Dear Transitioners
Welcome back from what we hope was a good summer break for you all. But now it’s back to fighting for our lives!
On Friday 20 September there is the Global Climate Strike, with Youth Strike students from Monmouth Comprehensive School starting at 9am outside the Shire Hall. Please come and support! Youth strikers across the world are calling on adults to join them as part of a massive global day of action. If you want to join a different protest or for further information see https://www.campaigncc.org/climate_strike_20_september.
Then, starting on Monday 7 October, Extinction Rebellion and allied movements will peacefully shut down Westminster until the Government acts. Sign up now at https://actionnetwork.org/forms/international-rebellion-london/ or contact xrabergavenny@gmail.com to be kept up to date with local information – it’s more fun if you go with a local crowd!
We held the second ACE (Action on Climate Emergency) Monmouth meeting in July, formed a Steering Group and settled on taking forward three projects, Action on Climate Emergency Festival of the Future, Cycle Friendly Monmouth, and Green Spaces. If you would like to be involved with any of these groups details are:-
ACE Festival of the Future: Next meeting: Wednesday 18 September, 7pm at the Robin Hood. Contact: dillyboase@hotmail.com – with email subject ‘ACE MONMOUTH FESTIVAL’
Cycle Friendly Monmouth: Next meeting: Thursday 19 September, venue to be confirmed. Contact: rachel.jupp@yahoo.com
Green Spaces: Inaugural meeting: Wednesday 25 September, 7.15 for a 7.30 start at the Robin Hood. Contact: vivienmitchell@yahoo.co.uk
There is a new Facebook page for ACE Monmouth – https://www.facebook.com/groups/329198128016245/?epa=SEARCH_BOX so you can keep up to date with the news and chat.
Apple Pressing: We now have our very own apple pressing equipment. We would normally do apple pressing in October but apples are ready to press early this year – why? – climate change? So we have brought the dates forward to the weekend of 21/22 September – details below. The equipment is available for other community groups to borrow – contact Bryan Miller – bm6565@gmail.com – for further details. Other apple pressing events will be advertised on Facebook page ‘APPLE PRESSING EVENTS MONMOUTHSHIRE’. Bring apples, pears etc if you have any but please bring bottles to take juice home with you.
Now for those dates for your diaries:-
Grosmont Harvest Market: Saturday 14 September, 10am till 2pm: BBQ – brunch + lunch, local produce, hand made craft, children’s craft table
Usk Show: Saturday 14 September: Visit the County Council’s tent. Plastic Free Monmouth will be there
Repair Café Abergavenny: Saturday 14 September, 11am till 2pm at the Abergavenny Community Centre, Merthyr Road: Typical repairs include electrical items (toasters, kettles, vacuum cleaners etc), clothing/textiles, bikes, wooden items. Further information from repaircafeabergavenny@gmail.com or Facebook
Members’ Meeting: Tuesday 17 September, 7.15 at the Robin Hood to hear about Nature Isn’t Neat, other updates, discuss future events, fundraising etc – all welcome!
ACE Festival of the Future: Planning Meeting: Wednesday 18 September, 7pm to 9pm in the Stable Room at the Robin Hood. Come with your ideas! There are already plenty on the table and much enthusiasm to make this an event of very high impact.
Cycle Friendly Monmouth: Thursday 19 September at 7.30; venue to be confirmed. Contact Rachel – rachel.jupp@yahoo.com for further details or if you want to be added to the email list
Climate Strike: Friday 20 September, 9am at the Shire Hall, Monmouth. Come and support this and the Youth Strike pupils of Monmouth Comprehensive School
The Diet that Could Save the World: Saturday 21 September, 3pm to 4pm at the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny: Pamela Mason in conversation with Professor Tim Lang. This is a JUST FOOD free event but you need a ticket available at the Theatre Box Office or online at https://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com/programme-2019/the-diet-that-could-save-the-world
The Future of Farming: Up in the air or down in the ground: Sunday 22 September, 11 am till noon at the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny: A debate between Patrick Holden, an organic farmer and Director of the Sustainable Food Trust, and Professor Chungui Lu of Nottingham Trent University, a proponent of soil-less city hi-rise farming. This is another JUST FOOD free event but you need a ticket available at the Theatre Box Office of online at https://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com/programme-2019/the-future-of-farming-a-debate/
Green Spaces: Inaugural Meeting: Wednesday 25 September, 7.15 for a 7.30 start. We will be looking at developing an interactive map of green spaces, planting on the Kingswood Estate and other planting/growing projects. It’s up to you as to what we do – come with your ideas! Contact vivienmitchell@yahoo.co.uk for further details
ACE Monmouth: General Meeting: Thursday 17 October, 6.30 to 9pm, to hear updates on the projects and discuss further actions / other projects. Venue to be confirmed. Contact vivienmitchell@yahoo.co.uk for further details or to be put on the mailing list
Big Swap: Saturday 19 October, 11am to 2pm at Monmouth Priory. Yes, another Big Swap event for clothes, books, toys etc as well as the usual seeds/plants/produce. Please start keeping stuff ready to swap. We will serve coffee, tea and cakes as usual but also soup and bread so you can relax over a light lunch. If you would like to help with soup making, this will take place that morning at the Priory starting at 10am. Offers of help please to karin@chandler.wales
And the Local Produce Markets:-
Usk – 1st + 3rd Saturdays – 10 till 1
Abergavenny – 4th Thursday – 9.30 to 2.30
We hope to see you soon!
Vivien Mitchell
Transition Monmouth 