Dear All,

At the moment the "archive" of group messages are only viewable by members
of the group.  I set it up this way to protect our email addresses from
being "poached" by junkmailers etc.  The down side to this is that only
members can read the postings.  It would be better if anyone could go to the
website (at home, in a library etc.) and read the messages without
necessarily having to join: just go to the web address, and click on
"Messages".  It could attract new members, but letting them read what we are
discussing.

It seems that Yahoo filters out email addresses from messages viewed in this
way, so addresses are not displayed for everyone to see.

I propose changing the access restriction so that anyone can read the
postings, given that our addresses are protected.  It will be a lot more
"inclusive" I feel.  A lot more people can then easily read the postings,
the minutes of meetings etc.

If anyone has any strong objections will they please email me ASAP,
otherwise I will "open it up" on Monday.

Of course, another consequence is that we have to be careful what we say
since it is viewable by the whole world, not that we shouldn't be doing so
already! ;-)

Matt

Just testing something on the website - please ignore this email.

> From: "Matt Trevaskis" <trevaskis@...>
> Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 16:23:36 +0000
> To: matt.trevaskis@...
> Subject:
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

> According to the EA's *South West Waste Minimalisation & recycling Directory,
>
> HDPE & Polystyrene will be dealt with by CES (doesn't say where it goes
> then!) also Acorn Environmental Trading, Cleanaway Ltd.
> If all fails give Christine Smith a call at The Cornwall Paper Co. The waste
> business changes frequently so worth getting up to the minute news.
>
> *Order on
> 0845 933 3111 will send copies for all the group (best Christmas presents I
> ever sent!)

Have ordered 20 copies for the group, should be with me in a few days.  Will
bring along to the next meeting!

Matt

----------
From: ar ru
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 16:33:20 +0100 (CET)
To: matt.trevaskis@...
Subject: low energy bulb

Hi ,

following your email, here is a web site selling low energy bulb of every
kind, starting at 3w and 130mm.
They do free delivery above £ 50.00.
They are not the cheapest, but, as far as I know they are the only one to
sell 3, 5, or 5w ( less than 25w equivalent ).
www.lyco.co.uk <http://www.lyco.co.uk>

Arnaud




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Patsy,
From: "Patsy Stevens"
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 21:07:11 -0000
To: <matt.trevaskis@bt...>
Subject: digest

Hi You want to watch for stuff like this on Countryfile Suns usually
11am-noon BBC1 There have also been some interesting self build eco on other
channels/progs.

I wondered if its possible to obtain (at reasonable price) low energy
screw-in bulbs ? maybe off the net

I did get both of your emails.  Yes, I've caught a couple of interesting
things on Countryfile, usually when they're half over!  I should make a
point of watching it religiously!

You can get screw-in bulbs in a few places now.  B&Q in Penzance has quite a
few... ES (Edison Screw) which have the same size cap as "normal" (bayonet)
bulbs but with a screw thread, SES (Small ES) which is about half the
diameter, SBC (Small Bayonet Cap) - smaller version of the normal, common
one.  They do a range of shaped low energy bulbs including spotlight bulbs
(with a mirrored reflector, designed to replace the normal mirrored bulbs),
"globe" bulbs for where the bulb is visible and "candle" bulbs - for
decorative use.

You generally can't find ES bulbs as cheap as BC bulbs... ES are more
expensive (around the £7 to £10 mark) because ES aren't so common in the UK
(ES common in North America) and they're not as safe either, particularly if
wired wrongly.  I have a couple of ES lamps which I plan to replace, and I
won't buy another.

Unfortunately, and this probably won't change due to the fact that they
include the starting circuit, they are all physically larger than their
incandescent counterparts... I'm currently trying to replace the candle
bulbs in some "uplighter" wall lights - but everything is too big to fit.
I'm either going to have to re-engineer the bulb holders to take small
fluorescents or change the whole thing - don't want to do that!  I've found
that quite a few wall/ceiling lights (particularly those with ES bulbs)
cannot accommodate low-energy bulbs, yet they are still being sold!  You
generally can't buy domestic lights fitted with low energy bulbs, only
"commercial" ones.

Focus DIY in Pool have the new style "twister" low energy lamps which are
only a fraction larger than old style bulbs... but I don't like the quality
of them: 5 year life just isn't good enough.  I'm on the lookout for ones
from one of the big (quality) manufacturers.

I think that it's time that the old bayonet and screw fittings were banned,
maybe on new build constructions to start with, so that "high energy" bulbs
CANNOT be used - only low energy bulbs.  Need to find out if the local
planning office(s) have the power to change local building regulations?

Matt





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I was in Cardiff last weekend and saw that in the pedestrianised shopping
area they have HUGE recycling bins with four compartments for cans, plastic
bottles, glass, and one for other litter.  These large, round stainless
steel bins were about 8 feet in diameter (!), with a quarter for each
compartment, each with a round hole on the top (like the circular bottle
banks down here).  They were made in two halves, and fitted around the base
of a (large) street light.

Although I had started thinking about if before (after conversation with
Patsy on list) it's a very obvious thing to do... wherever there is a need
for rubbish bins (e.g. a town centre) there is a need for recycling
facilities too.  Perhaps more so than one would think.  I would imagine that
a LARGE proportion of what goes into town centre bins is from "convenience"
eating and particularly drinking.

Has anyone seen multi-purpose bins in other places?  I'm sure that I've seen
bins like the ones that Penzance has, but with two compartments - one for
recyclables, one for other rubbish - but I can't remember where!  A four
compartment version would be eminently more practical.  Maybe funding could
be found in this £1,000,000 that Pz has won for regenerating the town
centre?  The Cardiff ones are WAY too big for Pz but the advantage would be
that they don't need emptying every 5 minutes!

I think that the public place recycling bins is something that should be
done very soon, and definitely before next summer, given the tourist nature
of the place - people eating and particularly drinking in the street
generates so many cans, plastic bottles, etc. the council has to do it!

It's the same argument that I gave them for electric vehicles - wherever
there is a car park there is a need for recharging sockets: wherever there
is a rubbish bin, there is a need for a recycling bin too!

If nothing else, it should demonstrate a positive attitude to separating
waste - to make people think when they dispose of something, whether at home
or not.

Matt

According to the EA's *South West Waste Minimalisation & recycling Directory,

HDPE & Polystyrene will be dealt with by CES (doesn't say where it goes
then!) also Acorn Environmental Trading, Cleanaway Ltd.
If all fails give Christine Smith a call at The Cornwall Paper Co. The waste
business changes frequently so worth getting up to the minute news.

*Order on
0845 933 3111 will send copies for all the group (best Christmas presents I
ever sent!)

By the way:Alupro (www.alupro.org.uk) are expecting to distribute 35,000
native trees to be planted across the UK in the autumn of 2004. For every 50kg
of
aluminium cans & foil you sell at participating Cash for Cans centres between
now & the end of June 2004, you can claim a tree for your garden - in addition
to the cash value of your aluminium.
The more people recycle the more trees will be planted.
Register today at:
Alupro,
FREEPOST BM4518,
Redditch BB97 6BR     0845 7227722  info@...

We can always use them in Crenver Grove
Pip


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> There was quite a bit on RCnl noon-2.30 today about recycling with
> Tim Smith one bloke said he produced no rubbish - everyting was
> recycled. Wonder how he managed that?

Unless the bloke only ever buys "loose" fresh fruit and vegetables, I dare
say he is telling fibs!  I make a big effort to minimise any waste (have it
down to less than one carrier bag's worth per week) but the way that things
are packaged it's very difficult - even after choosing the most recyclable
option.  I compost the organic stuff, do the kerbside recycling and take
cardboard, HDPE and PET to recycling points, but even so there is still an
amount of "waste" :-(

I have a growing collection of LDPE (polythene) and expanded polystyrene in
my garage (from appliance packaging etc.) that I am loathed to put in the
bin.  Anyone know of anywhere to take it, or anyone who can make use of it?

Matt

Yes,that was the exhibition-photos of projects always welcome. I'll leave it
with Paul Bright this winter so it may get a few more outings. Mike Grigg & I
are both Directors of the CSBT.
Possible Oak participants may like to join your list. It is wonderful to have
an overview from the West end of Cornwall or even a countywide one like the
Cornwall Wildlife Trust's & it means that interaction can take place with
projects & information.

Biofuel is the one thing that we could really move forward. Think of all that
tourist chip fat, not to mention all that money for new enterprises!

Regards Pip


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Pip,

I think that I saw the display at the Wadebridge Green Fair at the end of
August - would that be correct?  It was very good.  Good photos and a very
enthusiastic "stallholder" Mike Grigg, who has built his own zero energy
house in St. Issey, on the north coast (no central heating, only a portable
electric heater that he has never had to use!)

Do you know if it is already in the pipeline for the display to come to the
Penzance Green Fair next Easter?  I'd like to ensure that it does!

(Thanks for the praise over the email list - unfortunately, so far, not many
have signed up.  I don't know if that is due to the Yahoo sign-up procedure
being too complicated, or lack of interest, fear of junk mail, or something
else.  I will contact OAK this weekend with regard to setting up their
equivalent list.  There's no reason that someone can't be on both lists, and
that "news" can be sent to both lists simultaneously - except that we might
receive postings twice!  Looking for an alternative place to put the list to
which it is easier to subscribe)

Matt

> For green building see the Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust,
> www.csbt.org.uk
> Paul Bright is the secretary. I have designed them an exhibition which we
> take to events showing as many different Cornish projects as I can get photos
> for. Luke News straw bale house at Gulval with tyre tiles is a good local
> example.There is also the Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership at Tolvadden
> www.cornwallenergypartnership.org
>
> Pip Richards www.sustrust.co.uk

Accessable taxis at Poniou Way Long Rock Ind Est Penzance TR20 8HX
tel: 01736 360677 email
> alldisdial@...

Hi all,
This is just what we all needed to pool ideas, what a good idea Matt.

For green building see the Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust,
www.csbt.org.uk
Paul Bright is the secretary. I have designed them an exhibition which we
take to events showing as many different Cornish projects as I can get photos
for. Luke News straw bale house at Gulval with tyre tiles is a good local
example.There is also the Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership at Tolvadden
www.cornwallenergypartnership.org

Pip Richards www.sustrust.co.uk


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There was quite a bit on RCnl noon-2.30 today about recycling with
Tim Smith one bloke said he produced no rubbish - everyting was
recycled. Wonder how he managed that?
Is there anyone reading this who would be interested in developing a
local meeting St.Ives group incorporating  recycling, renewable
energy, environment, access and facilities, possibly aspects of
housing, etc Would particularly like to hear from people with
different disabilities and about their experiences in St Ives area.
Patsy

A local architect, based in St. Ives and interested in sustainable building,
has asked if I know of a few local people, particularly those not in a
strong position to buy their own (conventional) home, that may be interested
in building their own sustainable home, probably as part of a single site
development.

Personally, I'm particularly interested in building a "zero-energy", timber
construction house, using passive solar heating, solar water heating,
rainwater harvesting and photo-voltaic electricity generation.  In a remote
location I would be interested in including wind power and reed bed sewerage
to make it completely self-sufficient.

So, if you have an interest in sustainable building, or know anyone that
does, and you are perhaps not in a position to afford a house in the
conventional marketplace, please contact me so that we can discuss how we
might move the idea forward.

Matt

Have any of you goggle-box fans out there seen the advert that is currently
being aired for Tetrapak cartons?  Grey, urban scenes with trees in
unexpected places...  it has the audacity to suggest that by choosing their
cartons that you are actually _helping_ the environment, because they plant
trees!  It fails to mention that they are not biodegradeable and are
composite material so they will just end up in landfill sites everywhere...

I've just submitted a complaint to the ITC at http://www.itc.org.uk which I
have included below.  Please consider doing the same if and when you see the
ad.

Matt

--
Dear Sir,

I write to complain about the television advertisement currently being shown
on Carlton Westcountry (and I presume other ITV networks) for Tetrapak.  I
was incensed to see the advert so blatantly mislead the public over the
³green² credentials of it¹s product(s).

The thirty second long advertisement depicts urban scenes devoid of colour,
with colourful trees in unexpected places such as within a multi-storey
office block, a busy road junction etc.  A voice-over then announces that
every time you choose to buy a carton you are helping the environment,
because Tetrapak plant trees.

I consider this advertisement to be grossly misleading and factually
incorrect.  Many food and drink cartons, including those manufactured by
Tetrapak (the world¹s largest producer of such cartons) are a composite
material, which is not recyclable and contains materials which are not
biodegradeable.  This is especially true since the introduction of integral
plastic screw caps and tamper evident seals.

The statement that a consumer, by choosing products in Tetrapak cartons, is
³helping² the environment is misleading to all but the most ardent
environmentalists who already appreciate the damage that Tetrapak-style
products are inflicting upon the environment by contributing to landfill
waste.

While it may be true that the paper/fibre material sourced for such cartons
is from a ³sustainable² source - that more trees are planted to replace
those which are felled - it in no way justifies the claim that a consumer is
³helping² the environment by purchasing such cartons.  By ³choosing² a
product in a Tetrapak carton a consumer is implicitly damaging the
environment, not helping it.

Personally, I have avoided buying Tetrapak-style cartons for some time,
instead choosing products from suppliers that choose packaging made from
re-usable materials such as glass and easily recyclable plastics, such as
PET and HDPE (typically used for milk containers), which are now easily
recycled in many localities.

Composite materials are a significant obstacle in improving household
recycling initiatives since they cannot be recycled and there is no
economical option other than to see the majority go to landfill.

I trust that action will be taken to prevent further broadcast of this, and
any similar advertisements, by Tetrapak that make such false and misleading
claims.  I would also expect that punitive action be forthcoming against
Tetrapak.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Trevaskis

I dont really think Lprint is essential for all mail. Maybe a members
questionnaire or request for LP where needed.Otherwise a font size of
min 12 max14 is reasonable. Probably equally important that ink is
clear black A bit early perhaps group should should start thinking
about audio tape version for blind people Or making someone
responsible for sending newsletter to related assoc. who produce
weekly taped material. Patsy

----------
From: Karen Clowes
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 5:05 pm
To: undisclosed-recipients: ;


I have booked the Committee Room at Penwith for several meetings of our
Forum  these dates are:

Monday 8th Dec
Monday 12th Jan
Monday 9th Feb
Monday 8th Mar

AREAS OF INTEREST / WISH-LIST!
Matt Trevaskis

This is my tuppence worth about what I want to acheive through the forum.
When I asked everyone to voice their wish list I wasn't suggesting anything
as long as this, but when I started I couldn't stop!  Comments or similar
viewpoints?  Matt :-)

Principally interested in transport, recycling, renewable energy, energy
efficiency, sustainable building, air quality, noise pollution,
overpopulation, but any issue relating to minimising our impact on our
environment.  Not averse to ³green environmentalism² but not particularly
active/aware in this area.

WHAT I¹D LIKE FROM THE GROUP
* A discussion forum: to learn the intricacies of the hot topics, through
invited ³authorities² on the subject (but being careful to retain
objectivity/independence) and through ³members² who are well-informed, in
meetings and online through email/web.
* An information source for participants, and the general population of
Penwith, to obtain info relating to the issues - specific to our locality,
and as a wider issue, including:
Listings of retailers/suppliers of environmentally friendly products for
business and home use, such as recycled copier paper from a local source,
sustainable building supplies, alternative energy advisors/installers,
organic food suppliers...  online and perhaps as a ³loose-leaf² folder at
the library(ies)
* A purchasing consortium for bulk-buying of products not available locally,
e.g. UK-sourced recycled, chlorine-free copier paper, where it's impractical
/ uneconomical / environmentally unsound to purchase individually.
* Partnerships with local businesses and organisations who ³sign up² to a
charter to reduce their environmental impact etc.
* To provide support and information to individuals, groups, schools, etc.
to enact better practices in their day-to-day lives, both responsively and
pro-actively.

WHAT HAVE I DONE MYSELF/PLAN TO DO?
* Gave up a car and swapped to riding an electric scooter for the last four
years, covering 20,000km, at a cost of about £40, using green electricity I
might add!  This has avoided over 3 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to even
a small car!
* I show my scooter whenever I can, most recently at the Wadebridge Green
Fair - and I rode it all the way there and back!
* Pioneered an alternative fuel awareness drive at the university where I
worked.
* I re-plumbed my toilet to use rainwater for flushing.  It¹s actually
³dual-fuel² in that I can easily switch back to the mains if the water butt
runs dry!  (All parts from B&Q!)
* I plan to extend the rainwater harvesting to include a massive 750 litre
tank to virtually replace mains water for toilet flushing and laundry
washing.
* I intend to set-up a small, experimental wind turbine in my back garden,
just enough to run the lights in the house, the fridge, and maybe recharge
my scooter!

KEY OBJECTIVES/DESIRES
TRANSPORT:
* Promotion of electric vehicles, principally by the provision of recharging
stations in car parks and at major employers, especially government
buildings.
* Local buses to be retrofitted with diesel catalysts and/or converted to
run on bio-diesel (or at least a cleaner fossil-fuel like CNG).
* Local pay-to-scrap of older (esp. diesel) cars and vans, or scrap for
bus/train travelcard etc.
* Daytime pedestrianisation of Penzance Town Centre (say 10am-4:30pm),
electric taxis, shuttles for goods.  Require goods delivery before 10am,
after 4:30pm.  St. Ives already like this?
* Introduction of Shopmobility facilities in Penzance & St. Ives - mobility
scooter hire
* Oppose the proposed one-way restriction of Market Jew Street to run UP
through the town since this will cause higher vehicle emissions - DOWN
instead.
* Reduction of ³food miles² with local produce more widely (and
identifiably) available in shops, restaurants and schools etc.  Focus on
local (organic) produce for schools.  Do local schools have buying policies
for food and consumables?
* Reduction of ³trade miles². (e.g. only recycled printer/copier paper sold
in Pz is from Austria!)
* Discourage single-occupancy/long distance commutes (e.g. Pz-Truro) by car.
Car pool schemes at big employers e.g. County Council - Car pool lanes at
peak times.

REDUCTION - LOCAL RETAILERS
* Reduce the amount of composite (non-recyclable) materials used - e.g.
³tetrapak² style cartons and ³5² and ³6² grade plastics (PP & PS).
Composites tax?
* Fruit containers and punnets made from ³5²-type plastic (PP) to be
replaced with ³1²-type PET (commonly available and already used).  Now that
PET bottles are also being collected locally this makes sense.  Lobby local
retailers and chains.
* More juices etc. sold in ³milk bottle² style ³2²-type HDPE containers
instead of cartons.  (Tesco Orange Juice now available in HDPE bottle)
* Reduce the overpackaging of goods.
* Brown paper ³carrier bags² a la Safeway of yesteryear.
* Plastic carrier bag tax - when? Bags to be biodegradeable or made from
HDPE (c.f. Co-op)
* Letterbox ³sticker² scheme to indicate unwanted supermarket promo leaflets
etc.
* Letterbox ³sticker² scheme to indicate no junk mail from postal delivery
(unaddressed items)

KERBSIDE RECYCLING EXPANSION
* In addition to the paper, tins, glass and textiles, there should also be
collection of cardboard (including low-grade and brown paper etc.), plastics
(PET & HDPE at least) - drop off recycling bins (Safeway, Tesco) now taking
all plastic bottles (PET & HDPE) so it is being reprocessed.
* Recycling of compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) - ³low energy bulbs².
* Green waste collection
* Wheelie bin trade-in scheme - large bin unnecessary with recycling.  2+
bins for separating rubbish.  Rebate or incentive scheme for less frequent
bin collection.
* Collection / site for ³4²-LDPE (Polythene) and expanded polystyrene - used
for insulation?
* Town centre recycling bins for "casual" waste - c.f. Cardiff's 4-way
glass/plastic/cans/litter bins - wherever there is a bin there is a need!
* Local processing of PET - simple process.  Cornish producers using
³virgin² PET?  Jolly¹s Drinks perhaps?  Is locally collected PET being used
in new PET product manufacture or only other products such as carpet?

ENERGY USAGE / RENEWABLES
* Education about the wasted energy of appliances left on standby including
the economics.  (Make available portable energy meters).
* Standby losses: TV (15W) + Video (8W) + Microwave (25W) + PC (30W) = 80W x
20h/day unused = 1.6kWh/day = 12p/day or £41.80 a year!  Enough for 5,800
miles on my scooter, or 10 low-energy bulbs for 8 hours a day every day!
* A television left on standby for 21 hours a day, and watched for the other
3 hours consumes twice as much energy while on standby as when being ³used²!
* My telephone answering machine consumes over 80kWh of electricity a year!
Enough for 1,000 miles on my scooter!  It is less than 50% efficient, so 40
kWh wasted: enough for a low energy lamp for 2,000 hours or 5 hours a day!
* Tackle the manufacturers of audio-visual equipment, microwaves, answering
machines etc. - the ³quiet consumers² of electricity, to use high-efficiency
power supplies in these products that consume minimal power when lightly
loaded: use switch-mode adaptors.  Many people will never be bothered to
turn things off!
* Incentives for peak time electricity usage reduction?  Peak demand tariffs
for domestic users?  French variable rate system?  Introduce "load shedders"
for domestic / commercial properties to limit maximum demand?
* Ideally situated for photovoltaic (PV) solar energy - most southerly part
of UK and reputedly the sunniest!  Promote PV grants (available from Energy
Savings Trust), especially during re-roofing or new-build.

WATER
* Highlight rainwater harvesting - very practicable in Cornwall!  Economical
when using water meters.  Grey water re-usage.  Incorporate in new-build
schemes.
* Dual-flush toilet conversion?  Existing installations - plug removal.
Discuss with South West Water?

NOISE POLLUTION (under the auspices of sustainability?)
* Modified car and motorcycle exhausts - any checks or enforcements by local
police?  Decibel checks and enforcements.
* Diesel commercials - particularly 4am milk deliveries!  What ever happened
to electric milk floats?!

PDC / OTHER GOVT. DEPTS, LARGE EMPLOYERS, SCHOOLS ETC.
* Where do they source their electricity from?  Change supplier to a green
supplier/tariff.  On site/office recycling?
* Do they have any on-site renewable energy generation?  e.g. Flat roof on
main building at PDC - ideal for solar / PV array.
* Rainwater harvesting for toilets etc.?
* Out of hours energy conservation.
* Buying policies e.g. local produce, recycled products, etc.?

PLANNING OFFICE
* Actively encourage / support renewable energy schemes, large-scale,
commercial, community and domestic.  Promote the inclusion of renewable
energy in new-build, and major renovation of, domestic and commercial
properties.  Preferential attention/conditions to plans that include
renewables.
* Automatically supply literature to planning permission applicants on
products, contractors and grant schemes for PV, solar water heating etc.
(Energy Savings Trust) for all building applications.
* Require all new build (inc. domestic) to use luminaires and light fittings
(e.g. pendant lights) that can only use low energy lamps (no traditional
bayonet or Edison screw fitments)
* Mandate the inclusion of energy-saving featues above and beyond the
requirements of building regulations, e.g. heat recovery ventilation
* Simplify / relax rules on / promote adding PV/solar panels to roofs.
Produce guidance information such that anyone considering
adding/incorporating PV or solar on/into a roof doesn't need to apply for
planning consent (where it would otherwise be needed)

Sandra Rothwell announced at the Kerrier OAK group meeting (17/11) that West
Cornwall Together will be having a (re-)launch party at Tregenna Castle
Hotel, St. Ives, on January 29th.

We're invited to either session: 3.30pm-5pm or 5:30pm-7pm

They also have a website www.wclsp.info/quest/quest.htm which will soon be
relaunched to move away from the acronym WCLSP.

Matt

--
"We do not inherit the Earth from our parents -
we borrow it from our children."

I scooted up to the OAK meeting last night to see how things worked "up
there". I think that it was very worthwhile.  I'll post the official
"minutes" if I can get them, but for now...

Don Holmes (at our meeting last week) chaired the meeting, there were 6
other "members" plus Phil Walsh (Kerrier LA21 officer/coordinator etc.) plus
me.

First up, Sandra Rothwell gave basically the same introduction to West
Cornwall Together that she gave us last week.  Similar questions were
raised, including how often and at what times the environment group of the
WCT would sit and she replied every 6 weeks and that it would be daytime
considering who else will be involved (from public sector).  A couple of
members expressed fears over it just being more bureaucracy but are
considering it.  Sandra had to leave after speaking, so some
comments/discussions were made in her absence.

There are a lot of common concerns between the groups, at least in the
aspect of attracting and retaining members.  They are revising a press
release to renew the appeal of the group to encourage new members who may be
interested.  For us this signifies how important the naming, focus,
"constitution" and publications (meeting announcements etc.) will be to the
success of the group: broad enough to attract enough people but focussed
enough to not be too vague.

The Kerrier group seem to lean more towards "green" environmentalism -
conservation and habitat preservation, allotments, etc. compared to (at
least as I understood it) a leaning in our group towards recycling,
renewable energy etc. but one definite crossover is transport.  This could
be a good first collaborative effort perhaps.

OAK spawned a conservation group which drew some members away from OAK, but
I don't necessarily think that that is a bad thing, if it succeeds and
conservation was the reason that they joined in the first place.  It was
mentioned that it is considered dangerous to splinter a group into too many
"sub-groups" (either geographically or topically) for fear of being spread
too thinly.

Moving the meeting between towns was found to attract mainly the same
people, but they just drove further!  This somewhat mitigates our decision
to stay in Penzance for the time being anyway.  I indicated our idea to make
an effort to car pool if we do flit around which seemed to be appreciated.

They also have the problem of no participation by young people, who perhaps
see it as too "stuffy" and boring and just another council(-type) meeting.
Perhaps need to involve schools and youth forums in more "grass roots"
activities?  (Suggestion: Maybe a "know your packaging/recycling roadshow"?)

OAK, too, do not want to just be a "talking shop" and want to see tangible
results.  They are of the same opinion as us (as I think the general
concensus to be) that our groups should work together for common goals and
objectives, together with WCT where appropriate, while retaining and
promoting our autonomy and independence (including from the District
Councils) to pursue matters ourselves.

A few members were aware of Penwith Environment Centre (Network) and the
former PLATO and I stressed that we are neither of those groups, but that we
have several attendees from PLATO and Ralph from PEN and that we are
currently discussing how to establish ourselves.

I extended the reciprocal invitation for them to attend our next meeting,
and to sign up to our email list.  I'm also going to help them set up one of
their own!  They've found it difficult and expensive to justify maintaining
a postal mailing list for their newsletter of the 40 or so members, few of
which come to the meetings, so they thought the email was a good idea.

Phil Walsh, who first "planted the seed" of OAK, will soon leave the LA21
role to become "Head of Service - Environment".  His present job has been
advertised and Phil will be appointing the replacement, whose job title will
move away from the LA21-specific role.  Phil assured the group that they
will continue to receive support from his dept and will continue to be able
to use the council offices to meet if they so wish.

OAK's next meeting is on Monday 15th of December at Kerrier District
Council's offices in Camborne, near Tesco.  The conference room is on the
fourth or fifth floor but there is level access from the (automatic) front
door and a lift.  I don't recall seeing dedicated disabled parking outside
but there is some at least.  I don't believe that there is a loop system for
hearing impairments  (and the heating/air conditioning is very noisy!)

Matt

Signed up at last!

Just to say that in case you haven't already heard we are planting trees &
shrubs in Crenver Grove on Friday 28th & Saturday 29th November.

We have just produced a digital short which goes online 1st December at
www.electricdecember.org  Ours is featured on the 8th Dec. This is an
interactive
piece asking for pictures of sustainable Christmas gifts made from waste or
natural materials to be emailed to crenverbeech@... , they can also be snail
mailed.

There is an interesting seminar on the Cornish Coastline, this wednesday at
the Camborne School of Mines email C.J.Dungey@... for details.

Pip Richards
www.sustrust.co.uk


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I finally got around to joining the Mail Preference Service (MPS) that
supposedly reduces the amount of junk mail that you get through the post.
This only applies to stuff that is addressed to you, not the brochures and
pamphlets that seem to be on the increase (see below).  Reputable "direct
mail advertisers" subscribe to get a list of who doesn't want to receive
their offers.

I joined up on the website which just takes your surname and address - it's
applied to all people of the same surname at the same address.  I also
subscribed my mother and brother (different address).

The irony is that they sent me (all of us actually, including 2 to the same
address!) a heavy card acknowledgement informing us of everything that I'd
already read on the website!!  There is no way of opting out of receiving it
on the website:  there is a comments box which I filled with "please don't
send me..." but it didn't work!

There are also links to the Telephone Preference Service and Fax Preference
Service - I also subscribed the TPS to stop the usual double glazing calls.
Got a letter from them too!

You may be able to prevent the mailshots if you subscribe by phone...

Mail Preference Service:
Michele Taylor (Subscriptions - 020 7291 3319)
Alison McKenzie (Complaints - 020 7291 3321)
http://www.mps-online.org.uk


Door-to-Door drops:

A couple of weeks ago I put an A4-sized sign in my front door window
requesting no junk mail (a road-sign type red circle with a line through it
and "JUNK" in the middle of it) which I though was having an effect on my
postie not pushing through the endless stream of pamphlets (even when I
don't have any post!) but, alas, a few days later 3 pieces arrived just to
go straight into the recycling box.

I went to complain at the sorting office in Clarence St. Penzance and the
chap that I spoke to said that he'd take care of it... apparently each
postman has a sheet given to them on each round saying who they should miss
out.  I hope that I haven't just generated an extra sheet of paper every
day, even if I don't see it!

I'm going to ask the manager of the sorting office if he would endorse (i.e.
get his delivery staff to actually take notice of) a sticker if we produce
one, to stick on letterboxes to indicate that you don't want to receive the
circulars etc.  Maybe a separate one to stop all the supermarket leaflets
etc.?

I've also found an address that purports to stop the delivery of unwanted,
UNADDRESSED items to your home, which I suppose has the same effect as
requesting in person at the sorting office...  Write to:

Royal Mail Door-to-Door, Streamline House, Sandy Lane West, Oxford, 0X4 5ZZ

Matt

Lidl sell Osram low energy bulbs (although not the dimming ones) for £2.50
each which is cheaper than anywhere else that I've found.  They are branded
"Economy" and claim a 6 year life, which is less than most these days (10 or
12 years) but the cynic in me says that they are exactly the same as the
Osram "Longlife" ones (I have both) just marketed differently... maybe.

If you've ever tried replacing energy-wasting bulbs with low energy ones,
but found that they were physically too big for a lamp shade etc B&Q now
have some that are a fair bit smaller than they used to be, and with a
variety of fittings: bayonet cap (BC), Edison Screw (ES), Small BC (SBC),
Small ES (SES)  They've also got some peculiar ones like candle bulbs and
spotlight bulbs (with a reflector).

Matt

Karen (and group),

I met with Patsy Stevens (now on the mailing list) from St Ives on Tuesday,
and discussed her concerns particularly over disabled access.  (She wasn't
able to make it to the meeting on Monday, due to transport issues)

She has asked that access be included in the new forum.  I said that I
didn't know that it directly falls under the "scope" of the group, but what
definitely does is to ensure access to the activities of the group.

She particularly asked if you could inquire what accessibility is like for
the other potential venues in Hayle, St Just etc. when you are finding out
the availability/conditions for future meetings, including wheelchair
access, induction loop for hearing impairments, visual aids (projectors)
etc.

I think that it's important to make sure that all the activities of the
forum and everything that it produces in terms of publications etc. are as
widely accessible as possible.  The online stuff should be implicitly so,
since fonts can be enlarged by the viewer on individual and public PCs, but
anything we produce in hard copy perhaps should also be printed in large
print.  Tape or online audio might also be considered.

I think that whether we are obliged to or not, the requirements, or at least
the ethos, of the Disability Discrimination Act should be encompassed.

Matt

Although they are no longer publicising it, last year's offer from SWEB for
"dimmable" low energy lamps is still open.

The OSRAM VARIO bulbs can be dimmed to half brightness by turning them off,
then on again within a few seconds (normal low energy bulbs cannot be
dimmed).  See http://www.osram.com/pdf/service_corner/vario_e.pdf

They are sold in packs of 2 for £10 inc postage.  (Max 3 packs (6 bulbs) per
household)  Payment by credit card (or debit card I think)

Call 0800 015 9097 quoting ref: SQ3

I have a feeling that the offer may be valid even if you don't use SWEB as
your energy supplier.  They probably don't check anyway!

Make sure to ask for a receipt, because OSRAM guarantee them for 10 years,
but you need to produce a receipt in the event of a warranty claim.

I asked for a receipt when I ordered some last week, but they had never
issued one before: normally the only record is your credit card bill.

Just a quick note to let you know that I have managed to sign up.  I
will try and make a start on the minutes for last week's meeting.
Thanks for chairing last night Matt you did a great job.

Speak soon.

Karen

A note about posting messages:

Please post in "plain text" not HTML mode: if you don't know what this
means, don't worry - just avoid using different size fonts, bold, italics
etc.  All of this kind of formatting will be lost when the message is
delivered to the group.  Use underscores and asterisks to emphasise words
like _this_ or like *this* or type the word in capitals LIKE THIS!

Please use uppercase sparingly.  It's often called SHOUTING and if a whole
message is in uppercase it is very hard to read!

Please avoid uploading documents/files in an "application specific" format
(e.g. a "Word" document).  Not everyone has a PC (some have Macs) and won't
be able to open those files.

In the case of Word, where possible, do a "Save As" and save the file as RTF
(Rich Text Format) and change the file extension to .RTF (e.g. MYFILE.RTF)
or even "plain text" (with a .TXT extension).  RTF will preserve most of the
bold and italics etc.; plain text will not.  These should both open okay on
both PCs and Macs.  PDF files are fine for both PCs and Macs too.

Sorry to have so many "rules" but it makes it work for everyone! :-)

Matt

----------
From: Sustrust@...
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 07:12:22 EST
To: trevaskis@...
Subject: TONIGHT

Well done for setting up the yahoo group-just what we need. I had this from
Charles Hall last week-maybe of interest to group. Will sign up as soon as I
get a minute


Cornwall County Council  - 3 Posts Planning, Transportation & Estates
Cycleau in Cornwall ­ Can you make a difference?

Cycleau, a complex EU funded project bringing together partners in Britain,
Eire and France, seeks to improve the environmental quality of river
catchments.

Cornwall County Council is responsible for delivery through partnership of
the project¹s programme of works in the Fowey, Fal/Helford and Red River
catchments.  To help us achieve this we are looking for experienced,
intelligent and committed professionals to work as a team with our partner
organisations and local communities.

Cycleau Project Development Officer Grade POA  £25,245 ­ £28,320 p.a.
Ref: PTE 03/165

You will lead and oversee the development, management, implementation and
review of Cycleau¹s work programme in Cornwall, with a value of
approximately £2.5 million. You will be responsible for the day-to-day
management and delivery of the Cornwall-wide work programme working within
the framework of the transnational project themes. Cycleau will provide
improvements to environmental quality and management, seeking to bring
tangible benefits to local communities and businesses.



If you are educated to degree level and an excellent communicator, a
motivated and experienced manager able to provide inspirational leadership
with an eye for detail and have an interest in river and estuarine
environments, this might be just the job for you.

Interview date: 27 November 2003.

Cycleau Environmental Information Officer
Grade SO1  £21,282 ­ £22,689 p.a.
Ref: PTE 03/166

You will be the lead officer for the development, co-ordination, management
and implementation of the GIS presentation of Cycleau¹s work within
Cornwall. You will be responsible for ensuring the collection and collation
of complex databases presented through GIS and other media, ensuring
integration with similar databases being developed by our partners elsewhere
in the south west, in France and Ireland. A particular challenge will be to
ensure that the public face of the GIS, accessible through the project¹s
website, inspires and engages non-technical audiences.



If you are educated to degree standard with a minimum 3 years¹ experience in
GIS, a knowledge and understanding of environmental and socio-economic
databases and have a passion for increasing public understanding, then your
future might be with Cycleau.

Interview date: 28 November 2003.

Cycleau Facilitators ­ Red River and Fal/Helford
Scale 5  £16,944 ­ £18,582 p.a. pro rata
18 hours p.w.

Ref: PTE 03/167



You will develop a close working relationship with local communities to
explain, demonstrate and interpret the impacts of Cycleau activity in the
river catchments. Some aspects of the work might be regarded as potentially
contentious and sensitive, so you will need tact and diplomacy as well as an
enthusiastic, personable approach.

We are looking for people who can inspire and engage local communities
through organising meetings, innovative events and interpretation. You will
have a minimum of 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above, together with
at least two years¹ experience in environmental management and/or
interpretation or community development. You must also be an excellent
communicator, able to innovate as well as work within a team. If you think
that you¹ve got what it takes, we want to hear from you.



Interview dates: 3 and 4 December 2003.

Please note that all of the above positions are fixed term for 3 years.

An application form and further details can be obtained from The Personnel
Section, Planning, Transportation and Estates Department, Room 324, County
Hall, Truro TR1 3AY or email: recruit.pte@... giving your postal
address for replies. Please quote the reference number.

Closing date for all positions: 14 November 2003.

Working towards equal opportunities

Please circulate to colleagues who might find this of interest

ALSO IF NO-ONE ELSE MENTIONS IT-THESUSTAINABLE TRUST ARE PLANTING 300 TREES
AT CRENVER GROVE 28TH & 29TH NOV    PIP 01209 831718

Apologies for not attending personally-trapped nerve in back means I need to
get warm & comfortable at night!

Regards Pip Richards www.sustrust.co.uk





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Looking forward to the meeting - test

HI,

GREAT, IT DOES WORK.

SEE YOU ON mONDAY.

ARNAUD