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In early July, 20 Advocates from Scotland, England and Wales converged on the Eden Project in Cornwall for their second meeting and with the aim of deciding on four challenges to take forward this year.
Team GB came up with more than 70 ideas at their first meeting and despite working together virtually to research the feasibility of the various ideas, they still had 20 ideas on the table by the time of the event. Whittling these down to just four was an enormous task, therefore.
Advocates took it in turns to champion their project ideas and decisions were then made on them by the group as a whole. Critical feedback was also provided by a panel of experts, including Eden staff members, an Environmental Lawyer, a journalist and also experts from Christian Aid and the South West England Regional Development Agency. This feedback enabled the Advocates to reflect on and refine their ideas.
The four ideas that merged from the weekend were; (i) Carbon Retreat (provisional title) – design a course aimed at providing positive engagement on the issues of climate change; (ii) Charge of the Light Brigade – aim of highlighting to businesses how they waste energy and offer constructive advice to save energy and empower and engage them in personal action on climate change; (iii) Lorax - produce an education pack that accompanies the "Lorax" book for teachers to discuss the perils of unsustainable consumption with children; (iv) project to engage / educate Community Councils on ways to combat Climate Change.
Teams have been formed around these ideas and roles are being established. The Advocates are continuing to work together virtually throughout the summer to develop the ideas further.
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