Sustainable Ottery

Hello and welcome to September’s Newsletter. We hope that you all have had a good summer break, even if the weather wasn’t particularly summer-like. Well done to everyone involved in getting the new Coleridge bridge planned, built and opened last month which included a couple of members of Sustainable Ottery on the Committee. There’s lots going on this month in Ottery, notably Satish Kumar as guest speaker at the Environmental Exhibition, and also in surrounding areas with The Green Fair at Exeter Cathedral Green this Saturday (10th). Read on for more details ....

‘Green Guru’ Satish Kumar is Guest Speaker at
Recycling & Environmental Exhibition at Ottery Parish Church –
Saturday September 24th 2011 10-4p.m.
This promises to be a very exciting event with inspiring talks as well as a variety of interesting stalls and stands. (poster below for you to display please). Satish Kumar, who will be a guest of Sustainable Ottery, will be speaking at 2 p.m. and taking questions. Satish was born in Rajasthan, India, in 1936. His life is permeated with the theme of pilgrimage. At the age of 9 he became a wandering Jain monk and spent many years in pilgrimage through his homeland. In 1962 he set out on a peace pilgrimage of 8,000 miles from the grave of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi to Moscow, Paris, London and Washington. He has studied Buddhism and Hindu philosophy. He is the Editor of the ‘Resurgence’ magazine which is a multi faceted publication of poetry, politics, imagination, economics and creativity. He has also published several books and is the Director of Programmes at Shumacher College. He now lives in North Devon and his excellent profile of Dartmoor that was shown on BBC called ‘Earth Pilgrim’. Satish presented Dartmoor throughout the seasons showing, as he says "the beauty of nature, but also the economy, generosity and intentions of nature, and how we need to be pilgrims and learn from nature instead of trying to dictate to or dominate it to our whims. When you learn from nature you learn ecological humility, and gain a respect and reverence for nature”. Recently he was interviewed on the BBC programme “Town” when it featured Totnes and spoke on Radio 4. his is a rare opportunity to hear one of the World’s leading environmental thinkers and speakers live in our area. For more information on Satish and Resurgence visit http://www.resurgence.org/satish-kumar/ .Sustainable Ottery’s Helen Collinson will also talk about her work for Christian Aid.

African Drumming- Saturday 10th September
The very popular and vibrant African drumming/percussion workshops continue on our doorstep in Ottery. The next drumming workshop will be held on Saturday 10th September, beginners at 2pm, more advanced drummers at 3.30 p.m finishing at 5 p.m. The cost is £7.50 per session. It will take place at the Station Youth Club, Barrack Rd (ie main road out of Ottery to A30), on the Kings School side of the River Otter on the right hand side, a few metres from the bridge. For more information call 814217. Drums are available to borrow and everyone over 11 years old (accompanied by an adult up to 16) is welcome. Future dates are October 15th, November 19th, December 17th

‘24 Hours of Reality’ – Thursday 15th September 7 p.m.
Al Gore’s follow up to ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is here. ‘24 Hours of Reality’. What is the link between extreme weather events and climate change? What can we do to spur the world to greater action? Al Gore will answer those questions in 24 Hours of Reality, a multimedia event presented in 24 time zones in 13 languages with just one message: the climate crisis is real and we know how to solve it. It will be a global event to get people all over the world watching the live transmission, together. The premiere will be a ‘visually spectacular, multimedia presentation taking place in 24 time zones over 24 hours.’ The UK event will be broadcast live at 7pm on 15th September and will be available to watch live via the link below.
http://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/24-hours-reality-watch-it-live?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Global+Action+Plan&utm_campaign=24+Hours+of+Reality+emailer&utm_content=Watch-Live&dm_i=D8B,J0DL,2MYTZK,1JOJ9,1 
More details can be found on the Global Action plan website – www.globalactionplan.org.uk

Share Cars, Share Costs! Car-Free Day 22nd September
Lesley Smith, Sustainable Travel Officer at DCC has asked us to promote Devon Car Free Day 2011. This is an annual event on 22 September held in support of the International ‘In Town Without My Car’ initiative. She is asking employers across the county to encourage staff to try a different and more sustainable way of travelling to work on that day, rather than making the journey by car. There is also the offer to employers of an opportunity to apply for a small amount of match funding to help support the day plus discounted bus tickets on that day. See www.devon.gov.uk/carfreeday  for more details It may not be possible for everyone to leave their cars at home on 22nd September but car sharing offers an option to reduce the number of cars on our roads. Find a car share partner through www.carsharedevon.com.

Community Market – Saturday 24th September 9.30 am – 12.30pm
The next S.O. Community Market will take place on Saturday 24th September in The Institute, Yonder St. There’ll be stalls selling locally produced, organic fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs and egg products, a huge selection of preserves and chutneys, apple juice and home-baked goods will fill the Institute in Ottery. All this food is produced within 5 miles of the town! For the gaps in the garden there will be plenty of plants to chose from. And don't forget there is always a wide range of home made cards and interesting presents to choose from. After shopping, the WI ladies invite visitors to stop by their table “for a refreshing cuppa and a delicious cake to set you up for the rest of the day”. Why not come o the Community Market before visiting the Exhibition at the Church!
 
Moving Planet Day – Saturday 24th September 9.30 am – 12.30pm
Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis. Come on bike, on skates, on a board, or just on foot. The idea for Moving Planet came from 350.org, a global campaign and network that works with grassroots organisers in 188 countries to mobilize against climate change and for a just future. For more details visit www.350.org.

Community Orchard / More Allotments?
Currently, Justin Pollard, a research student at Exeter University is working with local transition groups in East Devon and Exeter He is keen to explore the idea of a community orchard, allotments or growing space in Ottery. He is successfully investigating this with the other groups too. If this is something that you might like to get involved in either as a grower, investor or land supplier(!) then please contact Justin on justin@sustainableottery.org.uk  

Rotary Raffle
Sustainable Ottery will again be taking part in the Rotary Club’s raffle over the next few months. Please help us by buying these at the Community Market or any other events that Sustainable Ottery take part in. Thank you.

Sainsbury’s Planning Amendments
Some of you may have commented upon Sainsbury’s proposed opening hours and hours of alcohol sales. The matter will be decided this month on September 13th by EDDC. Watch this space for the verdict next month.

Other Events in the Area
Green Fair at Exeter Cathedral Green September 10th 10am - 4pm.
Held early every September the Exeter Green Fair is one of the regions oldest environmental events and has now been running for over 25 years. This promises to be a great day out, and presents a chance for networking etc.

Devon Wild Food Foraging Courses in Sidmouth
Stalking Edible Wild Mushrooms. For the last 12 years Rob Ridlington & Tim James have been ‘obsessively’ intrigued by wild edible mushrooms, and every year during the season, can be seen hunting for them around Sidmouth, Devon. During this two hour wild edible mushroom walk, Tim & Rob will be uncovering the fungal food delights that country dwellers have enjoyed for centuries. Costs £ 20 for two hours – next walk on September 11th and every Sunday after that into early October. For more details please visit www.foragingcourses.com/timrob

Foraging Green Walk September 25th 2p.m - 4p.m.
Organised by Transition Exeter, meet outside Exeter Cathedral leaving 2pm and returning 4pm for a special foraging stroll with local wild food expert Robin Harford coming along to share his rich knowledge on what wild foods are to be found this Autumn around the city and beyond.

Enterprising Coastal Transport - Wednesday 28th September 2011 Ladram Bay
Free places at the Enterprising Coastal Transport Conference and join Mark Horton of the hit BBC TV Series ‘Coast’ plus other distinguished guests at a special conference on Wednesday 28th September 2011, 10 – 4 p.m. Booking essential. The conference is aimed at those with a serious interest in developing Waterborne Coastal Transport and wish to hear about opportunities for participation. More details from Bob Buxton of Devon Towns’ Forum info@devontownsforum.org.uk or 01805 624874 or write to The Devon Towns Forum, Po Box 25, Torrington, Devon, EX38 7WY. 

October 15th - University of Exeter and Transition Exeter Workshop
The University of Exeter and Transition Exeter will be hosting a day of workshops and discussion on the 15th of October. The day will consists of groupwork and discussion for all groups in the Exeter and Devon area and will hope to help improve the functioning and effectiveness of said groups, as well as establishing networks and collaboration in the area. Nick Osborne, a Transition Network trainer will be leading the workshops. It will take place at Sidwell St. Methodist Church from 10am. Please let me Justin Pollard know if you are interested in attending by email: J.Pollard@exeter.ac.uk

SUSTAINABLE OTTERY’S NEXT STEERING GROUP MEETING -
7.30 P.M. THURSDAY 15th SEPTEMBER 2011 OTTERY ST. MARY TOWN COUNCIL OFFICES. ALL WELCOME!

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See www.sustainableottery.org.uk for further details of our events and activities.
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