Advertise on podcast: Imagining Tomorrow

Across the UK there are thousands of faith buildings playing important roles in their communities. Churches, mosques, gurdwaras, all host gatherings for worship and for community activities such as playgroups, choirs, support groups and many more. Recently, many have been serving as warm banks, providing a space for people struggling to heat their homes in the energy crisis. How can these buildings, often huge and sometimes hundreds of years old, afford to provide these critical spaces in times of energy price hikes and still meet net-zero goals? Inspired by talking to an interfaith group in Birmingham, an innovative infra-red heating company in Bristol and an NYT bestselling science-fiction author, Emma Newman imagines a future in which community groups redesign the function of former shopping malls to create third spaces that repair the fabric of society. Websites to link to, mentioned in the episode Interviewees: Footsteps: https://footstepsbcf.org.uk/ Herschel Infrared: https://www.herschel-infrared.co.uk/heating-heritage-buildings/churches/ Una McCormack: https://unamccormack.co.uk/ My own website: www.enewman.co.uk  https://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/design/faith-buildings-and-local-communities/ - Interesting post about working with Bow Church to expand community activities http://www.empoweringdesign.net/ - all about the research project looking at community engagement in the use of faith buildings  https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/enabling-community-based-leadership-in-design-sustainable-development-of-historic-faith-buildings/1  - An Open University course designed to help people to consult with communities on the use of faith buildings  A video about the Halo heater, in which the diagram about bubbles of heat mentioned in the episode can be seen: https://youtu.be/eqnZF2uYMz4 Support the show

Over the past couple of years, extreme weather events, the energy crisis and Brexit have put a visible strain on the UK’s food supply chain and increased prices for the consumer. What if we increased the amount of food that we grow in cities, and thus increased biodiversity and reduced food miles? Inspired by talking to a community gardens group in Reading, a horticultural engineer who has co-founded a vertical farm in London and an award-winning author and screenwriter, Emma Newman imagines a future in which communities grow so much food together on their doorstep that the UK no longer needs to import fresh fruit and veg... Resources In episode 2 we heard from: Reading Food for Families Harvest London Temi Oh Reading International Solidarity Centre Presenter Emma Newman The quote from Safia about her experience of growing food at Aisha Mosque garden was taken from this video and used with the kind permission of Andrea Berardi from COBRA Collective. Get inspired by existing community gardening projects Postcode Gardener scheme (by Friends of the Earth and The Co-operative Bank)Incredible Edible movement (which Reading Food for Families is joining). Check out their campaign to establish a Right to Grow Community food-growing initiatives highlighted by the COBRA Collective (PDF)Support the show

Most homes in the UK are still heated by burning fossil fuels. Struggling households are faced with unnecessarily high bills and cold winters, or bearing the financial burden of replacing old-fashioned central heating. So is there a better way to heat and cool our buildings, accelerate decarbonisation and reduce fuel poverty? Inspired by talking to a Welsh community, a scientist and award-winning author Anne Charnock, Emma Newman imagines a future in which ex-industrial towns can be regenerated, thanks to the intriguing idea of flooding mines... In episode 1, we hear from: Green SCIES (Centre of Excellence in Smart Local Energy Systems) Cym Arian Renewable Energy (CARE) Author Anne Charnock Presenter Emma Newman  For inspiration and guidance on starting your own community energy project, visit the websites listed below: Welsh Government Energy Service Community Energy Wales Regen - Local and community energy support Centre For Sustainable Energy  Additional resources mentioned in the episode: Friends of the Earth's guide to heat pumps and other eco-friendly heating The Ogwen Valley social enterprise group (video) Support the show

Coming soon, a new podcast, Imagining Tomorrow shows how we can create a future that is good for people and for nature, based on innovations in technology and community action that are already having a positive impact.  Join Emma Newman as she pieces together the roadmap to utopia by interviewing amazing inventors, communities and award-winning science fiction authors.  We can’t build a better future until we can imagine it, so let’s imagine it together. Support the show

An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. This summer, in a ground-breaking ruling, a Dutch court ordered Shell to reduce its emissions. This is the first time a company has been made to take action to prevent climate breakdown.   The case was brought by Friends of the Earth Netherlands, alongside 17,000 co-plaintiffs and other organisations. In this episode Fran and Finn speak to Nine de Pater, from Friends of the Earth Netherlands, to hear more about the case and how these changes can have a wide impact on our planet.  This is the last episode in the current season, How to Save the Planet podcast will be taking a break until the new year. Thanks for listening!  Support the show

An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. As lockdowns ease and we're able to get out again we look at groups working to address the under-representation of black and brown people in the outdoors. Over a couple of future episodes, we speak to people who are challenging this.  Louisa and Danny speak to Rhiane Fatinikun. In 2019 Rhiane set up a small walking group Black Girls Hike, which today has thousands of members, providing a safe space for black women to explore the outdoors and reconnect with nature. Find Black Girls Hike here: https://www.bghuk.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bgh_uk/  Support the show

An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. We explore the governments controversial new Policing Bill, speaking to our Head of Political Affairs, Dave Timms about the risk to peaceful protest and Mattey Mitchell from Friends, Families and Travellers about its potential devastating effects on the rights of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Support the show

An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. On 6th May polls open for local elections around England and Wales, for communities to vote for their next Mayor, Metro Mayor, local council and Senedd representatives.  But interest in local elections can be low, with the power of your local representatives to make big decisions for our planet often get overlooked.  This episode we spoke to Connie and Jackie, local campaigners in Friends of the Earth's network of grassroots groups. They talk to us about what they want to see as a priority for local candidates, how they got involved in local action and what gives them hope. ----- Support the show

An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. A green, low carbon future means new jobs and industries that are good for the environment and the people in them. But what counts as a green job? Do people really want them? How do you get one? And what should government be doing to create more? We're joined today by Clare Linton from Urban Transport Group and Lola Fayokun from Teach The Future to talk all things green jobs. ---- Support the show

Part of our plan for building  a greener and fairer future as we recover from the pandemic is to fix the broken economy. But what's broken about it? What might a different approach look like? And what difference would that actually make to your life? Fran and Danny talk to Adrienne Buller from think tank Common Wealth who answers all of these burning questions.  Want to hear from us on a specific topic? Tweet us @friends_earth or email [email protected] and let us know. Find out more about Common Wealth at https://www.common-wealth.co.uk/ ------ Support the show

An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. As we make our way through the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a lot of talk of building back better and a new normal. We have heard campaigners and politicians talking about a green and fair recovery or a green new deal. But what do any of these things really mean? What parts of our society need to change? What would that look like in your life?  This episode kicks off the new year with a new series and a new presenter. Joing Danny and Isobel as they talk to Connor, a Friends of the Earth climate lead, about what a "Green and Fair Recovery" actually is and outline the topics we'll be diving into over the coming months. ---- Support the show

An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. The holiday season is barrelling towards us, and it can be a high stress time of year, even as we try to relax. So, Muna and Louisa spoke to Tori Tsui, a climate and mental health activist. Tori came loaded with tips on how we can look after ourselves, each other and the planet as we make it through the final hurdle of 2020. Head to Instagram to follow Tori @toritsui_ If you'd like to give the gift of a donation to Friends of the Earth this year, head to https://act.friendsoftheearth.uk/donate/christmas-gift-to-the-planet  ---- Support the show