Winchester Action on Climate Change

Following reflection on last year's achievements and consultation with WinACC members, supporters and stakeholders, the WinACC Plan for 2009-2010 has now been approved by the Management Group.

Greenpeace is part of a coalition which is looking to form a ring of people, the "Mili-band", right round the Kingsnorth power station site on 4th July. This needs at least 2000 (yes 2000) people.

If you live in the Winchester District and are interested in going, please contact Nick Woodman. If there is enough interest, we may organise a mini-bus. For more details, go to:

http://www.winacc.org.uk/forum/campaigns-you-may-wish-support/mili-band-event-kingsnorth-4th-july

Following the announcement that businesses who wish to become members of WinACC but who are working toward measuring their carbon footprint can now join as Associate Members, we are delighted to announce that the first ones have now signed up.  They are Marwell Wildlife, Sarsen Press, Warrens Commercial Office Supplies, Winchester Travel Health and Design Engine Architects. Welcome to them all and we look forward to working with them to help them measure their carbon impact and decide on their actions to reduce it.  We look forward to welcoming other businesses who support WinACC but have not yet been able to calculate their carbon footprint.

Congratulations and welcome to Bishop’s Waltham parish council - the first parish council to join WinACC. We look forward to the others signing up soon.  The first ever meeting of parish and town councils in Winchester on climate change was organised by WinACC and Winchester City Council on behalf of the Winchester District Strategic Partnership on 23 April.  People from 11 parish councils listed a great many things that parish councillors can do – from cutting the parish’s own energy use to influencing public opinion in their parish by demonstrating their own commitment to tackling the challenge of climate change.

Chris Holloway started working full-time for WinACC at the start of May. She says, “I am looking forward to getting to know WinACC’s members and supporters and finding out how to work with everyone to cut Winchester’s carbon footprint.” You can reach her on chris.holloway@winacc.org.uk, or on the office phone on 01962 827083.

Guy Watson founded Riverford Organic Vegetables in 1993 as a means of escaping the grip of the supermarkets. On 3 June, Guy will be discussing the challenges around running an ethical business, scale, measuring environmental impact, co-ops and co-operation.

To book your free place, email Trish.Kernan@winchester.ac.uk  or ring 01962 827578.

If you could help at the WinACC stall before or after the lecture, please email co-ordinator@winacc.org.uk or ring 01962 827083.

Winchester University is showing the Age of Stupid free at 7.00 pm on 9 June in the Student Union Vault, in the same building as the University main reception.  The film stars Oscar nominated Peter Postlethwaite who as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looks back at 'archive' footage from 2000-2010 and asks why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?

The Greening Fulflood campaign will be launched on Saturday 13 June with an afternoon of entertainment: recycled fashion show, light bulb challenge, children's activities, freecycle stall of toys, books, plants and bric-a-brac (bring your items to be recycled), Western's junior choir and refreshments. Find out more.

On Saturday 13 June, Southampton Fair Trade Group, with the Southampton and Waterside Women's Environmental Network, is organising a day on how to eat good food and to care about fairness to the producer, pollution or land degradation. Find out more. 

There must be hundreds of small businesses that could benefit from Energy Grant 500.  Through Business Link, SEEDA is offering Energy Grant 500 to raise awareness of energy usage in small businesses and up to £500 to implement changes that reduce energy costs and carbon footprints.  Find out more.