2012
Letters Page makes the News
As the media is bombarded by letters from inspired people who want to share their ideas about a better life with less material goods. A rising wave of positive thinking is supporting strong initiatives from the grass-roots and elected public representatives at all levels are responding by making change easier and giving strong leadership.
Celebrities lead on Population Challenge
In the wake of yet another African famine threat, a number of celebrities join together to highlight the need to stabilise the global population. The Invest in our Future – 2 is plenty campaign calling for voluntary limitation to family size is welcomed by many national leaders and development organisations around the world. Small is Beautiful was never more true says Stephen Harding at Schumacher College.
Readathon clocks up 24 hours for new library opens in Totnes as part of the community rooms and services
Community groups are delighted with the new enlarged facilities and supports including hot desks, meeting rooms and their own section in the library. A voluntary Ex-libris bookstall in the market will help provide on-going funds for new books and facilities in the library.
Great Retrofit shows tangible benefits as fuel prices rocket
Some older houses have proved more of a challenge to insulate and install with renewable energy; however this has increased interest and understanding of many traditional crafts and trades and has created many new jobs. Recycled materials are being utilised wherever possible and many old buildings are looking funky
Community tax on second homes and empty houses is piloted
…in response to local pressure groups to discourage this practice. The money will be used to buy more land for allotments.
Trains, Buses and Bikes win favour
A re-appraisal of public transport finds that all forms are running at much higher efficiencies than predicted as most trains and buses are running at an average of 80% full. Working in conjunction with the Dept of Education, new road designs to improve safety for cyclists are introduced as a pilot in Devon; this includes roundabouts with an outer separate cycling lane, where cars exiting the inner lane must give way to cyclists. The Devon network of off-road cycle and walkways is to be completed. School cycling clubs and community groups will be consulted on preferred routes and signage.
Community Right to Buy legislation introduced nationally
This will allow land to be transferred from local authority ownership to community groups at less than market value, giving community groups ‘first refusal ‘ on any land disposal by the local authority. Totnes & District Allotments Association are delighted and put in an offer for land at Follaton.
UN hosts world summit on Climate Change and Energy Poverty
Twenty years on from Rio, major negotiations take place to secure energy for overcrowded countries from over-heating countries that are predicted to become uninhabitable for several decades. Old oil pipelines are to be used to bring dessert energy to many parts of Europe that are expected to host climate migrants. TEQs (Tradeable Energy Quotas) and energy rationing are discussed as citizen based currency in some of these deals. Unlike the Johannesburg Summit, there is positive cooperation, and US President Obama takes a key role in pressing for international implementation agreements.
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