Susan Thompson's Blog (74)

Last chance to encourage MPs to vote for the Lighter Later campaign...The Daylight Saving Bill will be discussed on the 3rd of December. Our MP is still undecided... www.lighterlater.org



All the evidence suggests that advancing the clocks would be good for Britain, with significant benefits for:

The economy – by injecting £3bn a year into UK leisure and tourism and creating 80,000 new jobs.

Health – by helping us get more exercise… Continue

Unfortunately the Sustainable Livestock Bill ran out of debating time in Parliament yesterday.

The United Nations report, “Livestock’s long shadow”, notes that livestock farming is among the two or three most significant contributors to global climate change on every scale from local to global. It has calculated that from 18% to as much as 51% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gases come from livestock production.…

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The first art exhibition at the newly opened Linklater Pavillion. Lil Tudor-Craig describes her work as follows:



"I paint native species of wild plants and the creatures they support. The pictures are about the interconnectedness and interdependence of life, our connection and our loss."



The Linklater Pavillion Lewes from 14th - 28th November 2010 10-4 daily

http://www.tudor-craig.co.uk/index.htm…

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Opinions on how the South Downs National Park should be run, have recently been requested: "'National Parks are not just beautiful and historic parts of the countryside, but places where people live and work. They are an asset to our country. This is a chance for local communities to have a say in how we should look after our National Parks for everyone to enjoy for years to come." Natural Environment Minister Richard Benyon DEFRA .



More information can be found at… Continue

After the failure of the Copenhagen climate talks, a successful agreement to protect biodiversity has provided a timely morale booster. Some key goals have been set, including a plan to expand nature reserves to 17% of the world's land and 10% of the planet's waters.



One of the great achievements of this conference has been to highlight the fact that biodiversity is not just about saving a few cute animals, but about preventing risks to entire ecosystems, economies and ultimately… Continue

The following discusssion recently held in Transition Totnes offers TTL some helpful tools as it begins to review and restructure decision making at the above meeting, but more crucially it also reveals some serious challenges ahead for the future of the Transition movement: "http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/ben-brangwyn/2010-09/ways-knowing">>



Rob Hopkins, the co founder of the Transition… Continue

Meeting at 10.30 am in front of Lewes Railway Station on Sunday 14th November, taking the train to Berwick and walking to Littlington for lunch.
Cuckmere Valley Transition have invited us to their screening of the Yes Men Fix the World in Littlington village hall later in the afternoon.

Sustainable Sussex meeting on Wednesday 20th October at 4pm upstairs at the Snowdrop in Lewes.
Richard Watson of Proclime will share his knowledge and experience and plans for BioGas. Joining the discussion will be Chris Rowland, OVESCO and (with luck) Will Cottrell, Brighton Energy Co-Op
Please contact for more details; Jan.Jackson@businesslinksoutheast.co.uk

This exhibition of photographic images includes the work of Axel Hesslenberg - Life is a vineyard which documents the harvesting of local grapes at Breaky Bottom Rodmell.
The Foundry Gallery Lewes from October 22nd-24th and 27th- 31st 11-6pm.

Saturday 23rd October 10am - 4.30pm Brighthelm Centre



The fair will be open from 10am – 4.30pm and there will be stallholders exhibiting their products and services, a programme of short talks, videos to watch, books to buy, and you can even get a feel for how much energy you use with pedal-powered lights. The event is designed to raise awareness of the issues surrounding energy use and to help the people of Brighton & Hove better manage their energy needs, saving money as well… Continue

Village Connections



The Village Connections group welcomes everybody to get involved in transition projects in an informal atmosphere, learning from each other how to become more resourceful as we face an uncertain future.



The aim is to improve communications between those living in Lewes Transition Town and others who are interested in developing positive community resilience - including those who live in the surrounding villages.



Joined up transition thinking… Continue

Sunday 17th October - meet on Cliffe Bridge at 10 am.
Walk with the Amnesty International Group from Lewes to Glynde.

The "storm in a teacup" meeting at Lewes Town Hall last week focussed on the urgent need to find down to earth ways of ensuring local food security. Encouraging the growth of many small scale "village greens" with local people finding their own creative solutions was enthusiastically discussed. This could work along the same lines as the "Artwave" open house model, individuals and groups being supported through "Villagegreen" publicity and events as they transform their spaces: gardens,… Continue

At the last Sustainable Sussex meeting - , Tony Whitbread of the Sussex Wildlife Trust drew attention to the opportunity we all have to contribute to the Government consultation for the Natural Environment White Paper - An invitation to shape the Nature of England.



He explained that this paper will look carefully at how the environment underpins our economy, health and well-being... and is so convinced that this could be a major turning point in how nature is valued that he asked… Continue