Yearly Archives: 2009

Arcola Theatre Relocates and Renews

Reprinted from Building Design: “UK’s first carbon-neutral theatre planned for Hackney” by Elizabeth Hopkirk, September 9, 2009

The Arcola Theatre in Hackney aims to relocate to a 2,000sq m site next to Dalston Junction station and create a 350-seat theatre built of sustainable materials including straw bales and doors salvaged from skips.

Engineer Arup has given 18 months worth of pro bono work for the proposal while the London Development Agency has awarded a £60,000 for a feasibility study subject to Hackney Council approving the site.

The overall concept, which can be scaled up or down according to how much money is raised, includes an expanded main theatre with two smaller studios, an eco café, gym, learning centre and park.

A key element is an enterprise centre with offices and laboratories for entrepreneurs and technology and product design firms.

Arcola chief executive Ben Todd said the feasibility study could be completed by December, with work on the new theatre starting in 2010 and completing in 2012.

Todd, who trained as an engineer, said: “The theatre will literally be built from straw bales, rendered to pass fire regs and be weather-proof.

“Doors from old schools and hospitals that don’t match are a nice example of the reuse, recycle attitude and are important to the texture. If we end up using steel and if most of the project comes after 2012, it would be a nice idea to recycle some of the Olympic stadia.”

Hackney Council is due to discuss the plans next week.

Go to the Green Theater Initiative

PAID COP15 YOUTH LOGISTICS COORDINATOR Closing Date 17th Sept

Now looking for a suitable person to fill this position ASAP as there are now less than 3 months until Copenhagen.

Please spread the word and recommend to anyone you know who may fit the criteria.

Specific Responsibilities will include:

  • Aid global youth initiatives with logistical support for their presence at COP
  • Support in helping plan a pre-COP Conference of Youth (COY)
  • Serve as a bottom-liner to several already-established projects in need of support (eg, such as the Global South Youth initiative).
  • Daily tasks would be office-based in Copenhagen consisting of logistical support and communication, greatly strengthening the International Youth Climate Movement.
  • Closure report and creation of the Standard Operations Procedures (SOP) of the YOUNGO for COP15

Commitment
The coordinator should commit to:

  • work for the movement as whole, not one organization or region
  • respect the procedures established and ensure transparency,
  • create a constructive and supportive environment
  • take consideration of geographic and gender representation in all decisions

Eligibility
The coordinator must meet all or most of the following criteria:

  • Past International Youth Climate Movement experience
  • Familiarity and experience with the UNFCCC process
  • An institutional endorsement from a relevant NGO or similar organization
  • Passion and undying organizing enthusiasm
  • Competency in reading, writing and speaking in English and one other UN language
  • Recommended: experience in organizing an event of 200+ people
  • Recommended: independence in living, travelling, and working
  • Recommended: English + One other language

Location
The position will be located in Copenhagen, sharing office space with the GCCA, though working independently and supported by the BottomLiners Team of the International Youth Climate Movement. The coordinator will be assisted in finding adequate accommodation.

Employment Duration
21st September 2009 to 20th January 2010

Salary
The coordinator will be paid 15,500 DKK per month for 4 months. This will cover the following during his/her stay in Copenhagen:

  • Personal Accommodation
  • Transportation (to and from Copenhagen to her/his own country of origin)
  • Meals

Visa / Work Permit
If coordinator is not a resident of the EU or Scandinavian countries, he or she will be granted a 3 month tourist’s visa upon entry to Denmark, and the position will be similar to a fellowship.

Applications:
Interested candidates should email Wilson (wilson.ang@eco-singapore.org), Deepa (deepa@iycn.in) AND Blaine (blaine.d.oneill@gmail.com) the following:

  • Resume/CV
  • A short (1 page max) description of why you are interested in being the coordinator including relevant experiences, motivations, and your plans for COP15

Interested applicants must be available for an online interview via skype on 22nd OR 23rd September 2009 at 3pm (GMT).

CLOSING DATE: 17TH SEPTEMBER 2009 @ 2359H (GMT)

Found at: http://climatecoolnetwork.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2546410%3ABlogPost%3A16725

Eight Ten ways to make your voice heard at COP15

In advance of COP15, there is a growing mass of intiatives binding us together to scare the negotiators into action. Here are a some that are appearing loudly and clearly on the radar. Which ones have I left out? Drop me a line.

best-of-1TckTckTck The Global Citizens for Climate Action Campaign launched in August, partnered with Greenpeace, Christian Aid and Oxfam, counting us down from 100 days to COP15.

best-of-210:10 The 10:10 campaign launched off the back of Franny Armstrong’s Age of Stupid, focussing minds on cutting our emissions by 10% next year, but big on pressurising Ed Miliband to bring the goods from Copenhagen.

best3350.org Bill McKibben’s campaign to get world leaders to agree to a workable target of 350ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere plans for an international day of action on Oct 24.

best-4Vote Earth Off the back of the WWF’s Earth Hour campaign run back in March, the climate change charity have issued this global petition to world leaders.

best-5Sandbag “Real action on climate change” exploit the arcanities of Europe’s carbon trading schemes by  “retiring” surplus credits.  They also have a COP15 “One giant leap” petition they want you to sign.

best-6Seal the deal 2009 The UN’s European Climate Campaign, aims to create a “mosaic” of faces and voices with an online petition calling for change at Copenhagen. This is some more invisible writing this is some invisible writing.
best-7Mobilization for Climate Justice North American coalition of activists pressing for a deal are planning major actions throughout the US on November 30.

best-8untitled7Never trust a COP … and for those who don’t have faith that the more conventional appeals above are going to work, here’s the radical leftists’ direct action network on COP15.

Pretty much something for everybody there… Let us know which campaigns you think are working best.

Edit: More…

best-9Hopenhagen. A snappy web-based initiative that gives people the chance to come together over the question “What gives you hope?” [Thinks, possibly too sceptically:Is that kind of catch-all question really galvanising enough?]

And, this just in:

best-10Avaaz.org Global Wake-Up Call Following a global poll, Avaaz.org now plan a day of flash mob action in towns and cities everywhere on Sept 21.

Go to RSA Arts & Ecology