Second assembly on sustainability

In summer, the first citizen’s assembly on sustainability of the local valley was held. I had been invited. I didn't quite know what to expect that first time around, obviously. But I had left with a good feeling! So I was looking forward to the next episode. I expected that to happen in September, but September came and went. Then, in October, I got a phone call from the organiser. The assembly was next week; had I not seen the email? And the answer was: no I hadn't. But I happened to be available. And this time, it would be spread out over two evenings, and it would be right next door, in Neuadd Ogwen.

The first evening I biked home, quickly had a shower, threw a few useful things into my bag like a flask and a notebook, and got in pretty much just on time. And as the previous time, we were distributed over tables, but this time we could freely choose our table. I just picked the one with the fewest people on. But it filled up. I recognised some faces from the previous time!

This time started with Chris, the organiser, showing some data about the area. I didn't quite know it, but apparently you can just find information such as domestic energy use and energy efficiency levels of the housing stock per local authority. Interesting! I immediately had lots of questions, but that was not for today. 

Chris with his data presentation

After that, my friend Caro did a presentation where she talked about the state of climate, and predictions for the future. It was nice to watch, but for me, of course, there wasn't much news in there. And soon we were doing some brainstorming on our table again. We were asked what the valley would look like in 2040 if everything we would want to happen by then had happened. It was nice to daydream! Then we shared the best of our ideas.

It was rather cold in the room. I was not very comfortable! And there was another lady who wasn't either. So I decided that as soon as there would be a break, I would pop home and get a few nice warm jumpers. I had the food first, though! I was hungry, and it was excellent soup. 

With my extra jumper I was more comfortable during the rest of the program. We had quite some discussions about how to do sustainability well; solar panels are all good and well, but where are they made? What mines are the raw materials extracted from? How are the people treated who do either the mining or the  manufacture of the panels? Etc. Why are things always more complicated than you would want to?

At 9 o'clock we were done. There was someone who had brought a lot of pears; she had more than she could possibly eat before they would go off. I helped myself! I like pears. Even if they are not hard any more; you can still cook with them.

The next day was a bit more relaxed; I was only teaching until four, so I had time to bike home and have a shower, and have a little bit of time to sort myself out.

This second evening contained a panel discussion, with one lady who runs the Library of Things, where you can borrow things that are not books; a bloke who is part of a local Carbon Zero project, and a lady who was running a local food-growing project associated with a school.

Later we discussed all sorts of things you need to think about when you start a project; any projects, really. How do you start? How do you deal with opposition? How long do you want it to run, and how do you ensure that it runs beyond the time you can give it? How do you recruit people into your project? Are you not inadvertently doing damage somewhere, either to the environment (the nasty solar panels again) or to anything else, such as the Welsh language, gender equality, or any of that sort of stuff. And much more!

It has been a good session again. Even though the second evening it seemed even colder than the first! I wish I had worn mountain boots with thick socks. And already next month we will do the third session. Things are moving along! And how much actual difference really make? I think time will have to tell that. I really hope we will manage to get some project off the ground! I would like to see a wind turbine. But that is probably a long-term project. But if you want it to happen some day, you have to start somewhere! And this assembly might be the place...