Summary Notes of Education and Awareness Raising (Communications) Group – notes from 29th August 2007
Group members: David Greenop, Rebecca Fryer, Ted Power, John Baker
The group was not sure what more that they could add to the earlier Awareness Raising session output and decided instead to look at the communication role of TBH. They suggested that the output from the earlier Post It note session should be typed up and analysed after this meeting and then presented for discussion at the next gathering.
Members of the group were concerned about how TBH fitted with the activities of other local environmental groups, many of whom are already undertaking public awareness activities on similar issues. A further factor was TBH relationship with the B&H Council and how this should be developed. The question is what is locally unique about TBH and what role should it play in B&H.
The suggestion was made that TBH is more an umbrella organisation which developed and owned the overall vision for B&H. Development of the vision would be undertaken through a process of consultation with all other local stakeholders. It may well be that this vision process is unique to Brighton because of its rich ecology of other groups and activities.
Thoughts as to what the vision and its process could be are:
- It should have simple messages and be accessible
- The vision is something the community can work towards
- Vision can be reviewed and developed over time
- Its like a successful marketing exercise
- Careful consideration should be given to the type of vocabulary used, it should not be anecdotal
- Setup meetings with local groups, local councillors, other representative forums like the VSF
- Use as main themes the Transition Town generic groups
- Create different entry points into the vision
- We sell the vision to all the people who came to the first meting
- Need to include ideas such limits to growth and define what growth should be rather than a simple economic measure.
- A positive approach would be to develop what aspects of today’s life do we embrace or change
Participants suggested the setting up of a separate group to develop the vision.
Post-its on Education and Awareness raising (29th August)
Content - what is it we say:
- The message has to be based in solid knowledge and conviction.
- Climate change is only part of the problem: peak oil, economic
growth are also parts.
- What people don't know about what produces CO2, eg home electronics,
air flight, etc.
- What is Brighton and Hove's footprint? Compared to others.
- Photovoltaic solar
- Thermal waste conversion (connect to incinerator)
- Double glazing
- Quotes and facts, eg: "One flight across the Atlantic produces xxx
of CO2, as much as a car produces after 10,000 miles" (figures to be
confirmed), "Solar power, tide power, wind power, waste power could
provide 120% of Brighton's energy needs" (figures to be confirmed)
- Why is the Council opposed to green ideas?
- What Transition Town is about, what can be done as a Transition
Town.
- On every event, mention Transition Town as a local solution to the
problems of peak oil and climate change
- The long term plan of Transition Towns
Method - how we say it:
- Brighton Transition website
- Links and events listings on community groups, websites
- Stickers on cars, buses and trains about carbon emissions
- Posters
- Displays, eg in library, Cowley Club, BPEC
- Statement/agreement that people or organizations can sign in
- Card game to discuss how to allocate resources
- Map of a future sustainable Brighton
- Make a professional Powerpoint presentation
- Panflet (say 20 pages) on peak oil, climate change, list of elements
that a Transition Town aims to cut down and reduce, to give to people,
schools and organizations.
- YouTube video, linked to our website
- Showing films (End of Suburbia, Power of Community, etc.) around
different Brighton venues (Duke of York cinema, the Alley Cats pub,
Brighton Media Centre, etc.), with a talk.
- Talks at schools and other organizations
- Stalls at events, eg Food Debate on 20 Sept
- Events around particular aspects of the transition, eg food: a big
pot luck of local organic food.
- Hove Lawns educational event, with different stalls from all the
different local groups that make the elements and influence for a
Transition Town, speeches, etc.
- Publicity stunts to attract media and people, eg hitch-hiking race,
big community goods swap, flash mobs, street theatre
- Local radio: Reverb, Southern Counties
- Local press: Letters to the Argus, articles on the Argus, Rocks
- Get in touch with people doing a documentary on peak oil (initial
contact already done)
Organization - how we prepare:
- Is the group already presenting consensus about basic ecological,
climate change, peak oil issues? This is necessary. Invite to pile in
has delayed and obscured consensus on aims.
- Self-education as a group, shared expertise
- Honesty and clarification of our agenda.
- Consult people from other Transition Towns, what they have done
- Is education and awareness restricted to the education functional
group, or should everybody participate at these early stages?
- Neighbourhood groups can meet and discuss with Local Resident
Associations and schools.
Partnerships - who can help us:
- Networking community groups, spreading the word through existing
networks
- Linking with neighbourhood associations, giving talks at meetings.
- What are schools doing?
- Brighton Climate Change Group
- Magpie
- Brighton and Hove Food Partnership
- Cleod
- Brighton University (survey on climate change and peak oil)
- 3rd sector/CVSF
Education and Awareness group – notes from 29th August 2007
