Sustainable Merton

Wake Up, Freak Out – then Get a Grip from Leo Murray on Vimeo.

7.45 ’til late.

And the second Wednesday of every month.

Where is it?

In the Ted Higgins Bar (the bar on the left) as you enter THE SULTAN PUB, 78 Norman Road, South Wimbledon, SW19 1BT

How do I get there?

Walk, cycle, bus (200, 57, 493, 152), tube (South Wimbledon, Colliers Wood). Click here for a map.

Why should I go?

Merton Green Drinks is for anyone interested in environmental issues or studying them. The idea is to meet for fun, contacts, alcohol, info, gossip, inspiration, business and pleasure. If you are new, just go up to someone and you’ll be made welcome. Please forward this email to anyone you think might be interested. To get on the email circulation list for reminders, send an email to: info@sustainablemerton.org.uk We will not give your email address to anyone else.

Our next film screening is on Tuesday 21st October at 7.15pm in the Colliers Wood Community Centre. All the screenings are listed below.

Crude Impact – Tuesday October 21st
This film examines the way in which the petrochemical industry has manipulated events around the world to its advantage. Much of the film deals with the role of Shell in Nigeria, specifically about the Ogoni people and Ken Saru Wiwa – they don’t come out too well. Anyone who cares about what humanity is doing to the world should see it. It is made completely dispassionately (the commentary is completely unemotional). It just tries to get the viewer thinking about the awful things that are done in our name.

As of Saturday 28 June, Wimbledon Farmers’ Market will be introducing a 5p levy on plastic bags supplied to its customers. In this way, the Farmers’ Market will join the Co-operative Store as another major partner of Sustainable Merton’s Bags for Better Lives project, and its ongoing work to wean local residents off their plastic bag habit.

Mark Handley, Manager of the London Farmers’ Market, and Mariana Cervantes-Burchell, Coordinator of Bags for Better Lives, have worked together to introduce this new and exciting phase of Wimbledon Park’s plastic bag-free project. Mr Handley is confident that the initial trial period of one month will be so successful, that it could be extended for a longer period. Ms Cervantes-Burchell for her part is hopeful that the 5p levy will be extended indefinitely. She has good reason to believe that this will be possible, given the overwhelmingly positive responses from local residents and businesses to Bags for Better Lives so far.

This 5p levy follows the success of the first stage of Bags for Better Lives, and it is the next step to make Wimbledon Park a greener, environmentally aware and active community, providing an excellent model not just for surrounding Wards but for the rest of Merton and the whole of London. It shows a determination from the major local representatives to play their role in tackling the environmental, health and financial problems caused by the production and use of plastic bags.

The 5p charge for plastic bags will be collected in coin boxes, which the farmers will have at their stalls during Market Day on Saturdays. All the money collected will go towards Sustainable Merton (a registered Charity), to contribute towards a local environmental project.

Meanwhile, the local Co-operative store has stopped supplying degradable plastic bags and instead has biodegradable cornstarch bags in stock, which it sells to customers at 5p. It also sells its own reusable fair-traded cotton bags and plastic bags for life. Surveys conducted by Sustainable Merton show very encouraging results following this change in practice. Only a tiny minority of people who shop there have been using disposable plastic bags, while the vast majority are either using reusable bags or not using a bag at all if only carrying a few items.

Ms Cervantes-Burchell has approached Sainsbury’s Senior Management at Head Office and the Manager at Sainsbury’s Local, on Durnsford Road, in the hope that they will be the next big players to come on board the 5p levy. Sustainable Merton strongly believes that the involvement from as many local businesses as possible would provide a win-win situation for them, local residents and the environment.

Another encouraging aspect of this project is the interest by a number of local businesses in the possibility of sourcing reusable bags to replace plastic bags supplied to their clientele. Work is underway to assess the viability of this.

More information on bags for better lives

7 Films about the impending energy transition that you shouldn’t miss

11^th Hour – Tuesday June 17th
Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this captivating documentary explores the perilous state of our planet, and the means by which we can change our course. Contributing to this crucial film are noted politicians, scientists and other ambassadors for the importance of a universal ecological consciousness.

Crude Awakening - Tuesday July 15th
tells the story of how our civilization’s addiction to oil puts it on a collision course with geology. Compelling, intelligent, and highly entertaining, the film visits with the world’s top experts and comes to a startling, but logical conclusion – our industrial society, built on cheap and readily available oil, must be completely re-imagined and overhauled.

What a Way to Go – Tuesday August 19th
What is it doing to us as thoughtful human beings as we face the overwhelming challenges of peaking fossil fuel flow rates? Critically degraded ecosystems? A changing climate? An exploding global population? Teetering global economies? An unstable political climate? And what is it doing to the rest of the life on this planet? What a Way to Go looks at the current global situation and asks the most important questions of all: How did we get here? Why do we keep destroying the planet? What do we truly want? Can we find a vision that will empower us to do what is necessary to survive, and even thrive, in the coming decades?

The End of Suburbia - Tuesday September 16th
explores the American Way of Life and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era, as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply. The consequences of inaction in the face of this global crisis are enormous. As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the populations of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? Are today’s suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow? And what can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to avoid The End of Suburbia ?

Crude Impact – Tuesday October 21st
This film examines the way in which the petrochemical industry has manipulated events around the world to its advantage. Much of the film deals with the role of Shell in Nigeria, specifically about the Ogoni people and Ken Saru Wiwa – they don’t come out too well. Anyone who cares about what humanity is doing to the world should see it. It is made completely dispassionately (the commentary is completely unemotional). It just tries to get the viewer thinking about the awful things that are done in our name.

The Power of Community - Tuesday November 18th
This documentary takes you through various aspects of life in Cuba – Economy, transportation, health-care, agriculture, education – and explores how they dealt with the dramatic reduction of fossil fuels to a mere fraction of their pre 1990 levels. The Cubans had improved the quality of their life (after a difficult “Special Period”). Their health was better, greater sense of community, better food and healthier land.

Escape from Suburbia – Tuesday December 16th
Suburbia, and all it promises, has become the American Dream. In ESCAPE From SUBURBIA director Greg Greene once again takes us “through the looking glass” on a journey of discovery – a sobering yet vital and ultimately positive exploration of what the second half of the Oil Age has in store for us.

Admission Free All screenings start at 7.15pm at the Colliers Wood Community Centre

Colliers Wood Community Centre, 66/72 High Street, Colliers Wood, SW19 2BY

For more information email info@sustainablemerton.org.uk or call 020 8540 0622 www.sustainablemerton.org.uk

Singlegate primary on South Gdns. and will run from 5.00-7.00 pm.
Briefly, to remind you of the reasons for setting it up. 1, To provide all schools in the borough with a forum through which you can access and share information on all aspects of sustainability. 2, To provide a vehicle by which the purchase of goods and services can be achieved at competitive rates. 3, To provide a single voice when asking local and regional government for help in meeting your schools sustainability targets.

To sign up for the Schools Eco Forum please contact Sustainable Merton t.020 8540 0622 or email info@sustainablemerton.org.uk

Photos from the launch can now be found at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25101051@N02/sets/72157605344507973/

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said recently : ‘I am committed to reducing the amount of waste generated in the capital and support a ban on plastic bags. Cutting our use of plastic bags would help to reduce waste going to landfill and litter, as well as saving vast amounts of greenhouse gases. I back Sustainable Merton in its campaign and commend them for taking a lead on this issue. Londoners can take action by using fewer plastic bags, and also by contacting their local MP to drum up their support for London Councils bid to get the Government to bring about a ban on single-use, throwaway shopping bags in the capital.’
Find out more…

After a successful pilot year in 2007, Food Up Front is expanding in to the borough of Merton, hoping to encourage even more London residents to grow food in their unused outdoor space.

The team are working hard to prepare the start of the 2008 growing season and they are keen to hear from people who would like to join the scheme or become a Food Up Front representative in their street.

The team attracted an unexpected amount of interest in its pilot year, with interviews on television and radio, culminating in the Green Guardian award for Best Green Project.

The project is designed to give anyone and everyone the tools and knowledge necessary to grow something, no matter how small their space.

Seb Mayfield, co-founder of the project, said: “We want to show people that they don’t need an allotment or large garden to grow food. Any space is appropriate, including balconies and even window sills.

Once people feel that they have support, they feel more confidence to have a go at growing. It is also a great way to develop community interaction, especially when a number of people are involved in the same street.”

On registration, residents will receive a starter kit, with everything they need to get going in a matter of weeks. The kit even includes compost from London garden waste, along with green boxes, previously used as recycling containers.

The food growing has been accompanied by evening events, enabling participants to meet each other over drinks.

Zoe Lujic, Seb’s project partner, said: “By starting small, some participants have found the confidence to develop their food growing and have gone on to grow a variety of different vegetables, including beans, carrots and spinach. Others have just enjoyed the fact that they could pick salad leaves and herbs, rather than buying them in a packet.”

A registration event will be held in conjunction with the Sustainable Merton Green Drinks on March 12^th.

For more information about the Food Up Front project visit www.foodupfront.org.

Are you looking for an interesting & lively activity for your group?

While it is easy to do nothing and feel despondent about Climate Change…

…it is just as easy to take action and feel good.

Sustainable Merton invites you to take part in a free workshop to help you and your friends tackle Climate Change.

Our workshops…

…are designed for community groups across Merton who want to find out more about Climate Change and take practical action.

…are interactive and will generate plenty of discussion and ideas!

…can take place on one of your regular meetings or at a different time suitable for you

…will be running from October 2007.

Spaces are limited! To register your group for a workshop please call Sustainable Merton on 020 8540 0622 or email info @ sustainablemerton.org.uk (remove spaces)

At an awards ceremony on Friday 12th October, Sustainable Merton was awarded the Green Project or Group award for Merton.

Winners from each borough went through to the regional final  at the Queen’s Stand, Epsom Racecourse on Friday, November 16 with the Green Goddess, Penny Poyzer, as guest speaker.

Sustainable Merton was commended in the Green Project Category