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    Art and the apocalypse: do artists and writers have a duty to raise the alarm?

    Paul Jennings of Criafolen | 22-Apr-2015 | 1

    Sometime last year I took my youngest son for a walk along the beach. I’d been reading an article about climate change and the acidification of the oceans. Bad timing you might call it. Read more

    Can degrowth help stop the slide towards ecological collapse?

    Jen Wilton of Jen Wilton Media | 19-Apr-2015 | 2

    Climate justice. A global basic income. Equitable distribution of wealth. Do these seem like wild utopian ideas? A growing body of research suggests that not only are such ideas possible, they may actually be necessary to prevent us falling off any environmental, social or economic cliffs. Read more

    Incredible ‘Frackogram 2015’ shows the many links of vested interest within the fracking industry and government

    In July 2013 I produced a very rudimentary ‘map’of the connections related to un/conventional fossil fuels at the heart of Government. Finally, after two years of research, I have now produced the final detailed version – the Frackogram 2015 Read more

    What I’ve learnt from talking with City bankers

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 15-Apr-2015 | 4

    Recently I’ve had more contact with bankers than I usually do – proper, Square Mile, City bankers. From the things I’ve written on this blog, you’d think we wouldn’t get on. But we did, and we had some really interesting conversations. I want to paraphrase those conversations for you as best I can, and talk… Continue reading What I’ve learnt from talking with City bankers Read more

    the Ecological Land Co-op have produced a much-needed, free overview of research on ecological agriculture in the UK

    The Ecological Land Co-operative recently produced an overview of research on ecological agriculture in the UK. We’ve used this to create a new online resource, freely accessible via our website. Read more

    Restoring a Victorian water wheel to generate hydro-electricity and produce local organic flour

    When building works were completed on the Queen’s Mill in 1888, it became the world’s largest water powered stone grinding flour mill. The water wheel was a 20 foot diameter piece of iron and timber Victorian engineering, large for its type and with high efficiency features. Read more

    Tribute to my friend Martin, who died yesterday

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 10-Apr-2015 | 2

    My friend Martin died yesterday. I drink at his bar – the Little Bar – and dance. I danced with my partner there many times. He put music on, people danced – and sat and talked. Everyone talked to each other. He sold beer made in a brewery on an industrial estate up the road Read more

    Let’s stop subsidising giant, damaging agri-business – join the Landworkers’ Alliance on April 29th

    Join the Landworkers’ Alliance (LWA) as we celebrate Via Campesina’s International day of Peasant Struggle. Weds April 29th, British Sugar Factory, Bury St Edmunds, 1.30pm Read more

    Health warning about breathing on Friday

    Paul Jennings of Criafolen | 08-Apr-2015 | 2

    It’s becoming quite a regular thing, this health warning on breathing. Friday this week, in large parts of the east and south-east of England, air pollution is forecast to rise to dangerous levels. You can check these air quality forecasts out here. Read more

    Are schools just for preparing kids for a corporate world, and should home education be the norm in a future, non-corporate society?

    Paul Jennings of Criafolen | 07-Apr-2015 | 10

    There was a time when it was much easier for me to stumble into an argument over the choice to home educate than almost any other subject. People who would hesitate to call me a fool for being an anarchist or a vegetarian would wade in with all kinds of Read more

    Our partner Janet’s upcoming knitting, spinning, sewing & craft tour of Scotland by folding bicycle

    Knit 1 Bike 1 – a journey, a book and an exhibition: Janet Renouf-Miller of Create With Fibre sets off on 29th June 2015, on a Brompton folding bicycle to cycle 850 miles round Scotland, giving free talks and workshops in exchange for accommodation. Read more

    Braziers Park community wants to set up a university completely independent from the corporate sector, and you can get involved

    ‘When a university becomes a business the whole of student life is transformed. When a university is more concerned with its image, its marketability and the ‘added value’ of its degrees, the student is no longer a student – they become a commodity and education becomes a service.’ Read more

    How new straw-bale homes could help solve the housing crisis

    In an ordinary street in Bristol, UK, something extraordinary is happening. All of the seven houses are made with straw. Read more

    Bring back scrumping! Here’s how…

    Local Fruit Futures manager Anne-Marie Bur plays a key role in turning schools across Sussex into grounds for the next generation of scrumpers. “It’s really heartening seeing kids picking fruit and eating it fresh.” Read more

    Psst…. want to buy a straw-bale building – off the back of a lorry?

    This strawbale building is suitable as a demonstrator building, a box office, an information centre, an office, a guest room, a teenage crash pad, a studio etc. and can be located in your garden or near your premises, subject to suitable access. Read more

    Are we forgetting what pristine nature looks like?

    Paul Jennings of Criafolen | 25-Mar-2015 | 7

    Singing about the environment, Joni Mitchell reminded us “that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”; maybe the truth is that very quickly after things are gone they are forgotten, not only lost, but unmissed Read more

    Natural beekeeping: should it replace conventional beekeeping?

    I’d like to set out how the stance of the Natural Beekeeping Trust (NBKT) evolved and to contrast this with both the conventional approach and with that of others on the so-called natural beekeeping spectrum. Understanding this is important if confusion is to be avoided. Read more

    Ecological Land Co-op publishes its first annual report; feedback welcome

    NB: the Ecological Land Co-op set a precedent in England (following the success of Lammas Ecovillage in Wales) by gaining planning permission for homes on smallholdings outside the development zone (in Devon), by agreeing to abide by strict ecological criteria Read more

    The elephant in the room that will be present at all pre-election debates

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 19-Mar-2015 | 47

    Last night I attended an event organised by our local Transition group, Transition Town Tooting, where local people were able to meet and chat to parliamentary candidates for the upcoming general election. Read more

    Who wants to help resurrect the Straw Bale Building Association?

    Dear all, This is an open invitation to a meeting to discuss the resurrection of the Straw Bale Building Association (For Wales Ireland Scotland England). Read more

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