Archive for March, 2008
posted by Cptn
How many of you out there really do pop around and check up on elderly friends and neighbours?
Apparently one-third of people over 65 fall one or more times each year, so if you haven’t seen that older person who lives down the road in a while, chances are they’ve had a tumble.
Speak Up! Check Up! Take Up! is a campaign by Devon County Council and Devon Primary Care trust to encourage those older people put their own feet forward and reduce the number who fall at home.
Basically the deal is to: tell someone if you fall; find out how to reduce the risk of falling and know when to get advice from a professional. It also encourages the take up physical excercies to improve health and balance.
And the rest of us… well, we can help by popping in on our neighbours once in a while, too, and create that community-feel that has been lost for so long.
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March 20th, 2008
posted by Cptn
An interactive discussion about the impact of modern farming on our climate was held today by Devon County Council, involving National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) and Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT).
The jury-style happening, which was hosted by Devon County Council was asked the question: “Is Devon’s farming fit for purpose in the era of climate change?â€
Before the event Professor Michael Winter, director of the Centre for Rural Policy Research, told the PRSD: “The UK agricultural sector currently makes a relatively large contribution to the total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions each year, largely methane and nitrous oxide. However, it is also in a near unique position to address this issue, as it has the ability to capture, store and maintain carbon and take other actions to reduce GHG emissions.â€
To view the webcast and slides of the event brush away the cobwebs of Devon County Council’s electronic archive.
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March 19th, 2008
posted by Cptn
A check-up on the future of the NHS will take place at the Corn Exchange, Exeter on Thursday April 3, 10am-3pm.
The day-long seminar is open to anyone whether involved in providing health and social care services or on the receiving end – patients or punters.
Those involved in the day will be Dr Donal Hynes, NHS Alliance, Prof Sheena Asthana, of the University of Plymouth and Elli Pang, of the National Association of Patient Forums.
The sort of things in the medicine cabinet of discussion, are, according to the Socialist Health Association:
How would polyclincs work in rural areas?
How could more care be given closer to home?
How will the money work?
How can people be involved in local decision-making?
And so on and so forth.
Cost: (includes a good lunch) Statutory and commercial organisations £60. Voluntary organisations £25, SHA members £12 (includes members of affiliated organisations such as Unite and Unison who represent their union or pay their own way).
Unfunded organisations and individuals and for more details, contact the Socialist Health Association.
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March 19th, 2008
posted by Cptn
Regular readers will remember our Fairtrade Fortnight give away (courtesy of our friends EthicalSuperstore.com).
The winner picked out of our virtual hat is Colin Austin, who has been campaigning for Fairtrade and organic goods. He has managed to get them in the village shop and has convinced the college where he works to have a Fairtrade event and to include Fairtrade food in the college’s cafes and restaurants.
Congrats Colin. You’re Fairtrade pack will wend its way with the Easter Bunny.
Of course, you don’t have to wait for prize draws to tell us what you’re up to. We’re always eager to hear what yous citizens are doing. Just email info@peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk
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March 19th, 2008
posted by Cptn
If you like messing about on the the Exe Estuary, then you can offer your tuppence-worth for a new leaflet which promotes recreational activities in the area.
The leaflet will look to promoted the sustainable enjoyment of the estuary and aims to raise awareness of how recreation can work in harmony with the environment.
Jenny Lockett, Exe Estuary Officer, told the PRSD: “It is essential for the concept of the leaflet that all activities are represented including sailing, bird watching, canoeing, rowing, diving, running, cycling, angling and many more. This is a great chance for all those involved with any form of recreational activity on or around the Exe Estuary to contact the Partnership and get involved.â€
The Exe Estuary Management Partnership will put the leaflet together. To get involved contact the Exe Estuary Officer, Jenny Lockett, on 01392 382236 or email exeestua@devon.gov.uk
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March 18th, 2008
posted by Cptn
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In case you were wondering what all this innovative fuss was all about, here’s a sample of what Jon Croose of community arts collective Means of Production along with Maniac Films, the Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, has been up to – a futuristic take on history for primary school children. You may remember it picked up an prize, if not, read yesterday’s story.
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March 18th, 2008
Artist Anne Radu offers a personal insight into Buddhism and the persecution in Tibet. Her image Paradise (below) will be auctioned to raise funds for the Free Tibet Campaign. For details, read the Bids for Paradise story on the PRSD or contact Anne on info@anneradu.com
posted by Anne Radu
You may be watching what is going on in the news in Tibet and wondering “what is Buddhism exactly?“ I am just one of many Buddhists living in Devon. Being a Buddhist is more a way of life than a religion – it effects everything you do, right down to what type of job you do. For example, you could not do a job which potentially causes harm to others or the environment. I am an artist and much of my work raises issues about the nature of reality, because one of the main beliefs of Buddhists is that the world is not as we normally “see†it, which is interesting because scientists are saying the same thing!
You might not realise that, similar to Christians, there are different types of Buddhists and my main practice is called Mahayana, which is a type of Tibetan Buddhism. As I cannot get to a group easily where I live at the moment I have recently joined up with some other Buddhists who have set up a teleconferencing network for those who wish to join together once a fortnight. I think one of the most useful aspects of the practice, as well as seeing everyone as one big family, is the emphasis on living in the present, rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past. Most people spend an awful lot of time worrying about things that might never happen and of course, I sometimes catching myself doing the same thing – the difference is we would actively try and stop ourselves.
Most people think of chanting and meditating when they think of us and it is true that mediation is a part of life. Some groups do not chant at all and some chant all the time. What I really like is the emphasis on “being†rather than the Western belief that you always have to be doing something. In fact, most people feel guilty if they are not doing something, preferably three things at once… In contrast, we would certainly try to do everything that really needs to be done, but we would try to simplify our lives and actually stop everything regularly to meditate. We must be doing something right because scientific studies have shown Buddhists to be more contented and very practised meditators can slow down their bodily functions, such as breathing until they are almost in a state of hibernation.
I am very sad about what has happening in Tibet at the moment, especially as it has now led to more violence, as normally peaceful people have got fed up with the persecution of monks and nuns. I would ask everyone to kindly do what they can to help. A useful place to find out what you can do is the Free Tibet website. The main thing Buddhists ask for is cultural freedom for Tibetans (and indeed everybody) and this means dialogue. We would like our Prime Minister to agree to officially meet with the Dalai Lama when he visits Britain in May and we would like the Chinese authorities to release all political prisoners, including monks and nuns and agree to negotiate a non-violent way forward.
You may think that people power is not enough, but I saw what it can do in Romania and we all saw what it did in places like the former East Germany and Hungary. There is no reason why it is not possible in the future for Tibetans and Chinese to live peacefully alongside each other, as long as there is mutual respect for each others’ cultures.
A lotus flower for you all.
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March 17th, 2008
posted by Cptn
Ray Rose of Deep Blue Sound in Plymouth got in touch with us here in the PRSD bunker to say that Christopher Wolstenholme, bass player of Muse popped along to bang the drums for Hey Molly.
“The session for Sub.tv featured three original songs, Wayward Country Boy, Backstreet Boozer Loser and Lately and was filmed in a Studio in Elephant and Castle, London,” Ray told the PRSD.
Chris offered his services to Hey Molly when their drummer was unable to play due to a family holiday. Chris and Hey Molly all live in Teignmouth. The band had two rehearsals before the session.
Apparently, Chris described Hey Molly as “one of the best up and coming bands in the UK and looked forward to Hey Molly supporting Muse in 2008/2009″. Chris had been previously impressed with Hey Molly when they supported Muse at the Eden Projects in 2006 [first broken on PRSD, by the way].
Hey Molly will be supporting Madness, Dirty Pretty Things and Pigeon Detectives at Snowbombing, Austria, this year. They are also touring Europe in April and May followed by an appearance at the London Calling Festival in June.
Hey Molly will release their first single Charlie’s Autobiography this year. They are managed by dBs Music in Plymouth who are helping the band find a record label.
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March 17th, 2008
posted by Cptn
There is much to celebrate with innovation, not least how us here at The People’s Republic of South Devon and D+CFilm are right at the nose of what’s happening in the south west without even knowing it.
The two films which were shortlisted for the top indy film at the Plymouth Media Partnership’s Media Innovation Award – Revenge of the Jazz Hoodies and Small Change – have already picked up D+CFilm Two Short Nights trophies. In the latest head-to-head it was Revenge of the Jazz Hoodies, scooped the silverware.
Also victorious were friends of the republic South Devon Community Arts collective Means of Production.
The Compton-based collective won the award for Best Interactive DVD for script development work on Think Tank, a science fiction-style CDROM in which primary school children explore weird and wonderful historical objects, led by a team of time-travelling alien anthropologists.
The DVD, which was co-produced by MOP, Maniac Films, the Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, helps kids get to grips with objects from the museum archives, some of which have not seen the light of day for many years.
MOP director Jon Croose told the PRSD: “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. It is great to have our work recognised in this way and we hope it will lead to bigger and better things in the future.”
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March 17th, 2008
posted by Cptn
International contemporary painter, and stalwart citizen of the republic, Anne Radu, who is a practising Buddhist, has offered the public the chance to bid for her painting Paradise.
All proceeds from the painting will go to the Free Tibet Campaign.
The painting itself is an original and measures 16†x 20†(40 x 51cm) plus a rustic-style wide, flat frame in white. It is painted in mixed media in the Buddhist colours of maroons and saffrons, with a fresh green strip running through it.
Paradise appeared in numerous magazines nationwide over the summer of 2006 when it was shown as part of an exhibition in Great Russell Street, London. It was also shown in the Gora Gallery, Montreal, and is widely acclaimed to be “hotâ€.
Anne told the PRSD: “I would urge anyone who believes in the basic human rights of cultural freedom and religious tolerance to help the campaign by going on the internet, signing the petitions or writing to their MP or the Chinese Ambassador to Britain, asking for dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Please keep any protests peaceful and polite.â€
The insurance value of the painting is currently well over £1,000, and the reserve price is £400 (plus approximately £30 transport costs within UK).
To view the painting, have a gander at Anne’s psychedelics paintings on her website or prospective bidders in the West Country can see the original by appointment. All bids and contacts to be via info@anneradu.com.
For further information on the current and historical situation in Tibet and what you can do to help visit the Free Tibet Campaign website.
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March 16th, 2008
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