Wind turbines: energy saviours or blots on the landscape?

The next Huddersfield Salon event will take place on the 28th April between 6 and 8.30pm, the debate itself starts at 6.30pm.

The subject of the debate is 'Wind turbines: energy saviours or blots on the landscape?'

Speakers:

Dr Julia Meaton - Head of Strategy & Marketing Centre at Huddersfield University Business School, Julia has a keen interest in ethical and environmental issues. Recent research is looking at Environmental Management and Corporate Social Responsibility, ranging from a study of environmental grassroots movements in the UK to an analysis of environmental management in Saudi Arabian businesses.

Jane Davis - Jane farms a smallholding in Spalding, South Lincolnshire with her husband Julian. Jane is a retired health professional and has been involved with mainly rural communities since 1980. Following the installation of wind-turbines near their home, to which they didn’t object, Jane has spoken at countless meetings across the country about the disastrous effect this has had on their lives. She and her husband gave evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Economics of Renewable Energy.

Suggested contribution £2.50 (more if you can)
Pay at the door, refreshments are available at the bar.

Other dates for your diary:
19 May, 30June, 29 September, 27 October, 24 November
Subjects to be confirmed

Café Ollo, The Media Centre
Northumberland Street, Huddersfield HD1 1RL (2 mins from train station)

Call 01484 483010 for more information



some further reading/information:
The Age of Stupid - drama-documentary-animation hybrid which stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching archive footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?

The Danish island of Samso and how they are selling power from their windfarms back to the national grid - an interesting article from the Guardian, 21 September 08, about how a Danish island is benefiting from wind power, and the response of English people when they presented their ideas here.

Windmills of the Mind by Tim Black, in Spiked magazine, 01 April 09 - an article about why a minister’s pledge to make opposition to windfarms as unacceptable as refusing to wear a seatbelt is revealing.

A provocative review of The Age of Stupid by Brendan O'Neill, from Spiked magazine, 16 March 09

Parenting Skills: essential attributes or fads we should send to the naughty step?

Tuesday 24th March - 6:00pm til 8:30 pm

Speakers

Jennie Bristow - freelance writer and researcher, author of the 'Guide to Subversive Parenting', has two young daughters

Jo Pitt - recently retired as Regional Director of the National Academy for Parenting Practitioners, a mother of four and grandmother

Entrance: Suggested contribution £2.50 (more if you can), pay at the door, refreshments are available at the bar

Other Dates for your diary: 28th April, 19th May, 30th June, 29th Sept, 27th Oct, 24th Nov - Subjects to be confirmed

Cafe Ollo, The Media Centre
Northumberland Street, Huddersfield

Tel: 01484 483010 for more information



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‘Don’t get me started…..on Broken Communities.’

The Huddersfield Salon 24th February 2009

Listen to the summary of this event



... are our communities under threat? Is state intervention part of the problem? Do you think the state is interfering in our business too much? Or is it the responsibility of the state to intervene? ...

Dave Clements, author of ‘The Future of Community: Reports of a Death Greatly Exaggerated’, argues that “We are constantly being told that communities are under threat, that we are losing a sense of community. In reality the notion of community in Britain is actually threatened by the very thing intended to protect it; relentless government and third party interventions bent on imposing their own forms of social cohesion on the population.”

Our second speaker; Bridget Crabtree, Community Manager for the Netherhall Learning Campus in Huddersfield, will be presenting her ideas about community and government intervention. With several years experience of working within communities in Kirklees, she is in the ideal position to tell us why state intervention may be needed.

The tenth in a series of successful topical debates held at The Media Centre in Huddersfield, the Salon aims to bring provocative ideas from engaging speakers to its audience to stimulate exciting debate.

With ‘change’ being the global word of the moment, both economically and environmentally, perhaps it’s a time for change in the way our communities work.

What do you think? Come along and join in the debate!

Starting at 6pm on Tuesday 24th February at Café Ollo in the Media Centre on Northumberland Street, the event normally finishes at 8:30pm.

There is a £2.50 entrance fee and refreshments are available.

Click here to add the event to your calendar

The F-word: has the battle been won or do we still need feminism

December’s Salon event sees the team asking ‘The F-word: has the battle been won or do we still need feminism?’

Is the battle won? Or has it just changed?

Nobody doubts that there is a place in our society for feminism, but with bra-burning being a thing of the past – what is it’s role in our modern lifestyle? Two speakers are presenting us with their viewpoints.

The first speaker, Valerie Bryson (professor of politics, school of human and health sciences, University of Huddersfield) will be considering whether we have come far enough, and that addressing feminist questions is increasingly urgent for our society.

The other speaker, Alan White (professor of Men’s Health, Leeds Metropolitan University) asks why there is no male equivalent, and considers how feminism shapes a man's view of the world.

Date: Tuesday, 9th December
Time: 6.00pm – 8.30pm
Tickets: £5.00

Price includes soup and a sandwich, mulled wine and mince pies.

View or download the poster

Grass Roots or Gala Performance: Where should the arts spend be going?

Tuesday, 11th November 2008 - Grass Roots or Gala Performance: Where should the arts spend be going?

Join us for what may well be our most provocative Salon yet, as we ask ‘Grass Roots or Gala Performance: Where should the arts spend be going?’

In an evening that promises to deliver a few fireworks of its own, Franco Bianchini, Professor of Cultural Policy & Planning Faculty of Arts & Society, Leeds Metropolitan University of Leeds, and Andrew McGill, Head of Arts and Events at Leeds City Council, will be discussing the role of culture in the new financial climate; how culture can be co-opted for political ends, about the nature of spectacle and its role in engaging the public, and whether money is better spent on grassroots and infrastructure development or big spectacles and performances.

With the Festival of Light coming up in Huddersfield, we think that this will be a lively debate for all! Everyone’s welcome – the evening should be of interest to anyone with something to say about how our arts spend is delivered. Come along and have your say!

Speakers:

Franco Bianchini
Profesor of Cultural Policy & Planning Faculty of Arts & Society
Leeds Metropolitan University

Andrew McGill
Head of Arts and Events
Leeds City Council

Event details

Venue: Cafe Ollo, The Media Centre
7 Northumberland St, Huddersfield, HD1 1RL
Time: 6:00 - 8:30pm
Tickets: £5 available form The Media Centre reception or telephone 01484 483 000 ( price includes soup and a sandwich)

www.the-media-centre.co.uk

Should we be protected from ourselves?

On Thursday 16 October, the Fine Bunch return with the first Salon of the autumn season, asking ‘Should we be protected from ourselves?’

Life is full of risks but where do we draw the line between what's acceptable and what isn't? If we want to eat, drink or smoke ourselves to death, is it our decision or should the government have a say? Where does the role of the state end, and personal responsibility begin? And which risks are worth taking?

The Salon is an open event for anyone who is interested in a lively discussion, whether you’re think that we should be taking more risks or exercising more caution. This promises to be one of our most provocative debates yet, so please come along and hear what the speakers have to say, and join in with your own thoughts.


Speakers

Angus Kennedy, technology consultant and freelance writer, says "it seems that every new risk that is identified, no matter how minor, has to be responded to with some new moralising campaign or draconian measure to restrict our liberties further."
http://www.instituteofideas.com/people/angus_kennedy.html


Graham Carson from Drury PSM, who promote health and safety management in companies, will be taking the view that sensible risk management is a positive thing.
www.drurypsm.com


Event Details

Thursday 16 October 2008, 6.30 till 8.30pm
Tickets £5.00 from The Media Centre reception or by calling 01484 483000
The Media Centre, 7 Northumberland Street, Huddersfield HD1 1RL


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Brands can save the world – or are we being greenwashed into another marketing ploy?

As part of an International Brand Circle Event in Huddersfield we are delighted to present a June one off special Salon event.

Speakers:

Clive Woodger, Architect at SCG London, A major brand implementation consultancy

Nicola Turner, Liberal Democrat candidate for Colne Valley, Hudderfield.

As pressure builds for producers to present themselves as part of an environmental solution and consumers get more demanding in their desire to reduce energy impact and be part of the answer, are we all being hoodwinked or greenwashed by cynical marketing that frankly is part of the problem?

Wednesday 18 June 2008, 6.00pm for 6.30pm start.

Tickets £5 on the door (ticket price includes soup and a sandwich)

Venue: Cafe Ollo, The Media Centre, 7 Northumberland Street, Huddersfield

The Salon will take a break over the summer. Look out for further details of the Autumn programme including: ‘The F word: has the battle been won or do we still need feminism?’ and ‘What are we frightened of? Fear and risk in modern society’.