Our monthly meeting for June was held in Stokesley Community Library, North Road Stokesley from 7:30 – 9:00pm.
This was an opportunity to gather & reflect on the events in Great Big Green Week including the screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing and plan future whole group activities. All were welcome.
Climate Action Stokesley and Villages (CASaV) Monthly Meeting Minutes
1. Introductions The meeting began with introductions outlining the different groups and areas members represent. Attendees included Caryn (Coordinator), Mike (a new member from Faceby), Barry (Transport), Bridget (Nature and North Yorkshire Climate Coalition link), Jenny (Food/Food Share), Pete (Rethinking Resources), David (Rethinking Resources), Wendy (Food), Helen (Nature), Derek (Nature/Parish Councillor), Ron (Great Ayton Parish Council), and Simon (Rethinking Resources/Repair Cafe).
2. Post-People’s Emergency Briefing Film Screening Feedback The group discussed the recent film screening, which was fully booked with around 50 attendees.
- Initial Reactions: Bridget felt the group needs to be doing more. Pete expressed feeling overwhelmed about “which way to go” because you can’t do everything, and suggested the need for a government-led public information campaign similar to wartime broadcasts.
- Public Awareness: Helen was surprised by how uninformed the people featured in the film were, noting that the “penny hasn’t dropped” for many and that people have become “brain dead” to the constant news, turning it into background noise. Barry pointed out that younger people seemed unaware of major events like the floods in Valencia and Germany. Derek suggested this is because younger demographics get their news entirely differently now, such as through Instagram influencers.
- Change Management: Mike stressed that seeing the totality of the situation in one place was shocking, noting that creating awareness is the critical first step of change management. He emphasized that if we don’t collaborate now, we are in the “last decades” of civilization, and that our kids and grandkids won’t understand how we failed to make a difference.
- Political Action: Caryn proposed setting up a meeting with our MP, Rishi Sunak, in conjunction with the Northallerton group and other local organizations. Helen noted that MPs respond to what the electorate wants (polls/surveys), citing a successful campaign in Denmark where 53% of the public forced a change in pig farming laws regarding pollution and animal welfare. Caryn and others agreed it was crucial to present a broad base of constituents (including local churches) so it doesn’t just look like the climate group complaining.
- Refining the Message: Mike pointed out that the brainstorm at the end of the film screening needs to be put into a more useful, strategic format to extract the key actionable points. Simon noted that concerns for farmers had been raised during the screening discussion.
3. Format of Briefing for Multiple Audiences The group explored how to present this urgent information to different audiences, especially those who do not respond to statistics and graphs.
- Storytelling: Mike suggested storytelling, referencing Brian McLaren from the Iona Community and his 2024 book Life After Doom, which presents climate scenarios in narrative form.
- Transition Focus: Simon brought up the climate story teller Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Town movement, and his books From What Is to What If and Learning to Love the Future. Rob Hopkins is coming to Middlesbrough on 11th July to run a workshop “How to Fall in Love with the Future: What if Middlesbrough“.
- Challenges: Wendy mentioned an article about the government softening the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) to protect car manufacturers, showing a focus on business rather than the planet. Mike noted that the Reform Party’s #5 policy is abolishing Net Zero.
4. Further Screenings The group aimed to keep the momentum going by arranging more screenings, as an estimated 60-80% of the film attendees had indicated they would write to their MP.
- Planned Screenings: Mark Lewis is hoping to host a private screening for the Stokesley Rotary Group. A public screening is being planned at the Great Ayton Discovery Centre. The film is also being shown in Northallerton and Guisborough. National Screen Map.
- Schools and Youth: The filmmakers advise against showing the film to under-16s. However, the group is looking into showing it to 6th formers at Stokesley School or local colleges, and Caryn is meeting with a school climate champion to discuss options.
- Other Potential Groups: Suggestions included taking the film to Parish Councils, Eco-Churches, the WI, and a group of headteachers. Barry is going to attempt to secure a special lecture slot for the U3A during their empty month.
- Local Government (NYC): At the upcoming AGM, the group plans to ask David Hugill (NYC Climate Champion) how the film can be shown to North Yorkshire Council staff and councillors.
5. Things Happening (Upcoming Events)
- 4-5 July: Festival of Thrift at Kirkleatham Museum. Simon is coordinating a repair cafe inside the walled gallery space with about 45 volunteers.
- 11 July: North Yorkshire Climate Coalition Conference in York at the Quaker Meeting House. A volunteer is needed to attend or run a stall – more details here.
- 21 July: AGM. Taking place at 7:00 PM in the Library, featuring a shared supper and a talk by David Hugill.
- 18 August: Next regular CASaV group meeting.
6. Nature Group Updates (Bridget)
- Himalayan Balsam: 8 people and Tees River Trust attended a successful “Balsam Bash”. Giant Hogweed was spotted and reported. Bridget explained the strict protocol for Himalayan Balsam: snap the plant below the first nodule, stamp on it, and leave it on site as hazardous waste, ensuring not to spread the popping seeds. With next week being INNS (Invasive Non-Native Species) week, further events are planned near Osmotherley and the upper river reaches. Bridget will write a piece for the newsletter.
- Codbeck Project: The group has secured roughly £1,980 in funding. The money will be used to buy trail cameras, a bat monitor, and FSC guidebooks. The goal is to start running events to engage people with the habitat, possibly partnering with the local camping and caravanning site.
- Dog Issues: The group plans to write an article about dogs bothering sheep, biting people, and attacking other dogs in the Conbeck area.
7. Food Group Update (Jenny)
- The surplus food share continues to operate every night, picking up from the two Co-ops in Stokesley, the Co-op in Great Ayton, and the Premier shop in Great Ayton. Roughly 60kg of food is saved from waste each week and redistributed to charities.
8. Thermal Imaging Camera
- Helen has volunteered to lead the acquisition of a thermal imaging camera so members can borrow it to check their home insulation. It was noted that this is a project best executed in the winter when temperature differentials are clear.
9. EV Charging Points and Solar Panels
- EV Chargers: David Hugill reported that the council is still arguing about which systems to install. The original company contracted to install chargers in Stokesley and Great Ayton went bankrupt.
- The “French Rule”: The group discussed a rule in France where car parks with over 80 spaces are required to install solar panel roofing, providing both energy and shade (here).
- Substation Issues: Applying this to local spaces (like the Co-op) is hindered because the Stokesley substation is currently at full capacity; adding solar to a high street building would require the applicant to fund a substantial part of a substation upgrade.
10. Planet Over Profit Campaign
- Members continue to colour in postcards for the Friends of the Earth “Planet Over Profit” campaign, which aims to hold corporations legally accountable for environmental destruction.
- The group has around 50 cards completed and will bring them to the Bilsdale Show on the 29th of August to gather more signatures.