Jenny's letter
From Jenny Meade, in answer to Cllr Margie Currie's letter in the Banner last week, suggesting that immediate tasks like saving the Post Office could be more urgent than saving the planet. I close my eyes and look to the future------I see desert to the horizon.
Written by Jenny Meade
Thursday, 11 February 2010
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From Jenny Meade, in answer to Cllr Margie Currie's letter in the Banner last week, suggesting that immediate tasks like saving the Post Office could be more urgent than saving the planet.
I close my eyes and look to the future------I see desert to the horizon. Oh, but what’s that speck in the distance --- It’s a Post Office!! We’re saved!! All is not lost. (I am an ardent supporter of Post Offices and village shops.) Of course saving the planet is not a joke. Do we want the films The age of Stupid and The End of the Line to tell the story of our generation?
I had solar panels 35 years ago. At present, the sun provides free energy. We can be empowered by either having Off Grid energy sources, or now, thanks to the brilliant work of Alan Simpson MP from Nottinghan ( who talked to us in Brodick Hall along with Katy Clark MP on Jan. 30th), the government have this week announced Feed in Tariffs which mean that we get paid for any surplus energy we channel onto the grid.
Alan Simpson assured me that it is legal and possible to feed in energy for local use without a grid upgrade. See; www. meadowspartnershiptrust.org.uk , and
‘Meadow’s ozone Energy Services co’, OZONE—a brilliant example of how to empower a community to join together for everyone’s benefit.
www.Eastneukenergy.co. and National Energy Action. www.nea.org.uk show us what others are doing.
Every person on Arran has something to offer, so that the island can be self sufficient with sustainable food and energy sources. Presently at ArranGoesGreen we work voluntarily, but equal pay jobs will materialise.
I have a letter from Ian Austin MP “Communities and local Government” confirming that all Community Interest and conservation groups must work together, sharing concerns, information and resources. He says we should expect our local authority to take a leading role in co-ordinating and driving the development of a low carbon economy, so we look forward to Margie Currie’s empowerment. We all appreciate the work she does to integrate island life.
I do understand Margie’s expression of concern with regard to the population explosion; I read an article recently expressing the Carbon Value of contraception on a Quaker website.
We have to face the obvious, the Earth is a limited finely balanced resource. How are we intending to feed everyone? Most of our marine life has already been stolen from the sea, sustainability arrested by the effect of trawlers which decimate the sea bed. The sea bed and marine life are held in trust by the Crown for us all, not just for a minority of greedy fishermen. We cannot reap without first sowing.
As David Attenborough pointed out, the population 50 years ago was a third of what it is now. Our land needs to become super productive again! Perhaps we should be looking at post war years when everyone pulled together. Farming is hard work but very rewarding, providing we create a market for the produce.
I spent many years working on farms when I was younger so I do identify with the life.
Mass-produced vegetables may only contain half the nutrients we need to build and maintain healthy bodies. Nutrient deficiency not only enables dis-ease, but gives rise to behaviour problems and substance dependency, see ‘Mental and Elemental’ Carl C. Pfeiffer Ph.D and also Dr. Lawrence Plaskett medical biochemist, with whom I learned Nutritional Medicine. Organic, or ideally Bio-dynamic growing methods, which are being initiated on Holy Isle, feature in one of their courses in August for anyone wishing to develop their knowledge and understanding.
Environment, housing quality, sustainable energy production, organic food production, local shops and Post Offices and recreational areas (including village halls) all affect health, wealth, and well-being. We are at present negotiating a plan to re-open Lamlash Hall to use as an information exchange centre for all community projects, after an ECO upgrade, to include installation of a sustainable (continuous), energy system. We have confirmation of local authority support, although unfortunately not financially.
See;
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localdemocracyconsultation
and
www.communities.gov.uk/speeches/corporate/greencouncilsfuture
With new housing developments we need to be considering many aspects, allowing for installation of central biomass, solar, hydro or other appropriate energy sources for the whole community. Sharing transport could also halve the wear and tear on our roads. If you want to try this out, see www.liftshare.com who are facilitating Arran wildlife festival’s transpor . Cut fuel use, reduce poisonous gases, and make new friends!
The new feed-in tariff can empower us, whilst reducing bills.
5/2/10 The Scottish Government have announced “Householder green energy help” which includes cutting red tape in planning system to make it easier for people to generate clean, green energy which can boost Scotland’s renewable sector and support jobs.
ArranGoesGreen@live.co.uk looks forward to ideas from everyone.
How can you support Arran’s new era?
Jenny Meade,
by e-mail
Thursday, 11 February 2010
138 views 0 commentsFrom Jenny Meade, in answer to Cllr Margie Currie's letter in the Banner last week, suggesting that immediate tasks like saving the Post Office could be more urgent than saving the planet.
I close my eyes and look to the future------I see desert to the horizon. Oh, but what’s that speck in the distance --- It’s a Post Office!! We’re saved!! All is not lost. (I am an ardent supporter of Post Offices and village shops.) Of course saving the planet is not a joke. Do we want the films The age of Stupid and The End of the Line to tell the story of our generation?
I had solar panels 35 years ago. At present, the sun provides free energy. We can be empowered by either having Off Grid energy sources, or now, thanks to the brilliant work of Alan Simpson MP from Nottinghan ( who talked to us in Brodick Hall along with Katy Clark MP on Jan. 30th), the government have this week announced Feed in Tariffs which mean that we get paid for any surplus energy we channel onto the grid.
Alan Simpson assured me that it is legal and possible to feed in energy for local use without a grid upgrade. See; www. meadowspartnershiptrust.org.uk , and
‘Meadow’s ozone Energy Services co’, OZONE—a brilliant example of how to empower a community to join together for everyone’s benefit.
www.Eastneukenergy.co. and National Energy Action. www.nea.org.uk show us what others are doing.
Every person on Arran has something to offer, so that the island can be self sufficient with sustainable food and energy sources. Presently at ArranGoesGreen we work voluntarily, but equal pay jobs will materialise.
I have a letter from Ian Austin MP “Communities and local Government” confirming that all Community Interest and conservation groups must work together, sharing concerns, information and resources. He says we should expect our local authority to take a leading role in co-ordinating and driving the development of a low carbon economy, so we look forward to Margie Currie’s empowerment. We all appreciate the work she does to integrate island life.
I do understand Margie’s expression of concern with regard to the population explosion; I read an article recently expressing the Carbon Value of contraception on a Quaker website.
We have to face the obvious, the Earth is a limited finely balanced resource. How are we intending to feed everyone? Most of our marine life has already been stolen from the sea, sustainability arrested by the effect of trawlers which decimate the sea bed. The sea bed and marine life are held in trust by the Crown for us all, not just for a minority of greedy fishermen. We cannot reap without first sowing.
As David Attenborough pointed out, the population 50 years ago was a third of what it is now. Our land needs to become super productive again! Perhaps we should be looking at post war years when everyone pulled together. Farming is hard work but very rewarding, providing we create a market for the produce.
I spent many years working on farms when I was younger so I do identify with the life.
Mass-produced vegetables may only contain half the nutrients we need to build and maintain healthy bodies. Nutrient deficiency not only enables dis-ease, but gives rise to behaviour problems and substance dependency, see ‘Mental and Elemental’ Carl C. Pfeiffer Ph.D and also Dr. Lawrence Plaskett medical biochemist, with whom I learned Nutritional Medicine. Organic, or ideally Bio-dynamic growing methods, which are being initiated on Holy Isle, feature in one of their courses in August for anyone wishing to develop their knowledge and understanding.
Environment, housing quality, sustainable energy production, organic food production, local shops and Post Offices and recreational areas (including village halls) all affect health, wealth, and well-being. We are at present negotiating a plan to re-open Lamlash Hall to use as an information exchange centre for all community projects, after an ECO upgrade, to include installation of a sustainable (continuous), energy system. We have confirmation of local authority support, although unfortunately not financially.
See;
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localdemocracyconsultation
and
www.communities.gov.uk/speeches/corporate/greencouncilsfuture
With new housing developments we need to be considering many aspects, allowing for installation of central biomass, solar, hydro or other appropriate energy sources for the whole community. Sharing transport could also halve the wear and tear on our roads. If you want to try this out, see www.liftshare.com who are facilitating Arran wildlife festival’s transpor . Cut fuel use, reduce poisonous gases, and make new friends!
The new feed-in tariff can empower us, whilst reducing bills.
5/2/10 The Scottish Government have announced “Householder green energy help” which includes cutting red tape in planning system to make it easier for people to generate clean, green energy which can boost Scotland’s renewable sector and support jobs.
ArranGoesGreen@live.co.uk looks forward to ideas from everyone.
How can you support Arran’s new era?
Jenny Meade,
by e-mail
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