SuScit Mailing - March 2008.

 

 

 

CONTENTS:

 

1-SuScit Project update:

a- Narratives and Perceptions of Local Sustainability.

b- SuScit project and Mildmay Community Partnership.

2-Research:

a- Policy Studies Institute: Environment Group Research projects.

b- Academy for Sustainable Communities: Sector Skills Research.

3-Publication:

a- The EU Sustainable Development Strategy: ‘A Sustainable Future in Our Hands’.

b- Book: The Endless City. Authors: Ricky Burdett, Deyan Sudjic.

c- Book: DIY Community Action-Neighbourhood problems and community self-help.

4-Events:

a- British Museum Documentary Premiere: LOHAKHOR Iron eaters.

b- Ecores Forum: Environmental Justice E-conference.

c- London 21,The Conservation Foundation and The Faiths Forum: Our Faiths, Our Environment, Our Planet.

d- Federation for Community Development Learning: Annual Conference.

e- ISSUES 2 ISSUES: ‘From the Laboratory to Action: Science and Policy-makers’.

5-Policy:

a- Home Office: Crime Strategy Guide.

6-News:

a- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP):£2.5 million for renewable energy partnership.

b- London Sustainability Exchange: Local Estate Champions Get Eco-justice.

c- The Guardian: Government Figures Hide Scale of CO2 Emissions, Says Report.

7-Funding:

a- The Big Lottery-Young People’s Fund 2: National Grants.

8-Training and Jobs:

a- Capacity Global, The Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development(FIELD) and Ruskin College-Oxford: Exploring Environmental Justice Residential Course.

b- Job vacancy: Chair of London Sustainable Development Commission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-SuScit Project update:

 

a-Narratives and Perceptions of Local Sustainability.

Throughout the month of March the SuScit Action Research participants have launched a series of initial discussions of urban sustainability to explore differences and similarities in the perceptions amongst researchers; sustainability practitioners; and local residents. Through workshops and creative filmmaking, the residents’ panels, the researchers and practitioners groups reflected upon the connections between the urban environment, the local community, and our quality of life preparing to meet up soon and exchange their knowledge and experience.

b-SuScit project and Mildmay Community Partnership.

The SuScit project team will be represented by its Principal Investigator Professor Malcolm Eames and its Researcher Jonas Mortensen at the Mildmay Partnership Community Conference held at the Mayville Community Centre on Monday, 7th April. The conference main objectives are to present the Partnership’s first six months work and discuss future plans. Key players from Islington Council and the Strategic Partnership will also be attending the event.

2-Research:

a- Policy Studies Institute: Environment Group Research projects.

The PSI Environment Group’s interdisciplinary approach to the environment takes into consideration the links, at every level between the environment, the economy and general society. Several of its projects are carried out in collaboration with others so that a range of perspectives can be taken for different cases. The research of the Environment Group is located within, and seeks to contribute to the development of, thinking about sustainable development and the challenges it presents.

Click here to know more about one of the currents projects of the PSI Environment group: Sectoral Costs in Environmental Policy http://www.psi.org.uk/research/project.asp?project_id=162

 

b-Academy for Sustainable Communities: Sector Skills Research.

ASC is part of a major Government programme to tackle the skills issues facing the sustainable communities sector.

A study commissioned by the ASC to assess gaps in the supply and demand of skills in the sector, showed through both quantitative and qualitative evaluations, that ‘England faces a significant shortage of qualified professionals with the necessary skills to deliver sustainable communities between now and 2012 unless significant efforts are taken to address these problems’.

To find more about the research results, visit: http://www.ascskills.org.uk/pages/research/sector_skills

 

3-Publication:

a-The EU Sustainable Development Strategy: ‘A Sustainable Future in Our Hands’.

The EU has recently published ‘A sustainable future in our hands – a guide to the EU’s sustainable development strategy'. A comprehensive guide that covers all aspects of the Strategy but also includes an extraordinary amount of basic guidance in plain English aiming to inform uncomplicated ways to involve people in various issues including sustainable consumption and production, global development and social inclusion, with suggestions such as: “If you are healthy, valued by your colleagues, friends and family, have a place in society, have the time and are lucky enough to be at home in your world, reach out a hand and help someone else belong.” Download it at: http://ec.europa.eu/sustainable/docs/sds_guide_en.pdf

 

b-Book: The Endless City. Authors: Ricky Burdett, Deyan Sudjic

The book Endless City is a convincing and visually rich examination of the contemporary city and an outstanding study of the growth of six of the World’s international cities (New York, Shanghai, London, Mexico City, Johannesburg and Berlin).As part of the London School of Economics Cities Project; Key structural, economic and social factors are extensively researched and revealed through texts from world-renowned professional in the fields of urban planning and development.

 

c-Book: DIY Community Action-Neighbourhood problems and community self-help.

This book from author Liz Richardson is part of the Series CASE Studies on Poverty, Place and Policy and proposes ways forward for community building whilst challenging the mainstream views on community development. The book raise a wide range of questions for neighbourhood workers, policy makers, NGOs, politicians, researchers and communities’ residents in general, adding to the debate of the relevance and value of community activity.

 

4-Events:

a-British Museum Documentary Premiere: LOHAKHOR Iron eaters.

Location: London International Documentary Film Festival/BP Theatre British Museum. Date: 05/04/2008

Time: 12.20 p.m.

There will be a panel discussion after the screening. Tickets are £3 and can be booked through the British Museum box office- 0207 323 8181.

To book a ticket, visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/london_documentary_festival.aspx

 

b- Ecores Forum: Environmental Justice E-conference.

Exploring the Ethical, Political and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Climate Change        

Environmental (In)Justice: Sources, Symptoms & Solutions

Date: 11-24/04/2008.

 

An online forum to examine the roots of environmental & climate injustice and search for ways to change the current scenario.

Academics and activists, scientists and social critics, researchers, journalists, and concerned citizens from around the world will be sharing their views on the subjects.

To find out more and register for the event, please visit: www.eco-res.org

 

 

c- London 21, The Conservation Foundation and The Faiths Forum: Our Faiths, Our Environment, Our Planet.

The Conservation Foundation, London 21 and the Faiths Forum for London invite anyone active on environmental issues with faith organisations to come and discuss ways to work together on issues such as food, consumerism and climate change.

Location: St Saviours, Walton Street, London SW3*

Nearest underground: Knightsbridge

Date: 05/04/2008

Time: 12.15 – 4.30

For further information, visit:

http://www.london21.org/page/36/show/1615

 

d- Federation for Community Development Learning: Annual Conference.

 

Date: 20/05/2008

Location: Federation for Community Development Learning 3rd Floor, The Circle -33 Rockingham Lane Sheffield S1 4FW (Federation’s new offices in Sheffield)

 

‘Effective and inclusive community empowerment needs to be underpinned by community development learning and practice.’  http://www.fcdl.org.uk/events/documents/AGMmay08_conference_info.htm

 

 

 

 

e-ISSUES 2 ISSUES: ‘From the Laboratory to Action: Science and Policy-makers’.

 

A cross disciplinary seminar on Sustaining Urban Ecosystem Services

 

Location: Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.

Date: Thursday May 15th 2008.

 

The seminar’s main aim is to promote discussion about knowledge transfer and capacity building in relation to both researcher and practitioner needs. 

The event is free to attend, and is being run jointly with the organisers of ‘Integrating Sciences to Sustain Urban Ecosystem Services’. 

 

To find out more please, visit: http://issues.abertay.ac.uk/

 

 

 

5-Policy:

a-Home Office: Crime Strategy Guide.

Identifying responsive local action planning and effective communication and community engagement as very important aspects for an efficient crime reduction scheme, the Home Office has published a new guide to the crime strategy and the new Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets extracting the most important information for practitioners to consider.

To download the guide, visit: http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/crimereduction020.htm

 

6-News:

a- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP):£2.5 million for renewable energy partnership.

UK Energy Minister Energy Malcolm Wicks announced recently in Japan a further £2.5 million in funding for next year, which keeps the UK in the position of the world’s leading donor to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). UK Environment Minister, Phil Woolas said that the funding would form part of a three year further financial commitment to REEEP by the UK. The UK has contributed nearly £9 million to the Partnership since its formation in 2003.

More: http://www.reeep.org/index.php?id=31&special=showHotTopic&sHotName=news&iHotId=91

b- London Sustainability Exchange: Local Estate Champions Get Eco-justice.

London Sustainability Exchange Enviro-justice Champions project, recruited residents to act on local issues in estates in Barking and Dagenham.

The project aims to empower residents, enabling them to improve the quality of living in those areas by improving dark and inaccessible subways; tackling fuel poverty and cleaning up Padnall Lake; securing safer, cleaner and greener neighbourhoods.

LSX’ Enviro-justice project’s toolkit to enable decision makers to map and address environmental injustices will be available later this year. For more details contact Shalini Jayasinghe on 020 7234 9408 / s.jayasinghe@lsx.org.uk.

c- The Guardian: Government Figures Hide Scale of CO2 Emissions, Says Report.

The Government uses two different carbon accounting systems; therefore Britain's climate change emissions may be 12% higher than officially stated, according to a National Audit Office. The National Audition Office critically affirms that there is "insufficient consistency and coordination" in the government's approach.

To read the full article, visit:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/17/climatechange.carbonemissions

 

7-Funding:

a- The Big Lottery-Young People’s Fund 2: National Grants.

The Big Lottery fund has opened application for up to £38 million worth of grants and  expects to fund up to 20 projects of national significance that involve young people in developing, running and reviewing policies and services and help deliver the five ‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes.

For more information, click: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_ypf2_national_grants.htm?regioncode=-uk&status=theProg

 

8-Training and Jobs:

a-Capacity Global, The Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development and Ruskin College-Oxford: Exploring Environmental Justice Residential Course.

Run in partnership by Capacity Global, FIELD and Ruskin College in Oxford; Exploring Environmental Justice is a 2-day residential course that offers participants an innovative and exciting opportunity to explore and understand environmental justice issues.  The course is aimed at activists, members of community groups and individuals interested in the link between environmentalism, human rights and social justice.

Location: Ruskin College-Oxford

Date: 28-30 /05/2008.

To book a place, please e-mail: iara@capacity.org.uk

 

b-Job vacancy: Chair of London Sustainable Development Commission.

The London Sustainable Development Commission was set up in 2002 as an independent advisory body to the Mayor. Its mission is to promote integrated, innovative and truly sustainable solutions to the local and global challenges of London’s growth.

LSDC is seeking a new Chair who can bring both drive and practical commitment to sustainability issues, with senior level experience, either directly in the specialised sustainability field, or in a related area.

For further information, please contact Frances Mapstone, Head of Social Inclusion and Health, on 020 7983 4686 or, for further details about the Commission, see http://www.londonsdc.org/ Information about the application process is available at: http://www.london.gov.uk/jobs.jsp