“Something for the Weekend?” #1

Posted on February 17, 2012 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Every Friday arvo we are going to point you at the weekend’s climate-ish events in Manchester.  And tell you a joke.
Here’s the first: “A man walks into a bar and says… ‘ouch'”

Sat 18 Feb, 1-4pm  Urban Edible Gardening Workshop at MERCi
This free workshop will give you an introduction to permaculture principles and ‘urban edible gardening’. Come along and make a design for your own edible space – be it window box, back yard, garden or guerilla gardening plot. Children accompanied by parents welcome.This workshop is run by Jennifer Lauruol of Carpe Diem Garden Design for MERCi’s Eco Hub project.  For more info on Jennifer’s work see: http://www.carpe-diem-gardens.co.uk

Sat Feb 18, 1 to 3.45pm –
Stories of Climate Justice – Strategies for Change in a changing world This workshop will be facilitated by Southern Voices with Caroline Downey, Executive Director of MERCi (the Manchester Environmental Resource Centre initiative) and Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar.
* Exploring the impact of climate change
* Sharing experiences and success stories
* An opportunity to influence Manchester’s climate change action plan
This will be an interactive and participative workshop.
Venue: MERCi building, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Ancoats, Manchester. M4 7HR.

Sat Feb 18 12 to 5pm Netroots North West at University of Manchester, £5
“We’re getting together 100 activists and campaigners from across the North West and beyond, for an afternoon of shared learning, ideas and debates.
“Netroots North West aims to facilitate the growth of infrastructure and networks for left and centre-left online activism by creating a space for campaigners and activists to build their capacity, both individually and as a collective movement.
“Come along for practical training sessions in campaigning skills and making the most of technology for activism, discussions on campaign strategies, and presentations on new developments and challenges for online progressives.
“We’ll be releasing more details and a full programme nearer the time, but you can book online now to reserve your place. The afternoon takes place at Manchester University, 12 noon to 5pm. Tickets (strictly limited) are £5, or free to unwaged/student participants.

Sun 19th, 10 to 2pm, As part of our Levenshulme community orchard project, we are holding a work session on Sunday 19th February, based at the Crayfield Road entrance to the Loop in Levenshulme, from 10 a.m. to about 2 p.m.
The major part of this session is to tidy up the area of the old Levenshulme station site and adjoining bits of the Loop towards Errwood Road and the Highfield Park lattice bridge. We will also be marking up the orchard site for location of the fruit trees.
All are welcome to help with litter-picking and other small tasks, including explaining what’s going on to passing Loop users. The Friends will provide litter-pickers and rubbish bags and have some strong gloves available (but please bring your own gloves if you can). We recommend suitable footwear for rough ground. Secateurs and/or loppers may also be useful.

And, next Tuesday, 21st February from 5pm to 6pm – “Climate Science and why it has become irrelevant’ ”

“Does the Climate science matter anymore?  Everyone who wants to deny the reality of climate change has found ways to do so.  For those of us in the real (and warming) world, the ever-more dire warnings about the long-term consequences of what we are doing now does not spur us to real action.  So what, if not climate science, will persuade and galvanise individuals and organisations?  I don’t know, but I have some suspicions I’d like to share, and want to hear other people’s answers!”

Room 4, University of Manchester Students’ Union, Steve Biko Building, Oxford Road, M13 9PR. 5pm February 21st

Posted in Something for the Weekend | Leave a comment

Book Review: Politics of Urban Runoff – Nature, Technology, and the Sustainable City

Posted on February 17, 2012 by manchesterclimatemonthly

You may have noticed that, in Manchester, it rains. A lot. What happens after it rains, and the ways that cities deal with that urban runoff, is the subject of this interesting book. It begins by charting the shift from the engineering prowess of humans against that of nature (the ‘Promethean’ approach) to a more ‘relational’ and pragmatic approach. It then looks at a growing group of stormwater practitioners who emerged in 1980s. These experts recognised that the best way to deal with stormwater and urban runoff was … to focus on reducing the volume generated at source. This could be done by considering things like site design, infiltration and treatment strategies.

As the author, Research Fellow at the University of Manchester’s School of Environment and Development, explains: “where conventional stormwater management focuses on the symptoms of large volumes of polluted water, source control goes to the root of the problem to address development patterns and impervious cover that create these large volumes of water in the first place.” He does however, explore the weakness of this new approach and states that whilst they do represent a new mindset, the idea that natural systems and human systems are somehow separate continues to pervade the logic of ‘source control’. The next four chapters explore the issue in more detail using Seattle and Austin as case studies.

One of the surprising aspects of this book is the effort the author puts into describing the cultural and historical impact that springs, creeks and waterways have on a city. I was also interested to see the role that politics (and Karvonen uses politics in widest sense of relations between humans and non-human actors such as waterways) plays in urban runoff approaches. This was illustrated by the relatively strong nature conservation attitude of inner Austinites in contrast with the minimal-action approach taken by those in Hill County in east Austin. Karvonen also manages to weave a seamless narrative which includes the role of government officials, community activists, green campaigners, urban developers and ecologists into the logic behind the specific action taken in each case study.

Indeed in the seventh chapter, the author sets out a comparison of the types of political approaches taken towards urban runoff and argues that civic politics (rather than rational and populist politics) offers a promising starting point for a new form of environmental politics. “Civic politics, with its embrace of the complexities and nuances of human/nonhuman relations as well as its emphasis on engaged citizenship as the basis of constructive relation-building activities, provides an alternative model for reorientating the links between urban residents and their human and nonhuman neighbours.” (p.185).

The book is written in a clear and genuinely engaging manner – so even a complete novice to the topic like me could follow the argument. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in cities and the way that they interact with nature, the cultural role of natural resources and the political motivations shaping the kind of action cities takes on environmental issues. It’s also a pretty interesting insight into Austin and Seattle in terms of their urban development and shifting relationship with nature.

Title: Politics of Urban Runoff – Nature, Technology, and the Sustainable City
Author: Andrew Karvonen
Publisher: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date of publication: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-262-01633-9

Andrew Karvonen is a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester’s School of Environment and Development and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Austin, Texas. And he’s on the Manchester Stakeholder Steering Group too.

Arwa Aburawa
Freelance Journalist

mcmonthly@gmail.com

MCFly’s next event: Monday March 5th, An hour of discussion of “The Handmaid’s Tale” from 7pm at the Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount St, followed by general mingling and discussion from 8pm till later (we will adjourn to a pub at 9ish).

Posted in academia, Book Review | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Free household energy surveys up for grabs!!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by manchesterclimatemonthly

MCFly got this email that we think all readers will be interested in…

Carbon Co-op are offering 20 household energy surveys free of charge, enabling residents to get detailed technical information about their home’s energy performance with the aim of reducing bills and emissions by up to 80%.
A detailed architectural survey carried out by our award winning retrofit consultants will clearly outline specific packages of improvements that your house or flat needs to reduce fuel bills and carbon emissions, saving you money as well as helping the environmental.

Carbon Co-op have received funding to work with specialists URBED Co-op to develop and deliver a standard household energy assessment. We’re looking for 20 households to pioneer our approach before rolling it out city-wide.

What you’ll get:
– An detailed technical understanding of how you use energy in your house and where you can make improvements
– An in depth report you can pass to builders and contractors outlining the measures your house needs to meet 80& reduction, 2050 energy efficiency standards
– A cost benefit analysis of these measures outlining what will pay off and how much will it cost

What you need to do:
– Fill in this form CC_assessment_application_form and return to info@carbon.coop no later than midday on Tuesday 21st February 2012

Eligibility:
– You will need to be available for a house visit, preferably during the day between Thursday 23rd March and Thursday 1st March 2012
– You need to live in the Greater Manchester area (though we are not strictly limited by boundaries)

Households will be selected on the basis of a mixture of housing type and location and first come first served.

About Carbon Co-op
Carbon Co-op is a member-owned and run organisation that enables its members to work together to reduce household energy emissions. By deploying the leading expertise on energy efficiency and retrofit we enable our members to collectively reduce their carbon emissions, save money on fuel bills and address the causes of climate change. More info here: http://www.carbon.coop

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Job Alert: Manchester Veg People

Posted on February 16, 2012 by manchesterclimatemonthly

This below is NOT a MCFly job. It’s a cut and paste from here.

Want to help bring the freshest, most local organic produce to Manchester? Do you have a passion for good food, a business mind and want to support local farmers? Then Manchester Veg People may be for you.

We are a unique co-operative of Greater Manchester Organic growers and restaurants working together to provide fresh, seasonal food of the highest possible quality and we are recruiting two co-ordinators to grow & strengthen the co-op.
We are looking for two part-time members of staff (working on average 17.5 Hours per week, with some seasonal variation), to start work in April 2012, on an 18 month contract.

The salary is £7,280 per annum (£14,560 pro rata).

For more information to the background of the work please visit the Kindling Trust’s latest news section.
For more information about Manchester Veg People please visit our website: http://www.vegpeople.org.uk
For a job description and person specification please see below.

To apply:
Please send us your CV, along with a letter of application outlining why you are interested in this post, and how your experience meets the requirements of this post. Please relate this to each of the points set out in the person specification.
Please also let us know how you found out about this post and include the names of two referees which we will follow up if you are offered the post.

Recruitment timetable:

* Closing date is Friday 9th March at 12 noon (we can’t accept applications that arrive any later than this as we are shortlisting that afternoon).
* Interviews will be on Friday 16th March.
* Start date: as soon as possible after appointment (Mid April at the latest)

Posted in Job Alert | Tagged , | 1 Comment

“Let’s get to (EN)Works”

Posted on February 14, 2012 by manchesterclimatemonthly

The environmental businesses support organisation Enworks talks to MCFly co-editor Arwa Aburawa about its success, its struggles, and why now is the (cheapest) time for businesses to take action on environmental issues.

Now in its tenth year, Enworks has been working with businesses in the North to cut their carbon, their costs and use their resources more efficiently. According to its 10 year report, the organisation has helped businesses save £100m, safeguarded 7,488 jobs and also saved 476,000 tonnes of C02. Sam Nicholson, programmes director, explains that their transparency and clear auditing is key to their success. “We are working to achieve environmental goals with businesses and so we need to be able to show them that we can help them save on costs, become more efficient and increase their competitiveness. Having the figures to back that is very important.”

Before joining Enworks in 2003, Ms Nicholson worked as an environmental business advisor for four years and lectured at the University of Salford after completing her masters in environmental resources. Green issues have always been on her agenda but she recognises that that isn’t always the case for businesses. “All businesses are really different and whilst some really get it, others are at the start of their– and I hate to use this word- journey. So what we try to do is work within their concerns, the culture and find a way in to promote environmental issues and take real action which saves them money. Whether that’s looking at procurement or their operational costs depends on the business we are dealing with.”

When asked if she had noticed a change in the business attitudes towards environmental issues, she replied that there is probably a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’ answer to that. “I think there is significant market failure on business resource efficiency and a reluctance to deal with climate change. There is a definite need for businesses to be supported in this area. Having said that, over the last few years awareness of carbon footprints and those kind of issues has increased in businesses. But as you probably know, awareness doesn’t lead to action.”

“Awareness also doesn’t mean a detailed understanding of how climate change could impact your business or sector, the risks that your business faces and the particular actions you should be taking as a priority. So, a real understanding of the real economic benefits and risks is still really low and market failure is an issue. The reason that we get public funding is because of a recognition of that market failure and that businesses are still not taking the necessary action.”

According to Nicholason, the major challenges to helping businesses take action remains a lack of understanding of environmental issues and fears that it will just mean a cost – rather than a saving- to their business. Dealing with that in the economic downturn is a struggle although Nicholson remarks that on balance the same amount of companies are coming forward in the hope that resource efficiency measure will save them money. Budget cuts are not only affecting businesses; Enworks, which received funding from the soon-to-be defunct North West Development Agency has also been affected.

Nicholson explained that their European funding is safe but their matching funding from the NWDA is only secure until 2013. Beyond 2013, she told MCFly that their services aren’t likely to be available completely free of charge as they are now. “I guess there is a silver lining to every cloud, and so we are marketing this is an opportunity for businesses to make the most of our services whilst they are still 100% free.”

In terms of the Green Investment Bank [see interview with John Ashcroft here] and wider Greater Manchester climate change policies, Nicholson remarked that they are happy to work with anyone working towards the same agenda. With regards to the Green Deal, however, she noted that whilst on paper the plans looked good there was still a lot to be decided and policies finalised. As such, she explained that it wasn’t useful to pass judgement right now. She did add that its aims were commendable.

Over the last ten years, Enworks has helped 11,580 businesses which is no small feat. Looking to the future, Nicholson says that she wants to be able to help lots more. “In the next 20 years, I want to see market failure in terms of resources efficiency higher up the agenda and for more businesses to recognise the real benefits of taking up environmental measures.”

Arwa Aburawa
Freelance Journalist

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Off topic cartoon: “Valentine’s dilemma”

Posted on February 14, 2012 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Completely unrelated to the fantastic event tonight at the Sandbar (did we mention it already?), here’s this cartoon from xkcd.

Posted in Fun, humour | Tagged | Leave a comment

A “Local Nature Partnership” for Greater Manchester? Maybe…

Posted on February 13, 2012 by manchesterclimatemonthly

MCFly’s bio-diversity reporter Dave Bishop spills the (organic and locally-sourced) beans about a new “Local Nature Partnership”

On Friday 3rd February 2012 I attended a consultation workshop on the setting up of a Greater Manchester Local Nature Partnership (LNP). I represented the Friends of Chorlton Meadows and Chorlton Civic Society. Forty seven other people attended the event, representing a variety of other organisations ranging from the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, through various GM local authorities and other statutory bodies, to several different natural history societies and friends groups. The meeting was held in New Century Hall in central Manchester.

The day was led by Paul Burroughs, of Red Rose Forest, who heads the shadow steering group for the GM LNP.

The purpose of the day was to explore what the role of a GM LNP should be and how it could work with the organisations represented (and any other relevant organisations).

The concept of LNPs comes out of the Government’s ‘Natural Environment’ White Paper published on 7th June 2011. The essential message of the White Paper is as follows:

A strong natural environment is the foundation for sustained economic growth, prospering communities and personal well-being.

A Local Nature Partnership for Greater Manchester would:

  • Raise awareness of the services and benefits of a healthy natural environment.
  • Bring together partners to coordinate and strengthen action to protect and improve the city region’s natural environment.

More information on LNPs is to be found on Defra’s website:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/local-nature-partnerships/

Before the GM LNP can be formally established several more stages need to be gone through (including more consultations) culminating in the submission of a formal proposal and application to set up a GM LNP and a business plan this summer (2012).

Dave Bishop
(Written 10th Feb 2012)

Posted in Biodiversity | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

MCFly Climate Bulletin #13, Feb 13 2012

Posted on February 13, 2012 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Hi all,

See you all (marrieds, singles, everyone!) on Tuesday night at the Sandbar for “Carbon Dating” or for chatting and mingling and meeting old friends and new ones…

Please encourage your climate-concerned friends to take out a (free!!) subscription to the blog/newsletter – via our subscribe page.
If they need convincing, here’s a 40 second video explaining the top ten reasons folks should subscribe…
And follow us on twitter (@mcr_climate).

Coming up this week (for details see our online calendar!)
Tue 14th, 10am – 3.30pm Gather to Grow – Free 1 day food growing conference. Trafford College, Talbot Road, Stretford M32 0XH To book a place please call Abigail Pound (Groundwork) on 1060 220 1000 or email msstt@groundwork.org.uk

Tues 14, 6.45 to 9pm Manchester Friends of the Earth Full Group Meeting Monthly full group meeting – open to everyone! Contact Cat at cat@manchesterfoe.org.uk or on 07754 042716 for further details. 46-50 Oldham St, Manchester, M4 1LE, UK

Tues 14 , 8 till late MCFly’s “Carbon Dating” valentine day mingler! If you’re single and you’d like to meet eligible singles, come along to our Valentine’s Day mingler! The Sandbar, Grosvenor St

Sat 18, 1-4pm Urban Edible Gardening Workshop at MERCi
This free workshop will give you an introduction to permaculture principles and ‘urban edible gardening’. Come along and make a design for your own edible space – be it window box, back yard, garden or guerilla gardening plot. Children accompanied by parents welcome.This workshop is run by Jennifer Lauruol of Carpe Diem Garden Design for MERCi’s Eco Hub project. For more info on Jennifer’s work see: http://www.carpe-diem-gardens.co.uk

Sat 18, 1 to 3.45pm – Stories of Climate Justice – Strategies for Change in a changing world This workshop will be facilitated by Southern Voices with Caroline Downey, Executive Director of MERCi (the Manchester Environmental Resource Centre initiative) and Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar.
* Exploring the impact of climate change
* Sharing experiences and success stories
* An opportunity to influence Manchester’s climate change action plan
This will be an interactive and participative workshop.
Venue: MERCi building, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Ancoats, Manchester. M4 7HR.

Sat 18, 12 to 5pm Netroots North West at University of Manchester, £5 “We’re getting together 100 activists and campaigners from across the North West and beyond, for an afternoon of shared learning, ideas and debates.”
At Manchester University, 12 noon to 5pm. Tickets (strictly limited) are £5, or free to unwaged/student participants.

Sun 19th, 10 to 2pm, Levenshulme community orchard project is holding a work session at the Crayfield Road entrance to the Loop in Levenshulme The major part of this session is to tidy up the area of the old Levenshulme station site and adjoining bits of the Loop towards Errwood Road and the Highfield Park lattice bridge.

MCFly stories you may have missed
Council to sign off on more regeneration in West Gorton
“Animal Farm” and Climate Change
Job Advert for Environmental Planner (closes Feb 24)
Event: Planning for a Low Carbon Future, 8th March

Lessons we like to believe we’ve learnt this week
Everything takes longer than you think.
If a task is big and/or threatening, you WILL procrastinate.

Jobs that need doing!
Could someone trawl twitter for groups MCFly could follow?
Could someone audit MCFly to see how much we are writing about people who don’t happen to be white males?

Training Opportunities
Open days at Chorlton garden project
Riverbank Market Garden will be open every Saturday morning from 10 AM-1 PM beginning 18 February for local people to get involved in growing fruit and vegetables. The community project is now running a series of free training courses to help local people learn more about growing and cooking their own food. Riverbank will also be giving away free fruit trees, bushes and vegetable plants to local residents. For further information, please contact Amanda Benson, Project Manager on (07989) 198687 or riverbank.amanda@gmail.com

New “Action for Sustainable Living” project

Resources
Religious convictions around climate change
(hat-tip to FoE)

Art Galleries and Climate Change (story from Melbourne)

“Why your audience isn’t participating”

Local and Regional News
Feb 7 Tesco announce they are opening three more stores in Manchester

“Chorlton Refurb” gets 50 grand (Cllr Victor Chamberlain’s site)

What you always suspected about Metrolink…

National News
Two stories via Manchester Friends of the Earth‘s weekly bulletin… (you do not need to be a paid-up FoE member to get these!)

“Ed Davey has got off to a good start in his new job (Report, 3 February) firmly backing an agenda for green growth, jobs and defending wind power…

Carbon emissions rise despite climate change policies (Telegraph)
The latest figures from the Department of Energy and Climate change show emissions rose by more than 3 per cent in 2010, the first increase since 2003…

Posted in Weekly bulletins | Leave a comment

MCFly #02: Culture Vulture Book Reviewers Needed

Posted on February 12, 2012 by arwafreelance

BOOK REVIEW:

Global Action Networks: Creating Our Future Together
Steve Waddell
Bocconi University Press 2011
Reviewed by Marc Hudson

The first chapter is “meh”. The last chapter is semi-dodgy. Everything in between is… solid gold. This management book, by a guy who has spent thirty years in the trenches of organisational change, is crammed full of useful insights, distinctions and anecdotes. Anyone who is interested in the how and why of network formation, the why and how of sustaining and enhancing networks, and the crucial tasks of identifying capacity gaps and figuring out how to plug them – in individuals and also groups – is going to love this book.

With chapter headings like “understanding networks,” “mastering change” and “growing the competencies required for success” (there are 8 of them, in his opinion), this book is structured but not dogmatic, dense but at no point verbose or boring. The author throws in insights from business, sociology, government and “activism” (at the inter-national level), most of which will have thoughtful Mancunians reaching for their pens and scratching their heads.

Wadell says his primary goal is “to provide practical assistance to people working in, and associated with global, multi-stakeholder, inter-organizational change networks.” Well, I’m not qualified on that, but it is going to be very useful here in Manchester over the coming years. If anyone wants to borrow the MCFly copy, email mcmonthly [AT] gmail.com. 

Book Reviewers Needed!

We need you to read books and then give us your opinion (in writing!). We’ve been too enthusiastic in blagging review copies, and publishers have been very generous.

Here’s how it works- you tell us which of the books below you want to review. We give you the book, and you have thirty days to deliver a review of roughly 600 to 800 words, saying what the book argues, whether you thought it was good or not (and why!) who should read it, You get to KEEP the book, but we would very much like you not to flog it, because we want to build up a lending library. Unless it was a stinker, of course, in which case – to the Oxfam!! Interested? email mcmonthly@gmail.com
UPDATE 19th Feb 2012: Sorry, offer is primarily for people who live in Greater Manchester. We will consider UK residents on a ‘case-by-case’ basis, but we do not have any budget for mailing books overseas. Apologies to the person who contacted us!!

Climate Change and Society by John Urry

Dynamic Sustainabilities: Technology, Environment, Social Justice by Melissa Leach, Ian Scoones and Andy Stirling

The Politics of Climate Change (2nd ed) by Anthony Giddens

The Governance of Climate Change: Science, Economics, Politics & Ethics eds Held, Hervey & Theros

Occupy World Street: A global roadmap for radical economic and political reform by Ross Jackson

Whose Crisis, Whose Future? by Susan George

Climate Change and the Crisis of Capitalism: A chance to reclaim self, society and nature eds Pelling, Manuel-Navarrete & Redclift

Low Carbon Communities: Imaginative Approaches to Combating Climate Change Locally eds Peters, Fudge and Jackson

Engaging the Public with Climate Change: Behaviour Change and Communication eds Whitmarsh, O’Neill and Lorenzoni

Citizen Participation in Global Environmental Governance, eds Rask, Worthington & Lammi

Related articles
Posted in Book Review | Leave a comment

MCFly #02: MCFly in “praising council” shocker

Posted on February 12, 2012 by arwafreelance

Mon 6 Feb: Castle Grayskull was shaken to its foundations this morning, as Council officers and elected members read a positive news story about the Council in the pages of MCFly. Reporting on the Council’s decision to include carbon savings as part of their quarterly business plan reports, MCFly said “Well done you.”

Unconfirmed reports are circulating that one Executive Member has fainted, and that supplies of smelling salts are running low. It all goes back to a meeting in December of the “Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee” (a bunch of councillors who quiz the top bods on what’s going on). After enduring a guest speech, one councillor – Bernard Priest (Labour, Ardwick) – expressed dissatisfaction at the lack of detailed reporting on what the council was actually doing to cut its carbon footprint, in line with its 41% by 2020 target. He asked for more detail, so councillors could indeed overview and scrutinise (the clue is in the name).

In the latest Business Plan, available online, those details are beginning to be fleshed out. In a new appendix “service level low-carbon action plans” and the like are listed. This isn’t just in one area – action plans for Adults, Children’s, Regeneration, Capital Programme, Corporate Property and Corporate Procurement – will be open for question at the next Communities and Neighbourhoods meeting, to be held on Tuesday 7th February at the Town Hall.

Marc Hudson
mcmonthly@gmail.com

MCFly says – several cliches spring to mind. “Information is power” is one. “The devil is in the detail” is another. And “thank you for that rod for your own back” is third….

UPDATE: Never knowingly scooped, (cough cough) the Council on Wednesday 8th has reported the same story here.

Posted in Democratic deficit, Manchester City Council | Tagged | Leave a comment