South Somerset Climate Action

Sat 2 May
9am-12 noon
Sustainable Gardening Group are having a plant and information stall in the Market Place, Ilminster.
We shall be giving away free vegetable seedlings, planting seeds at the stall, giving advice and generally promoting vegetable growing, the eating of home-grown/local food, enjoyment of growing, sustainability issues etc
Please do come along and support us!!
Tue 5 May
7.30 South Somerset Climate Action meeting
GLADE Centre, Frog Lane, off East Street, Ilminster TA19 0AP
Reports and plans on: Severn tidal meeting conclusions, Energy Generation, Gardening, Tree Planting, Food issues, etc
Tue 2 June
7.30 South Somerset Climate Action meeting
GLADE Centre, Frog Lane, off East Street, Ilminster TA19 0AP
Reports and plans on: Energy Generation, Gardening, Tree Planting, Food issues, etc
Tue 5th MAY
5pm
HP Lecture: The Severn Barrage and Other Options Hydro-environmental Modelling Studies Professor Roger A. Falconer FREng School of Engineering, Cardiff University to be held at CABOT Auditorium, Hewlett Packard Labs, Building 3, Long Down Avenue, Stoke Gifford, BRISTOL BS34 8QZ
This lecture is hosted by HP Labs, Bristol. Members of the public are very welcome to attend (no charge) but all attendees are asked to register their attendance with the Administrator, Julie Lanfear, beforehand. T: 0117 3128550 E: julie.lanfear@hp.com
Sun 14 Jun
10am – 6.30pm Green Fair and Scythe Festival at Thorney Lakes, Nr Muchelney
Workshops, activities, displays, stalls, good food and drink and entertainment to: raise environmental awareness through fun activities, promote sustainable projects, revive rural skills and engage the local community in green issues
To book a stall (no later than15 May) or for further information call Louise Finnis (01308 425 018) or email: finnisl@yahoo.co.uk

The event was attended by 77 adults and created a lively discussion at the end. The issue is does not lend itself to simple conclusions. Readers will make up their own minds. The following may be of assistance.

Summary

While huge resources of cement, steel and fossil fuels would be needed to construct a tidal power unit, there is great potential for generating electricity for many years thereafter with very little need for anything other than the flow of tides.

Concerns were expressed that:

n The wildlife of the estuary should be given all reasonable protection.

n Innovative technologies should be investigated.

n Long term sustainability of our community and the planet should take precedence over corporate ownership and profits.

n Renewable energy will not solve all our problems. Government must make clear that our current way of life is unsustainable however much renewable energy capacity is installed because:

l Fossil fuels will become increasingly expensive – probably quite soon.

l Other resources – particularly metals - are being consumed at an unsustainable rate. This is already a matter of serious concern – coming generations will curse us for our wastefulness.

l UK dependence on imports makes the country vulnerable.

l Burning fossil fuels is rather like using a piano for firewood – it works but there are so much better uses.

l Pollution from the burning of fossil fuels causes breathing disorders, acid rain and many of other problems.

l Climate changes have already occurred. The climate scientists might be right in saying that carbon dioxide will make them very much worse.