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Of special note this month is the first talks in our series 'Energy and Resources for the Transition to a Sustainable Future' on thu 17 April at the Brighthelm Centre (see Upcoming Events). Each in the series of talks aims to have a national and local speaker to inform us about transition issues – this month it's Jeremy Leggett on peak oil and Jim Watson on options for generating energy locally. Hope to see you there...
Next TBH general meeting
The next general meeting is at 7.30pm on Wed 9 April at the Salvation Army Hall, 1 Park Crescent, Brighton (north side of the Level: map)
Dates of TBH general meetings can always be found on the main page of the websiteNews
• Transition Towns get a mention on The Archers on Radio 4... next stop Transition Ambridge... (transcript here)
• Chris from the TBH hub was interviewed on the One World Community show on Radio Reverb about Transition Towns in general, followed by Doly from the Transport group talking about a proposal for a Car Free Week. You can hear the interviews here (scroll to the bottom of the page). If you are interested in taking part in the Car Free Week experiment, please contact transport*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
• At the beginning of March TBH held a morning of film screenings at the Farmer's Market near Hove station – the film The Story of Stuff was very popular, an entertaining and informative short film that opens you eyes to the ridiculous way we live and consume. Watch it online here.
• A workshop on 15 March was attended by Transition group co-ordinators and hub members, with presentations on Gaian Democracy and the Heart and Soul of Change. This clarified some of the ideas about how Transition Brighton and Hove will organise itself. Charley Haward is also developing a workshop on Transition Training after attending training from the national Transition Network (see Upcoming Events below).
Transition Interest Groups news and requests for help
• Food group: we have the food event From Planet to Plate: Think Global, Eat Local coming up on April 12 – see Upcoming Events below
• Energy group: contact has been established with Peter Kaufmann and the National Energy Foundation on the subject of eco-refurbishments.
• Transport group: several people from the Transport Group visited the North Street Scheme exhibition and will send a collective proposal to the Council.
• Business & Economics group: The next Business & Economics Group meeting is on Thursday 3 April, 7.15 - 9.30pm, at Brighton Media Centre, 68 Middle St, Suite 4 (opposite The Hop Poles) followed by a catch up in the pub (please bring a mug). We're beginning to flesh out ideas for projects. What do you think this city, the business community and the economy most need? What is the most effective use of our time? See forum for notes from previous meetings and discussions, to suggest agenda items or generally throw ideas about. All contributions and comments welcome - please add to our page on the forum (where you can also join) or email business*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk / 07891 571739.
• Textiles & Clothing group: We would love to find people who can sew (by hand or machine!), or do any kind of customising clothing technique to come along for a couple of hours to Swapo-rama-rama on Sat 26 April (see Upcoming Events below). If you have a sewing machine you can bring and can show people how to alter stuff, all the better! Also free tea and clothes for anyone who fancies greeting people and/or sorting clothes for couple of hours. Contact Kat 07958 964810 or email textiles*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
• Liaison with Local Government group: There is much happening in Local Government at the moment which is relevant to the aims of Transition Brighton and Hove. Our Liaison Group's current priorities are (1) to see that sustainability carries importance and is not sidelined within the Council's new Governance Arrangements which come into effect from May 2008 and (2) to ensure that TB&H is represented on the Council's new Sustainability Forum, which is to replace the Sustainability Commission.
A further way to get TB&H's message across, working in cooperation with the Council's Sustainability Team, relates to the proposed panel of experts to support the new cabinets within the Council. There will be around 20 experts on the panel drawn from Brighton and Hove residents who have national or indeed international expertise to offer. Transition Brighton and Hove has some highly talented and knowledgeable people amongst its membership, and it occurred to us that there may well be TB&H members who may want to offer their expertise &/or who Brighton and Hove City Council may want to approach. When we know the criteria for selecting local experts, we will post the information on TB&H's website, so that willing and suitable experts can come forward.
We will continue to publicize Council initiatives (e.g. Home Energy Efficiency scheme) and events (e.g. Eco Open Houses organised for late June) as well as consultations relevant to TB&H main & Group objectives. An obvious one will be the major consultation, to be held later this year, on the options for refreshing The Council's Sustainability Strategy, expected to be presented by One Planet Living.
For information on the working protocol of TB&H's Liaison with Local Government Meetings Group, please see our posts on the main TB&H website, several of which also describe relevant issues addressed by the Council's Sustainability Commission - concerns which will become the substance of the new Sustainability Forum's work. There is a lot to learn through liaison with the Council's Sustainability Team. This TB&H Liaison Group both welcomes new members and recommends attendance (if only occasional) at the Sustainability Commission (soon to become the Sustainability Forum) meetings, which are open to all.Neighbourhood groups
TBH Neighbourhood groups are gradually forming, often as part of existing community groups. If you are interested in starting a Transition neighbourhood group in your area, or you are already part of a community group and would like a member of TBH to come talk to your group about transition towns, please contact hub*at*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
• Roundhill and Triangle group: The next meeting of the Roundhill/Triangle neighbourhood group will be at 7.30pm on Tue 8 April in the Park Crescent pub, Park Crescent (map). All welcome. For more details please contact roundhill_triangle@transitionbrightonandhove.org.ukUpcoming events
For Upcoming Events see the main page of the website.General information
Joining Transition Interest Groups (Food, Transport, Energy, etc): either sign up in the Usergroups on the forum – how to do this here – or contact the group coordinators directly, see here.
Forum: please remember to add your news, opinions and suggestions to the discussions on the forum – this is the place where ideas for projects and collaborations can begin.
Brighton & Hove Green organisations index: the TBH website has a updated directory of green Brighton organisations, including campaign groups, awareness-raising literature and training, local produce suppliers, transport alternatives and lots more.
Contact details: contact emails for all hub members and group coordinators are available here.
TBH newsletter – April 2008
