Fuelling A Food Crisis
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We'd love you to print and display the attached poster before the event, or forward this mail to others who might be interested. If you cannot print, we can post it to you - Many thanks 07958964810
On Tuesday April 17th, Greenspeak presents
Fuelling a Food Crisis
The impact of 'peak oil' on food security
Downstairs at Terraces Bar & Grill, Marine Parade (100m east of SeaLife Centre), Brighton
7.15 - 9.00pm (£donations welcome)
Petroleum has become the lifeblood of both industrialised and developing countries. Yet there is increasing evidence that the days of easy access to cheap oil are fast running out.
Greenspeak will be looking at the impact of the industrialisation of farming, fertilisers, food imports, biofuel, processed and packaged food and supermarket dominance on our vulnerability as oil becomes scarce.
Speakers
Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, Green Party Member of the European Parliament. Caroline also sits on the Parliament's Trade and Environment Committees, and is the author (with Andy Jones) of The Great Food Swap: Relocalising Europe's Food Supply. She was recently voted among the planet's top 100 people working for the environment.
In her recent report 'Fuelling a Food Crisis', Caroline highlights the extraordinary dependence of existing food and agriculture policy on cheap oil. She demonstrates why this will have to change, emphasising the urgent need to re-localise our food systems and refocus development policies, so that poorer countries can put food security before exports.
Andre Viljoen RIBA, architect and Subject Leader for architecture at the University of Brighton's School of Architecture and Design. Previously he was Deputy Director of the Low Energy Architecture Research Unit at London Metropolitan University. In 2005 with Katrin Bohn he produced the book Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes CPULs: Designing Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Cities. (Architectural Press)
Andre will make the case for considering urban agriculture as essential infrastructure in sustainable cities, describe Cuba’s successful urban agriculture policy and present examples of what cities would be like if they integrated urban agriculture.
The evening will be chaired by Paul Steedman, research fellow at The Food Ethics Council and Green Party candidate for Queens Park ward, Brighton, in the City's May Council elections who says "There is going to be a need for changes in how we eat. We will need to be eating seasonal, local food grown without the use of heated greenhouses. Also there's a question mark over whether we should be eating so much meat and dairy as they are big emitters of CO2 and methane. We need to re-engage people with lower impact ways of living, respecting food culture and being in touch with nature."
We're expecting this one to be busy, so get down there early to get a good seat! See you there.
Kat & Martin x
Greenspeak: Expert speakers searching for solutions to the big issues, in a relaxed and sociable atmosphere, non-smoking, with food and drinks available. All are very welcome www.greenspeak-brighton.org.uk
More info and community announcements below (get your diaries out)
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Greenspeak is organised monthly by Martin Grimshaw & Kat Neeser in association with Brighton & Hove Green Party (www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk or call 01273 766670)
For anyone interested in community forums working for conflict resolution and community building, check out the inspirational a href='http://www.cfor.info'>www.cfor.info
Green Drinks has been re-launched, a (non-partisan) monthly social mingle for anyone vaguely green minded, at The Earth & Stars, Windsor St. Next one Thursday 19th April. Contact Matthew for more info / mailing list matthew.bird@lewes.gov.uk
There is a DVD relevant to Greenspeak on 17th April, entitled 'The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil' which costs £14.95 plus postage and packing, from Permanent Publications (the publishers of Permaculture magazine) E-Mail: orders@permaculture.co.uk Web address: www.permaculture.co.uk Telephone: 01730 823311
Cafe Scientifique is back on Tuesday 17th April at The Branch Tavern (London Rd) with Bob Nicol (Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth) 'Has anyone seen our Universe?' 7.30pm www.cafe-scientifique-brighton.org.uk
The Green Economics Institute presents The Oxford University 2 day Green economics Conference 'The complex mesh of environmental and social justice' - with internationally recognised speakers. Tue 3 - Wed 4 April at Mansfield College, Oxford University. Booking required ASAP www.greeneconomics.org.uk
Thurs 19th April - Hands Off Forum - 'Refugees in Britain' : Displaced by Western foreign policy, detained under UK domestic policy, what drives Britain’s policy on refugees? A discussion with Tim Finch, Director of Communications, Refugee Council, London. 7.30 - 9.00 pm, Brighthelm, North Street, Brighton see www.watchingthewarmakers.org.uk
References
1. Green Party briefing paper on 'Peak Oil' http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/policypointers/peakoilbriefing.pdf
2. Caroline Lucas homepage (including updates of work going on in the European Parliament) http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk - Caroline's recent report, 'Fuelling a Food Crisis', on our addiction to oil, the impending 'Peak Oil' crisis and its impact on our ability to feed ourselves is available to read at http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk/framesets/publications.html
3. For a review of Ande Viljoen's book 'Designing Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Cities' see http://www.walnutbooks.com/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=732&reviews_id=71
4.The Terraces Bar and Grill: 01273 545250 or enquiries@the-terraces.co.uk
Martin Grimshaw 01273 329 573 / 07891 571739
Kat Neeser 07958 964810
martin@greenspeak-brighton.org.uk - feedback, suggestions, assistance?
