Carless Day & Global Warming debate

Annual "Carless" Day-Saturday, June 17.

Most people rely on their four-wheeled friend to ferry them around just about everywhere, and cars are viewed as a necessity. We are convinced that in North Herts, as in the whole country, there are far too many unnecessary individual car journeys, so one day a year we say-leave your car at home! (Of course, some of our customers don't drive anyway).
If, on Saturday, June 17, you can sign the pledge "I travelled to David's today on foot, by public transport, by pushbike or other environmentally friendly means; I did not use a car or motorcycle", you can claim a discount of 20% off any items in stock (no discounts above 20% will be given).

Also:

• Free delivery in Letchworth & Baldock for purchases before 3pm (for customers without cars)
• Environmentalist Pete Perry will be in the shop to discuss his latest book, Vandals in the Garden

Prizes for:

• Furthest distance travelled on the day (without a car)
• Most inventive mode of transport (our decision is final!)

Public Debate-Global Warming

"We can't have economic growth AND save the planet"

Thursday July 6 at 7.30pm, Howgills (Friends Meeting House), South View, Letchworth
This motion will be debated by Keith Taylor and Donnachadh McCarthy and the format will allow each speaker, (after an initial vote) 15 minutes to put his case, followed by questions and comments from the floor, with summing up and a final vote at the end. The venue is a beautiful galleried Quaker meeting house. Please do come along to hear (and participate in) this important debate.

Tickets (£3) each are now on sale at the bookshop-please call in, email or telephone 01462 684631 to reserve yours.

Keith Taylor is one of the Green party's Principal speakers ("the closest position to a leader") and is a councillor in Brighton. In 2001 he achieved the Green Party's highest-ever vote in a Westminster election (9.2%) and has been instrumental in making Brighton the third strongest local authority Green group in Britain. With Keith as convenor (leader), Brighton Greens are seen as one of the most go-ahead local Parties in the country and have since doubled their number of seats. At the recent Euro-elections they took second place with 20%, pushing Labour into third place. Keith has lived in Brighton for 28 years, a former local businessman who took to community activism opposing an inappropriate local development before joining the Greens.

Donnachadh McCarthy was born in Ireland in 1959. A former professional ballet dancer, he has lived in London since 1986. In 1992 he spent time with the Yanomami Indians in the Amazon Rainforest, leading him to become a passionate environmentalist. As a Southwark Councillor, Donnachadh successfully led campaigns to save open spaces and to instigate many trailblazing green schemes. A former Deputy Chair of the national Liberal Democrats, he has since resigned to pursue his environmental media and consulting work free from political affiliation.
Alongside his campaign work, he has greened his own lifestyle believing that one should lead by example. His house in Peckham has solar water heating, photovoltaic electricity, a catalytic converter gas fire and a rain-harvester. It was the first house in London to get planning permission for a domestic grid connected windmill. His first book "Saving the Planet Without Costing The Earth - 500 Simple Steps to a Greener Lifestyle" was published in 2004 and he has a weekly environmental column in the South London Press. His articles have been published in the Independent, Tribune Magazine, Liberator, etc. He is to feature in a major new environmental BBC TV series next spring and appears regularly on radio and TV as an environmental commentator. He now works freelance as an environmental writer, green lifestyle coach and environmental auditor for small and medium sized businesses and organizations.