The University of the Third Age is a self-help educational movement for people no longer in full-time employment.  It offers shared learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups.  No qualifications are required and none are given.

The 'Environment'

The Aims of the Group are to:

1. To learn by research and discussion about environmental issues with the emphasis on how these might impact on the parish.
2. To make available to all in the village our conclusions and involve them in the debate e.g. through open public meetings, and thereby raise awareness and educate
3. To evaluate through engagement with the local community and local government how to best conserve our local environment while reducing our carbon footprint.
4. To actively encourage change based on the information gained, either ourselves or through community projects

What we have done:

1. Public showing of Environmental films
1. Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” on climate change
2. “Message in the Waves”
3. “The End of the Line” on the present danger to sustainable fishing
4. “The Age of Stupid” on opportunities missed to prevent Global Warming
2. Public Meetings
1. “Climate Change for sceptics” – Debbie Hemmings, Met Office
2. “Yealmbridge Weir hydro-generation Proposal” – Richard Bointon, Engin.
3. “Threats to our Marine Environment” – Richard Thompson, Uni of Ply
4. “Renewable Energy Options for Newton and Noss” – Andrew Knox, RE4D
5. “Co-op development – how green will it be?” – John Riley
6. “Container Ships and the risk to other shipping” – Paul Wright, Uni of Ply
7. “Are small Communities sustainable?” Colin Trier Uni of Ply
8. “A Community Composting Proposal” – Peter Brown
9. “Energy Fair” – Peter Brown
10. "The Health consequences of Global Warming" by Noel Olsen
    
3. Group Visits
1. Tutored Dartmoor Walk, “The Future of Wilderness” – Alan Dyer
2. Old Walls Micro-hydrogeneration on Dartmoor
4. Group talks
1. “Wind Power is it worth it?” – John Prosser
2. “Clean Energy from Coal?” – John Prosser
3. “How Green is your House” – Colin Smith
4. “Tidal Power” Bill Lowe
5. “Incineration – can it be green?” – Helen Crawford
6. “Solar Energy” – Roy Fenner
7. “Rainwater Harvesting and Ventilation Heat Recovery” – Peter Brown
8. “Heat Pumps” – Peter Brown
9. “Recycling” – Peter Brown
5. Community Projects
1. Thermal Survey of domestic housing
2. Domestic Energy Audit

 

The new programme will begin in October 2010 and will be published as soon as speakers are confirmed.



The following are some of the presentations delivered at our meetings.

Click on title to open.

Any enquiries should be directed to Peter Brown tel. 872328."

From Energy Fair to Action at Home

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