22-03-05

Welcome to the third ECO Centre email newsletter.

A summary of items in this edition:
1. Technical problems with no. 2
2. ECO Centre Silver Jubilee
3. Schools Competition
4. Education resources
5. Sustainable Energy Wales Partnership
6. Bilingual Design Awards

1.The second newsletter was emailed last December, but there were a number of undeliverables. Apologies if you didn't receive one, it can be read on our newsletter archive.
http://www.ecocentre.org.uk/previous-newsletters.html.

2.This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the West Wales ECO Centre. A fact that is hard to miss from the website.  We are marking this with many activities over the year, but the main event is scheduled to take place during the week commencing the 16th May (this may change by a week). 

The whole week will be given over to open days about the Centre and the theme is Climate Change - the next 25 years:
MON 16TH MAY.  "HAVE YOUR SAY" DAY -- VIDEO DIARIES and Exhibitions
TUES 17TH MAY.  GLOBAL WARMING AWARENESS DAY - The main event, an evening lecture "Global warming -- the science, the impacts and the politics" from Sir John Houghton CBE, FRS, Chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
WED 18TH MAY.  EDUCATION DAY
THURS 19TH MAY.  ENERGY EFFICIENCY OPEN DAY
FRIDAY 20TH MAY.  RENEWABLE PROJECTS DAY
SATURDAY 21ST MAY.  ECO CENTRE OPEN DAY
(some events may be subject to change).

If you are in the area, then pop in!

3. Related to this, we are running a small competition for schools to design a poster or postcard on the theme of Climate Change and looking ahead.  Details can be found on the education page.
http://www.ecocentre.org.uk/education.html

4. As a result of the work being undertaken by our Schools Officer, a range of resources have been developed and made available via the website. These are free to use by teachers, but we would appreciate some feedback on how you have used them and how you and the pupils found them. Either directly by email or using the online form.  They are avialble for download as PDF documents from:
http://www.ecocentre.org.uk/sustainable-schools.html

5. A significant step was made this week when the seven main energy NGOs in Wales agreed a Memorandum of Understanding between themselves. Sustainable Energy Wales is a partnership of seven organisations with the similar objectives of promoting sustainable energy use and sustainable lifestyles, reducing our impact on the environment and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.  The organisations involved are:
Awel Aman Tawe - www.awelamantawe.org.uk
Cardiff Energy Advice Centre (inc. South East Wales EEAC) - www.energyfocus.org.uk
Carmarthenshire Energy Agency - www.ynnisirgar.org.uk
Centre for Alternative Technology - www.cat.org.uk
Conwy Energy Agency - www.conwyenergyagency.co.uk
Mid Wales Energy Agency - www.mwea.org.uk
West Wales ECO Centre  (inc. Mid and South West Wales EEAC and North Wales EEAC)

Between them, these organisations provide a range of services and expertise across the whole of Wales. Look at their websites to find out more.

6. Previous newsletters have linked to last year's annual report and newsletter. This was entered into the Welsh language Board's Bilingual Design Awards. We are pleased to say that it came third with a special commendation out of 500 entries for the 'Promotions' category.
Our newsletter - http://www.ecocentre.org.uk/docs/newsletter-2003.pdf
Welsh Language Board - http://www.bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.uk/en/cynnwys.php?cID=6&pID=6&nID=419
Shortlist - http://www.bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.uk/download.php/pID=37291.1

Thanks again for your interest. Keep your eye on the website for up to date news of events over the year. And hopefully it won't be so long between email newsletters.

The West Wales ECO Centre team.