Revisit the vision

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While world leaders meet at Copenhagen in a last ditch attempt to reduce CO2, it is unacceptable that our Yorkshire and Humberside authorities are pulling in the opposite direction.

Our region’s strategic vision is seriously skewed. Their collective plans and policies can’t lead us to a low carbon future. We demand a complete rethink of priorities.

It's time to revisit the vision.

AGREE? Fill in this form to sign up.

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Signatories

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Better visions

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  Treesponsibility

  Treesponsibility is a not-for-profit community group combining reforestation and ecological restoration with awareness-raising about climate change. We are currently entering Year 11 of a 25 year tree-planting programme in the Upper Calder Valley and plant over 10,000 trees a year, with the help of hundreds of volunteers. We are aiming to create a healthy and resilient landscape of interlinked woodland, hedgerow, moor and meadow which will:- help to minimize our area’s vulnerability to flash flooding; create wildlife corridors in accordance with our local Biodiversity Action plan; and provide a bio-energy source for the future through woodland management and thinning of our new plantations.

  We use our practical work as a medium through which we can communicate the urgent need for action on climate change.

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  Power from the Landscape

  The Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire saw the birth and young growth of the changes in industrial production in the late 18th and early 19th centuries often referred to as the Industrial Revolution, which is arguably the most important change to happen to mankind since the invention of language. It altered the whole sustainability of the area – the social, economic and environmental aspects of peoples’ lives and work.

  As such, it is of global significance and yet the evidence is permanently disappearing as the mills shut down, the mill ponds and goits dry up and the landscape changes back to its natural state. At present there are still small fragmented, tantalising clues to this not so distant past, both in the landscape itself and also in the local records and family history papers, the archives of record offices and local history societies.

  Today water power has gained a new lease of life, and new technology can be used to harness the power that once turned the waterwheels. So once again these mills are symbols of a sustainable way of providing power in the landscape.

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  Hebden Bridge Transition Town

  Imagine Hebden Bridge in 20 years’ time? What will it be like? How do we meet the challenges of accelerating climate change and the dwindling supplies of the oil and gas that fuels our lifestyles? What can we do between now and then to make this town an even better place to live? And what steps can we take to build a stronger community?

  The Transition Town movement is catching on fast around the country and we think it has a lot to offer Hebden Bridge. The term Transition Town basically means a community working together to create local solutions to climate change and peak oil. Transition Towns all over the country are creating energy descent plans for their towns or cities, taking practical steps to becoming less reliant on food, energy, goods and expertise from far away. Gradually, we need to meet many more of our needs much closer to our own streets and doorsteps.

  There are already hundreds of villages, towns and cities worldwide who are taking on these basic principles including Keighley, Huddersfield, Ilkley, Marsden and Slaithwaite, Bradford, Leeds and Manchester to name just a few round here. Totnes in Devon is the most advanced example of transition ideas in action.

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  Permaculure Association

  Permaculture combines three key aspects:

  1. an ethical framework
  2. understandings of how nature works, and
  3. a design approach

  This unique combination is then used to support the creation of sustainable, agriculturally productive, non-polluting and healthy settlements. In many places this means adapting our existing settlements. In other cases it can mean starting from scratch. Both offer interesting challenges and opportunities.

  The word 'permaculture' comes from 'permanent agriculture' and 'permanent culture' - it is about living lightly on the planet, and making sure that we can sustain human activities for many generations to come, in harmony with nature. Permanence is not about everything staying the same. Its about stability, about deepening soils and cleaner water, thriving communities in self-reliant regions, biodiverse agriculture and social justice, peace and abundance.

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  New Economics Foundation

  nef is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic well-being.

  We aim to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environmental and social issues. We work in partnership and put people and the planet first.

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  Incredible Edible

  Incredible Edible Todmorden aims to increase the amount of local food grown and eaten in the town. Businesses, schools, farmers and the community are all involved. Vegetables and fruit are springing up everywhere. Public flower beds are being transformed into community herb gardens and vegetable patches.

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Press release

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10/12/09

At a time when government leaders are meeting in Copenhagen in a last-ditch attempt to curb CO2, is it acceptable that regional policies point firmly in the other direction?

That's the question which will be put to all Yorkshire and Humberside MPs and councillors by the "Revisit the Vision" campaign, launched in Hebden Bridge this week.

The call follows publication of data indicating that carbon emissions from Yorkshire and Humberside would be WORSE THAN "BUSINESS AS USUAL" if the regional authorities succeed in implementing their plans and strategies. (Source Yorkshire and Humber Assembly: Evaluating the Contribution that Key Regional Strategies make towards addressing Climate Change (page 4)).

Campaign co-ordinator Penny Eastwood said:- "We intend to give our elected representatives an opportunity to make a stand on what we see as a major public scandal. Regional policies which threaten the move to a low carbon economy should be completely re-evaluated.

Members of the public, groups and businesses can also sign up to the campaign at www.revisitthevision.org.uk

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