meeting reports

CA-WN Monthly Meeting Notes 21 September 2023

Our guest speaker this month was Simon Derrick, Global Head of Sustainability for Blue Skies and founder of the Sustainable Business Alliance. Simon gave a presentation on the subject of 'Trade, development and climate justice: the case of Blue Skies in Africa'.  Present: Dave Anderson, Ella Sage, Eugenia

food & farming

Fertility and The Three Sisters

At the time of writing, late July 2023, the local grain harvest is just starting. The combines will be out in the Winter Barley. But there is a long way to go and typically the weather has changed to a pattern of Atlantic lows giving us sunshine and showers from

opinion

My View - Paul Joyce

CA-WN gives a Councillor the space to speak about climate action

business

Northamptonshire Wood Recycling CIC - good value and good for the environment

Business as a Force for Good

individual impact

My 3 Things for Climate Change

by Rachel Dando L'Olive, Towcester Town Councillor, Towcester Community Fridge volunteer and foster carer Food I've always been conscious of food waste. I hate throwing food away!  If you don't believe me, ask my children. I much later became more aware of its environmental

individual impact

Six things for you and the world

Travel – Walking and cycling are healthy for you and healthy for the planet. For longer distances consider travelling by train instead of driving or flying. Renewable Energy – Switch your contract to a renewable energy supplier if your electricity supply is not already from 100% renewable sources. Switching a contract can

local matters

CA-WN went to a festival

CA-WN teamed up with Friends of the Earth at Kelmarsh Hall. Over the August Bank Holiday hundreds of Shambala festival goers came to talk about our action on climate and sign up to FoE's Planet over Profit campaign. FOOTNOTE Yes. Footnote. The Shambala festival has sustainability at its

recipes

Foolproof Fruity Flapjacks

This is adapted from a recipe I found online several years ago, having repeatedly tried and failed to make really good flapjacks. Buying most of the ingredients from a refill shop makes them almost packaging-free and if you're trying to cut down on ultra-processed food they are good

bookshelf

Breathe: Tackling the Climate Emergency by Sadiq Khan

Sadiq Khan's interest in air pollution started on being diagnosed with asthma in his forties, when he was told by doctors that the cause was inhaling polluted air as he ran around London training for the London marathon. This is a fairly short and readable book which I

podcastshelf

Tricycle Talks: Life As It Is

'Life As It Is' is a podcast from the American Buddhist magazine, Tricycle. This episode is an interview with Rebecca Solnit, who has co-edited a book of essays entitled 'Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility'. Perhaps a useful reminder at the

meeting reports

CA-WN Special meeting report 20 July 2023

This special meeting concentrated on getting input from CA-WN members and supporters about our progress to date, and where they would like to see us focus our efforts going forward. It was a very productive discussion, thanks to everyone who participated on the night and provided their views in advance.

individual impact

The latest from CA-WN Exchange - July 2023

Today is the 1st of July and so the beginning of Plastic Free July. Although I’m very much in favour of raising the profile of important issues like eliminating unnecessary single-use plastic, I really hope that the changes made will become habit and carry on beyond July. The same

air

Grow a Garden to Clean the Air

In nature, trees, shrubs and flowering plants of different shapes, sizes, textures and habits all grow together. In our towns and cities, plant diversity can mop up astonishing amounts of pollution from the air. We can play a part in cleaning our air by planting our gardens for air quality.

council

Council Watch - June 2023

CA-WN watching West Northants Council for us all

transport

Risk Aversion? Then risk diversion.

I’ve been reading a book recently called ‘The Entrepreneurial State’ by Mariana Mazzucato. It is an interesting read and I would recommend it. Within its pages the author sets out their view that, contrary to the common consensus, modern states have played a vital role in the development of

opinion

My View - Adam Brown

CA-WN gives a Councillor the space to speak about climate action

individual impact

My Three Things for Climate Change

by Luke Costin, second year student at the University of Northampton studying Multimedia Journalism and Creative Film, TV and Digital Media. It is an established fact that one of the biggest threats facing not just the planet, but humanity, is climate change. It is also undoubted that collective action is

local matters

ONE in Milton Keynes

The ONE Campaign, sponsored by many of the world’s greatest charitable foundations, hosted a Great Big Green Week event for Milton Keynes. And CA-WN was invited. A diary clash had pushed the event to Saturday 24 June, the week after the official GBGW, which very usefully highlights that if

bookshelf

Less is More - How degrowth will save the world by Jason Hickel

After reading this book, I have become obsessed with the idea of 'less is more' and whether it's possible for society (in developed, industrialised nations) to thrive in a post-growth economy. I have no doubt that the environment will benefit. Ever since studying Economics at A

recipes

Penny’s Blackcurrant Surprise Pudding

What’s for afters? This childhood refrain frequently rang round the table as the family polished off our first course. It was either “afters” or “pud”, never “sweet” or “dessert”, so I make no apologies for calling the following dish a pudding, though in the strictest terms pudding should be

podcastshelf

Your Brain on Climate

Collectively, we know that climate change is a serious threat to our future, and we know what we need to do to avoid the worst effects. But we don’t seem to be doing it, at least not fast enough. So why is our behaviour not in line with the

Join us for tea, cake and even more action on climate

Meet like-minded people at an informal social event at the Grosvenor Centre in Northampton on Saturday 8 July. From 1.30pm we’ll be at the Gatherings Meeting Room on the level above the ground floor just along from the Market Square entrance to the Grosvenor Centre. Please register using

meeting reports

CA-WN Monthly Meeting Notes 15 June 2023

Our guest speaker on the Politics of Climate Change was Dr Caroline Kuzemko, Reader in International Political Economy at Warwick University, and author of numerous books, articles and academic papers. She is also Co-Lead of Warwick's Energy GRP and a member of Warwick's Environment & Social

water

GBGW 2023: There’s no more water

It’s true. All the water in the world is just that, all the water in the world. No one knows how water got here and we can't make more H2O. Welding two parts of hydrogen to one part oxygen doesn't work, unlikely as that seems

business

GBGW 2023: A consumer guide to identifying a sustainable business

As CA-WN Exchange contributor Harry Mellor pointed out in his Great Big Green Week article earlier in the week, three-quarters of all our greenhouse gas emissions come from consuming goods and services. Aside from trying to consume less overall, how do we as consumers try to choose more ‘sustainable’ and