Bountiful Bristol Bulletin

Following Transition Easton’s very postive launch event in February,
we will be holding monthly network meetings on the fourth Tuesday of
each month. Coming up we have:
Tuesday 25th March we have a gardening theme with talks by people
involved in local community gardening projects.
Tuesday 22nd April we will have a food theme featuring guest speaker
Paul Mobbs, author of ‘Energy Beyond Oil’ and former director of
Friends of the Earth.

Also, here are details of the March/April Transition Easton film
season. Films will be followed by a discussion.

Monday 31st March  ‘The Power of Community’ Cuba’s inspiring response
to their taste of the effects of ‘peak oil’.

Monday 7th April ‘A Crude Awakening’ New award winning documentary on
Peak Oil often mentioned in the national media.

Monday 14th April ‘Crude Impact’ Exploration of Peak Oil and the
devastating impacts of the oil industry around the world.

Monday 21st April ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ Al Gores award winning film
on the science and effects of climate change. Plus guest speaker Paul
Mobbs, author of ‘Energy Beyond Oil’ and former director of Friends of
the Earth.

Monday 28th April.
Short films ‘Carbon Weevils’ and ‘The Story of Stuff’ followed by
Rob Newman’s ‘History of Oil’ cabaret style exploration of the
inextricable link between oil and every aspect of our lives and politics.

All events will be held 7pm at Baggator Youth Centre, The Pickle
Factory, All Hallows Road, Easton, BS5 0HH.

For further info email transitioneaston@yahoo.co.uk

Dear BBB Readers,

I am proud to report that the short film we made which chronicles the first year of the GROFUN Project is now on the web!

With the help of Kyra, a local film maker/editor and Naomi it is great that I can now point those interested to an engaging and informative film to further promote the benefits of this growing, grass-roots project. My friend Steve produced the music especially for this film.

Thankyou Steve

You can watch the film here and comment or go to and watch and comment there. In terms of promotion of the scheme YouTube probably has bit more clout!

Please feel free to leave constructive comments, but go easy, much of the footage was unuseable due to poor sound or light quality and the final cut is the best it could have been with the raw material we had available. It’s not exactly Palme d’Or stuff, but it’s sort of innocent in tone dont you think?

….a series of films on the on the burning issues of our time
to be held at the Lawrence Hill Methodist Church,
Lincoln Street, Bristol BS5 0BJ
>
> On Wednesday 13th February
> The Power of Community: How Cuba survived Peak Oil
> Cuba, an isolated island nation, rebuilt its quality of life following the
> collapse of cheap oil, supplied by the former Soviet Union. This
> fascinating and empowering film shows how communities pulled together,
> created solutions, and ultimately thrived in spite of their decreased
> dependence on imported energy.
>
> On Wednesday 27th February
> An Inconvenient Truth
> Former US Vice President Al Gore’s crusade to halt global warming’s deadly
> progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that
> surround it. An award winning film not to be missed. (1hr 40mins)
>
>
> On Wednesday 12th March
> Rob Newman’s History of Oil
> Rob Newman (Newman and Baddiel) takes a look at history with oil at centre
> stage as the cause of all commotion. Based around his stand up act and
> supported by archive sequences and stills with satirical impersonations of
> historical figures from Mayan priests to archduke Ferdinand, this is
> certain to provide great entertainment as well as food for thought. (45
> minutes)
>
> On Wednesday 26th March
> The End of Suburbia
> As we enter the 21st Century, serious questions are beginning to emerge
> about the continuation of the suburban way of life. As oil supply
> declines and energy prices skyrocket, what will the consequences of
> inaction be? Rather bleak if we do nothing, but stay behind for
> refreshments after this hard hitting film and find out how the transition
> towns approach offers a route out of the coming crisis and get involved
> with your local group!
>
> All films start at 7pm and will be followed by refreshments and an
> opportunity for discussion. For further information email
> marianbristol@ yahoo.co. uk. Alternatively you can call Marian on 07772
> 342920. See the Bristol website at www.transitionbrist ol.org

TRANSITION BRISTOL PRESENTS THE BIG EVENT

SUNDAY 25TH NOVEMBER All day 9.30am to 6pm

AT THE COUNCIL HOUSE, COLLEGE GREEN

With chilled music at the Folkhouse after-party 6.30 to 11pm. You are invited to The Big Event - a lively day of talks, workshops, films and discussions designed to inspire and inform local action. Find out how you can get involved with a community led, radical rethink Bristol’s dependency on fossil fuels and planning how we can move towards a resilient, creative, positive future. Keynote speakers include leading experts Richard Heinberg, Jeremy Leggett, David Strahan and Dr Chris Johnstone. There will also be a packed programme of workshops covering topics like sustainable transport, eco-building, alternative energy, community gardening, herbal medicine, local economics, composting, carbon reduction action groups, how to work effectively as a group and much more. Many workshops will be run by local groups who are already initiating positive changes in their community plus experts fom national organizations Sustrans, The Soil Association and Centre for Sustainable Energy and others. Full listing on www.transitioncitybristol.org

Lifecycle UK will be providing Dr Bike to give your bike the once over while you fill your head with positive ideas. If you’ve already changed your light bulbs and turned your heating down a notch and are wondering what to do next The Big Event is a chance to find out how you can get involved with shaping Bristol’s transition from energy dependence to a sustainable, resilient and positive future. You are invited to come, be inspired and learn how to find the confidence to act. Ticket sales online or at The Better Food Company, Fresh and Wild, Windmill Hill City Farm and other outlets.

For details visit www.transitionbristol.org. Cost £14/£8 concessions. Please book in advance. Tickets are limited so early booking is advised. Bristol Permaculture Group are holding a benefit at the Folkhouse from 6.30pm to 11pm. Chill to beautiful music from Slow, The Dearlings, Eirlys Rhiannon and Susannah Waters. Simple affordable food. £5 on the door. Flyer

Contact Sarah Pugh

sarah@transitioncitybristol.org

www.transitionbristol.org

Transition Bristol is a not for profit community led organization working in conjunction with the national Transition Network. The project is run entirely by volunteers. Transition Bristol supports and is accountable to a network of locally active Transition Villages including Easton, Barton Hill and Redfield, Bishopston, Redland and Ashton. We also have close links with Transition projects in Bath, Wrington and Thornbury. Sarah Pugh 0117 370 1362 07765 604571 sarah@transitioncitybristol.org www.transitioncitybristol.org Transition City Bristol The Hub King St Bristol BS1 4DZ

Full Programme of Talks and Workshops here

“The Power of Community”

Film showing & discussion

Monday 15th October

7pm-9:30pm

Central Friends Meeting House, River Street, BS2 9DG (map)

“End of Suburbia”

Film showing & discussion

Thursday 25th October

7pm-9:30pm

St Werburghs Community Centre, Horley Road, BS2 9TJ (map)

“An Inconvenient Truth”

Film showing & discussion

Thursday 1st November

7pm-9:30pm

Create Centre, Smeaton Road, BS1 6XN (map)

“Post Peak Agriculture”

Talk & discussion with Patrick Holden (Director, Soil Association)

Wednesday 14th November

7pm-9:30pm

Redland Friends Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road,  (map)

13TH September - 16th September 2007
www.offloadfestival.org
www.polarproduce.org
OFFLOAD: SYSTEMS FOR SURVIVAL is the UK’s first interdisciplinary
network media and systems arts event on nature, sustainability and
ecology.
The event brings together international, national and local artists
and practitioners who create work that use new and existing media to
address the themes of trade, network and nomads and health, wealth
and play.
From the 13th-16 September events and activities will take place
outdoors across Bristol city and at Watershed, Spike Island, CREATE
and the Cube. Events and activities include - site and public art
works, installations, online exhibition, music, interactive media
and
design, sound experiments, live performances, public talks,
educational and practical workshops.
OFFLOAD is developed by the Bristol based company Polar Produce in
partnership with Watershed Media Centre, Spike Island, CREATE,
Bristol Visual Arts Consortium and the Science Communication Unit,
University of West of England.
OFFLOAD is a novelly funded project with support from the Watershed,
The Finnish Institute and the British Music Information Centre.
dr. teresa dillon
………………………….
polar produce
bristol, uk
tel: +44 (0) 117 9044 872
skype: teresa [underscore] dillon
http://www.polarproduce.org/
http://newinterfaces.net/nip/
http://offloadfestival.org

andykisaragi

Just got this in me inbox…

Sustainable Solutions presents a filming of ‘Power of Community’

‘This is the story of how Cuba transitioned from large, fossil fuel intensive farming to small, less energy-intensive organic farms and urban gardens…’
Film screening + informal meeting and discussion + plant swap (just bring along any spare plants you have to swap) - refreshments and drinks available from bar.
Thursday 3rd May 2007 7.00pm FREE ENTRY

Fielden Theatre
City Academy (main entrance)
Russell Town Avenue, Bristol, BS5 9JH
For further information contact Matthew Cheney, Neighbourhood Solutions 0117 353 2308/ matthew.cheney@ndcbristol.co.uk

…anyone who hasn’t seen this, you really should! It’s a very inspiring, thought provoking film, and it was partly Nadia screening it last year at the Audi garage which made me realise that I not only should but could be doing something (or at least trying) to futureproof our world.

Cuba has one of the best quality of life / ecological footprint balances in the world, with a human development index of about 0.8 and ecological footprint of less than 1.9 ha/person (the global average earthshare). When you compare this with the UK’s HDI of just over 0.9 and eco footprint of about 5, and consider the fact that our large footprints probably help keep quality of life down in poorer countries, you can see that we have a lot of lessons to learn from Cuba.

So next week is all planned out: Rob Hopkins at the Trinity on tuesday (see below), then the Power of Community on Thursday. Then after that, for a little light relief, why not head to Mr Wolf’s to see The Mandibles? rockin.

It’s back, following the sucsess of last year - Bristol Latin American Forum, Saturday March the 10th, 2007 - : Themed around social and cultural changes in Latin America, the LAF is a vibrant day event with workshops, plenaries, discussion, music, film, and food by Kebele. It also includes a related evening event with Cuban hip hop artists and a 16 piece salsa band.

(more…)

andykisaragi

Good headline eh?

Democracy Now! reported last Thursday on a train crash in Minot, North Dakota back in 2002. A 112-car train was derailed and an explosion leaked hazardous chemicals - 240,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia - into the atmosphere, leaving a plume of vapour drifting through the town. Anhydrous ammonia burns eyes, skin and lungs on a brief exposure - prolonged exposure can shut down the respiratory system entirely. Hundreds in the town were hospitalised; one was killed.

So far, so horrible. But what’s this got to do with the media?

Well, all six of the town’s local radio stations were owned by media giant Clearchannel. When the train derailed and the town started to fill with noxious gases, panic ensued. Residents who called 911 were told to listen to KCJB, the town’s designated local emergency broadcaster, for instructions. When they tuned in they were surprised to hear nothing but the usual smooth talking djs and Britney classics. Tune to the other local stations. Smooth talking. Britney classics.
(more…)

You’re invited to a free screening of Inconvenient Truth at the City Academy, Russel Town Rd, Easton, Bristol
6.30pm on Tuesday 6th Feb
The film wull be followed by a panel discussion on the impacts of climate change and what we’re going to do about it.

andykisaragi
Bristol Community fm have recently been awarded Brisol’s first community radio broadcast licence. They are scheduled to start broadcasting in April, and now is the time to get involved. There’s 2 meetings this week - unfortunately the first one is firmly in the past (Tuesday evening) but I only found out about them last night so not much we can do about that… Anyway the next meeting is tomorrow (Friday 19th January) at the Beacon Centre, Russell Town Avenue, Lawrence Hill (entrance at end of car park to City Academy). It’s for anyone who’d like to get involved in any way - presenting, interviewing, reasearching, writing, producing, engineering, etc etc. If you can’t make it to the meeting get in touch via the website.