Changing Course for Life » projects

Campaign for a GMO Free Poland/Europe

admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:32:51 +0000

This is an ongoing camapign to ensure that the extraordinarily rich biodiversity of the Polish counytryside is not irredeemably contaminated by GM plants and seeds. The camapign also calls for A MORATORIUM/BAN of all GM plants, seeds and foods in Europe. To this end we are in close cooperation with French, German, Austrian, Swedish and Turkish activists.
It is a significant part of the work we do at the International Coalition to Protect the Polish Countryside (www.icppc.pl)

Taking Contol of Our Lives

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:36:39 +0000

Is a forum of lectures/debates encouraging individuals to ‘take control’ rather than ‘be controlled’. So far eight workshops have taken place at the ICPPC Eco-Centre in Stryszow, Poland. Under discussion are issues such as: establishing an eco-village; practicing the ‘new resistance’; renewable energy and clay-straw houses; understanding corporate globalisation; ‘building community’; the battle for a GMO Free World; ‘the New Education’.
*These workshops can also be run at Hardwick, the author’s home in South Oxfordshire, UK. If you are interested, write a brief note and send using ‘contact’

A Manifesto for Education

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:39:09 +0000

Here is a challenging initiative to redesign our educational system from the roots up! It is being co-authored by Julian Rose, Jon Berry of New Horizon/Frontiers (see www.teacher-centre.org.uk Jadwiga Lopata, Oliver James (and no doubt others..) An absolutely neccessary task in order to birth a better society.

The Hardwick Workhorse Training Centre

admin — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:41:44 +0000

Now that we know how damaging the oil based addiction is, it is time to move forward to ‘light footprint’ ecologically sensitive resolutions. Anyone who has had a horse put his or her hoof down on one’s foot will know instantly that this is indeed a ‘light footprint’! Plans are underway to start a training course on the organically managed Hardwick Estate for those wishing to learn the art of managing a heavy horse. We will be using these horses to shift logs and tree trunks in the Hardwick woodlands. Interested parties should write to the author (see contact)

Integrated Ecological Land Management

admin — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:43:12 +0000

Is essentially what has been going on at Hardwick since 1975, when I (Julian) first started converting my farm to organic methods of agriculture. Now there are a number of self autonomous components to this: mixed organic farming, organic vegetable production and sustainable forestry. How can they interact for more integrated shared benefits? We explore this on an ongoing basis – and have already experimented with running pigs in the woods as well as holding educational events that explore the interrelationship between these different disciplines.

FARM

admin — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:51:06 +0000

FARM is a UK based organisation that seeks to close the gap between good traditional and organic farms that produce ‘real food’ and those who wish to purchase this food in its optimum condition (see ‘links’). This means ‘locally’. FARM also works at the political level in pressing for recognition of mixed family farming traditions and the value they bring to rural communities. It is intent on unifying all those who feel unrepresented by the big UK ‘National Farmers Union’. Currently FARM is drawing up a plan entitled ‘Transition Farms’ to tie-in with the burgeoning ‘Transition Town’ movement. The author is a participant.

Faringdon Hub Proposal

admin — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:15:50 +0000

March 2000, updated May 2001

Objective

Designate a “rural development hub” in the County which would act as a model for integrated sustainable development at the local level and catalyst for rural development.

Set in motion solutions for a number of key concerns as outlined in the 1999 Oxfordshire Farming Study.

Justifications

The concept of “sustainable development” has been adopted by many agencies with an interest in the future of the countryside, enterprise and conservation, notably SEEDA (the South East of England Development Agency). Yet it lacks tangible examples and often confuses rather than clarifies.

Preamble to Project

It has been said “Oxfordshire Pivots around Market Towns.”

This important observation holds a clue for a successful remedy to the present rural crisis.

Historically, the County Market Town was the axis around which trade in agricultural and artisan products turned. Its architectural design sets the market place at the centre, and has access roads radiating out into the surrounding countryside, designed to facilitate the easy movement of people and goods.

The dynamic activities of the market place have declined steadily throughout the 20^th Century as the boundaries of trade have moved into the global arena, and the local resource base has lost its significance. In the last decade or two there has been little more than token market place trading in these once bustling centres. They have in effect “died” – unless you consider that insurance companies, travel and estate agents plus the odd tea room constitute a thriving town centre! Most people living in the typical market town no longer work locally, nor shop locally, nor have any connection with the resource base of their region.

All this could change, however, and it is my belief that now is the time to embrace the potential for the rejuvenation of the market town and rural hinterland. Focussing on the creation of such a hub would:

Counteract the debilitating effects of the current crisis in agriculture and its attendant knock-on effects on the rural economy
Develop a rural model that can demonstrate sustainable development through a multidisciplinary approach covering social, economic and environmental criteria.
Draw on government’s current sustainable indicator targets (including quality of life). These include significantly cutting back car and truck miles, CO²emissions and commercial/household waste.

The project framework

“In the past, focus has centred mainly on improving labour productivity. In the future, greater emphasis will be needed on resource efficiency. We need to break the link between continued economic growth and increasing use of resources and environmental impacts” (Rt Hon John Prescott MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions).

The project will centre on an existing market town (current preference, Faringdon), and will seek input from local farmers, business people, and those active in education and the arts, in addition to the relevant local authorities. It is envisaged as a five year plan.

1. FOOD FARMING

Develop a local (under supplied) market as opposed to global (oversupplied) market through forging closer links between locally productive farm land and the town’s requirement for primary, seasonal agricultural produce via markets, distribution outlets, existing shops, restaurants and public authority/school canteens.

2. ENERGY

Develop a ‘renewable energy’ contract with local woodland, biomass and alternative crop production enterprises to supply an increasing percentage of the energy requirements from the local sustainable resource base. Solar and wind energy may also be incorporated.

3. FABRIC and FIBRE

Explore and exploit the potential for local renewable building/construction materials to be utilized in meeting demand of light industrial and other appropriate constructions.

4. SOCIAL

Determine key quality of life indicators for local population. Develop ‘village appraisal’ models, affordable housing agenda, local job opportunities and rural transport networks.

5. ARTS

Explore potential for revival of creative arts which can both complement and catalyse the overall project. Draw local youth into creative programmes.

6. EDUCATION

Tap into local education authority (and private sector) as key participants/partners of the evolving project. School could play a central role in assessing targets for local food and energy requirements of the market town.

7. ECONOMICS

The underlying economic theme within the project is to view the market town as an ‘innovation hub’ able to build on the potential of small and medium-sized businesses, to engage in new partnerships and innovative marketing concepts within the overall pattern of local sustainability objectives.

8. TECHNOLOGY

Develop the technology for telecottage and advanced communications through embracing ‘the wired region’ initiative favoured by SEEDA. Apply this to an advanced marketing strategy for the enhancement of local/regional trading.

Julian Rose

March 2000, updated May 2001

The Proximity Principle

The Proximity Principle - 2nd page

The Proximity Principle - 3rd page