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Introduction to Permaculture Design – A two-day course
These courses introduce the basics of Permaculture and show how this approach can be applied. These courses are run regularly.
3rd-4th June 2009 – NOW TAKING BOOKINGS
For full details and bookings please visit:
www.brightonpermaculture.co.uk
Following the success of the Greening Events Summit in 2008, the event
is returning this year with a new name, a new venue and a clear focus –
50 practical steps to take back to your organisation to make your
events more sustainable.
The Sustainable Events Summit 2009 takes place on Friday 22 May at One
Wimpole Street, London. With sustainability currently a huge issue in
the events industry, and organisers eager to learn best practice and
implement sustainable measures, this is a timely moment for the summit
to take place.
The aim of the day is to provide delegates with 50 practical actions which they can take back to their organisations. The summit will be chaired by Lucy Siegle, ethical living columnist at the Observer and BBC One Show presenter. Lucy will be ensuring that the event is dynamic, inspirational and encourages practical action.
Delegates at this event will comprise heads of events / event directors across a variety of business sectors; event media and suppliers to the industry. We are targeting around 250 delegates to maximise the value of the day for all attendees.
The Summit will provide an informative day for delegates. We aim to include interactive sessions to add variety and incorporate future technologies. Speakers confirmed so far include:
David Stubbs, Head of Sustainability, LOCOG;
Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development – Sustainability, BSI;
Neil Grange, Sustainable Event Management Consultant, Arup;
Alison Tickell, Director, Julie’s Bicycle.
Other participants include representatives from Wembley Stadium, The Guardian, The Ryder Cup and Virgin Trains.
Last year’s Summit had 200 attendees and once again we want as many attendees as possible to share their experiences and commit to practical action to make the events industry more sustainable. Early Bird tickets are available now at a reduced cost.
To book tickets go to the Summit website at www.sustainableeventssummit.com. For more information call Joelle McNichol from the Summit team on 020 7515 5775 or email Joelle@sustainableeventssummit.com.
The Sustainable Events Summit is supported by our sustainable host venue, One Wimpole Street, which will be offering a high-tech, interactive experience for delegates as well as a sustainably sourced seasonal menu. Other partners of the event are the Association of Event Venues, the Event Supplier and Services Association, Conference News and Exhibition News.
The Summit will also feature an exhibition space showcasing the latest services and solutions in event sustainability. If your company would like to be featured in the exhibition space get in touch with Joelle on 020 7515 5775.
The Sustainable Events Summit aims to be the catalyst for real change in the events industry. Come along and be part of it.
–ENDS—
Notes to editors:
1. The Sustainable Events Summit is managed by Green Business Events and Seventeen Events.
2. One Wimpole Street is a sustainable venue in central London which was recently accredited to the BS8901 sustainable event management standard.
3. A full list of speakers with biographies will be available shortly on the event website – www.sustainableeventssummit.com.
4. Exhibition stands and limited sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information contact Joelle McNichol on 020 7515 5775 or Joelle@sustainableeventssummit.com.
The current climate can not be described as prosperous whatever the
profession that you are in. It is not a way of ‘living’ but merely a
means of ‘surviving’. This has never been more accurate than for the
women in waste.
The name Jane is defined as one of the many feminine forms of John
whereas John is defined as an English masculine name. In the workplace
in many industries today, focussing on the Environment Industry in
particular, the name John should now be classed as the masculine form
of Jane in an evident reversal of roles.
Jane Davidson and Jane Kennedy are two women impacting the Environment Industry through leadership as Environment Ministers. Many other women now sit on the Board of Directors in Environmental organisations that were previously male dominated.
Jane Kennedy was appointed the Minister of State for DEFRA – Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs – in October 2008. In the waste world she has recently been in the news with plans for building 1000 anaerobic digestion plants to process food waste and farm manures into heat, power and fuel. These plants aim to be built by 2020 to help meet targets of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 26% and furthermore reduce greenhouse gasses by 80% by 2050.
As the new Minister for Farming and the Environment, Jane Kennedy has many responsibilities including animal welfare and health and more relevantly waste and recycling. She is one female minister out of three male ministers at Defra.
Jane Davidson – Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing – was voted Number 1 in the Resource Magazine’s ‘Resource Hot 100’ – a current list of who is influencing and actioning change in the sustainable waste management industry in the UK.
Her role as Minister includes leading on Climate Change and Sustainability on behalf of her Cabinet as well as planning, energy, water, waste and promoting walking and cycling. As a result of her ambitiousness and support, Jane Davidson was awarded 3rd place in the Independent on Sunday’s http://www.independent.co.uk/ Green List of the top 100 environmental campaigners in the UK.
Published lists as mentioned, awarding individuals on their efforts in environmental positions in the environment and related industries, and headlining the news are increasingly being dominated by influential, powerful females such as CEO of WRAP, Liz Goodwin, Head of Waste at EA, Liz Parkes, the Environmental Officer at Lush, Ruth Andrade and most recently the new Head of Consultancy at Mistral Group, Amanda Barry-Hirst.
Over the past year, Allen & York – global leading recruitment specialists in the environment and related industries – have moved from a 100% male management team to a 50:50 ratio of men and women, managing the individual teams of expert consultants, to the Company as a whole.
Successful, professional females is still a fairly new concept today as Women’s rights including the right to vote, to work, equal and fair pay, to be educated etc, changed at the beginning of the 20th Century. For centuries, women fought for the same rights as men and it finally changed from women having limited rights to the equal existence of men and women today.
Environmental history focuses on men’s roles and generally ignored any female involvement; evidence of this has been identified in texts that centred on elite male concerns and generally disregarded or marginalised females resulting in numerous gaps in the environmental history of women.
In recent decades, women have openly and noticeably expressed concern about environmental issues from all social classes, nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. This change increased alongside the increased number of movements in support of women’s rights, put together women recognising that they have the right to participate in environmental dilemmas.
Women have worked together to effect change by establishing NGO’s – Non-Governmental Organisations – which has made them increasingly powerful as they acknowledge to the world that not only do they have the right to act as catalysts for change but theories have stated that women could better protect the Earth than men if in power. This combination of feminism and environmentalism has lead to the new approach, Ecofeminism.
Ecofeminisim or Ecological feminism was a term born in 1974 by Francoise d’Eaubonne, a French feminist, who believed that the social mentality that leads to the domination and oppression of women is directly connected to that leading to the abuse of the environment.
The core belief of Ecofeminisim is that of male domination, exploitation of women and of the degradation of nature by men, overall proposing patriarchy as the root cause of many of the problems in the world.
Gender and Urban Waste Management is a topic that has been researched into and it was discovered that the empowerment of women is critical in the support of new initiatives in urban services and environmental protection to increase project effectiveness, avoid costly mistakes and ensure equitable access to resources or benefits which the project makes available. The latter supporting ecofeminstic beliefs that male domination has hindered the environment in the past.
Womens movements such as Ecofeminism and earlier movements like the NUWSS, National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, and the WSPU, Women’s Social and Political Union, existed purely for freedom and to fight for what they believed in.
However, forty years after the Equal Pay Act, surveys still show women getting paid significantly less than men for similar work therefore the question can be raised, are women truly equal to modern men and in the current economy will this be a deciding factor for the future of the women in the waste industry?
A recognized figure in this industry like Jane Kennedy has been able to advance in her field and career but she is still outnumbered by men in the boardroom which would possibly signify that a discriminatory “glass ceiling” still exists for women.
The TUC – Trades Union Congress – general secretary Brendan Barber said, at the beginning of March, that the recession was going to be an ‘equal opportunities recession’. However, a study conducted by the TUC showed the redundancy rate among women had risen by 2.3% which was almost double the rate for men in 2008.
With this in mind, are women still fighting an uphill battle to gain the respect and authority they deserve from a previously male orientated industry? Or has the balance changed to sit in favour with a female majority?
Paul Gosling, Operations Director at Allen & York says, “It has been apparent over the last 3 years that many of our clients have recruited more women in what used to be male dominated roles and at all levels from Graduates to Directors.” He continued by saying, “This change is not sector specific, but noticeable across the Environment and all related industries that we serve.”
It is obvious that it is the beginning of a changing era where women will continue to fight for the top jobs and succeed. The nature of business will never really change, people will take on certain roles, make changes, or not, and then move on. The challenge is how long you can hold on to that position and be seen as a success. Certainly from the ‘Resource Hot 100’ Jane Davidson is ranked number one but amongst a male majority, how long will she be able to hold on to the top spot?
**END**
Notes to the editor:
About Allen & York:
A&Y have established a market leading presence in Sustainable Environmental, Health & Safety, Planning and Energy by continually striving to be not just effective, but the best in their field. With worldwide experience of specialist recruitment knowledge, their results speak for themselves. Allen & York’s role is to take the hassle and uncertainty out of the recruitment process whilst at the same time freeing their client’s time to continue doing what they do best. As standard, Allen & York offer a bespoke, cost-effective service that is backed up by continuing commitment to ethical practice and professional excellence. www.allen-york.com
About Jane Davidson:
Jane Davidson is Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing following her appointment in July 2007.
Previously she was the National Assembly Education and Life-Long Learning Minister responsible for all aspects of education, training and life-long learning from 2000 – 2007.
Jane Davidson is married with three children and lives in Gwaelod y Garth.
Educated at Malvern Girls’ College, Birmingham University and the University of Wales, Jane taught at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi in Cardigan and Coedylan School, Pontypridd. Jane is an experienced youth and community worker and former Cardiff City Councillor.
Prior to entering the Assembly, Jane worked for the Youth Hotel Association in Wales, ran an anti-poverty organisation and was responsible for health, housing and social care for the Welsh Local Government Association.
Jane is a keen walker and cyclist and recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Until her appointment as Minister, she was the Vice President of the Ramblers in Wales and has walked most of Wales’ long distance footpaths and regularly cycles to the Assembly. wales.gov.uk
About Jane Kennedy:
Jane Kennedy MP was appointed Minister of State for Defra in October 2008.
Since 1997 Jane has been member for Liverpool Wavertree and before that was member for Liverpool Broadgreen from 1992-1997. She was educated at Haughton School in Darlington, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and Liverpool University.
Jane has previously been Financial Secretary to the Treasury (2007-08), Ministers of State in the Department of Health (2005-06), Department of Work and Pensions (2004-05) and Northern Ireland Office (2001-2004) and Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord Chancellor’s Department (1999-2001). She has also served as a Government Whip (1998-99) and was a member of the Administration Select Committee (1997-99).
Earlier in her career Jane was residential child care officer at Liverpool City Council (LCC) (1979-1983) and care assistant at LCC Social Services (1983-88). Other past roles include Branch Secretary (1983-88) and Area Organiser (1988-92) of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE).
Born in 1958, Jane lives with her partner Peter and has two sons. Her interests include walking, training dogs and horse-riding. Jane was also chair of Labour Friends of Israel from 1997-98 and from 2006-07. www.defra.gov.uk
Ochre & Ocre have teamed up with the lovely folk at Wiggly Wigglers to offer all of their newsletter subscribers an amazing 15% off any Wiggly Wigglers product. The offer is valid until the end of May, and only one per household.
To see the offer code, sign up to the Ochre & Ocre newsletter (scroll to the bottom of the page). It is a monthly round up of what’s been happening, special offers, and exciting new ranges.
Heather Gorringe has been composting and encouraging others to do the same since she founded her company – Wiggly Wigglers 20 years ago. Now Wiggly Wigglers is a really rural living store which advises and encourages people to compost and live more sustainably through a series of “How to” videos and their facebook group and their very popular award winning weekly podcast.
Soap Star Gets Quizzing For Christian Aid Week
Eastenders star Kara Tointon is helping put the fun into fundraising by
backing this year’s nationwide Quizaid during Christian Aid Week (10 –
16 May 2009), which aims to raise vital funds for the world’s poorest
communities.
Last year Quizaid raised £185,000 for Christian Aid’s
overseas development work in 49 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin
America. This year the charity is challenging the great British public
to use its grey matter to raise £225,000.
Organizing Quizaid couldn’t be easier with the charity providing packs with all you need including question cards, posters, invites, answer sheets and a certificate for the winning team. All quiz organisers will be entered into a draw for a year’s supply of chocolate courtesy of the fair trade company, Divine Chocolate. There is a similar draw for those that participate in Quizaid.
‘I hope all the pubs, clubs and community halls up and down the country get quizzing for Quizaid,” says Kara. “Having seen some of Christian Aid’s work myself in Zambia, where I saw children who have been orphaned by HIV given homes and care, I know how vital this money is.’
In a bid to get even more people quizzing, four new levels of questions have been introduced – Brainiacs, Average Joe’s, 11-18 year olds or under-10s. Just choose which category your participants fall into and then pick from subjects such as sport, music, geography, pot luck, history and maths. The emphasis is on having fun while raising money for a great cause.
Click here for quiz teasers and to request a free Quizaid pack, log on to www.christianaid.org.uk/quizaid or call 0808 000 5005. Get your friends, family or work colleagues together at home, at school, in the office or in the pub, charge everyone £2, then get quizzing!
ENDS
For further press information contact Emma Wigley ewigley@christian-aid.org or call 020 7523 2452
Renewable energy enthusiasts invited to share their expertise (and win a wattson)
The experience and enthusiasm of people who have installed renewable
energy (such as solar panels, biomass boilers or wind turbines) in
their home is at the heart of YouGen’s remit of
helping make it easy for people to navigate a complex new market and
choose wisely.
Research* shows that people have difficulty in finding impartial, informed advice about renewable energy; that 91 per cent look at the internet for advice; and that they want an installer who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, reliable and preferably local. YouGen will use social media to provide a one stop shop for renewable energy.
‘We’re calling on people who have installed renewable energy or made their house more energy efficient to register on the site now, ready for the user-generated section which goes live after Easter,’ says founder Cathy Debenham. ‘To encourage them, we’re entering everyone who registers before Easter into a draw to win a wattson – the stylish energy meter from DIY Kyoto.
‘Renewable energy is a really confusing market, and most of the early adopters have a story to tell. While their original motivation may have been to reduce energy bills, or for energy security or environmental protection, renewable energy often fascinates people in a way they don’t expect. It engages you with the energy you use, bringing you closer to nature and more aware of its power.’
Companies serving the domestic renewable energy, microgeneration and energy efficiency markets are also invited to register, and they too will be able to add profiles once the user-generated section of the site goes live after Easter.
The YouGen site currently consists of independently researched information, which prides itself in giving practical information, cutting through the jargon and making it easy for people to see if a technology is suitable for their home. The blog has regular contributions from YouGen Energy Experts who are professionals in their field, and are happy to answer questions. It covers energy efficiency as well as renewable energy.
Recent blog posts include:
For more information contact:
Cathy Debenham, e: cathy@yougen.co.uk, t: 01395 597879
YouGen – renewable energy made easy – www.yougen.co.uk
Charity events provide extra motivation to get fit, according to new research
Signing up to take part in a charity challenge can boost your motivation to exercise, according to a new poll by marketing agency YouGov. In the poll – commissioned by Christian Aid and completed by more than 2,000 respondents from across the UK – 60 per cent of 18 to 34 year olds said they are more likely to stick to a regular exercise routine if they have signed up to a charity challenge such as the BUPA London 10,000.
The BUPA London 10,000, the capital’s newest 10km race, takes place on
25 May 2009. The route takes in many of London’s famous landmarks
including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and St
Paul’s Cathedral. With all non-charity places now filled, running for
Christian Aid not only provides the motivation to get fit but also the
opportunity to raise vital funds to help fight poverty in the
developing world.
Christian Aid will provide participants with a high-spec running vest,
a training plan, nutritional advice, lots of moral support and a
fundraising pack full of ideas and materials. The deadline for entry is
24 April and registration costs just £50. Participants must raise a
minimum of £300 for the charity.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the BUPA London 10,000
or other challenge events visit www.christianaid.org.uk/events
call 020 7523 2248 or email events@christian-aid.org.
ENDS
For further press information contact Emma Wigley at ewigley@christian-aid.org or call 020 7523 2452.
Notes to editor
Christian Aid is an international development agency working in 50 countries with people of all religions and none.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total
sample size was 2194 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 30th
January – 2nd February 2009. The survey was carried out online. The
figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults
(aged 18+).
The latest issue of Sustained, the free lifestyle magazine for smarter living, is out now.
In Issue 9, kindly sponsored by The Converging World, you will find features on alternative energy, permaculture, bushcraft, a carbon debate, alternatives to car ownership, chocolate, a campaign for greater local democracy, an interview with arctic explorer Pen Hadow, and Jules Peck’s vision for the 21st century citizen amongst so much more.
As Sustained is free and designed to be accessible to the majority of people why not use it as a tool to help raise awareness in your community? Alternatively, you might just want a copy for yourself. Either way, here’s how . . .
Sustained: small change – big difference
Take the hassle out of living a greener and more sustainable lifestyle
Eco Concierge, launched today, is offering a new green lifestyle
service, helping people live in a more sustainable and eco-friendly
way. The new service gives consumers expert advice and assistance on
making the right green and ethical choices, helping people to save
time, money and the planet.
As part of the new service, Eco Concierge lifestyle managers meet with clients and help them create and deliver an action plan that reduces their environmental impact in a way that fits with their lifestyle, values and priorities. This can range from a complete lifestyle review covering home, shopping and travel, to advice on one off events such as organising a green wedding, an eco holiday or environmentally friendly building renovation.
After calculating their current ecological footprint, Eco Concierge gives clients a free quote outlining the environmental and financial savings they could make by becoming greener. Clients are then supported with practical input and new ideas including making green choices, researching and project managing the best eco suppliers and negotiating discounts on a wide range of environmentally friendly products and services.
Kirsten Jack, founder of Eco Concierge says, “I set up this company because I know people want to do the right thing, they are just very busy and don’t get round to doing all the things they’d like to do. Armed with the right information and encouragement, our clients are able to make changes that bring new ideas into their lives, help the environment and save money.”
Eco Concierge has the tools to make a quick but thorough analysis of clients’ personal values, motivations and current eco behaviours. This means that each service is uniquely tailored to be both motivating and accessible for clients.
Eco Concierge draws on a considerable pool of expertise in finding the right information, products and services for clients at discounted prices. Lifestyle management packages start from £25 a month; a full lifestyle overhaul is £199. For more information or to request a free quote, customers can visit www.ecoconcierge.org or get in touch with Kirsten@ecoconcierge.org or call 07505 480903.
Ends
Notes to editors
There are three main services, with all clients offered a free quote and a starter pack with freebies and discounts specifically relevant to them. The Quick Fix service is a ‘lifestyle overhaul’ and costs £199. A bespoke solution is designed that delivers the footprint changes the client is interested in and shows the total money and planets saved.
The One Planet Living service is a monthly drop in support service to helping clients at busy points in their year, for £25 a month. This could include helping to organise a child’s birthday party, helping with ethical investment decisions or booking a summer holiday.
Conscious Living is a service for busy people who know what they want and simply need support to make it happen. It may be a low impact home renovation, a gift for a busy person, or help to make your garden a wildlife haven. The service is charged on an hourly rate of £35, with reductions for longer jobs.
The initial free consultation takes a maximum of 30 minutes and can be done face to face or virtually. A follow consultation on booking to understand clients’ needs normally takes approximately 90 minutes. From there, the client chooses how much they want to be involved in tracking actions taken on their behalf – Eco Concierge can offer detailed information about the reasons behind their decisions or they can simply get on with delivering the actions – depending on the client’s preference.
Eco Concierge aims to do well by doing good and takes its own sustainable operation as well as its support of individuals and businesses seriously. Its mission is to have a net positive effect on the world and to be authentic, honest, transparent and fair.
Kirsten Jack has a relevant MSc and is an Associate of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. She has seven years experience working in the environment sector – across business, charity and government sectors in the UK and internationally.
For more information
For an appointment with Kirsten Jack, founder of Eco Concierge, photography, case studies, or interviews, please contact:
Jo Marino – 07932 403555
The Spring Consultancy
jomarino@thespringconsultancy.com
Anna Guyer – 07976 556164
The Spring Consultancy
annaguyer@thespringconsultancy.com
Hand Up Media is the Edinburgh based ethical media, publishing and
events company that engages people to ethical lifestyle issues
Since
setting up three years ago, Hand Up Media has printed almost 3 million
publications about fair trade, ethical & sustainable lifestyle
issues, organise events such as The Edinburgh Ethical Christmas Fayre
which had over 20,000 visitors in 2008, The Fair Trade Experience, the
UK’s biggest weekend Fair Trade event and The Ethical Emporium on
London’s South Bank. We also provide PR, web and marketing services to
ethical businesses and organisations.
The latest and exciting Hand Up Media development is the launch of www.ethical tv the first global online TV website dedicated to films, stories, news and views about ethical lifestyle issues that affect people across the world.
ethical tv aims to encourage and inspire active participation and empowerment through this first dedicated ethical online TV website.
Channels include:
Why ethical tv
Tania Pramschufer, Co-Director of Hand Up Media says “We’re passionate about promoting sustainable and ethical lifestyle issues in positive, stylish & empowering ways to help individuals to make positive changes. ethical tv aims to provide individuals, organisations and businsess with a comprehensive one stops online library of films on ethical issues. More than ever, people are actively seeking information on ethical lifestyle issues. We will be constantly updating the site with new films, views, news and campaign updates to help keep viewers abreast of ethical issues”.
ethical.tv will be providing film and production services to ethical organisations and businesses and can also offer their own dedicated online TV channel on www.ethical.tv
Co-operative tv
‘The Co-operative is delighted to be the primary sponsor of Ethical TV. By bringing together experts on a range of ethical issues, Ethical TV provides a unique space to view films that will generate enthusiasm, engender debate and motivate people to take action and drive change’.
Michael Fairclough, Head of Community & Campaigns
Send your films and news
If your ethical business or organisation have films and news for ethical tv please get in touch with tania@ethical.tv
Send your films on DVD, good quality Quicktime MOV and MPEG files are best.
All films and news will be vetted before being uploaded, for more information see our content policy on www.ethical.tv
