The Food for Life Partnership (FFLP) has been commissioned by NHS Devon to support the delivery of the programme in the county.  They are now looking for a locally based manager to work directly with schools to improve the knowledge and consumption of healthy and sustainable food, act as the first point of contact regarding the FFLP programme for schools, caterers, producers and others, and ensure that regional stakeholders are engaged in and value the FFLP programme.

Fixed term contract until 31st March 2013 with annual extension to March 2015 depending on further funding. 15 hours per week (0.4 FTE). Salary £29,877 pro rata.

A full job description is available from the Soil Association web site.

A lantern of the Earth hanging outside the TAAG on the evening of 31^st March was the symbol around which we gathered to celebrate the amazing planet on which we live and to affirm our determination to protect it. We sang together, we ate together and many of us did our very best to draw a map of the world from memory – all by lantern light and after a few drinks. Not surprisingly the task not only provoked some animated discussion but also a great deal of hilarity!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the evening with lantern making, food and song including our friends in Bishopsteignton who sent over some food from their Earth Hour event for us to share. We would also like to thank Robin Brown and friends for providing the fabulous live music. See you all next year.

Mary

A web of sea-floor cables – called interconnectors – may be connecting the UK to countries around the world in the next decade, providing access to sustainable energy.

‘The energy minister, Charles Hendry, is to visit Iceland in May to discuss connecting the UK to its abundant geothermal energy. “We are in active discussions with the Icelandic government and they are very keen,” Hendry told the Guardian. To reach Iceland, which sits over a mid-ocean split in the earth’s crust, the cable would have to be 1,000 to 1,500km long and by far the longest in the world’.

See this Guardian story at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/11/iceland-volcano-green-power

Share with Teign Estuary Transition a celebration of Earth Hour on Saturday 31st March at 8.00pm.

Bring food and enjoy an evening of song, food and music by lantern light at TAAG, Northumberland Place, Teignmouth.

To ensure we have some beautiful lanterns for the night please also join us for a fun couple of hours of lantern making from 4pm on Friday 23rd March at TAAG. Materials provided.

Earth Hour
Earth Hour is is an annual global event when people across the world turn off lights for one hour between 8.30 – 9.30 pm to celebrate the planet together and raise awareness of climate change. More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 alone, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. See http://www.earthhour.org/.

See what Teign Estuary Transition got up to for Earth Hour last year at:
http://teigntransition.org.uk/2011/03/27/saturday-26th-march-social-event-celebrated-earth-hour/

We also have a flier here for downloading if you would like to print out copies to put in your window or pass on to others

Transition Exeter University presents: Building low carbon economies: partnership, activism or transition?

Peter North-Low Carbon Liverpool/University of Liverpool

Pete North gained his BA in History and Politics in 1984. After a few years
working for the Departments of Employment, Trade and Industry, and
Environment, he gained his MA in Peace Studies from the University of
Bradford (1993) and his PhD from the School for Advanced Urban Studies at
the University of Bristol (1997). He was a post-doctoral Research Associate
on a project on Local Business Representation in Local Economic Development
at the University of Sheffield (1996-7). Between 1997 and 2002 he was Senior
Research Fellow at the Local Economy Policy Unit at South Bank University.
He joined the University of Liverpool in 2002. His research focus is on
alternatives to neoliberal globalisation, from a political economy
perspective. Peter is currently working on a one year Economic and Social
Research Council-funded project “Building the Low Carbon Economy on
Merseyside.”    The project is a ‘knowledge exchange’ involving the
University, Liverpool Vision, Liverpool Chamber, and Groundwork Merseyside.
The project aims to understand the practical opportunities and constraints
in building a low carbon economy on Merseyside, moving from an emphasis
primarily on economic growth for what has been seen as an economically
lagging city. He is a founding member of Low Carbon Liverpool-the local
Transition Initiative.

Poldhu Room, Kay Building, University of Exeter
6.30pm Wednesday 7th of March

Seedy Saturday

Saturday 11th February 10am-2pm
Methodist Hall,
Le Molay Littry Way, Bovey Tracey
Free Entry – Seeds only 50p!

Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a complete beginner, come and stock up on really good vegetable seeds at 50p a pack!

Bring your saved seeds, to swap.

There will be expert advice, home-made refreshments, tombola and a junior-gardener area, where under 16s can pot up and take home free seeds!

Good wheelchair access.

Ring Gail on 01626 832478 for more information

Or e-mailgailbanham@talktalk.net

Teignbridge Council is seeking public opinions on its preferred options core strategy. The draft plan shows what the Council is planning for the next 20 years in terms of providing new housing, jobs and other facilities.

Copies of the Plan are being made available for comment on Saturday, January 28th at the Teignmouth Heritage Centre, French Street, between 10am and 4pm. Also on Tuesday January 24th at The Strand Church, Dawlish, 2 – 8pm and Saturday, February 11th, Mary Hall Suite, Kingsteignton Community Hall, 10am – 4pm.

Printed copies of the draft Core Strategy are available from the reception at TDC offices, Forde House, at a cost of £5 and the plan can also be viewed online at: www.teignbridge.gov.uk/planteignbridge

Free screening of the film Money as Debt II.

All of a sudden, bankers have no money and we the taxpayers have to rescue them! Bailouts, stimulus packages, debt piled upon debt…Where will it all end?

Money As Debt II – Promises Unleashed explores the baffling, fraudulent and destructive mechanisms of the money system that holds us hostage to ever-growing debt… and how we might evolve beyond it into a new era.

Following on from Teign Estuary Transition’s successful screening of Money as Debt I last year, this event will provide an opportunity to consider the importance of a thriving local economy. We will view Money As Debt II and excerpts of Money as Debt III: Evolution Beyond Money followed by discussion and development of an action plan for a sustainable local economy that is not based on a traditional model. Suggestions made last year included the use of Credit Unions, LETS schemes and developing our own local currency.

Please join us at TAAG’s Arts & Community Centre, Northumberland Place, Teignmouth on Tuesday 24th January 7.30pm.

Free entry; donations welcome. Refreshments available at a small charge.

Please download the poster here if you are able to display a copy:

Transition Exeter University Presents: “The Weather Gods” at Exeter University, Amory building, Room B316, Thursday 15th December, 18:30-20:30.

Africa is on the frontline of climate change and the effects of climate change can be felt across the continent. The Weather Gods, a new hard hitting documentary, tells the story of the people in the front line of climate change: rural communities in Mali and Kenya and South Africa.

I’m disappointed to say that I heard on Friday that we didn’t get through the second round of bidding for Energyshare funds to upgrade lighting for Alice Cross, Meadow Centre and TAAG.

If you feel that you can help to seek funds elsewhere for this project, please let me know. David Onslow has very kindly offered to hold his quotes for a year.

Meanwhile thank you to everyone who supported this bidding process,
Helen