Sustainable Ottery

A local response to global change

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Sustainable Ottery: Ottery St Mary’s response to climate change, carbon footprints and peak oil.

Welcome to the May edition of the Sustainable Ottery Newsletter

Newsletter May 2008

Celebration Launch

Every time we turn on the radio or TV, or read a newspaper, fuel or food prices have shot up. While it’s easy to think that we’re powerless in the face of global corporations and markets, there are plenty of things we can do as a community to protect ourselves.

At Sustainable Ottery we want to work together as a community to find ways to become less dependent on oil and to minimise our impact on climate change. Come along to our official launch to help us celebrate what we’ve achieved in our first year and find out more about what we can all do to make Ottery a better place to live and work.

Rob Hopkins, the originator of the Transition Towns movement, and a permaculture teacher is our main speaker. He will talk about how local communities can make a difference; can be more resilient. You can also find out more about our range of working groups and their plans.

The event is at Kings School main hall, Ottery St Mary at 7.30pm on Thursday 15 May 2008. Tickets are £3 (£2 for concessions, free for under 19s). They are available at Roberts and the Tourist Information Centre or on the door.

Real community feel to Ottery's first community market

Ottery's Town Mayor, Councillor Glyn Dobson, gave the new Community Market a splendid send-off when he cut the ribbon at 9.30am on Saturday morning, 26th April.

The vast majority of the stallholders were local Ottery residents, many of the goods on sale were handmade or grown, and there were several 'green' stalls promoting low carbon goods and lifestyle.

Many people commented on the pleasant atmosphere, that there was a strong feeling of community, and a lovely energy around, and the WI did a roaring trade with their refreshments.

Sustainable Ottery, who organised the market, is delighted at its success, and is committed to holding these markets every month on the last Saturday, until the end of the year.

Diana Jones, a member of Sustainable Ottery, and the co-ordinator of the market, said “The whole idea behind these markets is to celebrate the local community's skills and talents, and to promote the goods they make or grow. It all helps in however small a way to become a little more resourceful, a little more self-sufficient, and a little greener. And in however small a way, it helps to reduce our carbon footprint, and to work towards a really thriving local economy.”  To this end, Sustainable Ottery will be giving priority to local people who make their own products, or who are promoting low carbon goods and lifestyle, at future community markets.

Make your home more energy efficient – it may even save you money

Local expert, Peter Addie is coming to Ottery to talk about Personal Action on Climate, Energy and Sustainability. We’re faced with advice from all sides on what we should be doing to lower our carbon emissions. Peter’s practical talk will help us sort through the claims and work out which things are worth doing and which to prioritise.
Friday 13 June, 7pm at the Institute.

Arts and Creativity

As some of you may be aware we (Clive Essame with Sue Claire Morris) are creating a play with young people at King School, this is based on their response to the environmental challenges, and climate change and Sustainable Ottery is going to be associated with it.

We would really appreciate some help; one thing that has come to mind is gazebos, we would really appreciate the loan of two or three of them on Saturday 21st June, Pixie Day, when the performance is on. Ones with sides would be great, can anyone help?

The performance is at 4pm at Land of Canaan, can anyone help on the day please? Simple things setting up in the morning, giving out programmes, maybe having a small SO stall as part of Pixie Day celebrations, tidying up afterwards, make up, some simple carpentry or costume making would be really appreciated. There is a budget due to a successful grant application from Awards for All lottery fund. Has anyone based in Ottery got a digital video camera we could borrow on Tuesday afternoons between now and June to film short bits of the rehearsal? If we could use it, download the footage on Wednesday mornings and return it each week that would be great. Please call Clive on 01404 814217 if you can help, or come and see me at the Launch Celebration on the Arts and Creativity table.

Sustainable Ottery welcomes new members. Anyone interested in finding out more can come along to a meeting, join one of the working groups (energy, hearts and minds, arts and creativity, factory future, resources, locally produced food, and transport) or email: info@sustainableottery.org.uk. See www.sustainableottery.org.uk for future events.

Please pass this on to any relevant contacts you have. If you would like to be radded to the mailing list please let us know.