Ideas for this autumn/winter currently include:

a Clothes Swap - recycle your gear and revive your style!

a "Heart and Soul" evening of Joanna Macy's deep ecology - "The Work that Reconnects" plus a Networking event

a Reminiscence Day - talking about life in Lampeter before the age of cheap oil

a fundraising disco with Sixties music

continuing the series of film and discussion evenings

If you would like to get involved with putting these events on, or if you have ideas for future Transition events and the skills and enthusiasm to make them happen, then contact Val on 01570 423666 (9 am - 9 pm) or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The next Events meeting will be in mid-September. Up to now the Events Group has met on Wednesday afternoons every three weeks or so. If new members join who can't come to afternoon meetings, we will hold some evening meetings as well.

Welcome to the latest missive on what's hot and what's not on the climate scene.

Pembrokeshire South East Energy Group invites all to an Wind Farm open day and presentation about "The development of wind farms and their impact on local communities"

Introducing the TBG Blog!

Notes of Meeting in Llandeilo, Oct 25th 2008

Note: Agreed date of next Meeting Saturday Feb 7^th Machynlleth: Hosted by Bro Dyfi: Venue TBC. This follows agreement at this meeting to a policy of moving the Network meeting round the country. The Chair Peter Segger asked for offers for meeting venues later in 2009.

In attendance

Rhiannon Rowley (Chair. AM) Chris Leech, Sue Weaver, Isabel Lovelock, Chris Evans (TT Llandeilo) Di Greaves, Geoff Greaves (TT Llandrindod) Rob Owen, Di Gill (TT Holywell) Mandy Dean, John Mason (TT Bro Dyfi ) Kate Stewart, Peter Segger (Chair PM) (TT Llanbed) Steve Hack, Penny Spawforth, Jenn Carter (TT Calon Teifi) Chris Lawrence, Sally Woods (TT Narberth) Tom Latter (TT Bro Gwaun)Marcus Perrin (TT Chepstow) Rhodri Thomas (Cynnal Cymru) Ben Brangwyn (TT Totnes+Transition Network) Martin Fitton (Transition Network Wales)

Introductions

During the Group updates two issues received lengthy discussion; the continuing problem of achieving full communication through the Network and the need to involve the Welsh Language and indigenous community in the TT Groups.

Communication

It was agreed that-

Use of the Wales Forum on the Transition Website to highlight the Wales Network programme of meetings, agendas and meeting notes would provide an additional  channel for communicating to member and potential members of the Groups.

Ben Brangwyn and TT Network would provide a Welsh language link to the Wales Forum on the home page and a Welsh language Introduction to the Forum.

The mapped data for Groups had now been restructured and Groups could enter the most appropriate email for contact. This might also show what proportion of the entries on the TT Web were actually active.

Finally it was agreed that all Groups would make further efforts to forward Wales Network information  to all their contacts so information was widely spread.

Welsh Language Community

Kate Stewart (TT Lambed) reported some reduction in the number of Welsh Speakers attending meetings. This had been especially noted at the recent Lampeter TT launch. This led to discussion about the best strategies to adopt to ensure Groups were fully representative of the community. This issue re-surfaced at several points in the meeting. Rhiannon Rowley emphasised that the groups had to be serious about bi-lingualism and that Welsh and English text should be of the same standard and receive equal prominence in Group documents.

Translation of the Primer

MF reported that he had received two quotes from recommended translators and proposed to accept the lower (£1235). An application had been made for a Welsh Language Board (WLB) Promotion Grant. (50%). After discussion about the possibility of using volunteer translators it was agreed to go ahead and if grant was not received from the WLB to draw on RR's offer of help and from contributions by the individual Groups. It was agreed that volunteers would be needed to update the Primer. Rhiannon thanked Ben for the offer of £600 donation towards translation costs.  Action MF

Common Themes

Bags

A number of Groups reported on costs and impact of commissioning and distributing bags within the community. Chepstow had distributed 7000, sourced from India costing with printing £1.75 each. RR had costed bag production in her factory using organic cotton; cost with printing £2.75. Fishguard had commissioned jute bags at
£1.30 with printing. A number of Groups had considered sourcing re-cycled cloth but none had fully costed this option.

It was agreed that bags could be a useful tool for local promotion of TT especially during the launch stage but that there was little merit in putting effort into an all Wales programme. Those Groups who had commissioned bags would of course share information with any interested Groups.( Chepstow; Marcus Perrin This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   Llandeilo: Rhiannon Rowley: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Fishguard: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

It was reported that the Assembly was finally considering a national ban on free plastic bags and it was recommended that Groups should contact their AM's to encourage them to support the proposal.(Action All)

Food etc

Peter Segger outlined the opportunities of encouraging composting and lobbying local authorities to set an example. In a wide   ranging discussion promotion of allotments was also raised though a note of caution was expressed as land had been allocated in some areas and not taken up(e.g.Abergavenny)  Also highlighted was the high incidence of anaerobic digesters in some European Countries (7000 in Germany 1 in Wales).The launch of the Soil Association Food Security Commission in November might also provide an encouragement to action.

Little was resolved though it was agreed that data collection by the groups on waste collection of compostable food waste may be valuable if Cylch or the WLGA did not have this data.   (Action PS to review and if appropriate prepare a short questionnaire for groups)

Energy Descent Strategies

Kate Stewart reported that Menter Lambed had received £100,000 RDP Grant to undertake an EDP. This would be the first Group in Wales to undertake the exercise and KS agreed to circulate background data on both the bid and methodology as the work progressed (Action KS). BB offered Jackie as a contact in Totnes for further info on EDPs. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    for info.

Grants and Funding

This led to a general discussion about EU funding opportunities. MF report on the INTERREG bid which would now be made in January. Rhodri Thomas and Steve Hack thought there might be potential for Objective 1 convergence funding and it was agreed that this should be explored further.(Action MF/RT/SH to prepare a note and to also consider whether Cynnal Cymru could act as lead partner for a bid)

Education

MF reported on the possible opportunities for integrating Sustainable Development into the curriculum that could arise now that the new Foundation Phase  of then "Wales the Learning Country curriculum was being mainstreamed. Related to this the Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC) initiative also offered an opportunity for TT Groups to work with their local schools. In promotional material teachers were being encouraged to use NGO expertise in taken ESDGC forward. At the same time ESTYN Reports suggested a lack of consistency in the presentation of ESDGC. If TTs were to take advantage of this opportunity they would need to be informed about curriculum developments so that TT could be tailored to the curriculum. The Assembly were running two workshops that would help with this. This issue led to an enthusiastic discussion and a general agreement that it should be explored further. Marcus asked that Kate Stewart's young daughter's inspired contribution on her involvement in a "healthy schools project" be noted. He wondered whether we could get school groups to contribute to future Network meetings. (Action MF to draft and circulate a more detailed note. Mandy Dean would also review opportunities)

ESDGC Workshops

It was noted that the Assembly Government were running conferences on ESDGC. In

         South Wales - 10th November - ECM2, Port Talbot

        North Wales - 12th November at Glyndwr University, Wrexham  

These had the objective of encouraging people from across the sectors to work together on ESDGC projects including education groups, voluntary sector organisations, businesses and communities

Contact for registering; Claire Horton DCELLS 02920 825822 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  (Thanks to Mandy Dean for this information)

Sustainable Communities Act.

MF reported that the Assembly had opted out of this legislation and Wales could not be re-included except by further legislation. The Assembly considered existing powers were adequate in Wales. Agreed no further action at this time

Future of the Network

In a wide ranging discussion it became clear that a number present  were not aware of the structure agreed at the first Builth meeting despite the wide circulation of the remit for the network for further comment on three occasions. As was pointed out by PS this focused on sharing good practice and promoting the principles of Transition and where there was agreement, facilitating joint action. The Community Groups remained autonomous and fully responsible for activity in their own communities. The focus was sharing information and avoiding undue bureaucracy.

In an extensive discussion a sizeable minority indicated they would like more structure and a clearer statement of objectives. (With these perhaps posted at each meeting) At the same time a large majority (included some who wanted a clearer structure) valued the informality and the open nature of proceedings. It was clear that, difficulties notwithstanding, no progress can be made without full and equal use of both languages of Wales.

It was agreed that a further and hopefully final discussion would take place at the next meeting from which would come a further refinement of the network remit.

Ever effort should be made to get a full attendance and it was hoped that all groups would be represented (ACTION all Groups to ensure representation)

The Chair's Personal Summary

PS summed up the meeting as having been a continuation of previous Network meetings where good energy and spirit prevailed. That the core discussions were food and associated activities; energy, education and funding and much was taken forward in a practical manner. He reminded the meeting of the invaluable and selfless work of MF and he hoped MF would continue as Coordinator into the foreseeable future. Many thanks also to TT Llandeilo for the facilities.

Date of Next Meeting

• Organise a referendum in March 2009 (as it might be the only fair way to make a decision in this instance).
• Ensure that Tesco can't be granted planning permission until the results of the referendum are known and decisions made accordingly (this might need a specific campaign on its own or just a bit of lobbying).
• Outreach / propaganda: for it to reach everybody in town the material probably needs to be posted through every door and, to reach people's minds, be non controversial and non alienating. (I mean by that non-classist, non anti-welsh, and not culturally dominated or charged).
• Connect with other towns' experiences of Tesco and find an outlet for these voices. It could be a short audio or video record of these people. It could be posted through each door again. Cost of this would on the lines of 500*30p = £150-200.
• If you can, raise money by putting donation boxes in all supportive shops.
• For me you can't say no to Tesco if you have no alternatives in mind for providing more affordable food in town. What I am thinking of? Well I'd like to study with others the possibility of a viable cooperative - not for profit, providing jobs, cheaper food (maybe food in bulk), not only based on alternative food (healthy, vegan etc...) but more varied. In other words focusing on a kind of shop or food depot. Also to:

• develop the idea of customers having an input into the products they want to see and would purchase.
• check the possibility of delivering the food to doors or even inside houses.
• check the possibility of cooking one or two meals a couple of times a week and delivering them to people who need it for an attractive price (like £1 a portion, or cheaper price for families and older people).

These are just some ideas.

The economic recession continues apace with stock markets remaining volatile and currencies faltering under the threat of collapse. Governments may have shored up the banks, but does that amount to fixing the system? Unfortunately not, because the problem lies not just with the banks but with the very way money is brought into circulation. All over the world the way money is created is nothing less than a gigantic pyramid scheme which always was going to collapse - it was just a question of when.

Like most people and businesses, you probably think that when you take out a bank loan, the money comes from hard cash that others have deposited in the bank. Wrong! The money you borrow actually never existed before and is simply created "out of nothing" by the bank sending you two statements. The first is your current account statement showing that the amount in your account increased by the amount you just borrowed. The other statement shows that you owe that amount back to the bank, plus interest. But this has nothing to do with the relatively small amounts of hard cash actually sitting at the bank. In actual fact, banks lend out many, many times more money than they actually hold as physical deposits. This lending "out of nothing" is what the bankers call "fractional reserve banking" or the "credit multiplier"; suitably technical-sounding terms designed to make your eyes glaze over while the banks practice what is, effectively, legalised fraud. Let me state it baldly: they create the money out of nothing by writing it into your bank statements even though they only had a fraction of that amount in their vaults as hard cash. It costs them next to nothing and yet you'll have to pay the full amount back plus the interest! - and, if you can't, they'll take your house. Heads they win, tails you lose.

If you are interested in the campaign against a new Tesco in Machynlleth, please join the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it list.

https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/notescomach