met the founder of the Collective)
Next Steps - I’m getting more interested in Permaculture as a way of designing and developing community – who can I talk to about this ??
Community-Led Housing have just published a new report which estimates that more than 3 million people in the UK feel lonely due to their living situation Download the full report here
"Communities across England are rethinking the concept of 'home'. They want more, realising that a better way to live is possible: where there is security, community, even friendship.
More than Housing is Community Led Homes' new campaign to raise awareness of the many inspiring examples of people coming together all over the country to make supportive, affordable and secure homes together." Or visit the CLH Facebook page for more info
Older Women’s Housing Co-Operative – 15 min BBC podcast on “Living Together”
The differences between insulation and thermal mass – Low Impact article
Government Launches New Development Corporation Competition (England) – council website The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced the launch of a new £10 million capacity fund to generate innovative proposals for new business-backed development corporations and similar delivery models.
Waste and Recycling
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L - record made from plastic from the sea - R - crochet sleeping mat made from plastic bags
YMCA in Bedford turns waste into furniture – BBC report
How to crochet plastic bags into sleeping mats for the homeless – website article
First playable LP record made from recycled ocean plastic – news report
Plastics Playgroup is at DoES on Sunday 15th December, 1pm to 4pm. Come along and make something from recycled plastic ! Check their Facebook
Repair Café at DoES – this is planned for the last Sunday of every month. Obviously, there is a clash in December, so the next one will be January
Waste Not Want Not is in Birkenhead Market, open Friday, Saturday, Monday – visit on Facebook for exact times - bring your own container, though paper bags are available
“The Vegan Quarter” is Emily's next project
“A group of like-minded businesses is working together to create the UK's first fully vegan and zero waste venue ……. It’s important that the venue offers mental health and wellbeing support through workshops and one to one sessions. There's a lot of people in the area that would benefit from these services.
The Vegan Quarter will be home to permanent businesses, pop ups and working with other local organizations to provide a space for various workshops and sessions, such as mental health, environmental, arts/craft, meditation and yoga.”
There is a crowdfunder for this – please help !! (sorry, appeal may be over now)
Building a circular economy to recycle batteries in Norway – internet article
Bubbles trap plastic waste in rivers – 1 min Facebook video
Low Waste Christmas Market, Sunday December 8th at Glass Onion, 13, Allerton Rd – Facebook event
Why Britons are now dreaming of a green Christmas …….. guilty about wheelie bins full of wrapping paper and drawers of unwanted gifts, many families are ditching frenzied shopping for more sustainable celebrations – Observer article
Bulky Bob’s needs upholsterers ! – lots of lovely dining chars have to go to the tip because they can’t prove they are fire-resistant. They only way forward is to re-upholster them ! - see their Facebook post
Fundraising
Greens for Good fundraising kickstarter – please support this – Farm Urban and Baltic farm are raising funds to install the first major vertical farming set-up in Liverpool. Please watch the video and make a donation – kickstarter page
Mersey Wax Wraps is a new business – you can use these wax wraps instead of clingfilm – they are fully biodegradeable – Their crowdfunder has nearly reached its target – please help if you can
The Vegan Quarter is a new plan for Birkenhead from Waste Not Want Not
“A group of like-minded businesses is working together to create the UK's first fully vegan and zero waste venue ……. It’s important that the venue offers mental health and wellbeing support through workshops and one to one sessions. There's a lot of people in the area that would benefit from these services.
The Vegan Quarter will be home to permanent businesses, pop ups and working with other local organizations to provide a space for various workshops and sessions, such as mental health, environmental, arts/craft, meditation and yoga.”
There is a crowdfunder for this – please help and get involved if you can !! (sorry, appeal may be over now)
Seasonal meetings special feature
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L- recyclable natural gift wrapping - R - silent minute on December 21st
Liverpool Green Party Winter Social – December 14th, 6 to 11pm at Fodder Canteen, Norfolk St, £5 to £15 – Eventbrite booking requested
Global Silent Minute – simultaneously all around the world – for us it is 9pm, 21st December
“Unite through Silence to change the World” – please join in if you can - visit the website for more information
When Humanity Comes Together As One – 9 min video by Vishen Lakhiani
Loch & Quay Community Christmas party in Bootle, 15th December – Facebook event
St John’s Rd Christmas fair (in Waterloo) , Monday 16th December, 5 to 8.30pm
Kindhearts Café is every Thursday, 11.30 to 1.30 at St Nicholas Church Blundellsands – on Facebook
Join in Christmas at the Brink – booking may be needed at some times - check on Facebook or phone
Special Christmas video – Wild West Hero by ELO features a horse and cowboy on stage ! – YouTube video
Evoking the Power of the One Life – December 21st, 1 to 5.30 – online webinar In late December 2019, as part of a festival observed every seven years, meditators from around the world will be invoking energies of light, love and spiritual power from the higher worlds; and evoking response to these energies from the New Group of World Servers.
Low Waste Christmas Market, Sunday December 8th at Glass Onion, 13, Allerton Rd – Facebook event
Why Britons are now dreaming of a green Christmas …….. guilty about wheelie bins full of wrapping paper and drawers of unwanted gifts, many families are ditching frenzied shopping for more sustainable celebrations – Observer article
Climate Change and Air quality
Liverpool City Region Climate Action Group: (LCR CAG)
LCR CAGs next meeting is on Thursday 16th January, then 13th February and March 12th.
Venue to be confirmed but it’s likely to be Folk, Tempest Building, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool.
Recently Liverpool FoE and LCR CAG had a meeting with the Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham to discuss green spaces, energy and citizens assemblies. We can feedback in January.
Also we will be clearer about what the CAG does and the purpose of LCR CAG. We can look at some FoE analysis of how green is your area and have some action points and tie into decision makers to push the zero carbon agenda.
Greenhouse gas concentrations again break records – BBC report
Cut global emissions by 7.6% every year for next decade to meet 1.5°C Paris target - UNEP report
Dutch Government slashes speed limits to help combat climate change – news report
Extinction Rebellion Sends a Sinking Home Along the River Thames, Warning of Climate Disaster – web report (someone has asked XR if this can be brought to the Mersey !!)
33 actions local authorities can take on climate change – useful list from FoE
#livAIRpool on Local Posters about air pollution – who ? why ? New Posters have appeared, but perhaps only at Lime St Station so far ?? Is there a plan to sort it all out ?? #livAIRpool is the council posting about it on twitter – looks like they are building some momentum, and might even take action !
What Liverpool City Council is doing to improve air quality – news report
Liverpool given Clean Air funding boost – news report
Green news
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L - Scottish tidal flow generator - R - Woodland shelter by Tim Norris
Scottish floating turbine breaks records for tidal energy production (see picture above) – news report
Leeds citizens' jury say 'We must lead revolution on the environment' Leeds citizens' jury – news report
€50m loan to Prada for sustainability-linkage is a first in the fashion industry - news report
Meet Julian Brave NoiseCat – the 26-year-old helping to shape US climate policy “Green New Deal” – internet article
Five Ways to Fund a Green New Deal – 2 min video from the New Economics Foundation
Local News
Make Liverpool - visit their website - Make Facebook
Make has lots of workshops – see their Facebook events page for more details
Including ..... Woodwork, silversmithing, making a ring, pyrography, macramé, willow weaving, wall hangings, lots of jewellery projects, life drawing, “little black dress”, prosthetics ……. All at various times, locations and prices
Liverpool City Council – major online survey on local initiatives and regeneration – Council website
Global and Development
United Nations and Human Rights – free online courses from the University of London, and links to other courses on this webpage
Global Silent Minute – simultaneously all around the world – for us it is 9pm, 21st December - visit the website for more info
“Unite through Silence to change the World” – please join in if you can
Evoking the Power of the One Life – December 21st, 1 to 5.30 – online webinar
In December 2019, as part of a festival observed every seven years, meditators from around the world will be invoking energies of light, love and spiritual power from the higher worlds; and evoking response to these energies from the New Group of World Servers.
Participatory local governance and social enterprise: exploring the links between social entrepreneurial behaviour and democratic resource allocation through participatory budgeting – downloader paper by Jez Hall
Community Organisers want to expand community organising (!!!?) - ‘People, Power and Place’ is a report outlining their vision for the growth of community organising in England.
New Thought
History as a giant data set: how analysing the past could help save the future – Guardian article
Speaking the Anthropocene - An Interview with Robert Macfarlane
The Age of Fire - Countries from Siberia to Australia are burning: this is the bleakest warning yet – Guardian article
Arts and Media
Patterns of notes on vibrating plate – 30 sec video on Facebook
Mesmerising video of wave patterns – Facebook 90 sec video
Artist of the month
Anastasiya Dobrovolskaya is a portrait photographer who lives in Moscow – she specialises in setting up photographs of models with animals
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About Transition Liverpool
The main Transition Liverpool event is the monthly “Transition Café” which is on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Every October we put on a full-day Symposium. Our main concerns are to help create a “soft-landing” rather than a crash as fuel supplies fall and demand rises, and also as the effects of climate change increase. Transition is a development model for “advanced” societies to help us create better and more fulfilled lives for all, while using less resources.
We are part of the Transition Network, and Transition Town West Kirby are also very active. Our local Liverpool website is here, and our Facebook page is here.
Some of the main Transition publications are available online for free download - the original Transition Handbook, and the more recent Essential Guide to doing Transition .
Newsletter Information
Data Protection
Transition Liverpool only has the following information about you:- your name and your email address. We are not gathering any other information, and we would not give or sell our database to anyone else. However, we are using this free and very convenient emailing program, MailChimp, and they supply us some information that we are not really very interested in, such as which are the most popular links in each newsletter.
We don’t know what information Mailchimp is collecting on people, and what use they may be putting it to – they are not intrusive, and there is no advertising. It seems they may be similar to Google, Facebook and the others, however, it’s relatively easy to “Unsubscribe” if you are concerned about this – click the link in the footer at the end of this email.
If you have been sent this newsletter by a friend and would like to subscribe, please click this link . To unsubscribe, click the link below on the footer.
If you want to send us information or news for the next newsletter, please send to transitionliverpoolnews@gmail.com Please use transitionliverpool@gmail.com for all other enquiries.
Best Wishes and Happy Transitions, George
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