Deal Beach Clean 31st July

A really big thanks to all our volunteers who came on this morning's Beach Clean - we had about 20 people out on a lovely Sunny Deal Sunday.

Wendy is working out how much we collected - (latest: is 32kgs) - but considering the council clears the larger stuff during the tourist months there was still quite lot.

The next Deal Beach Clean will be on Sunday 25th September at 9am

For more information on our beach cleans please contact Wendy at beachclean@dealwithit.org

Visit to North Deal Community Centre...

I have just come back from the opening of the North Deal Community Centre and what an encouraging experience!  A partnership between a community group and a developer have achieved so much, and as green as they could possibly make it as well as thoughtful and imaginative design.  Please go and have a look; they are open to the public this weekend , from 10 until 4pm.  For those who do not know where it is, it is at the top end of Golf road, or go down College Road and then along Cannon street to the end and turn left. Regards  Rosie Rechter Deal With It - Co-ordinator

Deal Town Council vote to support 'Transition Deal'

The Deal Town Council tonight voted to support Deal working towards Transition Town status and assisting where possible and practicable. 

Tonight's vote comes after 'Deal With It''s  coordinator Rosie Rechter did a presentation on the transition movement at its previous meeting. The council will be making a formal statement of its support in the next days.

This is a great step forward in supporting our community becomeing a low carbon one which can navigate its way through climate change and challenges of peak oil.

Victoria's Green Matters 27th July 2011

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury:

The Transition movement has an inspiring motto – ‘from oil dependence to local resilience’. It focuses on the positive, encouraging communities to come together and work towards a life that is not so dependent on fossil fuels. There are twin dangers in the reliance on a carbon-based lifestyle – peak oil and climate change.

The world will never run out of oil but it has run out of oil that it is cheap and easy to extract hence the ever-increasing price today. Climate change is already happening; this can be seen around the world where populations are reporting more extremes of climate in many regions. The continuing use of our dwindling supplies of oil, coal and gas to produce energy to feed our consumerism has led to the increase in the world’s temperature and to climate change.

Growing food together, either on an allotment or in gardens, is an opportunity to educate people about where food comes from for those whose only knowledge is the supermarket. Rethinking transport and moving away from the car towards walking, cycling and using buses and trains cuts carbon emissions and reduces air pollution. Working towards locally produced energy through community owned generation, whether wind, solar or anaerobic digestion will cut emissions and secure supplies.

Many communities around the world have become Transition Towns, several of them here in Kent. Faversham, Whitstable, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Medway, Canterbury and Hythe have already opted to try to change their way of life; to become more resilient to face the challenges of the future.

We would very much like to add Deal’s name to this list; to make our town a healthier, richer, more inclusive and resilient community and we believe that by working together with local government, existing community groups and committed individuals we can achieve this.

Zero Carbon Transport by Transition Kingston

A sweet video from Transition Town Kingston on their Zero Carbon Day experiment on sustainable transport....


Video link is here: http://youtu.be/2Lmy9wVkDiw

Rippledown Environmental Centre - Stuff for Kids during the Holidays

Our colleagues at Rippledown Environmental Centre have two weeks of fantastic fun wildlife and environmental things to do during July and August

Rippledown Holiday Club 25-29 July & 22-28 August

www.rippledown.com/holidayclub​/

'Gasland' fracking film in Deal 16th August

DealWithIT are showing GASLAND - (2010) Directed by Josh Fox. Winner of Special Jury Prize - Best US Documentary Feature - Sundance 2010. Screening at Cannes 2010....

On the USA's experience of rush to exploit shale gas by fracking....


Dealability 43 Victoria Rd Deal - 7:30pm - Tuesday 16th August

See trailer here

http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/about-the-film/synopsis

Get involved with Nature conservation with Hawkshill Working Party

There's a great opportunity to keep fit and protect the flora and fauna of the
chalk downland that is Hawkshill Freedown, in Walmer.

This priceless amenity is owned by the Walmer Parish Council and in times when 80% of the species rich habitat has disappeared, we have a chance to protect it. The Hawkshill Working party,
coordinated by Clive Grant and Sue and Brian Pitcher (and advised by wildlife
management consultant Martin Newcombe) welcome volunteers with open arms every
1st Sunday and 3rd Monday of the month, 10.30a.m. - 12.30.

All you need to do is turn up at the car park by the T junction of Liverpool Road and Gram'sRoad; tools and protective gloves are provided. You can drop a line to let Walmer council know you're coming if you want to or just turn up. 01304 381506 or clerk@walmercouncil.co.uk .

In July, work carried out by a varied group (aged from 17 to 70!) included trimming back the bushes and brambles that constantly threaten to over run the site, and counting this year's orchids. So, a great way to be a friend to 400 species (including - crows foot garlic, pyramidal orchid, kidney vetch, pallid cockroach, rose chafer, lesser stag beetle, bumble bees, top snail, common lizards, linnets, ergot, slow worms,
spotted flycatchers, tree sparrow, turtledove, roast beef iris and stinking iris) in the open air with stunning views; an unbeatable offer!

Victoria's Green Matters 13th July

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury:

We may think that there are many threats to our safety in the modern world; there may be terrorist attacks, nuclear meltdown and climatic disasters but much greater threats exist from the unseen enemies that are bacteria and viruses.

There was a disturbing report last week concerning the continuing use of antibiotics by the farming industry in this country. The numbers of livestock have fallen over the last ten years but the use of antibiotics has still risen. Pressures to produce cheap and plentiful food by the supermarkets has led to too many animals being reared in cramped conditions where infections are easily passed around. To reduce these infections, antibiotics are routinely administered. It is widely accepted that this use of antibiotics has led to the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria, including the recent outbreak of E.coli in Germany. This outbreak has claimed 39 lives and a further 3,300 people still require hospital treatment. The regular use of antibiotics has meant that the bacteria that can infect humans have developed resistance to these drugs. Infections that we look upon as routine, to be easily treated, such as pneumonia and TB, will again become fatal and simple appendix operations will be lethal as they were as recently as 1927.

Factory farming is a threat to our health but the over-prescription of antibiotics by some doctors must also be considered. Patients neglecting to take a full course of treatment also encourage antibiotic resistance.

We can all do something to stop these practices. If we refuse to eat cheap, imported meat and eat meat from sources we know to be free from antibiotics, we can get the message across. Unfortunately, we are up against big business once more but we have campaigned before and won, so we can do it again.

Letter from EAST KENT FRIENDS OF THE EARTH GROUP.

A new report for The Coop warns that the full environmental impact of Shale Gas Drilling needs to be fully assessed before any more projects are approved.

There is growing concern over the contreversial technique used - Fracking where the rock is fractured using chemicals.In The US Texas have become the first state to pass a law requiring companies to disclose which of up to 600 substances they use in fracking. Growing disquiet has forced Texas Governor - Rick Perry to act after companies constantly refused to disclose the information. In New york State contamination of water supplies has lead to aban on all fracking operations until the effect on their water  supplies can be fully addressed.

The UK Government and Local Councils need to act now and stop all further Shale Gas 

Drilling at least until all the wider environmental concerns can be exposed and addressed.

Stuart Cox
Group Coordinator
East Kent FOE

Victoria's Green Matters 6th July 2011

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury:

It is difficult to imagine living without water at our fingertips. We have always been lucky enough to have water on tap; as much of it as we like to drink, to cook with, to wash in, and even to water the garden.

In large areas of the world people have no water in their homes at all. Usually, it is the women and children who have to walk miles each day to fetch water from a well. This water may not be clean and can cause illness and death from pollutants or disease. These nations are too poor to provide sanitation even when they have sufficient water.

In the Middle East and North Africa, a strange paradox exists. Many millions of people live in cities where there is little available water. Ancient aquifers are almost exhausted and fresh water must be imported from nations where there is a plentiful supply. Desalination is another option but this is an energy hungry process and at a time when oil prices are rising, and supplies dwindling, an expensive one. Food supplies are unsustainable to an ever-increasing world population. The effects of climate change have arrived some 20 years earlier than expected.

The need for water grows faster than the world’s population. China has been affected by appalling droughts, and unable to feed its growing population, has imported food grown in areas where water is plentiful. It has even bought land in wet areas to grow food for importation. Climate change will result in more moisture being evaporated in warmer air but this moisture will most likely fall in already wet areas rather than replenish supplies in dry areas.

In our country we are very lucky but we have a responsibility to treasure every drop of water as it falls, stop leaks as soon as possible and always think before we waste water.

East Kent FOE Letter on 'Fracking'

"A new report for The Coop warns that the full environmental impact of  Shale Gas Drilling needs to be fully assessed before any more projects are approved.

There is growing concern over the controversial technique used - 'Fracking' where the rock is fractured using chemicals.
 
In The US Texas have become the first state to pass a law requiring companies to disclose which of up to 600 substances they use in fracking. Growing disquiet has forced Texas Governor - Rick Perry to act after companies constantly refused to disclose the information. In New york State contamination of water supplies has lead to a ban on all fracking operations until the effect on their water supplies can be fully addressed.

The UK Government and Local Councils need to act now and stop all further Shale Gas Drilling at least until all the wider environmental concerns can be exposed and addressed."


Stuart Cox
Group Coordinator
East Kent FOE

Talking Transition to Deal Town Council

On Tuesday 28th June 2011 DEAL WITH IT chair Rosie Rechter gave a 10 minute presentation to a full council meeting of Deal Town Council asking them to pass a resolution to support Deal becoming part of the Transition town network.

With the backing of the town council, Deal will be able to do more, faster, in the process of becoming a sustainable, resilient, low carbon community, better able to cope with the challenges of climate change, exponentially rising fossil fuel prices and the global financial crisis.

Rosie stressed that many initiatives have already been undertaken but with local democratic
representatives' support, the grass roots movement could move faster towards a low carbon lifestyle promoting local producers, retailers, local transport links and green tourism, as other Kent transition towns and low carbon communities are doing.

Mention was made of Poole's move towards tidal energy generation as a social community-owned enterprise !

The presentation was well received and DTC cllrs agreed to discuss the matter fully next month. Our hopes are raised and our fingers firmly crossed - Watch this space!

Thanks to Sarah for the report & Rose for the Pic

Victoria's Green Matters- 30th June 2011

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury:

It’s all about waste again this week! Come September, we will be able to recycle far more of our packaging waste than ever before. Of course, this can only be a good thing but should there be so much packaging in the first place? There is 10 million tons of packaging produced in the UK each year.

Campaigns against excessive packaging have only been mildly successful and the volume of packaging is rising by 1% per year, partly due to the fact that more goods are being sold. We are continuing to find goods in the supermarket needlessly wrapped in polythene or placed in plastic trays in plastic wrapping.

The Government has recently rejected calls to put a tax on plastic bags, to restrict manufacturers’ use of raw materials and to bring in a bottle deposit scheme because of resistance from retailers. Again, big business holds the sway against common sense when it comes to safeguarding the world’s resources.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has been trying to get the reinstatement of the deposit scheme for soft drink and beer bottles that we had in the 1970s. Many of you will remember how we used to take bottles back to the shop to claim the deposit – only a few pence then. It is widely accepted that such a scheme would reduce litter and aid recycling but again opposition from businesses has scotched the plan. A similar scheme has been running in Denmark for many years, where machines have been produced to accept returned bottles and to give out the correct money. What an incentive to recycle a money back scheme could be and surely there would be fewer bottles littering the streets.

Far from being the greenest government ever, this administration seems to be back-pedalling on many of the promises it made before the election.

Support Elham Community PV Scheme

Thanks for supporting the Elham Environment Group Community Solar Scheme!

We are entering the application process to bid for £100,000 worth of solar PV panels for our community building roofs - to get through to the next stage we need to show maximum support as that is part of the selection process.

So far we have 70 supporters which is great - but in a village of over 1,500 people I feel we could do better! Please could you each persuade one more person to sign up, a neighbour, friend, relative....they don't have to live in the village to support the idea.

Some people have had a technical problem with the website which I know is frustrating, but they are looking into it, along with the fact that so far people who aren't online can't support the scheme, which isn't ideal.... If anyone you know has technical problems signing up or wants to support but doesn't use a computer please let me know so that we can ensure their support is still registered with Energyshare.
Thanks! And don't forget, if you can persuade one more person to sign up we can double our numbers and be amongst the top groups. We have 9 days left!
Thanks,
Briony.

To reply to this message, follow the link below: http://www.energyshare.com/inmail/reply/33520

VISION FOR KENT 2011-2021 CONSULTATION

KCC - VISION FOR KENT 2011-2021 CONSULTATION

- 20 JUNE TO 22 AUGUST 2011

Read the draft, find out more and complete the online consultation survey at www.kentforum.org.uk

Dear colleague

We need your views to make Kent a better place over the next 10 years.

The Vision for Kent 2011-2021 is the new community strategy for the County. It is owned by Kent Forum, a partnership of Kent ’s Councils that agrees shared priorities and responds to the needs of local communities and businesses.

Vision for Kent sets out three big ambitions to make Kent a better place. They are:

- To grow the economy

- To tackle disadvantage

- To put citizens in control

The ambitions have been developed by many organisations that provide services to the people of Kent , including from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The draft Vision for Kent 2011-2021 is now out for formal consultation. We want your views on how to achieve the three big ambitions, and whether the draft meets your needs and the needs of the people that you provide services to.

You can read the draft, find out more and complete the online consultation survey at www.kentforum.org.uk.

Please forward this email onto anyone else who may wish to take part in the consultation.

If you have any questions, please contact the Kent Forum support team on:

E: kentforum@kent.gov.uk

T: 01622 694122

Our sincere apologies if you receive this email more than once.

Emma Carey

Community Engagement Manager - Dover

Room 1.97 Sessions House

Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XQ

Tel: 07850 924247

Soul on Sunday at the Landmark

The Landmark have another Soul on Sunday in the Landmark Community Cafe this Sunday 26th June 12pm to 3:30pm.

With Good Food, Live Music, Local Artists at work, and food giving a taste of the Caribbean.

£10.00 per person for two courses.

Jack's EKM Letter

The EKM published Jack Domane's letter but with a couple of key edits.... We are happy to publish the full letter but its Jack's personal views:

 

DRILLING FOR METHANE GAS, A GODSEND IN DESGUISE?

"Before we say no let us coordinate the facts. We are to be dependent upon Russia for our gas, oil from militant Islamic States and now electricity from the Continent as our power generating system degrades at an alarming state. There are Government considerations of buying power from Iceland with thousands of kilometres of cable at enormous cost and power loss. Why? When we have our own geothermal power less than 3 miles under our feet where we stand.

Drilling a hole the size of a football a mile down into the earth will do no harm and the samples gained would provide enormous value. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking U.S) with water and sand is not a big seismic problem but adding highly toxic chemicals that could enter the table above is A POSITIVE NO.

If permission could be granted for this research project with a CONDITION that they drill further, to 4.500 metres (2.8m), which is down to deep geothermal engineering, we are going forward in solving our energy problem. It should be realised that the mass of this world that we live on is 99.97% over 200c, a very thin crust with eternal heat just under our feet. With 2 holes drilled a few metres apart through sedimentary, sial and into the basaltic sima rocks, we have clean, sustainable heat and power lasting into eternity. The engineering process is quite simple, a ram pump pumps water down to the rocks above lithosphere plate level that are above the magma, turning to pressurised super heated steam and passes up the secondary pipe to turbines, which turn generators feeding the grid. The lower pressure steam is exhausted into pipes providing heat for houses, commercial buildings, offices and schools etc. and as it condenses it is passed back to the ram pump for re-circulation, the pump itself operated by HP steam. Is the system new? No the system was used in the 1920’s and still going strong. No carbon, no waste spoils and free. 26 countries have geothermal power WHY NOT THE U.K?

Whilst I rigorously oppose any attempt to use highly toxic chemicals into the earth I would gratefully welcome the opportunity to persuade Coastal Oil and Gas Limited to drill for tests into Deep Geothermal for heat and power.

And finally, why aren’t these tests being carried out at or by the Richborough Power Station site with its existing road and grid infrastructure that is well away from residential areas, unlike the proposed site at Woodnesborough

Government ignored Peak Oil warnings....

From the Ecologist

Report reveals threat of civil unrest from energy shortages, which has been played down as 'alarmist' by ministers

The government was warned by its own civil servants two years ago that there could be 'significant negative economic consequences' to the UK posed by near-term 'peak oil' energy shortages.

Ministers were told it was impossible to know exactly when production might fail to meet supply but when it did there could be global consequences, including "civil unrest".

Yet ministers consistently played down the threat with the contemporaneous Wicks review into energy serurity effectively dismissing peak oil as alarmist and irrelevant.

The report on the risks and impacts of a potential future decline in oil production has just been published – but only after the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) was repeatedly threatened under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act with forced disclosure.

The information is revealed at a critical time when oil prices have soared to historic highs of around $115 (£71) a barrel hitting motorists through higher petrol costs and helping to drive up household gas bills. The price of oil and gas tend to be linked due under the terms of many wholesale gas contracts.

This report admits it is not possible to predict with any accuracy when crude production will peak and go into steady but final decline.

But it goes on to say that 'if peak oil happened before 2015, this would have significant negative economic consequences for some of the main importers of UK goods and services resulting in a negative impact on the UK economy in the longer term.'

Civil servants from Decc argued that while global oil reserves were still plentiful, it is "clear" that existing fields are maturing and new production is being slowed by bottlenecks.

Yet it concludes that 'alternative technologies to oil will take a long time to develop and deploy at scale.' continued at ecologist

Wye food festival 18-30th June

"We feel passionately that our little village has some great producers and places to eat, so we decided to push the boat out and attempt our first ever food festival. This will be a ten day celebration of good food with great offers and special events showcasing producers, chefs, shops and community groups that love cooking and eating. Put 18 June to 30 June in your diary and pop back here to view all the details.

The Festival will be launched at a specially extended Wye Farmers' Market on Saturday 18 June and at the Wye Gardeners' Society Summer Show. Already we have special dinners confirmed, beer and wine tastings, wild food foraging courses, a photograhy competition, a specially extended farmers's market, cookery demonstrations and walking tours and there's months to go yet. Please come to some of our events and support our local businesses."

If you are interested in taking part contact the Wye Food Group (part of the Wye Business Association), they would welcome any further ideas or contributions - wyefoodvillage@yahoo.com.