More information is available from the Equality Cumbria website

Please find the latest news and events from the Equality Cumbria website including but not limited to:

• Using Social Media for Change – Sunday 10 March 2013 – Carlisle
• Community Tourism Conference, 22 March, Castle Green, Kendal 9.45-3.45 Castle Green Hotel, Kendal
• Calling young people– want to train as a young evaluator? Are you aged 14 -24 based in West Cumbria or Carlisle?

• Equality Cumbria News

• Cumbria Rural Forum Rural Briefing – How Communities Address Energy Costs

AWAZ Cumbria Events

• English Spoken as Other Language (ESOL) Lessons, Ambleside Library, Tuesday Afternoons

• FURNESS LIONS AND FURNESS MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY FORUM Presents- Reading and Learning
• Race & Religious Hate Crime Conference, 26 February 2013, Kendal

AWAZ Cumbria News

• UN World Youth Report 2013 Online Consultation, until 23 February
• Housing Rights website updated according to Immigration Status
• Census figures on language published
• British Future Report: Identity, Integration, Migration & Opportunity
• More ethnically diverse populations for UK local areas

Cumbria Interfaith Forum Events & News

• Buddhist New Year 2013 – Vesak Puja, 24 May, 7pm, Kendal
• Buddhist Group of Kendal Meeting Dates 2013 & Update

Cumbria Disability Network Events

• Living with and beyond cancer event , Wigton, 23 February 2013
• Mindfulness in Action Project Taster Sessions Wed 27 Feb, 10am-2pm, Carlisle
• Cumbria Disability Information Day, 8 March 2013, Penrith
• Brathay & University of Cumbria Wellbeing Conference, 24 July 2013, Ambleside

Cumbria Disability Network News

Time For Change – Tips for Talking about Mental Health

It can be hard to know what to say when you find out a friend, colleague or loved one is dealing with a mental health problem.

Travel Pack helps Visually Impaired People use Public Transport

True Vision Hate Crime Video for British Sign Language Users

Alzheimers Society Dementia Carers Cumbria Information & Support Programme

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust First Step Service: Manage your stress

Brighter Futures: Results Coaching for Stressful Events & Serious Issues

Cumbria Independent Living Services – Help with organising Care Packages

DaCE Low Cost Refurbished Computers & IT Training

New Independent Healthwatch Champion for Cumbria from April 2013

Outreach Cumbria Events

• Cumbria Pride Quiz Night, Foxes, Carlisle, Thurs 21 Feb, 8pm
• Midweek Movement LGBT Night, Calva Bar, University of Cumbria, Carlisle
• Next Evening ~ 27 February
• Trans Bare All ~ Relationships Retreat ~ 1 to 3 March 2013 Peak District National Park
• Trans Lakes Nights Social & Support Group, Drop In, Night Out, & Walking Group Lake District Walking Event ~ 22 February
• Trans Lakes Night Out ~ 12 March
• Trans Support Drop In ~ Weekly on a Tuesday
• Outreach Cumbria & LGBT Alliance, LGBT Forum, Carlisle, Sat 16 March
• Outreach Cumbria Social Group, 20 March 2013, Carlisle
• Outreach Cumbria News
• Best Practice Guide – LGBT Work in Schools
• Cumbria Police – February LGBT Webchat
• Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust: Sexual Health Services
• Cumbria Constabulary introduce Lesbian & Gay Liaison Officers to mark Gay History Month in February
• A team of 20 officers and staff from Cumbria Constabulary will take up new roles at the end of this week as they become dedicated Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officers.
• Take Part in Young Trans People Research Project
• NHS North West & TREC GP Practice Research for Trans People
• Decent, Fair & Accessible Healthcare for Trans People

If you would like to submit an article for the Equality Cumbria Website and Newsletter please contact information@equalitycumbria.org

Nirex Map- Sellafield Geological Investigation Area Definition

Eric Robson’s heart and bankbook are on message with the government agenda for geological dumping of nuclear wastes. His company Osprey Communications has provided the propaganda to underplay and normalise the plan. A recent letter to Baroness Verma sets out Cumbria Tourism’s weak kneed acquiescent ‘neutrality’ until a “most promising site” at Stage 4 is chosen and then they will “strongly object”

This is meaningless. At stage 4 the councils will have overturned the Nirex inquiry which found that West Cumbria had been searched and the most promising site found to be unsuitable. Having overturned the findings of the Nirex Inquiry the councils would be unable to provide “credible justification” to withdraw from a project too big to fail.

Eric Robson’s support for the dump and monetary gain through his PR company promoting the dump is at odds with the protective remit of Cumbria Tourism, he has even said to campaigners:
“I am convinced by the scientific arguments that geological disposal
rather than burying our heads in the sand is the best way forward”

Eric Robson and Cumbria Tourism have not only failed to step up to the mark but are complicit in the plan for most damaging proposal since the nuclear bomb making factory was installed at Windscale.

LETTER TO CAMPAIGNERS 2011
RE: Deep Disposal Implications for the Cumbrian Economy
From: “Ian Stephens”
Date: Fri, April 8, 2011 3:21 pm
To: mariannebirkby

Dear Marianne

I’ve contacted Eric Robson and he’s replied to the question ‘How can ER
be chairman of CT when he supports the geological disposal of nuclear
waste?’ as follows:
“Because I’m convinced by the scientific arguments that geological
disposal rather than burying our heads in the sand is the best way
forward. Nuclear waste is with us. We can’t wish it away despite the
best efforts of some so-called environmentalists. My views are well
known and I’m elected as chairman of CT, rather than being self
appointed’.

Yours sincerely

Ian Stephens
***************************************************************************************************

LETTER TO BARONESS VERMA
8th January 2013

Baroness Verma of Leicester
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
DECC
3 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2AW

Dear Baroness Verma
It is widely known that the storage of nuclear waste is a major challenge and a problem which needs to be addressed. Cumbria Tourism has engaged fully in the MRWS consultation exercise and continues to take a neutral stance on whether a nuclear waste repository should be based in Cumbria. It has taken this position because there is inconclusive evidence that such a repository would have a detrimental impact on the economy and the environment. A range of research and monitoring processes are now in place or are planned in future to determine the extent of such impacts.
The Executive Board of Cumbria Tourism wishes to make clear that taking a neutral stance does not imply tacit support for a nuclear waste repository. The Board has always strongly objected to any major developments that would have an adverse impact on the enjoyment of visitors, tourism business viability and on the special qualities of the National Park or other protected environmental areas. The Board understands that, despite rumours to the contrary, there are no site specific proposals at this stage and that there are no plans at present to site a nuclear waste repository in the Lake District National Park or within the Solway AONB. The Board is also mindful that if there is a decision to proceed to the next ‘desktop’ phase of research, this will not result in any ‘new infrastructure, traffic or noise’ which could cause disruption to visitors or businesses.
However, it is inevitable that Cumbria Tourism would object strongly should further research lead to any suggestion that a nuclear waste repository could be considered in either the National Park or the AONB.
Yours sincerely

Eric Robson
Cumbria Tourism Chairman

cc: Bill Jefferson, Chairman of the Lake District National Park Authority
Rory Stewart MP for Penrith & the Borders
John Stevenson MP for Carlisle
Tim Farron MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale
Jamie Reed MP for Copeland
Tony Cunningham MP for Workington
John Woodcock MP for Barrow & Furness

Cumbria Tourism Nuked

Correspondence between Cumbria Tourism and Radiation Free Lakeland

All our futures including the Norwegians and the Irish depend on the
Sellafield wastes being looked after safely.

For Cumbria’s sake do it!

From: “Ian Stephens”
Subject: RE: Cumbria Tourism and the Nuclear Dump
Date: Fri, January 4, 2013 3:24 pm
To: mariannebirkby

Dear Marianne

We’re certainly not in the business of covering anything up. What we are
doing is taking part in a wide ranging consultation exercise – the
largest local consultation on a nuclear planning issue in British
history. It’s also a consultation which recognises that a large
percentage of Britain’s high and intermediate level waste is already at
Sellafield in facilities which are unfit for long term storage. The GDF
, if approved, would be an attempt to overcome those problems. We are
not supporting the GDF idea, merely engaging with the debate process to
ensure that issues affecting the visitor economy of Cumbria are at the
heart of that debate.

Yours sincerely

Ian Stephens

—–Original Message—–
From: mariannebirkby
Sent: 03 January 2013 16:05
To: Ian Stephens
Subject: Cumbria Tourism and the Nuclear Dump

Dear Ian,

I have just had sight of a letter from you to Dr Mathieson. In that
letter you state:

“For CT to oppose the idea at this stage would not necessarily best
serve the interests of the industry in that it would certainly draw
unwelcomed attention to the current storage problems and such stance
would also be based on incomplete evidence”

It is breathtaking that Cumbria Tourism should be complicit in
attempting to cover up the scandalous state of the wastes at Sellafield.
Green groups and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate have
consistently highlighted the risks year on year. The evidence is
overwhelming that geological disposal of nuclear wastes in Cumbria would
be dangerous both to the environment and to the economy (or Brand as you
like to call it).
The nuclear industry is already neglecting to deal adequately with the
existing waste on a 6km site and yet Cumbria Tourism led by Eric Robson
are going along with the plan to increase the footprint in an untried
way that has already been forcefully rejected by the Australians who
have perfect Pangea geology and by the Americans in dry Nevada!

The plan for a nuclear dump and ever more waste would exacerbate an
already dangerous situation. The MRWS push to increase the footprint to
over 1000m deep x 25km square dangerously stalls the real change that
the National Audit has called for to look after the existing wastes
safely on the Sellafield site.

All our futures including the Norwegians and the Irish depend on the
Sellafield wastes being looked after safely.

Key to this is Cumbria Tourism stepping up to the mark and saying No to
the dump.

For Cumbria’s sake do it!

Here is a graphic novel for the new year….
Swallows and Amazons, For You For.. Life!

http://www.blurb.co.uk/books/3822161

yours sincerely,

Marianne Birkby
on behalf of Radiation Free Lakeland

Cumbria Tourism Nuked

The following is from West Cumbria and North Lakes Friends of the Earth….. it speaks for itself!

PRESS RELEASE
August 21st 2012

Nuclear dump would be ‘disastrous’ for tourism

Campaigners against West Cumbria ‘volunteering’ to host a nuclear dump say it would be disastrous for the National Park’s image and tourist industry. They have conducted a survey of more than 500 visitors in Keswick, which found that 89% of people thought a dump would have an impact on the image of the National Park, and all of these thought it would be negative.

Campaigners from Friends of the Earth, Save Our Lake District – Don’t Dump Cumbria! and Radiation Free Lakeland interviewed 562 visitors between July 25th and August 13th, without saying who they were until each interview was over. They asked whether the presence of a nuclear dump either next to the National Park or underneath it would affect the Lake District’s image, and if so in what way.

Visitors said they thought it would put people off coming and would be detrimental to the image of unspoilt landscape, natural beauty, clean air and clean water. A visitor from Newcastle said ‘It’s always come across as a natural place. I can’t think of anything that could impact it more than nuclear waste’. One from Spain said ‘This is the best place in England. It would spoil this place which we love’. More worrying for the tourist industry is the comment from another Newcastle visitor: ‘Image is fragile and once destroyed it is not easily mended.’

People also mentioned concerns about leaks, safety, the impact on health, wildlife, the ecosystem, and the nuclear industry’s negative reputation. The idea of burying waste with no real certainty about what will happen to it in the long term future was also worrying – ‘not being responsible for future generations’ as one visitor from Northern Ireland put it.

The scale of the construction works was a concern too. One visitor from Lancashire said ‘It would be a huge building project and we come to the Lakes to get away from all that’.

Some people thought that the negative image attached to radioactive waste and the nuclear industry is a ‘stigma’ which might not be altogether deserved and some said that it would not affect their own plans to visit. One visitor from Northern Ireland said he didn’t like the idea but it wouldn’t stop him from coming to England’s ‘jewel in the crown’.

Dr. Ruth Balogh, nuclear issues campaigner for W Cumbria & N Lakes FoE said:

‘This survey shows how detrimental these plans are to the image of the Lake District, and how damaging they would be to the tourist industry. The MRWS Partnership conducted a study about how the dump might affect the Lake District ‘brand’, and this also showed how detrimental it would be. But they think it can be ‘mitigated’. This survey shows they might have to recruit a miracle worker to succeed! And once an image has been tainted – as the nuclear industry itself knows to its cost – it’s extremely difficult if not impossible to repair.

‘We urge local people to make their views known to their local councillors, who are going to take the crucial decision in the coming weeks.’

Contact for more information:

Dr. Ruth Balogh

West Cumbria and North Lakes Friends of the Earth nuclear issues campaigner

01946 861447

Further information about the survey

People were approached in the street in Keswick and after establishing that they were visitors, they were asked where they came from, and the following question was put to them:

‘Here in Cumbria the local authorities are exploring the possibility of burying the UK’s high level nuclear waste near the Lake District National Park, or underneath it.
We’d like to know how you think this would affect the image of the Lake District if this were to go ahead.
Do you think it would affect the image ? ‘ yes / no

People who said ‘yes’ were then asked:

‘Please tell us in what way you think it would affect the Lake District and its image ‘

A total of 562 responses was obtained, from visitors coming from all parts of the UK, and from much further afield including Spain, France, Ireland, Canada, Norway, Germany, China, Singapore, and the USA.

A total of 498 people said ‘yes’ = 88.6%. The number of people who thought it would not affect the image was 60 = 10.6%. These percentages have been rounded up. Four people said they didn’t know or had no opinion.

IS THE LAKE DISTRICT REALLY THE BEST PLACE TO TURN INTO A RADIOACTIVE WASTELAND

“It’s home to the sweeping dramatic vistas that inspired Wordsworth.

Scenery so breath-taking tourists will flock there this summer bringing £2billion to spend at local businesses.

And while the picturesque landscape of the Lake District shaped over thousands of years shows no signs of abating, scratch the surface and you see a tale out of kilter with the area’s reputation for afternoon teas and leisurely hikes.

The story is one of big business, angry locals and radioactive waste.

Plans are currently being considered by three councils in the area to build the UK’s mammoth radioactive dumping ground – the size of a small city – underground there.

The move has polarised the community and led to accusations and counter accusations.

Here The Sunday Post looks at the escalating row over the controversial disposal site as decision day looms.”

By Gordon Blackstock

http://www.sundaypost.com/

High profile Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has lent his support
to Radiation Free Lakeland’s calls for a halt to the plan for ‘geological
disposal’ of high level nuclear wastes in Cumbria. He has said:

“I have similar views to you on nuclear as you
know, and I’ve often thought it odd that a county that depends so much on
tourism based on its tranquility and beauty can cheek by jowl have
nuclear waste storage! I will pursue this carefully!”

The reply from Tim Farron is in response to a letter from Radiation Free
Lakeland highlighting the conflict of interest within Cumbria Tourism who
are carrying out a “Brand Protection Strategy” to protect Cumbria from the
perception of a nuclear dump sacrifice zone.

Eric Robson the Chair of  Cumbria Tourism owns the PR company,

Osprey Communications who have been awarded the government contract

to push Cumbria along the “steps towards geological disposal.”

Mr Robson will feature on this sunday nights BBC 1 program about

Wainwright’s Long Walk.

Proposed changes to authority boundaries would mean that the tourist
“honey pots” of Bowness and Windermere would be under Copeland – the
authority who have expressed enthusiasm for ‘geological disposal’.

Marianne Birkby from Radiation Free Lakeland has said “the use of PR
companies to promote a high level nuclear dump is obscene enough but to
have employed the company owned by the celebrity Chair of Cumbria Tourism is PR Spin at its most machiavellian!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/23/gardeners-question-time-conflict-interests

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/109866

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) - Chilean-born Nobel Laureate for Literature - bio 

Ode to My Socks read from the book America’s Favorite Poems by Robert Pinsky

Tom Wayman (1945 – ) - bio

Did I Miss Anything? - offered to us tongue in cheek by one who missed our first meeting! Did you miss anything??? No, not with this web site around!

William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850) – bio

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

Parodies of Wordsworth’s poem

Gordon J.L. Ramel - web site

Daffodils No More - a comment on the fewer numbers of daffodils in England these days.  NOTE: I recently revisited these links and somehow the poem is now called Daffodils Revisited

David Martin (DCDave) - web site

I Wandered with a Wrought-up Mind - be sure to click on the link for federal poles. Without it, I’m not sure I would have gotten the meaning.

Joy Burki-Watson

I Pondered ‘Neath My Faceless Shroud - a tribute to the courageous ladies of Afghanistan

Cumbria Tourism

Wordsworth Rap - A hip-hop video version of  I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud…just delightful!

Adrienne Rich (1929 – ) – bio

Storm Warnings

Turning – this isn’t the entire poem, but it is referenced in this NY Times analysis

William Henry Davies (1871-1940) – bio

Leisure

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) – bio

The Darkling Thrush

Saliba Sarsar - background info

When Peace Becomes The Holy Land

Robert Penn Warren (1905-1989) – bio

Caribou  -this isn’t the entire poem, but it is discussed here

If Snakes Were Blue

Bearded Oaks