How we stopped our rubbish from going to waste…
written by Alice O'Rourke on December 23, 2010
On November 22nd we gathered in the Chaplaincy auditorium for the much anticipated ” Let’s have a rubbish evening,” a People and Planet Monday meeting with a difference where the Transition Arts Group ran a range of workshops to get creative and think of new ways to use our waste. Around sixty people came along and got down and dirty with what would normally have been cast away without a thought.
Instead we…..
Made Christmas decorations from packets and scrap paper, talked about how to make a greenhouse out of plastic bottles and played around with plastic cups, learned how to make bags and wallets from plastic bags, made jewellery and gifts from old bike parts, experimented with shrinking crisp packets in the oven (and discovered it sometimes goes wrong), made a massive pile of tetra pac wallets and came up with tonnes of ideas for the recycling that was brought along.
We were also honoured to have the Cinéco team along to showcase the budding talent from Edinburgh environmental film makers who took part in their competition earlier in the semester. We saw a varied selection from one about climate change apocalyptic zombies to a film on the joys of skipping (that one was very guuuud).
As part of Buy Nothing Day, Buy Rights Week and EU Waste Action Week this was a great chance to hear about other exciting projects to get involved in. Waste innovations came along and gave us yet more upcycling ideas, changeworks showed off their charity map of Edinburgh, People and Planet invited us all to their staged on campus sweatshop to raise awareness for workers rights and we found out about Bridgend Allotment’s winter festival.
All in all this jam-packed evening was a lot of fun but also a good chance to take a wee step back and think of all the treasures we throw away. Recycled Christmas present making session anyone?
Grassroots Climate Exchange, 18 – 19 March 2011: Register Now
written by Ric Lander on December 20, 2010
Grassroots Climate Exchange: Universities, Colleges and the Green Transition
Friday 18 – Saturday 19 March 2011 at the University of Edinburgh
FULL PROGRAMME NOW ONLINE: download the programme booklet or a text-only version.
How can staff and students make the necessary changes to achieve a low carbon world? Inspired by student groups, students’ associations, and the growing Transition movement, colleges and universities are leading the way. In March 2011 we will gather in Edinburgh to share practical-action solutions to climate change.
Merry Moods and Festive foods – Oh what a feast it was…
written by Alice O'Rourke on December 16, 2010
A million foot of snow didn’t stop us, the feast on December 1st did go on!
After carting around lovely organic winter veg from Whitmuir to various cooking stations around the city, we had a full day of scrubbing, chopping and baking to cook a meal for 120. Easy peasy (cough) for a fantastic group of volunteers from the Fairtrade café, People and Planet, Abundance and Transition, one bike trailer and a car.
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Distance and diversity: What happened at ‘Diverse Routes to Belonging’?
written by Caro Overy on December 14, 2010
“Diverse Routes to Belonging” took place on the 20th and 21st November at the John Macintyre Conference Centre at Edinburgh University. Transitioners from all over the world gathered together to discuss the progress of Transition in their different communities, with a focus around inclusion and belonging.
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Going Greener awards go to…
written by Irina Nedelcu on December 8, 2010
People & Planet held the first ever Going Greener Awards to showcase the innovative, practical grassroots projects and awareness-raising events students have been working on all over the UK.
Looking to buy a new appliance?
written by Sion Lanini on December 3, 2010
The Energy Saving Trust has just launched a new search tool to help you find new appliances that have achieved their Energy Saving Trust Recommended label. This guarantees a level of energy efficiency for the appliance you’re looking to get, which will keep your energy usage and bills as low as possible over its lifetime.
You can search by product type and also read more about the certification standard on the EST website.
Trouble fighting the cold?
written by Irina Nedelcu on December 2, 2010
Edinburgh flats tend to be a wee bit chilly this time of year. And heating them up means spending a lot of money. Although not really..
