Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynaliadwy has joined in the long campaign to stop unnecessary development of the wetlands known as the Gwent Levels. Event held at Le Pub Newport 2024.
Read MoreWelsh Charity Identifies Continuing Threats to Gwent Levels
Welsh charity “Sustainable Wales” is adding its name to the long campaign to protect the Gwent Levels.
Read MoreFilm Launch - Sleepwalking into Climate Change (Free Public Event)
free public film launch jan 29th
‘Sleepwalking Into Climate Change?’
Hi Tide Inn, Porthcawl Mackworth Road, CF36 5BT. All Welcome.
Monday, Jan 29th 2024, 7pm
Three x 12 min. Films, Each Followed By Debate and Discussion
Guests include BCBC Leader Huw David
(Filmed in Porthcawl. Join our climate conversation. This event supported by Welsh Government)
trailer
The films are produced by charity Sustainable Wales and film company Mud & Thunder and financed by ‘Warm This Winter UK’, the ‘Postcode Lottery’ and Sustainable Wales. We are grateful for their and Climate Cymru’s support.
About the Sleepwalking Into Climate Change? Films
‘Sleepwalking into Climate Change?” is a series of three twelve minute films, largely filmed in Porthcawl. They aim to locate climate change in the place where we live and will be used to stimulate debate and action locally.
“When leading scientists issue their ‘final warning’ is anyone listening?” asks young climate and policy graduate, from Porthcawl, Ella Williamson, Sustainable Wales’ Local Development and Climate Change officer.
“The lack of political leadership nationally and public response locally to this major issue is depressing.” said Sustainable Wales Director, Margaret Minhinnick.
Ella’s conversations include the public, school students, scientists, academics, NGO’s (WWF Cymru, Community Energy Wales), community groups, Cenin Renewables, the Hi Tide and politicians.
Climate concern is definitely expressed. Young people sound confused because they can’t see any action. We emphasise that urgent collaboration is essential.
Wide distribution is planned, plus local ‘Climate Conversations’ i.e. discussion groups held to bring people together and motivate action.
Margaret Minhinnick, the films’ co-Producer commented that:
“We have a cocktail of crises to face. The cost of living, energy, plus climate and ecological emergencies across the world.
“A serious decarbonising strategy - reducing energy use, increasing homegrown renewables and affordable transport is now vital.
“Though government targets commit us to reaching net zero carbon emissions, we see new licenses announced for more gas and oil fields!
“We require government to lead, yet time is short.
“Thanks to the grant awarded by (Warm This Winter UK – supported by Climate Cymru) Sustainable Wales decided to produce a series of films to bring this serious issue ‘home’ i.e. Porthcawl) assist debate and encourage action locally.”
more info…
By involving other young people Ella begins to find out how people feel locally.
Street ‘vox pop’ comments come from the local public, conversations are held with undergraduates, school students, and street placards were made.
*Interviews include: Geoff Hobbs, National Resources Wales scientist; Dr Peter Evans Bangor University academic; local town and borough politicians
**, two businesses – Cenin Renewables and the High Tide; Leanne Wood, Co-Executive Director Community Energy Wales; Gareth Clubb Director WWF Cymru and two members Bro Ffestiniog Citizen’s Assembly.
Parc Stormy
“But it’s not all doom and gloom!” Ella insists. “We filmed Parc Stormy, Cenin Renewables, a cluster of renewables above Porthcawl https://cenin.co.uk/home/ . “.
“Porthcawl is actually powered by this renewable energy. Also the High Tide arcade has a roof of solar panels. Important solutions can exist.”
“The young people we filmed want answers but are not despairing. Yet they express confusion at the lack of urgency locally.
“The contributors make an articulate case for clear, visible, local and national climate action, in Bridgend Borough and Wales itself.” commented Margaret.
other notes…
The Sustainable Wales ‘Better Porthcawl Partnership’ will use this series of films to organise public discussions. These should reinforce the need to act, thus:
· challenging ourselves, local politicians and government to drive action in response to the climate and ecological emergency, energy security and the cost-of-living crisis.
· helping people come together, sharing ideas and planning positive actions to make change.
The films will also be available on our YouTube channel and be distributed via community groups, local schools, social and print media in Bridgend across Wales.
Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/@sustainablewales
draft outline of the three films
Episode 1: Conversations - with the public, students, and scientists, regarding the climate crisis and the why we need to act now.
Episode 2: What's happening? - Discovering the people and organisations responding locally with a focus on local energy.
Episode 3: Community leadership - Is the climate challenge too big and what can we do as a community?
Contact us: please use the usual contact form
Conversations: **
Politicians: Sarah Murphy Member of the Senedd
Cllr Huw David, Leader Bridgend Borough Council
Cllr Jonathon Pratt Porthcawl Town Council
Supported by:
Community Energy Wales Podcast
Want to learn about Community Energy?
Listen to Community Energy Wales' Co-executive Directors Ben Ferguson and Leanne Wood discussing community energy and shared ownership on the Leanne Wood podcast.
Click for tickets link at Eventbrite
Porthcawl Silent Disco Beach Clean AUG 13 - Tickets Available Now!
Porthcawl Silent Disco Beach Clean
Read MoreWe’ve just signed an open letter calling on the Welsh Government to act on microplastics...
We’ve just signed an open letter calling on the Welsh Government to act on microplastics.
Click for more information at the FOE site
Did you know microplastics from the clothes we wear make up 35% of plastic pollution? Microplastic pollution is harming life in our seas and on land and now growing evidence suggests it is harming us too.
We’d love it if you could take a minute to read the open letter and sign the Senedd petition asking the Welsh Government to draw up a Microplastics Action Plan for Wales.
Open letter here:
https://foe.cymru/organisations-demand-action-microplastics-wales
Rydyn ni newydd arwyddo llythyr agored yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithredu ar ficroblastigau.
Oeddech chi'n gwybod bod microblastigau o'r dillad rydyn ni'n eu gwisgo yn cyfrif am 35% o lygredd plastig? Mae llygredd microplastig yn niweidio bywyd yn ein moroedd ac ar dir ac erbyn hyn mae tystiolaeth gynyddol yn awgrymu ei fod yn ein niweidio ni hefyd.
Byddem wrth ein bodd pe gallech gymryd munud i ddarllen y llythyr agored a llofnodi deiseb y Senedd yn gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru lunio Cynllun Gweithredu Microblastigau i Gymru.
https://foe.cymru/cy/sefydliadau%20yn%20galw%20am%20weithredu%20ar%20ficroblastigau%20yng%20Nghymru
Petition - Save our heritage
Save Our Heritage
Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust is petitioning the Senedd/Welsh Parliament to make Conservation Management Plans compulsory for Scheduled Monuments at risk, to avoid neglect and subsequent loss.
There are 4,000 Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Wales. 14.5 % are at risk but there are currently no plans to attend to them.
Sign and share the petition before it closes on 18 July 2023 - 10,000 signatures are needed to be considered for a debate in the Senedd.
We have over 6000 signatures now which include 2000 paper ones. Please help to boost them…
Download the paper petition (Word)
Download the poster (PDF)
Back the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
Updated July 2022
Visit https://www.zerohour.uk/bill
From the https://www.ceebill.uk/ website:
CEE Bill - Creating a Constituency Campaign
Download guide doc here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nWngEAQlccKnG8NoXay4Q2int5hUd5suHFQ0CXlN3kM/edit
Parliament declared a Climate Emergency back in 2019 – but actions haven’t matched their words. An emergency requires strong, decisive action to reverse the climate and ecological crisis.
Enter the Climate & Ecological Emergency Bill.
The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill is a Private Member's Bill first presented in the UK Parliament in September 2020 by Caroline Lucas MP, along with supporting MPs from seven political parties. Over the last year, it's gathered the backing of over 140 MPs and Peers from all major parties – as well as from hundreds of organisations, businesses and local councils. For the full list of our supporters, click here. In June 2021, we took the opportunity provided by the new 2021-22 parliamentary session to update and strengthen the Bill, which you can read in full below. You can also read more about Private Members' Bills on this website.
WHY?
Why do we need the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill?
Drafted by scientists, legal experts, ecological economists and environmentalists, the CEE Bill is designed specifically to reverse the climate and ecological breakdown we're facing.
The Bill requires the UK to take responsibility for its fair share of greenhouse gas emissions, to actively restore biodiverse habitats, and to stop damaging our natural world through the production, transportation and disposal of the goods we consume.
Tabled by Caroline Lucas MP (Green), the Bill now has support of 110 MPs across 8 political parties, representing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
South mid-Wales Fair Trade Nation focus group meeting
South mid-Wales Fair Trade Nation focus group meeting Cardiff Tuesday 24 July 5.30pm-6.30pm, short walk from Cardiff Central Station at the Shree Kutchi Leva Patel Samaj, Community Centre, Mardy St, CF11 6QT Cardiff.
For an idea of the issues (there's no fixed agenda) see the online survey:
For more info:
Aileen Burmeister
National Coordinator | Cydlynydd CenedlaetholFair Trade Wales | Cymru Masnach Deg
Hub Cymru Africa
02920 821 056 | 07772 032142
Funded by Welsh Government | Ariennir gan Lywodraeth CymruTemple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3AP
Y Deml Heddwch, Parc Cathays, Caerdydd, CF10 3AP.
@FairTradeWales on twitter