Then I went to NESTA for the launch of their new research reports “Confronting Climate Change” and “People Powered Responses to Climate Change“.

I spotted about a dozen LCCN members and active supporters in the audience, some are NESTA Big Green Challenge finalists or recent recipients of Defra’s Greener Living Fund, so I can understand how some of them felt they had to choose their words carefully when asking questions or responding to the presentations.

While I have no argument with NESTA and other funders creating a “buzz” around funding community led responses to climate change, in fact I’d agree it needs to have a higher media profile, what leaves me angry – furious in fact – is Ed Miliband making an off the cuff remark calling for more “Competition between Communities”. Anyone who has done decent research into community cohesion will tell you it thrives in a spirit of co-operation and collaboration. And the most successful low carbon community groups are the ones that are open, sharing and welcoming in addition to being imaginative and innovative.

Perhaps the reason I’m really angry is that I’ve heard the Minister talk several times over the last few months, spoken to him and Joan Ruddock about communities across the UK who are responding to climate change in ways that are as unique and diverse as the people who live there – while lazy or overstretched journalists looking for a quick and dirty story on climate change might resort to a quick google of “transition towns” , low carbon communities are harder to find but just as active. As Lucy Seigle admitted at the WI launch, she often researches items on the One Show by calling the WI or “Transition Towns people”. TT are easy to find because they share a common name. But, LCCN names are as diverse as the people they support: TRANSITION, GREENING, LOW CARBON, ENVIRONMENT, CARBON RATIONING, CLIMATE ACTION, SUSTAINABLE OR WORLD CHANGING. Here you will discover volunteers who are running study tours for local farmers to find out about anaerobic digestion, building sustainable community buildings, setting up food co-ops, giving free one-to-one energy saving advice to their colleagues and neighbours. Projects which have been funded and evaluated by Defra and yet, appear to be so off DECC’s radar that I wonder why I’ve bothered spending the last year bending over backwards to answer questions from Defra and DECC employees or introducing them to active communities who are achieving measurable reductions in carbon emissions and building a world less reliant on finite resources.

OK, so Ministers were “too busy” to attend the last annual conference for low carbon communities and NESTA might not fully understand the extent of grass roots responses to climate change which might explain that  unfortunate remark, it’s not competition which builds communities, it’s respect, shared values and mutual support. Yesterday a NESTA rep told us about the film crew that wanted to make a “Dragon’s Den” style programme about the finalists, but complained the finalists were all “too nice and helpful to each other”. Of course they are – that’s why they’re successful! I am more interested in the communities that looked at the Big Green Challenge and decided not to bother, choosing instead to just get on and “do it” rather than go through all that effort just to be told they weren’t innovative enough. Ruralnet’s Community Carbon Network, which hosts this blog is one example. A fantastic opportunity for volunteers to share skills and experiences, to build capacity and knowledge in an online space which leads directly to offline action, but it’s not sexy enough for funders, doesn’t lead directly to carbon savings and so struggles to do reach its potential.

While Ed Miliband speaks fine words, and this week’s announcements are a start; I’d like to remind him that we are not “In a time of transition”. We need to do more than just “our bit”. As they say in Bollington, this is a time for “Revolution”, for new and innovative ways of living. It’s not about Hubbert’s Peak, resilience, or the great reskilling, but about finding ways to cherish what is good about the spaces we live in, to acknowledge that our choices do have an impact on the lives of others and that modern, dynamic low carbon lives are not about learning to live with less, but about living different. Building communities that value who we are and what we do not what we have.

Finally, looking at the reports NESTA’s events was showcasing: I have spoken to dozens of community groups who will tell you the Big Green Challenge was exhausting and divisive. It’s no surprise to me the research NESTA commissioned reports that the applicants struggled with the sections on the application form about scaling up or replicating their projects or that they showed a lack of understanding about outcomes based evaluation. These projects are run by volunteers, people with full time jobs, families and caring responsibilities. They aren’t professional fundraisers or writers of busniess plans. They don’t have an in depth knowledge of Defra’s Headline Behaviours, but they do understand people. They know what messages work in their neighbourhoods and which don’t. The formal Third Sector has a role to play in supporting these informal groups as they have acknowledged , which is why the LCCN is proud to be part of Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. Here WI members rub shoulders with Surfers Against Sewage and faith groups, communities, schools and membership organisations like the National Trust and RSPB make up a mass movement or ordinary people who want to see strong and binding policies on climate change, not symbolic gestures or fine words. We want deeds – and we’re leading the way in our own homes and organisations.

Next week I’m going on holiday, a chance to spend time with my family in a tent by the sea. With no electricity and no wifi, but a school of dolphins and local food cooked over an open fire I’ll have time to reflect and wonder why a throw away remark got me so hot and bothered.

But, Minister, when I get back from my holidays, if you want to engage with the grass roots movement you are seeking I’ll be happy to introduce you – but if you’re too busy or too shy – there’s no need to be worried … it’s coming to a street near you in December….or maybe that’s exactly why you should be?

* So Minister, if you want to lead a low carbon revolution – “Just F’ing Do It” – we’re right behind you!

ColaLife is a campaign to get Coca-Cola to open up its distribution channels in developing countries to save lives, especially children’s lives, by carrying much needed ’social products’ such as oral rehydration salts and high-dose vitamin A tablets.  ColaLife is an independent and purely voluntary movement backed by thousands of supporters on its Facebook Group. ColaLife is not an organisation, it’s run by volunteers with vision and passion.

It was launched by Simon Berry, who had the idea while working on the British Aid programme in 1988:

“What about Coca Cola using their distribution channels (which are amazing in developing countries) to distribute rehydration salts? Maybe by dedicating one compartment in every 10 crates as ‘the life saving’ compartment?”

At 3pm on Friday 17th July , My friend Russell Tanner will be on the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square as part of the One and Other project. He’ll be joined by a “Twittermob” of supporters, and a model of the aidpod that has been designed to carry much needed supplies to where they are vitally needed.

You can read about Colalife here

I could tell you all about the project,  and how excited I am to be involved, but wouldn’t do it justice, read the Colalife Blog for yourself and find out how to get involved here

If you’re on twitter, why not “Twitter for good” this week and let your followers know about Colalife’s appearance in Trafalgar Square, or if you’re in London go along and speak to one of the many supporters who will be there to tell you more.

Finally, send me a tweet and let me know you’re supporting Colalife too.

Thank you

On December 7, 2009, leaders from 192 countries will gather at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to determine the fate of our planet. Let’s turn Copenhagen into Hopenhagen. Hopenhagen is a movement, a moment and a chance at a new beginning. The hope that we can create a global community that will lead our leaders into making the right decisions. The hope that by solving our environmental crisis, we can solve our economic crisis at the same time. Hopenhagen is change – and that change will be powered by all of us.

“LocalGovCamp is an unconference for local government. Taking place on 20 June 2009, at the Fazeley Studios in Birmingham, it will be a gathering of people interested in how local government needs to adapt to a world of social networks and data sharing”.

Apart from the chance to meet lots of people I’ve only “spoken” to on twitter, I’m looking forward to finding out what Local Authorities are doing to initiate better conversations with communities. If we are going to get serious about reducing carbon emissions then Local Authorities are going to have to work closely with “Low Carbon” communities to meet Defra’s per capita household reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

There’s an opportunity for real partnership here – and hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to meet some of the people working in local government who also see the wider benefits of active citizenship – of everyone taking an active and rewarding part in the decision making which affects their lives.

Over the past few months my life seems to have been taken over by climate change related events and the blossoming of the Low Carbon Communities Network. Life – and writing this blog – seems to have been “on hold”. Apart from the essentials such as planting out the veg,  feeding the family and dog walking I seem to have spent most of my time on trains, in meetings and maintaining a social life via email and twitter! Since the premiere  of Age of  Stupid and the launch of the Low Carbon Communities membership scheme it has become more obvious to me that there is real “grass roots movement” among communities who are developing sophisticated responses to the reality that climate change will affect all our lives in some way (indeed it has already affected many of here in the UK as well as abroad). These communities are actively seeking out ways to “engage” with their friends and neighbours, to make sure that everyone can make informed choices about how they use and generate energy in their homes.  I am constantly inspired by their imagination and ingenuity and if anyone should wonder why I carry on doing this work the answer can be found in the people and places I have visited over the last 3 years.

P

There has been quite a debate and it seems people are either proud to call themselves and activist or see it as somehow a negative term. For me, an activist is someone who is active in their community – or as one delegate put it “We’re the people who get things done”. There are some volunteers here from Creative Industries in Salford who are filming some of the sessions and interviewing people who are taking part – including me! I’ll add some information about them later.

I’m interested to know what motivates these volunteers to keep going, so in my session I asked the group to make a list of their successes and things they are proud of – it’s quite a list and I’ve posted here as an example of how proud we should be to be called “community activists” and the real difference we are making in our communities.

“It’s Not All Bad…”

• We’re child led / community led “We Listen”
• We have a knowledge of what local people  want and need
• We cater for all ages, anyone is welcome “we are inclusive”
• We teach kids to grow veg – and to cook and eat it!
• There is a “knock on” effect, improved self esteem and confidence in kids who take part
• Be bold – convince people you can do “it” – even if you think you can’t!
• We are good at building relationships and finding key contacts in other organisations
• We all have success stories – but no-one to share them with

Of course there have been the usual gripes about lack of core funding, about local councils who invite communities to take part in “tick box”  consultations and the need for support and advice for hard pressed volunteers.

What I will take away from here is a reinforcement of my belief that unpaid does not mean “unskilled” and that we have an under utilised, under resourced team of willing and able community volunteers who can, and are making a differnece in their own neighbourhoods. These are the people who don’t need to be “empowered”. But  they do need support to enable them to help others in their communities to choose to get involved and recognise that a true community only exists when people who live and work in the same neighbourhoods spend time together learning to respect each other and share common aims for a better community.

Watford Screening

It’s been a hectic few weeks leading up to the cinema release of the new British Climate Change Documentary Age of Stupid. Starting with the Premiere on 15th March, where low carbon community volunteers spoke on over 40 locations to share their stories about how grass roots communities are working to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. With the film now on general release across the UK, local groups have planned a variety of events and activities to tie in with local screenings.

Of course, there is hardly time to sit back and relax – with the Low Carbon Communities Network through to the next round of Defra’s Greener Living Fund – we’re all busy putting together our Smart Living proposal to prove that the peole we know and trust can help us reduce our doemstic energy demand while living rewarding, stylish lives. Reducing our consumption of the earth’s finite resources is not just about saving money, it’s about taking back control of our own energy demand, using what we need more efficiently and event exploring ways to generate our own power in our homes and communities.

Because I actively sought out people with the skills and enthusiasm to help me I’m now blogging, twittering and capturing on video the activities of grass roots communities. My confidence in social media and the web as a tool of communication  means  I’m able to instantly access all manner of information and helpful folk.

But, as the conversations continue I begin to feel a little bit uneasy that crucial partners are missing in the debate.  Looking at some forums  I’d make a guess that the majority of contributors are white middle class males with a university education and a plethora of  social media whizzardry (is that a word?) at their disposal.  I apologise immediately to Clare White and others who are also joining in – but forgive me for asking – how many of the contributors to this debate are real bona fide grass roots communities who are reaching out and getting these new technologies into their projects and communities? Where are the guys from the Traveller Community, the single women living on benefits in the “rough” parts of town, the wheelchair users, the deaf, the young?  Some people might call them the “hard to reach”, but I prefer to think they are just being  “easily overlooked”.  How will those bidding for the Digital Mentor tender ensure that these grassroots groups (many of whom are volunteers but just  as capable of sharing their skills and knowledge as the professionals) are heard and able to participate in the design and develoment of services?

I see the same thing played out in the world of community responses to climate change, villages like my own (Ashton Hayes) and the Transition Network get shedloads of media coverage, they are the focus of dozens of academic and government research documents. Why? Because their web presence makes “desktop research” simple and efficient. This means that community groups who don’t have access to broadband, computers, mobile phones or any of the other tools we can use to communicate our activities via the web simply don’t get acknowledged. Yet, these are the groups that are doing amazing grass roots stuff, exciting and innovative approaches which work in their own situation.

I’ll give you an example, last week I had an email from a “Transitioner”, full of excitement about a new initiative “which all started in Totnes“.

She told me “…It’s called Landshare“. This isn’t new, families and communities have been garden sharing for years, here in Ashton Hayes the Ash-Worth Timebank facilitates a similar scheme (I share a neighbour’s greenhouse) and Bollington started something similar last year. But, because these activities don’t  appear on  a website there is no way of communicating what’s going on to a wider audience and so they are simply “overlooked”.

There are dozens of ways we institutionally exclude people from participating in civil society, if we’re not careful then the digital mentor scheme could be just another. Luckily I have faith in my twitter friends that they won’t allow this to happen. I just hope that whoever reads the tenders and makes the decisions can see past the promises to reach the low hanging fruit (ie people like me) and get stuck in to building partnerships with real people doing real stuff in their own communities. AND, most importantly making sure that access to broadband, computers etc is improved so that income is not a barrier to participation as it is with so many other aspects of modern society.