A course of 8 Evening Classes, starting January 2012

Hereford, Wednesdays at the Rocket Cafe

Kington, Fridays at the Oxford Arms

Ledbury, Tuesdays at Trinity Parish Room

A vision of an ecologically sustainable and socially just world

Richard Priestley, e-mail richardjpriestley@hotmail.com phone 01432 358104

Blog http://richardpriestley.co.uk/

More Information for those who are interested:

The Hereford classes start on Wednesday 25th January and the Kington classes start on Friday 27th January, and for the 8 sessions the cost is £40 (concessions £30) and 10% discount for early bookings.

The Ledbury classes which start on Tuesday 24th January are organised by the WEA and use the title 'Managing Climate Change: Ideas for a Sustainable Future'. The bookings and costs are slightly different, but the content is very similar.

All classes start at 7.30 promptly and finish at about 9.30 pm. I'll show slides and talk for the first part of the evening, with plenty of scope for all to participate in discussion.

These classes may run in other locations, most likely Malvern, Ludlow and Hay-on-Wye, starting in September 2012, if there is sufficient interest.

Course Content:

This is a very positive, solution focused course.

However first, and briefly, we must acknowledge the mess we are in. Humanity faces a complex network of interlinked problems and challenges: climate change, ocean acidification, loss of biodiversity, resource depletion, hunger, poverty, global financial instability, unemployment, population growth, myriad forms of pollution, inequality and injustice. The list is long. Deep concern and worry are very human reactions.

There is also much to feel very positive about. A tremendous diversity of grassroots groups are emerging in every country on Earth, demanding and working to create a better, more ecologically sustainable, fairer and more just world. Simultaneously a cleantech revolution is unfolding that shows the possibilities for our species making the transition from 'The Fossil Fuel Age' to 'The Solar Age'.

My work focuses on studying and presenting the people, places and projects at the cutting edge of this change. Some towns and villages are now in the 'post transition' phase. Their dependence of fossil fuels is reduced to zero as they now generate all their energy needs, for heat, transport and electricity, for domestic, commercial and industrial uses, all from locally sourced, owned and controlled renewable energy resources. The business case for going radically green is becoming clearer by the day.

By studying the most ecologically sustainable and socially just examples of best practice across sectors as diverse as energy generation, governance, building, transport and farming, we learn important lessons for how we might better manage our own towns, cities and countryside. The opportunities to create sustainable forms of prosperity for all humanity are almost limitless. Radical and systemic change is necessary, possible and desirable.

I look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes to one and all

Richard.