Bristolians, not least on this newswire, have demonstrated a clear concern in recent years with global warming, climate change, peak oil, social justice and the many related topics and issues. The present UN Summit on Climate change, followed shortly by another G20 summit trying to sort out the planet, are therefore of some importance, coming as they do just 70+ days before the 'last chance' Copenhagen climate change summit.

A relief then to see Murdoch's News Corp owned New York Post coming out with a screaming headline on Monday past: 'We're Screwed!' in reference to climate change. Or is it... read full story / add a comment

Graciela Chichilnisky was lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. read full story / add a comment

Backwell is a beautiful place but is under threat from the expansion of bristol airport over head and from Tarmac under the ground.

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This is largely a repost of some comments, but they struck me as important enough to repost here. They contain interesting insights into the state of the left locally, as well as nationally, and suggest some ideas on coordinated Guerilla Gardening as one alternative approach. I hope the imc vol mods don't mind comments being rehashed like this, but they seem important enough to up the profile on them as an article for debate or just reading and acting on. 'Solutions' gives an email address for those interested in taking these ideas further too, so I hope 'Solutions' doesn't mind the profile being upped on that address either.

This story has been edited so that the email address is not "machine-readable"... Otherwise you'll be getting a lot of spam! IMCVol

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Big News!

We have ONE month left to potentially influence solar power policy in the UK for the next 25 years.

So.. not ones to sit back and leave it to others... This is a facebook group I thought would appeal to fellow Bristol citizens, especially as we are pushing to be a green city! read full story / add a comment

Nick has written extensively on the notion of living off grid, that is how to disconnect yourself from energy and utility companies in order to make yourself self-sufficient and sustainable. Why would you want to do that you may ask? Well as climate change and energy resources such as oil continue to decline, the cost and availability of cheap energy will also decline. Currently our energy needs are being fulfilled by others, such as gas from Russia and Oil from all over the world putting the UK in a very precarious position in terms of energy. This means that new energy solutions will have to be found for the population of the UK. read full story / add a comment

Penguins and humans searching for a new home. read full story / add a comment

The environmental charity Global Action Plan is training households to tackle their ecological footprint via the programme EcoTeams. Participants learn how to reduce the amount of waste produced, use less energy and thereby cutting energy costs. A free training event will be held in Bristol on the 26th of September, where participants will be trained as EcoTeam leaders and learn about the process of an EcoTeam and how to set up their own. read full story / add a comment

Cycling regularly thru Oldmarket, enduring crazy lane swapping drivers and the exhaust emissions by breathing as little as possible, I came across these two related and connected peices.

The first out of 'This is Bristol' and the second from the world reknowned Scripps Institute on atmoshperic oxygen levels.

"After all, while most of us may be willing to wait out the effects of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for a time just to see if we really do get warmer weather and more abundant crops out of the deal; how many of us want to wait and see how little oxygen we can survive on?" read full story / add a comment

Reposted from UK Indymedia: read full story / add a comment

Tangent Theatre Co, a new company dedicated to producing new writing looking at current issues from an unusual angle, is producing "Glasshouse" by Bristol playwright Peter Kesterton at theTobacco Factory Theatre from 18 to 26 September. After his first play, "Air Guitar" looked at the causes of urban terrorism through the eyes of a disenchanted scientist, "Glasshouse" looks at why possible causes of global warming other than human activity are not being explored and reported. The main character, Jess, is a post-graduate scientist, researching within the glasshouse of the title - and having her work suppressed by an MP who is reponsible for tackling climate change. Her supervisor and lover, Professor Berry has to choose who he will support in this struggle. read full story / add a comment

The Daily Telegraph’s headline "All Seafood will Run Out by 2050"sums up the current debate on our oceans. But how much of this is science and how much is scare story? Steve Simpson is a marine biologist and fish ecologist at Bristol University. His particular interests in coral reefs, commercial fisheries, climate change and aquaculture qualify him to shine some light into these murky waters! read full story / add a comment

Arnolfini presents 100 Days, marking the countdown to the 15th UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 15) opening in Copenhagen on 7 December. 100 Days is a major programme of exhibitions, performances, film screenings, debate and engagement around issues of climate change, social justice and the contested relationship between art and activism. read full story / add a comment

Speakers Corner
Sat 29 Aug – 6 Dec 1pm daily

Arnolfini invites contributions to Speakers Corner, an open space in Arnolfini foyer where public speaking, performances, displays, offerings, presentations, recitals, reviews, spectacles, and stunts, are encouraged in response to issues of climate change and alternatives to the culture of consumerism. Speakers Corner is active at 1pm each day for around 30minutes.

If you are interested and would like to book a slot or have any further questions please contact boxoffice@arnolfini.org.uk
0117 917 2300
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The second consultation on the access to the proposed 'cycle' houses from the Railway Path which was promised by Gary Hopkins at our meeting in May is now live. read full story / add a comment

I noticed with interest the publishing of a letter in the Guardiian opposing the expansion of Bristol Airport - notable because of the inclusion of Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity - so it put a bit of a hole in the 'business case' that the airport is trying to push to have a successful local business type person opposing the scheme. read full story / add a comment

With Action Against Agrofuels and Bath Activist Network
Bath agrofuel company Blue NG have also been invited to speak. Blue NG recently received planning permission to build their first plant in Beckton, East London.

Sat 22 August, 7.30pm, at the back room of the Bell pub, 103 Walcot St, Bath

Plz spread the word read full story / add a comment

How can UK actually cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2020?

What will be the economic, employment, social and political consequences of the 40% cut? read full story / add a comment

We will be building a pedal powered stage at the Trinity Center from the 19th-23rd of August. It is open to all ages so anyone is welcome to come on down! There will be activities throughout the week and we will be throwing a party on the last day for everyone to come to. The event is completely free so come get stuck in!

The Bicyclette Team x read full story / add a comment

At 7.30am this morning, around 60 protesters set up the site of Wales' first Climate Camp on the edge of Merthyr Tydfil, next to the controversial Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine. read full story / add a comment