Blogs
Creating space for debate - As part of the wider mission of Merseyside Environmental Trust
3rd Annual Gary Mahoney Memorial Debate
On Thursday 1st June 2017 in The Pearce Room at The Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool, Merseyside Environmental Trust and Liverpool Friends of the Earth held a joint event in honour of the late Gary Mahoney, an Air Quality Manager with Sefton Council and long-time Friends of the Earth representative. After the monthly Liverpool Green Drinks networking event had concluded downstairs at The Wave Bar, attendees moved upstairs to hear the responses to the debate question 'How Green Can We Go?'. This years debate was expertly chaired by Annie Merry of Faiths4Change and the debate panel consisted of Clara Paillard, Liverpool-based member of the PCS union’s national executive committee and active with Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, and David Connor, Managing Director of Coethica and UK Regional Voice Lead of Impact 2030 a global private sector-led coalition supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
After a heartfelt introduction by Frank Kennedy of Liverpool Friends of the Earth of his memories of Gary Mahoney, how his influence encouraged him to originally join Friends of the Earth and the impact he had on not just local but global debates in relation to the environment, Annie Merry of Faiths4Change introduced the panel. Clara Paillard spoke first, detailing her union's commitment to informing on the environment and stating how a situation whereby jobs and the environment are seen as an either/or is simply unacceptable. She argued that the housing crisis and building sustainable homes can be tackled and that the examples of the indoor smoking ban and charge on plastic bags shows that the wider public can adapt to environmental change measures. David Connor spoke next about the importance of the private sector stepping up to the challenge and the role of legislation in achieving this. He detailed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a huge opportunity for public/private sector collaboration and to communicate the issues at hand to the wider public.
After a short interval, audience questions were pooled and discussed by the panel with a broad range of topics up for discussion in relation to trade unions and the private sectors role in tackling climate change, food packaging as an industry problem, the role of the established media in distributing the right environmental message to its audience and much more. These lively discussions led to much back and forth between the panel and the audience with positive attitude and a collaborative spirit being the atmosphere of the room. Debate chair Annie Merry brought a conclusion to the evenings procedings and revealed that new Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham has shown an interest in joining a debate panel for next year and thus encouraged the audience to think up a locally situated question that may best put to the 2018 panel.
Merseyside Environmental Trust would like to thank Liverpool Friends of the Earth, Clara Paillard, David Connor, Annie Merry and all who attended the 3rd Annual Gary Mahoney Memorial Debate and Liverpool Green Drinks on the 1st June, we hope to see you at the 2018 edition of the event.
To view a Gallery of pictures from the event, click here.
On Thursday 1st June 2017 in The Pearce Room at The Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool, Merseyside Environmental Trust and Liverpool Friends of the Earth held a joint event in honour of the late Gary Mahoney, an Air Quality Manager with Sefton Council and long-time Friends of the Earth representative. After the monthly Liverpool Green Drinks networking event had concluded downstairs at The Wave Bar, attendees moved upstairs to hear the responses to the debate question 'How Green Can We Go?'. This years debate was expertly chaired by Annie Merry of Faiths4Change and the debate panel consisted of Clara Paillard, Liverpool-based member of the PCS union’s national executive committee and active with Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, and David Connor, Managing Director of Coethica and UK Regional Voice Lead of Impact 2030 a global private sector-led coalition supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
After a heartfelt introduction by Frank Kennedy of Liverpool Friends of the Earth of his memories of Gary Mahoney, how his influence encouraged him to originally join Friends of the Earth and the impact he had on not just local but global debates in relation to the environment, Annie Merry of Faiths4Change introduced the panel. Clara Paillard spoke first, detailing her union's commitment to informing on the environment and stating how a situation whereby jobs and the environment are seen as an either/or is simply unacceptable. She argued that the housing crisis and building sustainable homes can be tackled and that the examples of the indoor smoking ban and charge on plastic bags shows that the wider public can adapt to environmental change measures. David Connor spoke next about the importance of the private sector stepping up to the challenge and the role of legislation in achieving this. He detailed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a huge opportunity for public/private sector collaboration and to communicate the issues at hand to the wider public.
After a short interval, audience questions were pooled and discussed by the panel with a broad range of topics up for discussion in relation to trade unions and the private sectors role in tackling climate change, food packaging as an industry problem, the role of the established media in distributing the right environmental message to its audience and much more. These lively discussions led to much back and forth between the panel and the audience with positive attitude and a collaborative spirit being the atmosphere of the room. Debate chair Annie Merry brought a conclusion to the evenings procedings and revealed that new Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham has shown an interest in joining a debate panel for next year and thus encouraged the audience to think up a locally situated question that may best put to the 2018 panel.
Merseyside Environmental Trust would like to thank Liverpool Friends of the Earth, Clara Paillard, David Connor, Annie Merry and all who attended the 3rd Annual Gary Mahoney Memorial Debate and Liverpool Green Drinks on the 1st June, we hope to see you at the 2018 edition of the event.
To view a Gallery of pictures from the event, click here.
23/09/2016
2nd Natural Health Service Event
Yesterday evening at The Quaker Meeting House, Merseyside Environmental Trust and The Duncan Society jointly presented the second Natural Health Service event. This well attended event featured a lecture by Dr Zoe Knowles and Dr Lynne Boddy entitled "Children and Natural environments as agents of change: The case of physical activity".
The lecture began with a thorough methodology before moving onto the reasons children are active, with particular focus surrounding school time as a traditional setting and opportunity for activity, set against leisure time which can often be held back by barriers and constraints. From this, the Forest School concept was introduced as a natural environment intervention, with an explanation of how it is curriculum mapped yet also beneficial in terms of increased physical activity levels for the children involved. An interesting concluding theme was that children themselves could become the key change agent for wider family behavioural change in terms of becoming active and tackling obesity.
Following the lecture, a lively and thought provoking Q & A session eventually turned into a cross room discussion of stimulating debate and thoughts. Topics discussed ranged from cost implications/solutions, exercise as a prescriptive measure, how best Forest School can co-exist with the curriculum and more widely the current state and future of Liverpool's parks and green spaces.
Merseyside Environmental Trust would like to thank The Duncan Society, Dr Zoe Knowles, Dr Lynne Boddy and everyone in attendance for their interest and participation in such a successful event.
2nd Natural Health Service Event
Yesterday evening at The Quaker Meeting House, Merseyside Environmental Trust and The Duncan Society jointly presented the second Natural Health Service event. This well attended event featured a lecture by Dr Zoe Knowles and Dr Lynne Boddy entitled "Children and Natural environments as agents of change: The case of physical activity".
The lecture began with a thorough methodology before moving onto the reasons children are active, with particular focus surrounding school time as a traditional setting and opportunity for activity, set against leisure time which can often be held back by barriers and constraints. From this, the Forest School concept was introduced as a natural environment intervention, with an explanation of how it is curriculum mapped yet also beneficial in terms of increased physical activity levels for the children involved. An interesting concluding theme was that children themselves could become the key change agent for wider family behavioural change in terms of becoming active and tackling obesity.
Following the lecture, a lively and thought provoking Q & A session eventually turned into a cross room discussion of stimulating debate and thoughts. Topics discussed ranged from cost implications/solutions, exercise as a prescriptive measure, how best Forest School can co-exist with the curriculum and more widely the current state and future of Liverpool's parks and green spaces.
Merseyside Environmental Trust would like to thank The Duncan Society, Dr Zoe Knowles, Dr Lynne Boddy and everyone in attendance for their interest and participation in such a successful event.
06/06/2016
2nd Annual Gary Mahoney Memorial Debate - Climate Crisis? How do we respond?
On Thursday 2nd June at The Adelphi Hotel in central Liverpool, Merseyside Environmental Trust alongside Liverpool Friends of the Earth presented the 2nd Annual Gary Mahoney Memorial Debate with the question being “Climate Crisis? How do we respond?”. After an introduction to the event by Frank Kennedy, including some heartfelt memories of Gary Mahoney, the debate panel of Professor Andy Morse and The Right Reverend Paul Bayes were introduced, along with the debate Chair, Friends of the Earth’s Elaine Gilligan.
Professor Andy Morse addressed the audience first, presenting many of the facts and figures surrounding climate change, before bringing his argument neatly around to the moral commitment we all have to address climate change. Reverend Paul Bayes talked about how the faith community had always seen climate change as a key issue. He argued that there was no need for a balanced argument, as with the scientific proof of climate change alongside his own faith position, there could be no doubt that action is needed.
Following on from this, a short break presented an opportunity for the audience to write down questions for the panel, whilst also filling out Position Paper Questionnaires and pledging #GreenIn16 commitments for Merseyside Environmental Trust. What followed was a lively debate with many thought provoking arguments made on a variety of issues ranging from fracking, reducing consumption, corporation power, livestock emissions and what the panel personally do to reduce their impact.
Merseyside Environmental Trust would like to thank all who attended this event, as well as Liverpool Friends of the Earth, Elaine Gilligan, Professor Andy Morse and Reverend Paul Bayes.
2nd Annual Gary Mahoney Memorial Debate - Climate Crisis? How do we respond?
On Thursday 2nd June at The Adelphi Hotel in central Liverpool, Merseyside Environmental Trust alongside Liverpool Friends of the Earth presented the 2nd Annual Gary Mahoney Memorial Debate with the question being “Climate Crisis? How do we respond?”. After an introduction to the event by Frank Kennedy, including some heartfelt memories of Gary Mahoney, the debate panel of Professor Andy Morse and The Right Reverend Paul Bayes were introduced, along with the debate Chair, Friends of the Earth’s Elaine Gilligan.
Professor Andy Morse addressed the audience first, presenting many of the facts and figures surrounding climate change, before bringing his argument neatly around to the moral commitment we all have to address climate change. Reverend Paul Bayes talked about how the faith community had always seen climate change as a key issue. He argued that there was no need for a balanced argument, as with the scientific proof of climate change alongside his own faith position, there could be no doubt that action is needed.
Following on from this, a short break presented an opportunity for the audience to write down questions for the panel, whilst also filling out Position Paper Questionnaires and pledging #GreenIn16 commitments for Merseyside Environmental Trust. What followed was a lively debate with many thought provoking arguments made on a variety of issues ranging from fracking, reducing consumption, corporation power, livestock emissions and what the panel personally do to reduce their impact.
Merseyside Environmental Trust would like to thank all who attended this event, as well as Liverpool Friends of the Earth, Elaine Gilligan, Professor Andy Morse and Reverend Paul Bayes.
