Upcoming: Green Hustings for GM Mayor Fri 28 April. #Manchester

Posted on April 12, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

At Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount St.  Free, register here.

With Greater Manchester on the verge of electing its first ever Metro Mayor, this is your chance to quiz the mayoral candidates on what they will do to protect and enhance our environment.

Join us to find out where the candidates stand on key issues such as:

What can be done to tackle climate change and keep our homes safe from flooding?
How will we power our homes and businesses, and do we want fracking in Greater Manchester?
What can be done to protect nature and green spaces from development?
How do we deal with the air pollution crisis, and what does that mean for how we get around?

Agenda

18:00 Doors open
18:30 Welcome & opening statements
18:50 Quickfire round (pre-submitted questions)
19:20 Questions from the floor
20:30 Close

Send us your questions for the quickfire round by replying to the confirmation email you’ll receive when you book a ticket.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday 28 April at the Friends Meeting House.

Posted in Greater Manchester, Upcoming Events | 1 Comment

Film about deforestation/multinationals #Manchester Thurs 13th April

Posted on April 12, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

On at “Home” tomorrow (Thurs 13th April)

UK Premiere/ La Tierra roja + Intro

Next showing Thu 13 Apr 2017 at 15.55

Part of: ¡Viva! Spanish & Latin American Festival 2017

15 Directed by Diego Martinez Vignatti

La Tierra roja 1

Described as a contemporary environmental western, this film is set in the remote region of Misiones, bordering Paraguay and Brazil, where a Belgian man has been employed by a multinational corporation. Pierre has settled in well to his new community, coaching the local rugby team to success and falling for Ana, a beautiful school teacher and single mother. But his role overseeing deforestation and the use of toxic pesticides brings him into direct and violent conflict with the resident activists, the powers that be, and his own moral conscience. A powerful story about grassroots struggle against global capitalism and cynical governance.

Event details

The screening on Thu 13 Apr will be introduced by Dr Ignacio Aguiló, University of Manchester. This introduction will be BSL interpreted and the film will include English subtitles.

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Take “action”: ask #Manchester Health Scrutiny Committee to examine #climate impacts

Posted on April 11, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

A new report on ‘eco-anxiety’ tells us what readers of MCFly already know – climate change is scary and is going to be a fustercluck of monumental proportions (already is in places like Chile).

Some readers will remember that last year the chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee of Manchester City Committee was lobbied to organise a report on the impacts of climate change on citizens’ health. And she said she would ask the committee–

as Chair of Health, I am happy to suggest to the committee this be considered in our work programme either as a standalone, or joint committee piece of work to look at the specific challenge facing Manchester to ensure that we are doing our best to mitigate it.

And they said “nope.”

So, if you can be bothered, you can write to members of the Health Scrutiny Committee [here they are] asking them again. Something like

“Dear Councillor x,

do you understand there is a slow-motion apocalypse on its way And that Manchester City Council could and should be doing a lot more? And that this is a health emergency as well, one that the Health Scrutiny Committee needs to look at? Here’s an article about a recent report about the psychological impacts climate change is having, and will have.

https://qz.com/948909/ecoanxiety-the-american-psychological-association-says-climate-change-is-causing-ptsd-anxiety-and-depression-on-a-mass-scale/

I ask you [insert word ‘respectfully’ if you can stomach it] to get the Health Scrutiny Committee to focus on this as a matter of supreme urgency.

I expect a reply to this email.

Thank you.

[insert name]

But on past showing, they will do nothing. That’s just how they roll. I personally don’t know how they look in the mirror in the morning, but there you have it.

You’d probably be better off trying to get something going with Manchester’s “activist” “community”. Yeah, um, right.

Posted in Health Scrutiny Committee | Leave a comment

Free online course from Upsalla University #climate leadership #Manchester

Posted on April 11, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Free online course from Upsalla University

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/climate-leadership

[Maybe we could get some of those clowns in the Town Hall to do it?  #justsaying]

Why join the course?

Climate change creates a situation of unprecedented urgency, complexity and uncertainty, but also opens up new opportunities for innovation and leadership.

In this free online course, you will get a view of the leadership challenges associated with climate change, as well as the new arenas that are opening up for climate action.

Discover the leadership challenges posed by climate change

There are repeated calls for bold climate change leadership and action within politics, business, and both established and grassroots organisations, but what does it really entail? What kind of knowledge and skills define a climate change leader and how can they be learned? What kind of political, cultural and psychological resources are lacking in present initiatives?

In this course, we will explore climate change leadership from a broad range of perspectives. We will take stock of the Paris Agreement – the first-ever legally binding global climate deal – and discuss climate justice and pathways to avoid catastrophic climate change. We will examine the social complexity of climate change, and how it may limit the effectiveness of traditional models of leadership within governance, management and development. And we will discuss how to unpack this complexity and identify climate change leadership opportunities in practical, political and personal spheres.

Consider climate change leadership from international to local levels

Climate change leadership does not only happen in negotiation rooms at international conferences. A central part of the course is therefore to identify, discuss and work with climate change leadership challenges in your own context.

You will create a climate change leadership plan for an organisation or issue that you care about, develop your own capacity as a climate change leader and discover ways to deal with climate change that are in proportion to the scale and urgency of the challenge.

Learn with interdisciplinary climate change leaders at Uppsala University

The course has been developed by Uppsala University – a broad research university, which makes it particularly suited to investigate interdisciplinary areas such as climate change leadership.

Throughout, you will learn with researchers who approach climate change and leadership from scientific, social and cultural standpoints, giving you the tools for creating change within your own personal and organisational contexts.

  • Duration 5 weeks

  • 4 hours per week

  • FREE online course

  • Upgrade available What’s this?

View transcript
Download video: standard or HD

What topics will you cover?

  • The outcomes of the Paris Agreement and different targets; a historical view on humanity, nature and climate; climate change leadership in your own context.
  • Climate justice, carbon budgets, mitigation strategies, adaptation and the deliberate transformations; local climate change leadership.
  • Climate change as a set of complex challenges or possibilities for change; setting goals for a world we want to live in; transboundary water management, migration; what technology can and cannot do; and who’s responsible for climate change; systems thinking.
  • Perspectives on leadership, communication, narratives, skills and psychological barriers to change.
  • Civic courage, privilege, people who lead and your own climate change leadership plan.
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Job Alert: City of Trees development officer #Manchester

Posted on April 11, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Development Officer vacancy – deadline extended

Join the team working to drive the City of Trees movement. It’s an exciting time to join the City of Trees team. We have grand ambitions to green Greater Manchester. There is a lot going on – and so much more to be done. We are looking for someone who has the skills and experience to develop and deliver City of Trees activity.

The post-holder will be part responsible for developing projects and part delivery of projects. Project development will involve: identifying opportunities for new projects and initiatives; working with the team and stakeholders to develop ideas; writing bids that will merge our aims and objectives with various funder’s criteria. The post-holder will also be responsible for delivering a number of projects with an emphasis on community engagement. City of Trees engages a wide range of audiences in a variety of ways: through practical conservation, education and learning, health initiatives, arts and culture. The post-holder will lead on some projects and work as part of a team or partnership on other projects.

This is a varied role, working in a busy environmental charity where the successful candidate needs to be experienced and confident in environmental project development and management, and community engagement.

Deadline – extended to Tuesday 18 April (midnight). Documents available to download below.

http://www.cityoftrees.org.uk/job-vacancies

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Film Screening: “Tomorrow” in #Manchester 26th April

Posted on April 10, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Film Showing on 26th April.  Text below, and link to book, from here.

26 april showingAlready viewed by over 1.5 million people in France alone, and winner of Best Documentary at the Cesar Awards (the French Oscars), ‘Tomorrow’ has been hugely impactful. Produced by activist and writer Cyril Dion and actress/director Mélanie Laurent (see below), it tells the story of their search for solutions to the crisis humanity faces.

It is a hugely positive, affirming and inspirational film, exploring creative solutions in the fields of food, energy, transport, economics and education. It visits permaculture farms, urban agriculture projects, community-owned renewable projects, local currencies, creative schools, ambitious recycling projects. It has been a huge boost to community-led projects, and is currently on release in 29 other countries, regularly receiving standing ovations, and leading to the formation of many new community projects. It is the perfect antidote to the current sense of global despondency. It also has a great soundtrack! Here is the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUN0QxRB7e0&feature=youtu.be

Please join us for the first Manchester screening of this fantastic film, organised in partnership with the University of Manchester and The Kindling Trust.

Please register for a ticket sooner rather than later to avoid dissapointment, we are charging a small fee of £2 to cover our overheads.

Spread the word about ‘Tomorrow’ and we look forward to seeing many of you on the 26th April.

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#Manchester Council’s staffing level falls further than its carbon reductions

Posted on April 10, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Manchester City Council’s FTE staffing has fallen by almost 40% since 2009, thanks the bloody Tories and their bloody austerity.

Meanwhile of course, Manchester City COuncil’s carbon emissions have not even fallen by that much, but they aren’t exactly adjusting their numbers to calculate the impact of having fewer staff. And the scrutiny committee is totally asleep at the wheel, natch.

The council is playing silly buggers on how many buildings they owned in 2009, and a complaint has been made about that. Meanwhile, here’s part of the FOIA…

1. On 17 November 2009 (when the Executive agreed the Manchester Climate Change Action Plan) how many staff did the Council employ?
10,146 full time equivalents

2. On 25th January 2017 how many staff did the Council Employ?
6,005 full time equivalents

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Manchester City Council trains zero councillors in carbon literacy since February 2015.

Posted on April 6, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Manchester City Council has trained precisely one zero councillors since November 2014 in carbon literacy.

MCFly submitted a FoIA asking for “A monthly break down of how many council members have been trained, from the first one successfully trained, up until 6th February 2017”

May 2013 6
June 2014 3
August 2014 2
September 2014 7
October 2014 1
January 2015 7

And to train those officers (see yesterdays post) and these councillors? Some outfit got paid thirteen grand.
So we asked “is there a threshold at which the council conducts a value for money appraisal of its spending. Thirteen thousand pounds may not seem like a lot, but I think it is.”

And we were told

“There is no specific threshold for value for money appraisals, however, the City Council Financial Regulations are followed in relation to procurement and commissioning.”

Posted in carbon literacy training | 1 Comment

#Manchester City Council trains precisely one member of staff in carbon literacy from November 2014 to present

Posted on April 5, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Manchester City Council has trained precisely one member of staff since November 2014 in carbon literacy.

MCFly submitted a FoIA asking for “A monthly break down of how many staff (officers) have been trained, from the first one, up until 6 th February 2017?”

Here’s the answer we got.

April 2013 86
May 2013 139
June 2013 180
July 13 57
April 2014 18
May 2014 80
June 2014 44
July 2014 191
August 2014 74
September 2014 46
October 2014 5
November 2016 1

Make this up. Go on. I dare you.

Source – Freedom of information request – carbon literacy training – reference number PEO/AJCC86

Posted in carbon literacy training, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Rally re: 20 yrs since 2nd runway, 20 May #Manchester

Posted on April 4, 2017 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Campaign Against Manchester Airport’s Second Runway 20th anniversary rally

20th May 2017 1-4pm

On 20th May 1997 police, bailiffs, and unknown men-in-black, started removing protesters from the site of what is now Manchester Airport’s Runway 2. It would take four weeks to remove everyone from the tunnels and the trees, and twenty years later they still haven’t built another runway anywhere in the UK.

Twenty years later we’re going back, to remember old times, and to remind the world of the terrible environmental cost of air travel.

If you were there, if you wanted to be there, if you saw us on TV, or if you just want to protest the climate impact of aviation, please come along.

If you want to walk to the rally, we will meet at 11:45AM at the free car park by Northcliffe Chapel, on Altrincham Road, Styal (SK9 4JQ) for a 2 mile walk along the beautiful Bollin Valley. The path can be muddy in bad weather, and is unsuitable for pushchairs or people with mobility problems.

The rally will be held at 1PM at the point where the footpath from Styal crosses the A538, behind the Moat House Hotel, a place called Oversleyford Bridge. There is a limited amount of unofficial free parking here.

After a short rally we will walk to the Bollin Tunnel under the second runway, which was the site of Wild Garlic and River Rats camps in 1997.

If you need a lift, or collecting from Styal or Manchester Airport stations please post below.

Please bring memories, photographs, stories and music, and lets make this a great day. We were right twenty years ago, and we are still right.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1697344283897420/

#CAR220

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