Green Recovery Of Town Centres – A Chance For Renewal?
How can our town centres recover and thrive after the pandemic – in a way that’s environmentally sustainable? February 10th Cllr. Henry Vann from Bedford Borough Council, Cllr Victoria Harvey from Central Beds Council and town centre ‘champions’ .Click here to watch a recording of the event This was an informal chance to hear their…
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What we’re watching and listening too this month
While Covid continues to affect all our lives in different ways and the climate crisis has not gone away of course, we hope you are well and thoughts are with everyone struggling at the moment. In lieu of a BCCF virtual event this month, we decided to share some suggestions for things you might like…
Keep readingKISS THE GROUND Documentary Film Screening, Wednesday December 9th 7.30-9.30pm
We’re screening new Netflix documentary film KISS THE GROUND – virtually, on Wednesday December 9th at 7.30pm and invite you to join us to watch the 45 minute version, after which we’ll have a discussion. This event will kick off a season of events in coming months on a range of important themes around sustainable agriculture, food…
Keep readingBCCF AGM Summary. Many thanks to those who came last week.
Please scroll down to have a quick read of our Co-Chair’s report which sums up the 18 months since the previous AGM. We’re really pleased to welcome to two new committee members with professional and personal expertise in transport, agriculture/horticulture and zero waste. We’d also like to share the Youtube presentation from Professor Will Steffen…
Keep readingWe’d like to invite you to the BCCF AGM, Thursday October 8th at 7pm.
Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum invite you to the postponed AGM which will take place (via Zoom) on Thursday October 8th at 7pm, during which you can hear a summary of what we’ve been doing since the last AGM, followed by a screening of a powerful and very up-to-date presentation ‘WHY We are Facing a Climate…
Keep readingBCCF ‘Summer Film Season’, 28-30th July
BCCF is doing something different this summer. We’re suggesting three films that you can watch free online in your own time which can then each be discussed in short zoom meetings on 28th, 29th and 30th July starting at 7.30pm. The films are: Al Gore’s TED talk ‘The Case for Optimism on Climate Change’ (25 mins). It sets out clearly and visually the facts, the…
Keep readingBBCF host online presentation – Chris Goodall: WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW, Wednesday May 20th at 7.30-9.00pm
The climate crisis is fast approaching. We have 8 years of carbon budget left before a cascade of tipping points becomes extremely likely. How can the UK stop using fossil fuels? Where are the biggest challenges and how far will cost and efficiency trends in solar and wind take us? BCCF is pleased to be…
Keep readingOur monthly fim evenings and talks are postponed just for now, for obvious reasons, but here’s a useful summary of last month’s Cycling Campaign for North Beds talk.
Peter Blakeman of CCNB gave a presentation on climate change and air pollution on 11 March 2020 He spoke about the innumerable benefits of cycling to us all, in terms of personal health and increased life expectancy, and in terms of the positive impact on local quality of life and air quality. And of course,…
Keep readingCycling & Climate Change. And Pollution
This Wednesday, 11th March, BCCF welcome Peter Blakeman, Chair of Cycling Campaign for North Bedfordshire (CCNB), to talk to us on about ‘Cycling and Climate Change (and Pollution)’. This will include a brief history of CCNB, the current state of emissions and pollution from transport in the borough, the town’s cycle network and what actions…
Keep readingSummary of our recent evening on permaculture & agroforestry in Malawi
We often hear that people were sorry to miss one of our evening talks/film events and so we’ve decided, when appropriate, to write a useful summary for those who couldn’t make it or for those who’d like to focus their thoughts and follow up with action. BCCF talk Permaculture and Carbon – here and across…
Keep readingPermaculture & Carbon, Wednesday 12th February, 7.30pm
Welcome to our next Climate Change Forum evening on February 12th. Hear from Ben Yeomans on permaculture. What is permaculture and how can it help empower people in mitigating the climate crisis? How can we work with nature in order to better meet human needs? What’s the least harm we can cause in the process…
Keep readingTREES are the theme of our last film evening of 2019, Wednesday 11th December 7.30pm
The final BCCF film evening of 2019 adopts the seasonal theme of trees. We will be showing two classic animated films: Dr Seuss’s The Lorax from 1972 and The Man Who Planted Trees from 1987. Between the films there will be a short true/false quiz about trees with questions devised by BCCF committee members. Children…
Keep readingANOTE’S ARK film screening Wednesday November 13th 7.30pm
Join us on Wednesday November 13th for a screening of Anote’s Ark, a documentary film dealing with the realities of climate justice and forced migration. It focuses on the island nation of Kiribati, which will be one of the first nations on earth to entirely disappear underwater in the event of a sustained sea…
Keep readingTHE GREEN NEW DEAL, Wednesday October 9th at 7.30pm
On Wednesday come and hear a presentation on THE GREEN NEW DEAL with short film clips with plenty of time to discuss together. What is the Green New Deal? The Green New Deal is a plan and a growing global movement. for huge investment in the economic future of the UK, to create a…
Keep readingCarbon Taxes – the answer to averting the climate crisis? Wednesday September 11th 7.30pm.
We’re back, after our usual August break, with our monthly talks/films on environmental themes. THIS WEDNESDAY, September 11th, with short films and a presentation/discussion explaining carbon taxes and dividends and how they could be the answer to the radical cuts in carbon emissions that we need globally to keep below the crucial average temperature rise…
Keep readingBedford Borough Council & the Climate Emergency, Wednesday 10th July at 7.30
We’re pleased to welcome Bedford’s Deputy Mayor & Environment Portfolio Holder, Charles Royden, to speak at our next monthly meeting on Wednesday July 10th. Charles will speak about the Climate Emergency declared by Bedford Borough Council back in March. The challenges are really considerable – both sharply reducing our carbon emissions and mitigation. As last…
Keep readingCreating the light fantastic: A talk on the psychology of climate breakdown, Wednesday June 12th at 7.30pm
Join us for our monthly meet up on Wednesday June 12th when we’re pleased to welcome Dr Volker Patent from the Open University who will pose the question of how psychology may help in addressing climate breakdown. This talk looks at some of the psychological aspects involved in behaviour change that make dealing with climate…
Keep readingBCCF’s AGM, followed by film, ‘THE GREEN LIE’, Wednesday May 8th 7pm
AGM, May 8th, 7pm Please join us at the earlier than usual start time of 7pm for our AGM to see what we’ve been doing over the last 12 months. We warmly welcome new committee members. Get in touch if you’d like information. THE GREEN LIE film starts at 7.30pm Environmentally friendly electric cars, sustainably produced food,…
Keep readingBCCF Mayoral Election Hustings, Wednesday April 10th 7-9pm
In place of our usual monthly film/presentation evening at the University, BCCF are pleased to be hosting a Mayoral Electoral Hustings on Wednesday April 10th 7-9pm with questions exclusively on the environment and climate change-related matters.University of Bedfordshire Vice Chancellor, Bill Rammell, will chair. This is a rare chance to quiz candidates standing for elected mayor on what…
Keep readingYoung People & Climate Breakdown, Wednesday March 13th, 7.30pm
Join us on Wednesday March 13th as we consider young people & climate change, especially in the light of the recent regular school strikes for climate. Using short films we will consider reactions to these strikes; the role of young leaders such as Greta Thunberg; how climate change is explained in schools; and how school students…
Keep readingRegenerative Agriculture: Tools for Planetary Repair. Wednesday February 13th.
Join us on Wednesday February 13th to hear from engaging soil scientist Jim Harris of Cranfield University on ‘Ecological restoration and regenerative agriculture: some tools for planetary repair’. Enhancing food security – whilst minimising effects on our global life support system – is amongst the most important challenges facing society. Our current global approach to…
Keep readingStart the Year With Good News, Wednesday January 9th, 7.30pm
Join us for the first Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum get together of the year next Wednesday evening to share GOOD news on efforts to face up to and tackle the huge challenges we face from climate chaos. Please bring along a ‘good news’ story if you can – a positive environmental initiative or project…
Keep readingCLIMATE CHANGE BOARD GAMES, Wednesday December 12th, 7.30pm
You are warmly invited to join us on December 12th for climate change board games with veggie/vegan nibbles and chat to end end the year. Instead of our usual monthly film/presentation, in December we’d like to share Carbon Conversations board games which are fun and really informative on how lifestyle affects the climate crisis and…
Keep readingClimate Chaos: What Form Should Our Protest Take? Wednesday November 14th, 7.30pm
BCCF has two exciting pieces of news for you today: First we warmly invite you next Wednesday, November 14th, to an evening of short films and discussion focussing on non-violent direct action and civil disobedience – in the face of the increasing risk of irreversible climate catastrophe. Can we as civilians stop the destruction of our climate? The evidence says…
Keep readingFracking – What on earth’s going on?
There’s a lot of fracking news this week. First of all BCCF are really disappointed that hydraulic fracking is going ahead this week in the UK, in Lancashire, for the first time in seven years. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-45825268 It seems terribly ironic that the Government is going all out for a new source of fossil fuel exploitation when…
Keep readingJoin us to watch MINIMALISM, the documentary, October 10th, Bedford.
Our Next monthly film screening will be ‘MINIMALISM: A Documentary About the Important Things’. The ‘number one indie documentary of 2016’ takes the audience inside the lives of minimalists from all walks of life—families, entrepreneurs, architects, artists, journalists, scientists, and even a former Wall Street broker—all of whom are striving to live a meaningful life…
Keep readingTHE AGE OF STUPID… Revisited. Wednesday 12th September at 7.30pm, University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue, Bedford
We’re very happy this month to begin another NEW SEASON of thought-provoking and varied films with environmental themes, beginning on September 12th by revisiting THE AGE OF STUPID, Franny Armstrong’s iconic 2009 drama documentary starring the late Pete Postlethwaite as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, watching archival footage from…
Keep readingCanfield University Solar Farm Open Day, Wednesday 19th September. Book your place!
Cranfield University installed a 1 MW solar farm earlier this year. To celebrate this, they are hosting an open day on which will provide the opportunity to find out what is involved in the funding, technical and planning aspects of installing a small solar farm. The solar farm was supplied and installed by Renenergy. The…
Keep readingDr Rupert Read on ‘Facing Up to Climate Reality: Do We Have the Will? in Bedford, Saturday September 15th, 2pm
Dr Rupert Read, philosopher, teacher, author from the University of East Anglia is coming to the Panacea Museum in Bedford on Saturday September 15th at 2pm to give a talk entitled ‘Facing Up to Climate Reality: Do We Have the Will?’ as part of The Anthropocene: Keep it Green ‘eco fair’. There will also be…
Keep readingReminder: Have your say on Luton Airport Expansion before August 31st deadline.
Have your say at: https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=152950492449 or for the general information being put out see: http://www.futureluton.llal.org.uk And read on for our view on airport expansion… “The World’s on Fire”, shouted a powerful headline and graphic in The Sun newspaper a few days ago. It referred to not just to the brutal heatwave that has gripped Britain this summer…
Keep readingHave your say at Luton Airport Expansion consultations!
Ever-expanding aviation will not help us meet our critically important climate reduction targets. Heathrow’s third runway sadly was approved by the Commons of course, and Luton Airport is also set too expand with ambitions to at least double the current number of passengers. Economic benefits are argued for but at what price to us all…
Keep readingSOLAR FARM VISIT, near Westoning, June 27th 7.30pm
Join us for a local solar farm walk on 27th June. The site, near Westoning, is actually 2 solar farms – one built with Feed in Tariff subsidy and the other built privately as the first in the UK with a battery installation. We will meet in Westoning at the Running Duck at the Bell…
Keep readingThe Clean Growth Strategy – Real Action on Climate Change or Just Green Wash? June 13th 7.30-9.30pm
Presentation & Activities Evaluating the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy In October 2017 the Government published its Clean Growth Strategy, a 165-page document setting out the measures it would take to meet the emissions reduction targets in the fifth carbon budget up to 2032. On Wednesday June 13th BCCF invites you to join us for an…
Keep readingLIVING THE CHANGE film screening, May 9th
Join us for our next monthly film screening in Bedford – brand new documentary film LIVING THE CHANGE on Wednesday May 9th at 7.30. It poses the questions – Can the environmental, economic and social issues the world is currently facing really be dealt with by individuals? OR can these issues only be properly managed…
Keep readingCrowdfunder for Judicial Review vs Environment Agency Granting of Permit to Covanta Incinerator at Stewartby.
BCCF have actively opposed incineration as a model, disagree with the granting of planning permission by Central Government (going against local councillors) and the recent granting of an operating permit by the Environment Agency. We support a genuine transition to a Circular Economy which ever increasing numbers of incinerators here and in Europe undermine. For…
Keep readingLIVE LIKE A BEE. LOVE LIKE A BEE… AND SAVE THE PLANET. Wednesday April 11th 7.30pm.
Something a little different from our usual BCCF monthly film screenings… We are very happy to have a talk, with film clips, from local bee keeper and committed environmentalist, Colin Hall: ‘I have been a beekeeper now for forty five years, and do not want my love affair ever to end. This will be an…
Keep readingSEA OF LIFE film screening, Wednesday March 14th, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford
Our next monthly film screening will be SEA OF LIFE, an award-winning film released last year, which explores the environmental challenges facing our oceans. Filmed over three years in seven countries, it dives into some of the most spectacular ecosystems on the planet, exposing both the destruction that’s happening in the ocean and the efforts…
Keep readingPASSION FOR PLANET documentary screening this Valentine’s Day at the University of Bedfordshire, Bedford
This Valentine’s Day we’ve chosen a film about love for the planet… Passion for Planet is a 2016 documentary film (subtitled) which takes you on a journey around the globe together with the world’s best wildlife filmmakers who share their their passion and commitment for the natural beauty of our planet. However, their mission is now…
Keep readingBCCF’s letter in response to the ‘Clean Growth Strategy’ – sent to the PM, Michael Gove, Claire Perry and Greg Clark last week.
Dear Prime Minister Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum (BCCF) is formed by a group of people who share a deep concern about the threat and effects of climate change on us locally and on the peoples and biodiversity of the planet. BCCF is non-party political, an independent voluntary organisation, which seeks to work closely with all…
Keep readingSURVIVING PROGRESS film screening, this Wednesday evening, Bedford
To begin the year Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum invite you to a free screening of ‘Surviving Progress’ in which Stephen Hawking, Jane Goodall, Margaret Atwood and others share their thoughts on whether the pitfalls of progress could actually destroy civilization instead of help it. Loosely based on the 2004 book/lecture series of the same name,…
Keep readingCIRCULAR ECONOMY & ONE PLANET LIVING event, Wednesday December 13th
BCCF invite you to our last film screening of this year. We’ve chosen a ‘circular economy’ series of short films/presentations from the brilliant, ground-breaking Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Perhaps you know Ellen MacArthur as a solo round the world yachtswoman? Did you know that, partly inspired by her time at sea, she set up this foundation?…
Keep readingOPPOSE COVANTA INCINERATOR PUBLIC MEETING, Tuesday October 31st, 7pm
Everyone who is concerned about the Covanta incinerator planned for Marston Vale is invited to this important public meeting on October 31st at the Harper Suite, Harper Square, Bedford, MK40 1LE . Doors open 7pm for a 7.15 start. Entry is free but donations towards room hire will be very welcome. The meeting’s overall aim…
Keep readingBEFORE THE FLOOD Film Screening, Wednesday October 11th at 7.30
Our next free monthly film screening is BEFORE THE FLOOD, a 2016 documentary film. If you could know the truth about the threat of climate change — would you want to know? Before the Flood, presented by National Geographic, features Leonardo DiCaprio on a journey as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, traveling to five continents…
Keep readingARE ELECTRIC CARS THE FUTURE? Saturday September 30th at 2pm, Polhill campus, University of Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum invites you to a free afternoon of presentations, discussion & a demonstration. You’ll hear from local Nissan Leaf & Renault Zoe owners Ian Smith & Anthony Woodhouse (Chair of West Solent Solar Co-op). And a spokesperson from Highways at Bedford Borough Council will have info on current and future charging points locally. There…
Keep readingTHE STORY OF STUFF free short film screenings, 13th September at 7.30pm
Four short films will be shown, starting with The Story of Stuff Consumerism is a key driver of climate change. Over the past ten years the Story of Stuff project has released a series of short animated films focussed on consumerism that are community minded, solutions focussed, and action orientated. At our September meeting we will…
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CHASING ICE film screening, Wednesday July 12th, 7.30pm
Our next monthly BCCF film screening will be ‘Chasing Ice’, a documentary about the inescapable evidence of climate change!”In the spring of 2005, acclaimed environmental photographer James Balog headed to the Arctic on a tricky assignment for National Geographic: to capture images to help tell the story of the Earth’s changing climate. Even with…
Keep readingApocalypse & Climate Change, Panacea Museum, Bedford, June 2017
Important curated films and talks coming to the Panacea Museum, Bedford at the end of June with the Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements http://censamm.org/ These deserve to have a good audience, and the Panacea is a fascinating bit of Bedford history. Tuesday June 27th at 5pm – An Inconvenient Truth curated…
Keep readingPlastic Planet film, June 14th
Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum invites you to a showing of the film Plastic Planet at 7.30pm Wednesday 14th June, at the Bedford Campus of University of Bedfordshire. “Plastic is cheap and practical, and it’s everywhere – even in our blood. But is it a danger to us? This feisty, informative documentary takes us on a journey around the globe – from…
Keep readingJOIN US on Air Pollution Campaign Saturday May 13th 1pm, ‘Silver Faces’, Silver Street, Bedford.
Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum invite you to join us on our Air Pollution Campaign in Bedford on Saturday May 13th at 1pm in Bedford town centre (by the ‘Silver Faces’ on Silver Street ). We decided on this date well before the General Election was called but with the Government inaction on illegal air pollution…
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REVOLUTION film screening, Wednesday April 12th 7.30 at Polhill campus, University of Bedfordshire
Our next free monthly BEDFORDSHIRE CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM film screening will be ‘Revolution’ directed by Rob Stewart. Revolution is a feature documentary about opening your eyes, changing the world and fighting for something. A true life adventure following director Rob Stewart in the follow up to his hit Sharkwater, Revolution is an epic adventure into…
Keep readingBCCF Oppose the Covanta Incinerator at Stewartby & Object to an Environment Agency Permit.
Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum URGENTLY ask all members and those concerned more broadly about climate change, sustainability and air quality to make written objections to the Environment Agency granting a permit to Covanta to operate a ‘waste’ incinerator at Rookery Pit Stewartby where they have already gained planning permission. For background and information on Covanta’s planned…
Keep readingZERO CARBON BRITAIN REPORT from the Centre for Alternative Technology, is out now!
Download it from http://www.zerocarbonbritain.org This latest report from CAT investigates how to overcome the barriers to a zero carbon future drawing on insights from psychology, sociology, political science, economics and other social sciences, as well as faith and spiritual practice, arts and culture. Expert views from cutting edge thinkers mix with real-life stories from practical projects that have overcome…
Keep reading‘Tomorrow’ Film Showing, Wednesday March 8th at 7.30pm, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford
Our next free monthly film showing will be French documentary film DEMAIN (‘TOMORROW’), which premiered in Paris during COP21. Feeling despondent with the current climate and global politics? Already viewed by over 1.5 million people in France alone, and winner of Best Documentary at the Cesar Awards (the French Oscars), ‘Tomorrow’ has been hugely impactful. Produced…
Keep readingPOPULATION BOOM documentary film, Wednesday February 8th 7-9.30pm
Award-winning Austrian film maker Werner Boote here asks an important question “How many people are too many?” And the answer may surprise you. The facts seem fairly simple. A mere 25 years ago, the global population was at 5 billion people. Today, it’s at 7 billion. With dwindling resources, toxic pollution, ongoing issues with hunger…
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NEW SEASON OF ENGAGING & INSPIRING FILMS HOSTED BY BCCF
Join us on Wednesday January 11th for our first free film screening of 2017, with three short films on a climate theme which we hope will inspire discussion and action. All welcome. It’s free but donations welcome to cover our costs! 1) The Case for Optimism. This was Al Gore’s TED talk from earlier in 2016…
Keep readingBCCF say NO to Heathrow Expansion, and YES to creative ideas to help people and the environment.
Giving the go ahead to Heathrow expansion makes no sense and merely gives advantage to the wealthy and to large corporations rather than the majority of people of this country. The government’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC) suggests that by 2050, emissions from air traffic in the UK should have returned to the levels they were…
Keep readingNext film showing: THE POWER OF COMMUNITY, How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
Inspiring 2006 documentary film about Cuba’s struggle and ultimate success following losing access to oil practically overnight with the collapse of the Soviet Union. There will be time after the film for sharing ideas and suggestions for what we can do as individuals or groups. 7.30-9.30pm Wednesday November 9th at University of Bedfordshire’s Polhill campus,…
Keep readingNext film showing THE ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESS, Wednesday October 12th at the University of Bedfordshire. Polhill Avenue, Bedford. Rm G201 in the Gateway Building 7.30-9.30pm. Our free films are designed to inspire, engage, provoke discussion and action on themes of climate change and sustainability. All welcome!
Keep readingCOWSPIRACY film screening
We continue, after an August break, with our monthly film showings on Wednesday September 14th, showing COWSPIRACY: THE SUSTAINABILITY SECRET. It addresses the often-overlooked issue of the inextricable link between the global meat industry, the environment and climate change and it promises to be engaging and provocative. We’ll begin at 7.30 and there will be time…
Keep readingDIRT, THE MOVIE
Following the success of June’s showing of DISOBEDIENCE, you are invited to our second free monthly film showing that will enable us to continue our conversations about climate change. DIRT, THE MOVIE tells the story of Earth’s most valuable and under appreciated source of fertility – from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation. …
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Series of film screenings, beginning June 8th with Disobedience. At 7.30-9.30pm, Wednesday 8th June 2016, in G201 in the Polhill campus. For further information contact: diana.pritchard@beds.ac.uk
Join us for a free screening of “Disobedience”, a new, fast-paced film about an emergent phase of the climate movement: courageous action that is being taken on the front lines of the climate crisis on every continent, led by regular people fed up with the power and pollution of the fossil fuel industry. After this…
Keep readingCarbon Conversations Workshops
We’ve just completed a series of Carbon Conversations in Bedford and would like to run more. What is Carbon Conversations? Carbon Conversations Groups offer a supportive group experience that helps people halve their personal carbon footprint. They deal with the difficulties of change by connecting to values, emotions and identity. The groups are based on…
Keep reading2016 Annual General Meeting
Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum’s upcoming AGM will be held on Wednesday 6th April at 7.30. Quaker Meeting House, 5 Lansdowne Road , Bedford MK40 2BY. Current and new members welcome. The main business of the meeting will be followed by the showing of Bill McKibben’s 40 minute documentary film, Do The Math.
Keep readingGoing Backwards on Climate Change!
We’ll be supporting the Campaign Against Climate Change event in London on Sunday May 8th to demonstrate how the UK government is going backwards on its manifesto pledges to cut carbon and ameliorate global warming! See http://www.campaign.org for more details. Here are the main recent policy changes that risk wrecking our climate: Removing onshore wind…
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Carbon Conversation workshops
We’re planning on running series of workshops with Carbon Conversations very soon. For more information see http://www.carbonconversations.org Carbon Conversations Groups offer a supportive group experience that helps people halve their personal carbon footprint. They deal with the difficulties of change by connecting to values, emotions and identity. The groups are based on a psychological understanding…
Keep readingThis Changes Everything screening Milton Keynes Global Justice Milton Keynes has arranged a community screening of the film of Naomi Klein’s book This Changes Everything. There is no charge for attending but they would welcome donations towards the costs of hiring the venue and getting the DVD. The film presents portraits of communities on the…
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Event at University of Bedfordshire
This Changes Everything: Climate And Our Future, Friday February 12th, 5.15-7pm.
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Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum 