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The Revolution
This is a revolution. If you want to shut an airport then stop flying.
Want an end to factory farming? Grow your own. An end to pollution?
Change to renewables. An end to war & poverty? Microgenerate. Life
for your childen? Stop needing oil. YOU have THIS Power. You do not
need Government. Seize the initiative. Bring democracy to your
community. Be an example to your children. Take responsibility.
Change for good today. |
High Wycombe Group
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Welcome to the Home
Page of the High Wycombe Community Action Group. Formed in June
2008 we are the FIRST Carbon Cutters Group to come into
existence (despite the fact that the original idea & web site
was launched in March 2007)! Apologies for the delay but now
that the dust has settled on the relocation of our HQ work can
go ahead on building the Group.
The idea behind
"Community Action Groups" indeed, this very phrase, appeared in
the central objectives of Carbon Cutters in 2007. Since then we
have communicated with Chris Goodall (www.carboncommentary.com)
who has described the Oxfordshire Council scheme also (by
coincidence) known as "Community Action Groups" with similar
objectives. Great minds think alike! Unfortunately South Bucks
lacks the imagination of the Oxon Region hence we start from
scratch.... |
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Recruiting YOUR Support Now
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 Do you live in
the High Wycombe area? Have you experience with voluntary
community-based projects? Have you held committee posts or
responsibility as Treasurer, PR, Community Liaison,
Chairperson, Secretary, etc? Are you already a Community
Leader such as a Local Councilor, Police Officer or
Religious Group Leader? If so then we need YOUR help.
We will be
putting together a Carbon Cutters Committee with your help.
Please contact us urgently if you can devote some time to
this. Even if you are just someone interested in how a group
can help you then we need to hear from you. You can
volunteer some time or just join the group to learn more
without any commitment.
If you are interested in joining the High Wycombe Group or
just want to learn some more please feel free to contact
Celia Carter on 01494 444395 or Mark Brown (pictured above)
on 01494 522749. |
Immediate Aims
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| The primary plans for the group
through 2008 will be:
- Formation of Committee
- Fund Raising
- Energy Saving Light Bulb Library
- Membership work:
- Door-to-door Leafleting campaign to recruit
- Measurement of the Carbon Footprint of Members
- Track Carbon Footprints of Members
- Start regular 'front-room' meetings
We really need to
expand the support base before moving onto longer term
objectives detailed elsewhere on this page. |
How does a CAG work?
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 A CAG is always
going to be a rather loose and informal affair requiring as
much organisation as the Neighbourhood Watch. It just
depends upon the neighbourhood and the individuals involved.
They can become as formal and controlled as they wish to.
The model supports everything from a monthly cosy fire-side
chat to a full scale Village Hall Meeting with round-table
discussion. The precise method is not overly important as
the group finds its feet. It is only necessary that members
do meet up and do encourage new members to a system of
Carbon reduction.
The key here is pragmatism and sharing. The common-objective
that ALL must aim for is a year-on-year reduction in Carbon
Footprint for them, their community and their Town. NO
member will be ejected if their Footprint rises but they
will be expected to account for the increase, pledge to
un-do the damage next time and to make a suitable investment
to negate what went wrong. Peer-pressure will be
significant.
Motivation - this is a difficult topic. Carbon reduction is
easy at first - but then gets more difficult. The
similarities to "Weight-Watchers" couldn't be more obvious.
If it hurts then people will just give up. Hence all Groups
need a Carrot and a Stick. The Stick will be the Oil Price
and Government Regulation. The Carrot will be the
cost-savings for the members and the assurance that they are
creating a future for their children. Therefore a CAG needs
to focus on the News and current Events at each meeting.
There are some great Blogs online and some good Newsletters
and magazine for members to study at the groups. These will
detail the cost of our Oil addiction and the opportunities
for us as we relinquish its control over our lives.
Children are also an important component. Peak Oil and
Climate Change will effect the parents already. We have our
mascot - Milla - and she serves as a constant reminder of
our duties and our pleasures. We fully expect CAG's to form
around existing membership of Mother & Toddler Groups or the
WI. This is a family affair and everyone can take part. Our
children will grow up expecting that a low-carbon life is
normal. They will view our profligate use of oil and energy
with amazement. Unless you want them to think you were crazy
and irresponsible you will be raising them in a low energy
home. Technology
- technology does have a contribution during the transition
phase to this post-carbon world. However it only features in
a small number of the Ten Steps. Largely we are shaping
people's opinions. A good CAG will rely upon individuals
with a strong aptitude for persuading others. There need not
be a spiritual aspect but it is quite possible for a Faith
Group to form a CAG. CAG's remain focused on what a person
can practically do. It is a forum of ideas and a crucible of
change. |
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Project: CFL Library
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One of the first
items on the agenda is the establishment of a pilot CFL Light
bulb Library. These are pre-packaged and available from
www.efficientlight.co.uk. They will send you a pack of bulbs
in every possible shape and size for every possible application
and mount. You then lend these to people so they "try before
they buy". When borrowers have found then bulbs they need they
fill in an order form, pay their money and the CAG takes care of
the rest.
The scheme will be
modeled closely on the work of Chris Goodall (author of "How To
Live a Low-Carbon Life" - se
www.lowcarbonlife.net)
in Oxfordshire, UK. Chris's scheme is itself modeled upon the
work of a group in Charlbury, a small town in west Oxfordshire.
He has suggested purchasing the largest possible library that
funds allow for. In Oxfordshire the County run a scheme called
"Community Action Groups" who are local people who get together
to encourage waste reduction and eco-living. They have a budget
for such things as CFL Libraries but the Wycombe District
Council appear to have no identifiable equivalent. Neither to
South Bucks District Council. Therefore it looks like we are at
the cutting edge in Buckinghamshire. However, they do have
strong links to the Voluntary Sector and various Community
Groups plus they do offer Funding. If we get our act together we
may be able to get a grant for the purchase of the first CFL
Library in Buckinghamshire. That is the plan - can you help? |
What is already in place?
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The Carbon
Cutters HQ (picture - top) has now been established in the Totteridge
Conservation area. We have space to spread out with a phone,
fax and computer facilities. Having only moved to this site
in May 2008 visitors should be aware that we are still in a
slight state of disarray. The building itself has yet to be
transformed to make in low-carbon so you might be shocked at
what we have to put up with in the short term. However, with
your help, things will change. We also have some private
funding to get the ball rolling. Come and have a chat.
What is more - all the Books and Magazines you see reviewed
on this web site will be available in our lending library.
They are free for members to borrow - just come and ask us.
So if you want to read the latest Richard Heinberg or catch
up with news in The Ecologist then the local Carbon Cutters
HQ is the mecca for you. |
Longer Term Objectives
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- Out and About: we wish to get a "Carbon Cutters" (CC)-branded small LPG or
Small Diesel Car to demonstrate appropriate low-emission
personal transport. Into which we will pack all our
equipment:
- Two CC-branded "flying banners"
- C-Branded Balloons (and Helium Cylinder)
- Tables & chairs
- Leaflets & Posters
- CC-Branded mobile awning - it's gonna rain!
We will then travel the Bucks area attending shows and
car boot sales. We will give away leaflets and balloons. We
will offer advice and support to the community. We will
campaign for Transition Town High Wycombe.
- Leaflets to be produced covering the Ten Steps and how
the CAG works. Also Transition Town examples.
- Liaison with suppliers of low-carbon products for the
provision of discounts of suitable technology
- Liaison with the council on the use of Public Facilities
and to obtain public funding for such concepts as CFL
give-aways
- If there isn't some event for the volunteers to attend
lets beat up the High Street on a Saturday
- Let's talk to the local Friends of the Earth and agree
some common objectives and events we can co-sponsor. These
could be:
- Film Shows
- Lectures/Presentations
- Visits to wind farms
Note that the High Wycombe FOE meet at The Environment
Centre, Bassetsbury Lane, high Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 1QX on
Wednesday evenings
- Start a campaign to get High Wycombe on the trek to
become a Transition Town - some of the FOE team are
interested so this would be great to join forces with them
- Another organisation to get in contact with is the
Marlow Low Carbon Community and the Carbon Coach - Dave
Hampton. He is aware of our plans and could also offer help
and advice.
- An early joint meeting between the three
organisations might help to get the ball rolling on the
TT initiative
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