Transition Town Newport?
As a response to global issues on the use of fossil fuels, the transition movement towards relocalising our supplies and reducing dependency on fossil fuel based heating, power, transport and goods is increasing throughout Wales. In early April 2007 the first 'Life after Oil' meeting was held in Lampeter, and since then the idea of beginning the transition out of fossil fuel dependency has taken root in many Welsh towns.
Many areas have formed steering groups and started awareness raising, some have put on large events, a few have achieved such things as: acquiring land for allotments, surveyed existing dependence on oil, got town logos on their bags. Fishguard has a steering group of 10 and public meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at West Wales Arts Centre: Nov 13 Reducing 'waste'. Dec 11 Food issues. Jan 8 Education. Feb12 Transport.
In Newport a subgroup of the local Environment Group has put on displays, organised meetings and is starting to develop projects. Once there are substantial projects and popular support for the idea, Newport can become an official transition town. This will give us space on the Welsh Transition website and bring help from the umbrella organisation.
Projects starting in Newport:
SOLAR HOT WATER FOR ALL
This is the best bet for renewable energy for all. It would be great to see every roof facing South or East and West having a couple of panels to supply a household's hot water all Summer and half of it in the Winter. The obstacles were price and planning permission. We are working to get both to a level where they attract people rather than put them off.
DE-BAGGING NEWPORT
The chamber of Trade in Newport has supported a local shop initiative to replace the plastic bag! Colourful lasting bags are selling well in Havard's Hardware, Wholefoods of Newport, Spar etc and paper bags are also playing their part.
PLASTIC RECYCLING
Suggested by many residents including U3A. The Environment Group helped by Jetske at Planed will be announcing somewhere we can take plastic bottles for local processing
ALLOTMENTS
There is a demand for land to grow more vegetables for home consumption. The search for where is under way.
LOCAL FOOD IN THE SHOPS
This is already the aim and practice of many of our cafes and shops. We hope it will be possible to spread this practice in the coming days of rising food prices. Only this week the local organic milk fell 1p below the cost of the distant non-organic milk.
MONITOR AND REDUCE
Two electricity monitors have been bought by NAEG (Newport Area Environment Group) and they can be borrowed from the EcoCentre for a returnable £10 deposit. One shows the electricity consumption of individual appliances, the other the electricity consumption of the whole house, as it occurs, plus CO2 emissions.
NEXT EVENTS
NAEG AGM Thurs 29 Feb.