University Green Week: October 1-5

MANCHESTER students are rallying to 'save the planet' with a week of green events from October 1-5 at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Students have teamed up with university lecturers and managers to hammer home the importance of sustainable living with a host of talks, film-showings, petitions and debates around the environment.

The University, which has just appointed an environmental sustainability manager, will also be outlining its own role as a £200 million organisation in reducing carbon usage.

May Mackeith, of the MMU student group People and Planets, said: "MMU has 34,000 students and 4,500 staff. That’s a lot of people who can get informed and make changes in the way they live and work for a healthier planet."

Events include:
Monday, October 1, 3:30 - 5:00 - Can Green Business give us a Sustainable Future? A talk and Q&A with Liz Whalley (MMU Business School) and 8th Day Café on Co-operatives
5:30 - 9:00 - Film Showing: 'The Corporation’ Winner of 26 international awards, the influence of Corporations on our lives and the environment, including Q&A.

Tuesday, October 2, 12:00 - 2:00 - An Exhibition of Inspirational Teaching Materials for Sustainability
1:00 - 3:30 - Community and Sustainability - a practical workshop for educators on sustainability using critical thinking. With Clive Belgeonne of Manchester Development Education Project

Wednesday, October 3, 12:30 - 2:00 - Manchester Movements - a lively lowdown from some of the city’s most active groups. With Keith Boxer - Manchester Is My Planet, Jess Buck - Action for Sustainable Living, May MacKeith - MMU Student People & Planet Group and Andy Gillies, MMU energy manager.

Thursday, October 4, 12:30 - 2:00 - Planes, Trains and Automobiles – talks and Q&A on sustainable transport with Professor Callum Thomas, Paddy Gillet – lobby group ‘Plane Stupid’ and Dr Adrian Watson and Andrew Gillies.
5-6.30pm Professor John Brooks, MMU Vice-Chancellor, chairs a Q&A session about the University’s environmental performance.
6:30 - 9:00 - Nuclear Power can't stop climate change - With Gemma Tumelty (NUS President) and Dr Helen Caldicott.
7:00 - 9:00- Award-Winning Film about Peak Oil - ‘Crude Impact’ , Powerful documentary about the global influence dwindling oil resources will have on growth, conflict and the environment.

Friday, October 5 A Green Bridge to our Future - Pledge your commitment for a more sustainable future and help build a green bridge over All Saints Park
12:00, 2:00- Film Showings - ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ Al Gore’s Oscar winning in depth look at the enormous problems we face with global warming.
4:00 Manchester City Council Climate Change Charter - consultation for MMU students. Tell the council what you want to see in the city's climate change charter
6:00-8:00- Sustainable swap shop. Fashion swap at 8th day café.

For more information, contact mailto:may.mackeith@yahoo.com or adie.mormech@student.mmu.ac.uk