Two fracking actions you can take in #Manchester (well, #Salford )

Posted on November 27, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

First is a petition –  If you live, work or study in Salford pls sign petition calling on Council to say no #fracking epetitions.salford.gov.uk/fracking/

Second is physical support –

Mass convergence called for tomorrow (Weds 27th November) to fight fracking in
Greater Manchester

Fracking company IGas Energy are trying to start drilling in Barton Moss,
Salford, Greater Manchester, on farmland next to the M62 motorway, this
week. They have begun moving equipment onto the site and are planning to
start drilling soon. The community in the area is opposed to their region
being fracked, and are hoping that they will receive support in their
efforts to stop it.

People will be gathering at the site on Barton Moss Road, off the A57, on
tomorrow morning (27th), from 9am onwards. While getting their early will
be good, since IGas are likely to be trying to bring more equipment onto
the site, there will be stuff happening throughout the day. The event is
planned to be a community-led carnival of anti-fracking revelry, with a
very serious purpose, to stop IGas in their tracks.

See http://northerngasgala.org.uk for more details and directions to the site
etc. Please bring essentials such as food, water, and appropriate
clothing. Picnics, cakes, tea-making facilities, friends,
banners, games, music, instruments, knitting, blankets, chairs, tables,
gazebos, small tents, plastic cutlery/plates. You get the picture. Try to
avoid bringing alcohol, drugs, anything which could be construed as a weapon,
glass etc.

IGas are one of the 3 major fracking companies in the UK at present (along
with Cuadrilla Resources and Dart Energy). They have been attempting to
develop coal bed methane (CBM) in the area for some time (the extraction
process that has already devastated Queensland in Australia) but are
now also getting interested in Shale Gas as well. The exploration well they
want to drill at Barton Moss is intended to pass through the both the coal
seams and the deeper Bowland Shale. This could be just the beginning of a
tidal wave of destruction with thousands of fracked wells coating the area.

For an overview of the situation at Barton Moss please see these articles:

* Fracking Manchester: IGas Threatens Barton Moss
(http://frack-off.org.uk/fracking-manchester-igas-threatens-barton-moss/)
* Fracking Threat In The North West
(http://frack-off.org.uk/fracking-threat-in-the-north-west/)

 

Posted in Campaign Update, Energy, Fracking | Leave a comment

Polar Bear Facepalm: #Manchester Airport gets more destinations

Posted on November 26, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

polarbearmagmonarch

Posted in Aviation, Manchester Airport, Polar Bear Facepalm | Leave a comment

New Co-op scandal flowers in #Manchester, unwittingly discovered by Manchester Evening News

Posted on November 25, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

In thirty years time,  we may very much care that mutualism had to be re-invented because of clowns running the Co-operative Bank into the arms of hedge funds. I don’t think we will be too worried about the crystal methodist though…

We will look back in disbelief that the Manchester Evening News can print a story proclaiming the Co-ops new headquarters as “the Greenest building in the world”…

coopnomaone

… and then, 11 days later an approving picture of all its lights on at night.  Genius.  Pure unadulterated genius.

coopnomatwo

UPDATE Mon 25th Nov, 21.40: On facebook someone has made a very good point – “this time of year, and in this context, “night” could mean 4.30pm.” i.e. maybe all the lights are on because the staff don’t knock off till 6pm. Any readers who live/work in the north of the city have any personal experience of this?

UPDATE Tues 26th 088: MCFly is reliably informed – “Hi. re: Co-op HQ. The blue lights do stay on all night.The re-routing of the ringroad nr homes make the lauded Green credentials ridiculous.”

Posted in Energy, humour | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

#Prestwich “Village Green” community eco-shop wants your attention (and money…)

Posted on November 25, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Cross-posted from here ;  http://www.village-greens-coop.co.uk/2013/10/21/you-can-buy-your-shares-in-village-greens-now/

We’re on the final week of our share offer and we still need more members and more money!!!

Please please please buy your shares NOW and help achieve the financial target needed to create Village Greens together before the 2nd December 2013

We are asking everyone to spread the word by telling at least 3 new people about Village Greens, asking them to like us on Facebook and Twitter and inviting them to come along to our last drop in session this Wednesday 27th November at The Parkside Pub, Bury Old Rd between 7-8.30pm.  Come and buy shares, find out more about the co-op and ask us your questions.

What about giving a share as a Christmas pressie to someone who would really appreciate  shopping in Village Greens?  Just get in touch and we will show you how this can be done.

Or if you really want to invest but need a little more time then pledge now and talk to us about payment options.

We are here to help, just email or call us any time; come and see us at The Parkside on Wednesday and look out for us at the events we will be attending this week + we will be around Prestwich village as much as we can too.

Where we will be:

St Monicas Xmas Fair – Thurs 28th Nov 6.30-8pm

St Mary’s Fair – Sat 30th Nov 10-1pm

Park View Xmas Fair – Sat 30th Nov 12-3pm

Prestwich Food Fest – Sat 1st December 10-3.30pm

Fresh          Local          Organic          Affordable

Amazing 50% tax relief incentive too!

Did you know you may be eligible for 50% tax relief on your investment under the government Seed Enterprise Initiative Scheme (SEIS). Wow how amazing is that! We have advanced assurance from HMRC that the Community Share Offer for Village Greens is eligible, so as a tax payer you may be able to apply for half the value of your share offer on your tax return.  That means that if you invest £200 you may get £100 as 50% tax relief!  How often do we get something back from the tax man!  Read more on our full Share Document Although we can not give guaranteed financial advice unless you have a complicated tax set up it there should not be any reason why you are not eligible, but you may wish to seek financial advice.

Apply to invest here NOW – there are only a few days left and we need to raise £120,000 from as many members as we can !!!

Please, complete this form and make your investment by bank transfer, ensuring you state your name as the reference to: sort code 30 95 42 and account no 57912060; all by the 2nd December 2013.

NB If printing this form, send with cheque, to:

Rachel Getliffe, Secretary for Village Greens, 23 Hardmans Road, Whitefield, Manchester M45 7BB

I the undersigned, wish to purchase shares in Village Greens (Prestwich) Co-operative Ltd. I confirm I am 16 years of age or over, and have read and understood the Share Offer. You are invited also to look at our Business Plan, Co-op Rules and Cash Flow forecast too.

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Video: Ask the People of #Manchester petitioning + bonus rant on “consultation”

Posted on November 25, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

The petition, if you haven’t signed, is here. If you have signed/can’t sign because you don’t live work or study in Manchester, please share it with your friends, email it etc etc

The website for “Ask the People of Manchester” is here.

What has this all got to do with climate change?  See me witter on about “adaptive governance.”

Posted in Campaign Update, video review | Leave a comment

Upcoming Event: Fracking debate, MERCi AGM, Thurs 12th Dec

Posted on November 24, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

http://frack.eventbrite.co.uk/

whatthefrack

Posted in Upcoming Events | Leave a comment

Good News Saturday: #Manchester #graphene to trap man-made emissions #climate

Posted on November 23, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Okay, the title of this post is mildly smutty click-bait. So sue me…

Sir Richard Leese positively gushes about the economic potential of the wonder-material graphene (atom-thick sheets of carbon atoms; super-light, super-strong). Here’s a suggestion he hasn’t put forward before. If it comes off, there’s no doubt that as well as having the Freedom of the City, the inventors Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov will have a statue erected for them (made of graphene?), to sit alongside their Nobels…

This from the MEN on Thursday 21st November –
graphenecondom

Posted in Good News Saturday, humour | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Job Alert: Feeding #Stockport Co-ordinator Post

Posted on November 23, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly
Sustainable Food Cities Logo
Be part of a pioneering city-wide food programme and guide Stockport towards becoming a Sustainable Food City.

Feeding Stockport Co-ordinator Post

Gross Salary: £27,600.

Hours per week: 37. 5 Hours.

Holiday Entitlement: 28 working days.

Duration: Fixed term contract to November 2016.

The Sustainable Food Cities Network is an alliance of public, private and third sector organisations that believe in the power of sustainable food to drive positive change for people & the planet.

In recognition of its truly transformational vision for food, Stockport has been awarded one of just six awards nationwide to fund a dedicated Sustainable Food City Co-ordinator, working with the council, NGOs, businesses and communities.

From obesity and ill-health to food poverty and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss to declining prosperity and social dislocation, food is not only at the heart of some of our greatest problems, but also a vital part of the solution.

You will work with the local authority and partners such as schools, charities and local firms to transform access to local, affordable and sustainable food for people across Stockport.

Stockport’s ambitious programme is based on a partnership between the Council and The Kindling Trust, with whom this post is based. You will benefit from the inspirational vision of a progressive and grassroots social enterprise, combined with the political and economic weight of the council to help make it happen.

To receive the Job Description, Person Specification and Application Form please email chris@kindling.org.uk with the subject heading: FeedingSK.

Deadline for returning this completed application form is 5pm on Sunday 8th December.

Successful applicants invited for an interview will be informed on Wednesday 11th December and interviews will take place on Thursday the 19th December 2013.

This post is financed by Stockport Council, Stockport Homes and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and the employing organisation is The Kindling Trust.

The Sustainable Food Cities programme partners are the Soil Association, Food Matters and Sustain.

Posted in Food, Job Alert | Tagged | Leave a comment

Short Story Winner announced! #Manchester #climate

Posted on November 22, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Jennie Bailey has won the first Manchester Climate Monthly short story contest, with a work entitled Veins that Carried Blood and Water.   She told MCFly “It’s still taking a while to sink in. I’m super chuffed to have won. Having spent nine years growing up near a canal (the Bridgewater) I wanted to include Manchester’s waterways. loved writing that story and I’m so happy that it was chosen as the winning entry.”

She will be given her £200 prize at a brief ceremony next Friday by one of the two judges of the contest – novelist Liz Jensen.

The two runners-up, Sarah Jasmon and Daniel Carpenter will also receive prizes.  Their short stories will appear on the MCFly website next week.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered, both for entering and also their patience with the delay in announcing the winners (which was not the fault of either judge – Liz Jensen or Professor Mark Maslin of University College London).

The short story contest may return next year. If it does, it will be bigger, better organised and better publicised!

Posted in Upcoming Events | 1 Comment

Dr Alice Bows and Prof Kevin Anderson of #Manchester Tyndall; “We Need to Consume Less” #climate

Posted on November 22, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

From the Warsaw climate talks…

from 27 minutes in…

Hmm, doesn’t seem to embed, so you may have to click here –

http://www.democracynow.org/embed/story/2013/11/21/we_have_to_consume_less_scientists

Posted in academia, International | Leave a comment