Meet Gyy, The First Solar Powered Netbook

Meet Gyy, The First Solar Powered Netbook

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DIY - how to build your own Polytunnel

Please follow this link to see design brief and instructions
Alan and Kathryn's Allotments and Chickens | Polytunnels, Allotments, Chickens.

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Bordeaux Resolution Penderfyniad Bordeaux October 2008

Bordeaux Resolution

At its annual plenary session held at Bordeaux in October 2008, a group of representatives of national environmental and sustainable development councils, acting under the umbrella of the EEAC, created the following resolution. This resolution is aimed at the European Council of Ministers, the European Commission, as well as for EEAC member councils to take to their national governments.

We sympathise that the EU as a whole is facing an unprecedented financial crisis, which is almost certain to turn into a deepening and profound economic recession. By any standards, this is a situation that requires bold and decisive action which nevertheless must be set within a long-term policy perspective. We firmly believe that the principles and practices of sustainable development must be placed at the heart of any package of solutions. Unsustainable growth in resource consumption has contributed to the current situation and has resulted in the rising – and currently highly unstable – prices of basic commodities of energy, food and water. These price impacts fall especially harshly on the poor.

It would be very dangerous to the reliability of any future economy for sustainable development to be put onto the back burner whilst addressing the immediate issues. The assets of the planet are the lifeblood of the human race, those alive today and those to be born in the future. There is an overwhelming case for addressing the causes and consequences of climate change, which is indisputably caused by the human hand. At this critical time in the affairs of government, the reconstruction of our economic system provides a golden opportunity to ensure that the new financial order embraces the well-being of both the present and future global populations. We therefore urge that:

1. 
   

   Any temptation to abandon or dilute the European Union Climate and Energy Package is strongly and comprehensively resisted, as this would lead to more of the very economic and social instabilities which are currently being addressed. The Stern Report has shown that the costs of trying to adapt too late to the consequences of climate change far exceed the costs of early mitigation.
   
   
   

   
   
2. 
   

   This vital package is delivered in time, so as to offer a credible European basis for the post-Kyoto Agreement negotiations to be held in Copenhagen next year. In addition, the risk of carbon leakage needs careful assessment in order to limit any such leakage to vital areas of social and economic fairness. Even then, the appropriate measures must be sought to address and minimise carbon leakage.
   
   
   

   
   
3. 
   

   In seeking to restore the basic functions of the financial markets and the revitalisation of the economy, the EU and its member states grasp the opportunity of stimulating innovation, environmentally-sound technology and new sustainability-promoting enterprises, so that a wide range of new jobs and skills are created, together with the supporting training opportunities. This is particularly important to ensure that there is reliable growth that provides opportunities for those otherwise impoverished by the present crises to gain a safe means of living.
   
   
   

   
   
4. 
   

   Recognition is given to the finite limits of the earth’s natural resources through the development of fiscal policies and incentives that ensure that their depletion is increasingly offset through reuse, recycling and the adoption of more efficient production methods.

We will, through our member councils, engage with all governments, the business community and civil society throughout Europe, in working towards practicable and immediate solutions that place the European Union as a whole on a reliable pathway to sustainable development.

Penderfyniad Bordeaux

Yn ei sesiwn flynyddol lawn a gynhaliwyd yn Bordeaux ym mis Hydref 2008, crëwyd y penderfyniad canlynol gan grŵp o gynrychiolwyr o gynghorau amgylcheddol a datblygu cynaliadwy cenedlaethol, yn gweithredu o dan adain y Pwyllgor Materion Ewropeaidd ac Allanol (EEAC). Anelir y penderfyniad hwn at Gyngor Gweinidogion Ewrop, y Comisiwn Ewropeaidd, yn ogystal ag i aelod gynghorau’r EEAC ei ddwyn gerbron eu llywodraethau gwladol.

Rydym yn cydymdeimlo â’r ffaith fod yr Undeb Ewropeaidd drwyddi draw yn wynebu argyfwng ariannol heb ei debyg o’r blaen, sydd bron yn sicr o droi’n ddirwasgiad economaidd mwy a mwy dwfn. Yn ddi-os, mae hon yn sefyllfa sy’n gofyn am weithredu dewr a phendant ond gweithredu serch hynny gyda golwg ar bolisi tymor-hir. Credwn yn gryf fod yn rhaid gosod egwyddorion ac arferion datblygu cynaliadwy wrth wraidd unrhyw becyn o atebion. Mae twf anghynaliadwy mewn adnoddau traul wedi cyfrannu at y sefyllfa bresennol ac wedi arwain at y codiad - ansefydlog iawn ar hyn o bryd - mewn prisiau nwyddau sylfaenol fel ynni, bwyd a dŵr. Mae effeithiau’r prisiau yma’n disgyn yn galed ar y tlawd.

Byddai’n beryglus iawn i ddibynadwyedd unrhyw economi yn y dyfodol pe bai datblygu cynaliadwy yn cael ei roi o’r neilltu tra bod y problemau brys yn cael eu trafod. Asedau’r blaned yw anadl einioes dynolryw, y rhai sy’n byw heddiw a chenedlaethau’r dyfodol. Mae yna reswm anorchfygol dros fynd i’r afael ag achosion a chanlyniadau’r newid yn yr hinsawdd, a achoswyd yn ddiamau gan law dyn. Ar yr amser tyngedfennol hwn ym materion llywodraeth, mae ailadeiladu’n system economaidd yn cynnig cyfle euraid i sicrhau fod y drefn ariannol newydd yn gwarchod lles poblogaethau’r byd yn awr ac yn y dyfodol. Rydym yn cymell felly:

1. Fod unrhyw demtasiwn i adael neu wanhau Pecyn Hinsawdd ac Ynni’r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn cael ei ailystyried yn bendant ac yn gynhwysfawr, gan y byddai hyn yn arwain at ragor o’r union ansefydlogrwydd economaidd a chymdeithasol sy’n ceisio cael ei ddatrys ar hyn o bryd. Dangosodd Adroddiad Stern fod costau ceisio addasu’n rhy hwyr i ganlyniadau newid yn yr hinsawdd yn llawer uwch na chostau eu lliniaru’n gynnar.

2. Rhaid i’r pecyn hanfodol hwn gael ei gyflwyno mewn pryd, er mwyn cynnig sail Ewropeaidd credadwy i’r trafodaethau ôl-Kyoto sydd i’w cynnal yn Copenhagen y flwyddyn nesaf. Yn ogystal â hyn, mae angen asesu’n ofalus y risg o ollyngiadau carbon er mwyn cyfyngu gollyngiad o’r fath i feysydd tegwch cymdeithasol ac economaidd hanfodol. Hyd yn oed wedyn, dylid ceisio cael mesurau priodol i fynd i’r afael â gollyngiad carbon a’i leihau.

3. Wrth geisio adfer swyddogaethau sylfaenol ei farchnadoedd ariannol ac ailfywhau’r economi, mae’n rhaid i’r UE a’i aelod-wladwriaethau fachu ar y cyfle i ddefnyddio technoleg arloesol sy’n driw i’r amgylchedd a mentrau newydd sy’n hyrwyddo cynaliadwyedd, fel bod ystod eang o swyddi a sgiliau newydd yn cael eu creu, ynghyd â’r cyfleoedd hyfforddi cefnogol. Mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig er mwyn sicrhau bod yna dwf dibynadwy sy’n darparu cyfleoedd i’r rheiny sydd fel arall wedi’u tlodi gan yr argyfyngau presennol i ennill bywoliaeth ddiogel.

4. Dylid sylweddoli nad yw adnoddau naturiol y ddaear yn ddi-ben-draw drwy ddatblygu polisïau a chymhelliannau ariannol sy’n sicrhau bod eu disbyddiad yn cael ei unioni fwy a mwy drwy ailddefnyddio, ailgylchu a mabwysiadu dulliau cynhyrchu mwy effeithiol.

Drwy’n cyngor aelodau, byddwn yn ymgysylltu â phob llywodraeth, y gymuned fusnes a chymdeithas ddinesig ledled Ewrop, i weithio tuag at ddatrysiadau ymarferol a sydyn a fydd yn rhoi’r Undeb Ewropeaidd drwyddi draw ar lwybr dibynadwy i ddatblygu cynaliadwy.

 

Google Docs in Plain English

In an attempt to remove micro$oft from our lives, we are trying this tool as part of Google Apps account for theARCproject.

Open source, online software - accessible anywhere!
http://partnerpage.google.com/thearcproject.co.cc
http://thearcproject.co.cc

wikis, wastes and wind

a strange conundrum, i know!

modern technology is expanding and developing at a mind-bending rate, 50 years ago we would not have considered speaking to anyone, anywhere and at anytime we choose!

'But let us not forget that computers are ONLY tools'. The same way we use a spanner to tighten a nut or a spade to dig a hole, we use a computer for what it is...this is part of the problem, at least as far as theARCproject sees it!

We update technology at a staggering pace, we tend not to consider what will happen to our 'outdated equipment' once it is carted away!

"My dad had a wonderful hammer, he had it 40 years, he replaced the handle 20 times and the head twice!, he loved it from new."

Valuable resources are being wasted every day, most of this ICT is still perfectly functional and useable by others.

'But what of the cost?', by working with Collaborative Communities (CC) across the globe, Open-Source Technology (OST) is being developed that will run ICT simply and efficiently at low cost. Making 'obsolete' machinery - RE-USE-ABLE.

Online storage and file management systems allow for 'FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION' wherever and whenever you need it, reducing demands on hard-drive capacity and memory functions of the ICT equipment.

This same technology can be applied to mobile phones, pda units and laptop computers!

Here in a modern Wales, despite strong findings to the contrary, the public enquiry for Betws Wind Farm, is going ahead! (surprised?) 15 turbines, well okay!

What is the community benefit?

Here's a cranky idea!!

FREEenergy - A wireless network operating across the Amman Valley. Free to use for everyone. No service charge, no fees, just a high level wireless broadband signal.

By allowing free access to information you can empower all aspects of community development at all levels of participation. Think Globally, Act Locally.

Get Involved.

http://thearcproject.co.cc

http://www.thearcproject.co.uk

+44(0)7092 275563

Film Premiere

22~05~09
FRIDAY 22ND MAY 2009

at
GELLI AUR CHURCH HALL


19:00 ~ £3/£2/FREE ~ REFRESHMENTS



PUBLIC FILM PREMIERE



A discussion will follow the screening,
we encourage everyone to get involved!

http://notstupid.org/

Stupid? or Not Stupid?

You decide...

I have just attended Gwanwyn Gwyrdd, (Plaid Cymru Spring Conference)
at the National Botanical Gardens of Wales.

Many interesting speakers, delegates and exhibitors (of which I was one!!)

theARCproject is a non-party political organisation.
The only fundamental principle we subscribe to is from:

Agenda Resolution 42/187.  Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development

"Meeting the needs of the present, without compromising the abilities of future generations to meet their own needs."
Defined, globally as the Rio Earth Summit, 1992

It is now 2009, seventeen years have passed, as has so  much rhetoric and inaction. 

First from the Tories (Conservative) and then eventually from our current administration of New Labour Government, not to be confused with Old Labour (Socialist)!?!

While you might have thought all those years ago, that the Green party or maybe the Liberal Democrats (Liberals/Democrats....etc) may have been the best party to take this 'ethos' forward into a 21st Century, we now find ourselves as People & Planet, staring down the barrel of a very large and fully loaded gun!

Not the one about Global Terrorism that Messrs. Bush & Blair have proliferated on for almost a decade but a much more severe, immanent and present danger. Our Earth; Our Planet; Our Land.

Maybe it was the bright lights and shiny dollar signs of globalisation that blinded us for a generation? Perhaps, it was the much loved 'Ostrich Syndrome' that has blighted the 'Stay at Home' lifestyle that has been created and manufactured for us?

Anyway, in an attempt to market, promote and raise support for theARCproject and the work we wish to undertake within Dinefwr - I compiled an exhibition/display of the policies and initiatives for the organisation.

* I am more than happy to attend, display or present at any discussion, meeting or conference (that is relevant to the memorandum, articles and principle agenda of theARCproject). Please get in touch!

The response was favourable, while I knew some faces and names it was good to meet up in a mutually beneficial environment. A fabulous venue for a Sustainability Conference! I will post News on the website with some pictures in the next few days.

It was certainly very refreshing to hear speakers and politicians voicing their concerns publically regarding the state of the earth and the problems we all face and must overcome together.