Watch - System change through design in 300 seconds

System change through design in 300 seconds | Jude Sherry & Dr Frank O'Connor

With the insight of Dr Frank O'Connor, Founder, anois 🗣️: "Let's be the ones who actually take responsibility. Let's be the ones who show the way forward"

& Jude Sherry, anois 🗣️: "We're at best place to show that if we can make changes in that and lead the way in that, we can actually show other countries it is possible to make a substantial shift in the direction that we're currently taking"

In 2031, the Royal Dublin Society will celebrate its 300th anniversary. For this occasion, we want to give Irish and international thought leaders 300 seconds to inspire change, recognising opportunities in their individual area of expertise addressing the climate change challenge of the next decade and beyond.

For this series, arranged by the RDS Enterprise Committee under the Vision 2030 series, we have identified key voices who are recognised drivers for change within their own areas of expertise and experience.

Their unique insight and vision to deliver in these times of challenge can be a valuable catalyst for change. By sharing what drives their own passion to deliver a more sustainable enterprise, economy or society, they can inspire us all to make the big and small changes necessary as the window for addressing the challenges of climate change shrinks.

For more information visit https://www.rds.ie/rds-foundation/ent...

Sustainable Wales Patrons

Update to the Who We Are page 26th June 2023:

SUSTAINABLE WALES PATRONS,

‘GREEN AGENDA’ and ‘RADICAL AGENDAS’

Arrival in the Green Room of Hilary Llewellyn Williams on JUNE 30 to share her recent writings, gives Margaret and myself the opportunity to make a brief statement about the original patrons of this charity.

Hilary was invited to become a patron because of her writing. Other patrons included Jonathon Porritt, Edward Goldsmith, Dafydd Iwan, John Barnie, and Angharad Tomos.

These people were selected for their enthusiasm for ‘radical’ causes, including ‘environmentalism’, ‘language campaigning’ and ‘literature’.

We were very influenced by organisations such as Friends of the Earth (after all, we created FoE Cymru), CND, Cymdeithas yr Iaith and Wales Anti Apartheid. Also, we took part in support for the Miners’ Strike of 1984/5, and this was another factor for the creation of Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynaliadwy.

Our anthology ‘Gorwelion/Shared Horizons’ is thus linked to volumes such as CND Cymru’s ‘Glas Nos’ and the Anti Apartheid anthology of writings of 1986.

In 1994, FoE Cymru and Seren Books published ‘Green Agenda: essays on the Environment of Wales’, edited by myself, with contributions from writers and lecturers such as Alwyn Jones, himself a focus for the ‘Welsh Bacc’ essays now being judged, and initiated in 2022.

To celebrate the 30 years anniversary of ‘Green Agenda’, Seren will publish ‘Radical Agendas’ in late 2024, a look forward to what might transpire ‘radically’ in coming years, and demonstrate how ‘radical’ issues in Wales have broadened.

Porthcawl Regeneration - a letter from Sustainable Wales

The Regeneration of Porthcawl, Sustainability, and Community Involvement - letter from Sustainable Wales to Bridgend Bouroughs LDP Inspector, Auditor General Wales & Wellbeing of Future generations Commissioner.

Download the full document with additional notes (PDF) here

The main text reads:

Monday, 17 April 2023

FAO

1.Inspector, Nicola Gulley Bridgend Boroughs Revised LDP c/o LDPProgrammeOfficer@bridgend.gov.uk

2. Auditor General. Audit Wales, 1 Capital Quarter, Cardiff, CF104BZ Email info@audit.wales

3c.c. Well-being of Future Generations Commissioner, Derek Walker

Is this as good as it gets?

The Regeneration of Porthcawl, Sustainability, and Community Involvement

Like many organisations based in Porthcawl, Sustainable Wales (SW) has tried to engage with Bridgend Borough Council Planning Department over many years, as plans emerge for the regeneration of the town’s waterfront. (see below, where we mention some SW contributions.)

The community consultation over the years, offered by BCBC to new planning developments, we feel, has been old style and limiting. This has caused a degree of alienation, definitely more so now with the growth of social media.

Thus, many people feel disengaged from politics, even though many of their ideas are sensible and exciting. There is a lack of trust in the process.

Because of the climate and ecological emergency, generally agreed to exist, we need to move forward. Sustainable development requires informed participation - this we have known for years. Futures will be different and we need to share a vision and start the transition now. The planning process we have is not fit for purpose. It is also imposed upon us.

Requiring urgent discussion is what sort of town might Porthcawl become? How do we plan with consideration of the past, the present and future, in a fair and just way, for people and planet? Residents have had no chance to establish a vision together.

Indeed, there are many participatory techniques available to replicate, which have been tried and tested across the UK and further afield.

The Well Being of Future Generations Act, Planning Policy Wales, and the Local Government Association Gunning Principles all state the need for deeper consultation (see below).

Thus, the question is how do we implement these requirements? Other countries administrations laud the Wales Future Generation’s Act. Yet it does not seem to being implemented in its country of origin!. People believe this is now a pressing issue.

For all our Future Generations Yours sincerely

Margaret Minhinnick Director, Sustainable Wales.

James Roberts at the Green Room 21 April 2023

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The Green Room returns a week earlier than usual in April on Friday 21st April 2023. We are delighted to welcome James Roberts.

Robert Minhinnick will host and be reading from a translation by Iwan Llwyd about the (infamous) Buccaneer Pub in Trecco, Porthcawl.

Here’s an image of the Buccaneer taken by Laura Wainwright, a Green Room regular and author of A Newport Journal

Image by Laura Wainwright

The Buccaneer in summer by Peter Morgan

Image by Peter Morgan

Gorwelion Events Announced

Readings from Sustainable Wales' anthology, Gorwelion Shared Horizons continue. With guest readers from all of Wales:

Weds. May 10, 7.30pm
City Arms, 10, Quay St. Cardiff CF10 1EA
 
Sat. May 13
Association Of Welsh Writers In English: ‘Environments’:
Gregynog, Powys.
Lecture 9.15 am.
Book Launch 9.15 pm.
 
Weds. July 12, 7.30pm
Ye Olde Murenger House,
52, High St. Newport NP20 1GA.

Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight
Sustainable Wales and SUSSED are holding several fun events for Fairtrade Fortnight 2023. Free Fairtrade chocolate samples are available at SUSSED throughout the fortnight…

Fairtrade Fortnight this year will highlight the urgent threat to the  future of the foods we love and the livelihoods of the people who grow  them, as they face the worst effects of the  climate crisis. Without our support for fairer prices today,   farmers will find it even harder to tackle the climate and economic  challenges of the future.

At our community run ethical shop, SUSSED in James St. Porthcawl; in the afternoon of Saturday March 11th, Sustainable Wales new Young people’s climate group are presenting stalls and activities at the bandstand.

Also on Saturday 11th, we will be running a  Fairtrade coffee, tea and cake cafe, above SUSSED
Teas & Coffees with Homemade Cakes using Fairtrade ingredients - pay what you can afford or support with a donation towards Fairtrade activity.

More about Fairtrade