If you’re not familiar with THE BIG LUNCH look it up directly or via The Eden Project website. There were some 20 or so Big Lunches in Birmingham in 2010.

I am suggesting that some of our BIG LUNCH projects are relabelled THE BIG GREEN LUNCH. The Eden Project organisers have accepted this idea, so we can roll it out amongst relevant groups here in Birmingham. As the Big Lunch is designed to bring neighbours together it is ideal for promoting local low carbon groups by adding the word “green” to the title.

I’m also enlisting the support of THE BIG GREEN BOOK which , along with 9carrots.org, will help involve local businesses.

OTHER DATES
Tuesday 1st March is our next GREEN DRINKS and introduces another ally in the development of low carbon communities – namely, THE BIG GREEN BOOK itself, and the development of its West Midlands Hub.
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Don’t forget the Rob Hopkins visit on 21st March.
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On 21st May The Big Green Book is staging an event at Top Barn Farm which will see the formal launch of their West Midlands Hub for small businesses. This ties in with the Transition Movement focus on business and the need to develop a working relationship with the business community (see 9carrots.org).

This event also develops links with our rural colleagues from whom we have much to learn when it comes to adaptation and the development of resilience!
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Let me know your thoughts on THE BIG LUNCH in the comments below

Malcolm Curry

a) We are now retailing a range of products based on recycled and renewable materials. These are carefully chosen quality products with a clear raison d’etre in terms of environmental issues. We split net sales income at least 50/50 with those helping to market.
b) One of the functions of the Eco Centre is to complement the work of the various alternative networks in the region, and to support
collaborative efforts. We have office facilities including broadband which could be usefully employed for this purpose.
c) Our education programme is developing as a flexible, integrated, cross curriculum, approach to the incorporation of environmental and sustainability issues within all sectors. There are opportunities for freelance input, in the application of multimedia, in performance, and in developing longer term relations with lead institutions including schools and business.
d) There is a growing range of small businesses in our recently launched Midlands Eco Partnership. As MEP expands, it will require
assistance in developing its programme, including participation in Events around the region. This could be combined with
administrative or managerial work at the Eco Centre.

The centre has been established as a base for the more effective coordination of work in the various thematic sectors in which we have been operating over the past couple of decades. Apart from developing cooperatively, there is no set institutional structure and
no external funders. Whilst maintaining a long established philosophical base, we adopt a pragmatic approach to its
implementation. Collaboration and co-operation are essential elements in our future survival.

Malcolm Currie
Globally Local