Catalyst Campaigns

A useful environmental education toolbox

2011-08-08T19:43:00.002+01:00

The innovative educational collective Moving Sounds recently partnered up with Transition Scotland Support and Catalyst Campaigns to produce this lovely book full of games and activities for groups of children and adults alike.
Games to Save the Planet is a toolbox of arts-based environmental education activities. It's a 48 page book of the many activities and games Moving Sounds have used over the years to explore issues through the arts. It's both playful and profound; great for anyone wanting to facilitate positive change or just have creative fun in groups.
You can download a pdf of the book at the Moving Sounds website or at the Transition Scotland Support website.
Alternatively, send a cheque for £11 with your postal details to:
Moving Sounds, Unit 9, Phoenix Place, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1BH

Do you dream of a hut in the woods?

2011-04-08T14:14:00.012+01:00

Huts are the focus of the latest issue of the much-loved magazine Reforesting Scotland, designed by Catalyst Campaigns. The magazine is selling out fast, so if you are one of Scotland's many hutting enthusiasts, contact Reforesting Scotland soon to become a member and receive a copy of the magazine. It includes articles about how to build your own hut, or how to buy a good quality off-the-shelf one if you are not inclined towards woodwork yourself. It also includes articles about the potential for many more hutting opportunities in Scotland, together with the launch of Reforesting Scotland's Thousand Huts campaign.

If you'd like to keep abreast of the latest hutting news, join the Thousand Huts campaign Facebook page, which already sports over 400 members.

Your guide to a feast of ideas

2011-03-08T15:10:00.004Z

Transition Scotland Support commissioned this fantastic book from Edinburgh-based Bespoke Organic Events. Designed by Catalyst Campaigns, it has countless recipes to help you feed large groups of 20-200 people at large gatherings, camps or events. All the recipes are vegetarian with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. The book is full of helpful tips for estimating quantities of food for large groups, and is ideal for ensuring no-one at your event is left hungry and disgruntled!

You can download the book at the Transition Scotland Support website

Launch of Lorraine McCauley and the Borderlands EP

2010-12-08T17:10:00.001Z

We're big fans of Lorraine McCauley and the Borderlands and were delighted to work on the cover art for their EP, as well as this promotional poster for the launch. Lorraine recently performed her songs about protest and climate change at Edinburgh Castle as part of Earth Hour. We're currently working on a music video for the song "Waiting for..." from a new cd which will be released in early 2012.

To listen to the music of Lorraine McCauley and the Borderlands, have a look at these links:www.soundcloud.com/lorrainemccauley

www.lorrainemccauley.wordpress.com

www.youtube.com/user/lorrainemccauleyband

Promoting renewable fuels

2010-11-28T15:51:00.017Z

Low Carbon Cairngorms has produced a set of useful fact sheets about the benefits and opportunities for wood fuel in the Cairngorms National Park area. The case studies are designed by Catalyst Campaigns and are available from the Low Carbon Cairngorms website.

How to organise a regional gathering

2010-11-14T16:05:00.006Z

Catalyst Campaigns has designed a new guide for Transition Scotland Support called "How to organise a Regional Gathering". It contains all kinds of help for groups planning to organise an event aimed at collectively building a sustainable community equipped to tackle the challenges of climate change and peak oil. The guide includes sections on involving people, practical tips for organising the event, and even seasonal recipes to ensure everyone is well fed and ready to get stuck into planning a positive future.

Comparing CO2 emissions from domestic woodfuel and fossil fuels

2010-11-14T15:59:00.000Z

Use Green Heat

2010-11-04T15:58:00.002Z

Catalyst Campaigns has designed a series of pull-up displays for the partnership project Use Green Heat, promoting renewable alternatives for domestic and commercial heating.

Disaster recovery through community action

2010-10-28T15:49:00.001+01:00

Catalyst Campaigns recently designed the latest newsletter from the International Association for Community Development. It focuses on the power of community action to tackle the challenges faced by communities who have experienced a disaster. This special issue is based on an IACD conference which took place in New Orleans where communities are demonstrating the progress that has been made since Hurricane Katrina devastated their city.

Water and woodlands

2010-08-08T15:35:00.001+01:00

Catalyst Campaigns designed the latest issue of Reforesting Scotland magazine, which has the theme Water and Woodlands.

A focus on biodiversity

2010-03-20T19:41:00.001Z

The latest issue of Reforesting Scotland magazine focuses on the issue of forests and biodiversity. RS magazine is designed by Catalyst Campaigns.

Latha Reic (Selling day)

2009-12-08T12:35:00.006Z

This is a short film we made recently about the importance of the local mart to Hebridean crofting communities. It won a Visions Award at the 2009 FilmG Gaelic film festival.

Why Transition is about discovering what democracy really looks like

2009-12-03T13:29:00.005Z

This is an article I wrote for the latest issue of Reforesting Scotland magazine, which focuses on communities in transition in Scotland.

Why Transition is about discovering what democracy really looks like

There’s no doubt this is an opportunity. We were all very comfortable before we faced up to what our fossil fuel consumption was doing to the planet. Yes, OK, changing every aspect of our excessively wasteful and energy-intensive society might be a rather daunting task. But it’s one which should be relished...

The biggest challenge facing the Transition movement isn’t about insulation or micro-renewables - it’s about how we create a new generation of feisty community activists, energetic participants in democracy who will change society from the bottom up.

You might say that our government has achieved quite a lot recently with the new Climate Change Act and the Climate Challenge Fund. But are they really putting our money where their mouth is? Emissions from their roadbuilding and airport expansion plans will dwarf many of the savings made elsewhere. How do we square that with our climate action ambitions?

The only way we can be sure that the government will deliver on its climate promises is if we as a society hold them to account when they go off track. The question isn’t whether the solutions should come from the top down, or the bottom up – we need both. But the bottom line is that dynamic grassroots engagement with climate change is a powerful force for change. Rather than being made to react to what is thrown at us, wouldn’t it be nice to create a society which can actively and positively choose the kind of Scotland we want?

Tackling the threat of climate change needs urgent short-term action, as well as long-term vision. Building a vibrant grassroots movement for positive change comes, at least partly, in the latter category. Some of the things we need to do to make this happen don’t even look like climate action – things like meeting people, talking, planning, being creative, even partying. But they are essential to the process of changing society.

Powerful community action also requires a perspective which connects local action to the national and international levels. We need to be able to identify with, learn from, and support communities taking action on the impacts and causes of climate change on the other side of the world.

There are already hundreds of locally-based groups in Scotland working to tackle climate change – from independent projects to the local groups of national campaigning organisations, as well as larger bodies and networks. Just imagine the influence this movement for climate action can have.

We’ve got an exciting opportunity here to see what a healthy democracy really looks like. If we can think big while taking pleasure in the small steps along the way, it will be amazing what we can achieve.

Reforesting Scotland magazine focuses on Transition

2009-11-20T19:25:00.000Z

The latest issue of Reforesting Scotland magazine focuses on the growing Transition movement in Scotland. Catalyst Campaigns has designed and laid out the RS magazine for 10 years.

Bringing together environmental and mental health organisations

2009-09-24T21:18:00.000+01:00

Today at Redhall Walled Gardens in Edinburgh an innovative event takes place - a conference bringing together environmental and mental health organisations to create opportunities for co-operation between them.

Working in partnership with Bespoke Organic Events, we produced the promotional materials pictured here.

New report showcases Scottish climate education

2009-06-15T13:56:00.011+01:00

A new report published today shows trailblazing Scottish climate education projects building community action to tackle climate change - and highlights the different kinds of support needed by communities who want to take action.

The report is written by community educator Jamie Auldsmith (along with a team of SEAD staff and volunteers) and designed by Catalyst Campaigns for Scottish Education and Action for Development as part of their Switch On to Climate Change project. It showcases the work of groups including Going Carbon Neutral Stirling, PLANEspeaking, the John Muir Trust, EcoCongregations, the Transition Scotland network, Eco Schools and the Centre for Human Ecology.

Download the report 'Are we Switching On? Challenges and Opportunities for Climate Change Education' at www.sead.org.uk

An innovative new tool for community action

2009-06-09T15:26:00.000+01:00

Communities in Scotland now have a lively and accessible 130-page online resource to help them achieve their goals. The site includes the Climate Action Hub - a source of information about the causes and impacts of climate change, what you can do, and what other groups are already doing in Scotland and around the world. But it isn't just for communities working on climate issues. There is a Community Action Toolkit with a vast array of resources on everything from how to involve your community, ideas for raising money for your work, and information about different approaches you might choose to take.

Catalyst Campaigns worked with the Graphics Company and Stuff and Content to create the resource as part of new website of Scottish Education and Action for Development (SEAD). We think it's unique for the Scottish context, with its particular focus on community-based climate action. Have a look at what it has to offer - and do give us feedback if you feel we've missed something out.

Now's the time for community-led climate action

2009-04-30T16:38:00.005+01:00

Karen Grant represents the voluntary sector on the decision-making panel of the Climate Challenge Fund. This is an extract from an article she wrote for Third Force News this week:

With £27.4 million committed up to 2011, the Climate Challenge Fund has the potential to dramatically grow the capacity of the community-based movement in Scotland – and, when coupled with concerted action by decision-makers at all levels, to result in very significant emissions reductions.

Last week the latest round of 33 successful projects were announced, including a local food project in Edinburgh, an energy audit of buildings in Assynt to help plan future energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, an energy advice service in Argyll and an innovative urban community arts project tackling climate issues. The level of energy and inspiration coming from communities is impressive, and the Fund can help make the leap from idea to action.

The Fund centres on two main criteria – projects must be community led, and they must deliver emissions reductions. These reductions may be delivered within the duration of the project, or they may be projected reductions which will happen as a result in the future. If you think the CCF may be able to help your group, get in touch with one of the grants officers at an early stage and they will guide you through the application process.

Useful web sites:
The Climate Challenge Fund – www.climatechallengefund.org
A map and details of all CCF projects funded so far - http://tinyurl.com/6m756f

A future for Scottish forests?

2009-04-01T15:58:00.001+01:00

The landscape is changing for Scottish forestry, and the newest issue of the Reforesting Scotland journal (designed by Catalyst Campaigns) is focused on just where the future lies. Journal editor Ida Maspero writes, "What is called for now [...in Scottish forestry...] is an integrated and imaginative approach that extends across the artificial boundaries drawn between technology, human wellbeing, science, economics, conservation and community. What’s more, it would also boost the economy... and help restore a crumbling sense of community."

The journal is published by Big Sky - a printer in the Northeast of Scotland, specialising in environmentally sustainable printing, using vegetable-based inks and Scottish-made recycled paper. Catalyst Campaigns has worked with Big Sky for 15 years and they just get better and better.

Why is community action so important?

2009-03-17T11:29:00.000Z

Graphic developed by Catalyst Campaigns

Lucky we found out when we did...

2008-02-05T11:21:00.000Z

Graphic developed by Catalyst Campaigns

New mythbusting guide for communities

2008-01-12T11:05:00.000Z

Catalyst Campaigns developed and produced a lively 16-page booklet for Scottish Education and Action for Development providing an introduction to climate change for community groups involved in SEAD's Switch On to Climate Change project.

You can download a copy of the booklet here.