News, actions & events from Manchester FOE - TopicsExpress

News, actions & events from Manchester FOE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACTIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Ask Cameron to say no to fracking The Government is worried. Despite its strong support for fracking, local opposition just keeps on growing. David Cameron recently announced he’s going “all out for shale”, offering yet more money to councils as a sweetener to accept this dirty fossil fuel. Send Cameron a message that we say no to fracking: tinyurl/przcqww ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Sign the petition to tell Monsanto: don’t hide the costs of GMOs from your shareholders and the public It’s business as usual for Monsanto: insist it’s doing nothing wrong, while opposing any request to be open about the risks of GMOs. But this time, it’s Monsanto’s own shareholders who are asking questions. Their simple request is that Monsanto stops keeping them in the dark on genetically-modified food -- and they need our support. tinyurl/plsk3du ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Help rescue Tanzania’s elephants The survival of Tanzania’s elephants is at stake, thousands of them are being targeted by poachers for the ivory trade. The government has taken far too weak a stance against elephant poaching. Furthermore, it is tightly focused on the countrys economic development and the exploitation of natural resources in this animal paradise. tinyurl/pln2odw ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EVENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mon 27 Jan: Co-operative Eco-house meeting, Withington We are aiming to enable groups of people to live together within the city in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way. Come along to find out how were progressing and to meet members of the co-operative who will be living at the Withington house. We are looking for additional people too! When: 7pm-9pm, Monday 27 January Where: upstairs at Fuel Cafe Bar, 448 Wilmslow Road, Withington, M20 3BW --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tue 28 Jan: Manchester Film Co-operative screening of Gaslands, Eccles It is happening all across America and now in Europe and Africa as well - rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from a multinational energy conglomerate wanting to lease their property. The Reason? In America, the company hopes to tap into a huge natural gas reservoir dubbed the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. Halliburton developed a way to get the gas out of the ground—a hydraulic drilling process called fracking—and suddenly America finds itself on the precipice of becoming an energy superpower..... Trailer at youtube/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8 Barton Moss Protectors will be speaking on their campaign. Proceeds from the night will be donated to them. When: 7pm, Tuesday 28th January Where: Friends Meeting House (Eccles), 13 The Polygon, Wellington Road, Eccles, M30 0DS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tue 28 Jan - Wed 19 Feb: FREE Love Food Hate Waste Cookery Classes, various locations Recycle for Greater Manchester have partnered with Cracking Good Food Manchester to deliver FREE Love Food Hate Waste cookery classes across Greater Manchester. Learn how to reduce your food waste and make your food last longer through savvy storage and perfect portions. You will also take part in a group cooking lesson from preparation, through to cooking and eating. No cooking experience is required just bring along an apron and a food container to take away any leftovers with you! To book a place, email, telephone or complete the online booking form crackinggoodfood.mygostore.co.uk/love-food-hate-waste.html When & where: Tue 28 Jan, 7pm: Newbury Community Centre, Buckley Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9PR Sat 1 Feb,3.30pm: The Rainbow Cafe, Central Road, Partington, Manchester M31 4FY Sun 9 Feb, Noon: Lifestyle Woodhouse Park, Portway Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 1QW Mon 10 Feb, 11.30am: Impact Community Project, Blackthorn Community Centre, Blackthorn Rd, Limeside, Oldham OL8 3PF Sat 15 Feb, Noon: Streetgate Community Room (Salford), Streetgate, off Baronfold Crescent, Little Hulton, Salford M38 9UR Wed 19 Feb, 11am: Jinnah Day Care Centre, (opp No 1) Alfred Street, Bury, Lancashire BL9 7HE Contact for all courses is Tracey - Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0798 990 6416 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thu 30 Jan: ‘Globalisation and Sustainable Development: International Transport and Sustainable Development’ seminar, Tyndall Manchester Tyndall Manchester invites you to attend the next talk in our seminar series by Dr. Jonathan Köhler of the Fraunhofer Institut. This paper assesses the potential contribution for international shipping and long haul aviation to contribute to sustainable development (SD). It considers trade and development, green logistics and sustainable supply chain management, mitigation technologies, as well as the literature on sustainable consumption and production involving international transport, including the Fairtrade movement. When: 4pm, Thursday 30th January Where: Room C1, George Begg Building, Sackville Street, Manchester. Contact: Please RSVP, or contact Amrita with any queries- [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thu 30 Jan: MFOE transport campaign meeting, Green Fish Come along and join our busy transport campaign. All welcome. Agenda will include: - Bike Friday - Getting Moving - our cycling manifesto - Oxford Road Corridor plans When: 6.30pm - 9.00pm, Thursday 30 January Where: Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE More info: Please email [email protected] if youre planning to attend, or to find out more. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thu 30 Jan - Wed 5 Feb: Want to know more about fracking in your area?, various locations What is fracking? Is it drilling or mining? What chemicals are used? Where does the water come from? What about the Clean Water act? Will it affect our property values? Where does the water go afterwards? What is Endocrine disruption? What is Marcellus Shale? What have other communities experienced? Where do we find out more ? Speakers from Northern Gas Gala and Barton Moss. Listen to the evidence. Make up your own mind. When & where: Thu 30 Jan, 7.30pm: Inspire Centre, Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 3AR Wed 5 Feb, 7.30pm: Irish Club, High Lane, Chorlton, M21 9DJ More info: northerngasgala.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fri 31 Jan: Bike Friday (various locations) Normally, held on the last Friday of the month, Bike Friday is a set of led commuter rides into Manchester from various starting places around Greater Manchester. Most rides leave at 8am but check the website as they vary depending on the distance from Manchester. Rides finish at the Eastern Bloc coffee shop (5A Stevenson Square, M1 1DN), in Manchester City Centre. Whether youre new to cycling, returning to your bike after a break, or cycle every day, join us on Bike Friday. We ride at a moderate pace and have experienced ride leaders. It is entirely law-abiding - we do not try to slow down the traffic. All welcome (bring a bike). Contact: [email protected] or [email protected] More info: bikefriday.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 1 Feb : MFOE fracking petitioning, Salford (TO BE CONFIRMED) On Saturday 1 February, well be going to Salford to ask local residents to sign our fracking petition to Salford Council. More details to follow. Please email [email protected] if youd like to help. When: 11am - 3pm, Saturday 1 February Where: Salford Sainsburys, junction of Regent Road and Oldfield Road - details may change depending on turnout and/or weather. If you want to make your own way there, you can get there by bus (services 73 from Shudehill, 33 from Piccadilly or 79 from Pendleton or Stretford). It is also walkable from Metrolink stations (15-20 mins from Deansgate, Exchange Quay or Cornbrook). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 1 Feb: Fracking Camp fundraising gig, Dulcimer, Chortlton (and Pre Gig MFoE curry) An evening of live music, to raise funds for the protectors at the Barton Moss Anti-Fracking Camp. Live music by superb acts- The Bourbon Street Preachers and Lou and the Llamas will headline, together with Very Very Special Guests. There is also a pre-gig curry at Coriander (the central Chorlton venue) that a few MFoE are going to, please book if you want to join us on the number below. Gig details: https://facebook/events/1409534712624500/?fref=ts Curry info: Coriander Central Chorlton, corianderrestaurant.co.uk/site/ Curry contact: Alex, 07962662762 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sun 2 Feb: Ellenroad Biomass Launch and Green Fair, Rochdale GMCVO’s Generating Success project and Ellenroad Steam Engine Museum invite you to attend the official launch of the Museum’s new biomass boiler and heating system. The launch coincides with their steaming day when the mill engines will be fired up. Stall holders will be available to answer your questions on energy efficiency and renewable energy. The event will be open from 11am to 4pm, ribbon cutting at 12.45pm, light lunch available. When: 11am - 4pm, Sunday 2 February Where: Ellenroad Engine House, Elizabethan Way, Newhey, Rochdale, OL16 4LE --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mon 3 Feb: Health and a Steady State Approach, Friends Meeting House The Manchester Socialist Health Association is hosting this meeting where Judith Emanuel (Steady State Manchester) and Colin Cox (Deputy Director of Public Health, Manchester City Council) will be introducing ideas about ‘Transforming Economics for Health’. When: 7pm - 9pm, Monday 3 February Where: Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS Booking and more info: see sochealth.co.uk/events/transforming-economics-health/ APOLOGIES IF YOU HAVE TRIED TO BOOK FOR THIS EVENT AND TOLD IT WAS FULLY BOOKED, WE NOW HAVE A BIGGER ROOM SO PLEASE TRY AGAIN --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tue 4 Feb: MFOE planning meeting, Green Fish Our monthly planning meeting, at which we monitor how the group is doing, review our strategy and campaigns, and plan future meetings and events. Open to group members only. When: 7pm - 9pm, Tuesday 4th Feb Where: Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE Contact: [email protected] for further details --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tue 4 Feb: Austerity, warmth and well-being: connecting fuel poverty and urban health (Manchester) Fuel poverty discussions often focus on how low-income residents can pay their household energy bills in winter months. However, there are also significant health issues associated with living in cold conditions for long periods of time. Damp and draughty houses have negative impacts on the physical and mental health of occupants, particularly vulnerable populations of children and the elderly. Please join cities@manchester for an Urban Forum focusing on the health aspects of fuel poverty. A panel of experts will provide insights on these interrelated problems, followed by a discussion with the audience, and an opportunity for informal socialising. Invited panelists include: Arpana Varma - Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester Paula Whittaker - Medical Practitioner Damian Burton - SmartGreen Sustainability Limited Sergio Tirado-Herrero - Centre for Urban Resilience and Energy, University of Manchester When: 6-8pm, Tuesday 4February. Where: International Anthony Burgess Foundation (3 Cambridge Street, Manchester, M1 5BY) Booking and more info: please visit https://fuelpovertyhealth.eventbrite.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wed 5 Feb: MFOE Food social, Green Fish The first food social of the year, will be all about Chocolate! Kris from the Raw Chocolate Company has offered to send us a goodie bag of free samples and Skype in to deliver a presentation and Q&A on what sustainable chocolate, and a sustainable food business, means to him. When: 7pm - 9pm, Wednesday 5 February Where: Green Fish Resource Centre, Oldham Street, Manchester City Centre, M4 1LE More info: Contact Corin - [email protected] or 07912 509 665 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sun 9 Feb: Fruit tree workshop, Balmoral Orchard and Allotment, Urmston To support the new fruit corner near the under-fives play area in Ashton Park, Ashton on Mersey, the Friends of Ashton Park have arranged a free workshop to learn how to care for fruit trees and plants. We will have 10 places on the workshop and we hope to offer this to anyone who is willing to volunteer a few times a year to help maintain the orchard in Ashton Park. The training will include pruning advice and will aim to agree a maintenance plan for volunteers. When: 1-3.30pm, Sunday 9 February Where: Balmoral Orchard and Allotment, off Balmoral Road, Urmston, M41 6HP More info: Please contact Michael Carpenter at m.b.carpenter@ntlworld or 07971 870643 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADVANCE NOTICE: Sat 22 Mar: Friends of the Earth North West Gathering Each year we have the opportunity to meet up with campaigners from other local groups across the region. This years event will be held in Liverpool. The event is for everyone involved with Friends of the Earth in the region, whether new or seasoned campaigner to share ideas and plan together and it’s a great opportunity to touch base with the network around you.If you want to suggest any ideas for sessions, speakers, workshops, training and social activities please send them to the group coordinators - [email protected] When: 10:30 – 16:30, Saturday 22 March Where: Liverpool Quaker meeting house Booking: nwfoegathering.eventbrite.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Pulling together for a green and blue city (Platform) Mark Hillsdon reports on the work of Manchester: A Certain Future’s Green & Blue Infrastructure Group tinyurl/o9dfu5c ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Anti-fracking protests fail to halt interest in shale gas (Guardian) Other energy giants seem likely to follow in footsteps of Total, the first big oil company to invest in Britains shale sector tinyurl/ong7qxk ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. EU kicks effective climate action in to side lines (FOE) EU plans to tackle climate change by 2030, announced in Brussels have been slammed by Friends of the Earth. The environmental campaigning charity says the weak EU action plan will undermine international efforts to agree an effective plan to combat global warming, ahead of crucial talks in Paris in 2015. tinyurl/nwxffad ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Davos: David Cameron ‘undermining climate change efforts’ with fracking support (Blue & Green tomorrow) David Cameron has been roundly criticised by campaigners for his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday morning, in which he urged the EU to support the shale gas industry. tinyurl/pkweeu5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. How the threat to lions, leopards and wolves endangers us all (Guardian) Though fearsome killers, big carnivores are also a precious resource, as their feeding habits keep many delicate ecosystems in balance. But too many predators are now facing extinction tinyurl/p68boq8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Genetically-modified purple tomatoes heading for shops (BBC) The prospect of genetically modified purple tomatoes reaching the shelves has come a step closer. Their dark pigment is intended to give tomatoes the same potential health benefits as fruit such as blueberries. Developed in Britain, large-scale production is now under way in Canada with the first 1,200 litres of purple tomato juice ready for shipping. tinyurl/jvkpu4b -------------------------------------------------------------------------