Now On: FutureFest for Low Carbon Living (Sun 13 – Thurs 17 Dec)
Article published: Monday, December 14th 2009
While politicians and protestors lock horns in Copenhagen, Manchester Town Hall has been taken over by a new “Co2mmunity” festival. Until Thursday, anyone managing to battle through the Christmas Market hoards can be rewarded with a wide range of free events that mix education with entertainment.
A strange paucity of publicity will have almost allowed this inventive and well timed festival to pass most by. Yet the star-studded programme has plenty to offer. Although The Family Day and Solar Cinema (somewhat optimistic for Manchester in December) have been and gone, there is still a lot to look forward to. On Tuesday, following a special Climate Change Tour at Manchester Museum (12 noon) everyone’s favourite Really Wild naturist Chris Packham will give an interactive lecture at 6.30pm.
The entertaining while educating tone continues through on Wednesday. In the morning, the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester opens its doors for an informal discussion of it’s cutting edge technologies (10am). The Lunchtime Lecture “Grey to Green: Trees in the City”, encompassing the launch of the Manchester Tree Audit, follows at 1pm. Alternatively the Manchester Eco-House is offering a guided tour at 12.30pm. In the evening, the potentially provocative “George Marshall’s Carbon Detox Comedy” should attract fans of Mark Thomas-style stand-up activism (doors open 6.30pm).
Thursday’s Lunchtime Lecture is a practical guide to low-carbon living hosted by BBC ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’ presenters Dick and James Strawbridge, who will aim to disprove the title claim of their TV series with tips for a sustainable lifestyle (1pm). Art exhibits are displayed throughout the festival and, in the temporarily Danish-themed Fairtrade Cafe, a link to the United Nations Copenhagen Climate Change Summit provides live coverage of events there.
The festival has been put together by Manchester City Council as part of its ‘Be Proud’ campaign and, as a free, public event, the lack of advertising for the event is a real shame. Information regarding the festival is hard to come by, even on the internet. With green, public spaces quickly disappearing in the city, the Tree Audit Launch is just one of the events crying out for a large audience. If this is how avenues for public input to debate over future city planning are promoted, it is little wonder developers’ voices are the loudest.
Hopefully the school engagement programme has been better co-ordinated, and perhaps Christmas Market goers flooding Albert Square will be tempted inside the Town Hall, if they can see the doors above the crowds. Otherwise this seemingly worthy “Co2mmunity Festival”, despite a wealth of events well worth attending, looks destined to be a missed opportunity. Get involved if you can.
All events are free but some require advanced booking.
For the full festival programme and booking details, call 0161 953 2733 or see here
Town Hall, Albert Square (and other venues): Sun 13 – Thurs 17 Dec
Siobhan McGuirk
Participate in MULE’s ‘WHO RUNS MANCHESTER?’ project – see here
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