Contents

1. Conference Gives Food for Thought
2. FEASTA/EPA Research Projects Make Headway
3. Understanding the Economics of Sustainability at Kimmage Manor
4. FEASTA Working Groups - Come and Make YOUR Project Happen!
5. Discussion Forums on www.feasta.org
6. New FEASTA Books - Food Glorious Food
7. Venue Chosen for Members' Weekend
8. Membership

Conference Gives Food for Thought

Congratulations to FEASTA Executive member Bruce Darrell for organising a successful and stimulating conference - What Will We Eat as the Oil Runs Out? / Food Security in an Energy Scarce World. The conference opened with a lecture on Peak Oil by Richard Heinberg, followed by a busy three days at UCD. There was great synergy and debate among speakers and delegates - to the extent that several more projects were conceived as a result! Watch this space for

• founding of the Dublin Food Policy Council
• conference proceedings will be appearing on www.feasta.org in due coursel
• publication of a book based on the conference is also in the worksl
• even talk of a movie - Hollywood blockbuster or worthy documentary?l

For more details contact food@feasta.org

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FEASTA/EPA Projects Make Headway

This year FEASTA won two research contracts from the EPA. Richard Douthwaite is heading up the Energy group, while David Healy is in charge of the Transport Team.

All FEASTA members are welcome to attend a seminar discussing the findings of the Energy group, scheduled for October. The project is concerned with seeing how different industry sectors will respond to rising energy costs. Check out some futurist thinking on their website www.energyscenariosireland.com

Meanwhile the Transport team nears completion of the first stage of the project, reviewing the process by which planning approval for roads is given. A stimulating meeting between the Transport team and the EPA steering committee took place last week, resulting in some lively debate. Most welcome at the FEASTA office recently was our visiting Professor Kevin Leyden, who came over from West Virginia to contribute to the project.

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Understanding the Economics of Sustainability at Kimmage Manor

Early this year FEASTA, together with the Kimmage Development Studies Centre, ran a very successful 10 week evening course entitled 'Understanding the Economics of Sustainability'. Exploring such topics as:

• An Introduction to Environmental and Ecological Economic theories
• Debt-based Economies and the Growth Imperative
• Measuring Progress and Indicators of Sustainability
• The Implications of Climate Change and Peak Oil for Sustainable Development
• Trade and the Environment
• Localisation

and other related issues, the course attracted a enthusiastic mix of FEASTA members, community and environmental activists, and interested individuals.

Contributors included Richard Douthwaite of FEASTA, Tom Campbell and Patrick Marren from the Development Studies Centre, Sue Scott of the ERSI, Liz Cullen of the Irish Doctors Environmental Network and Paul Connolly of the Marine Institute.

Evaluations at the end of the course were mostly very positive and it is hoped to run the course again from January 2006, subject to funding arrangements. Further information and new brochures should be available in October 2005.

For more information contact: Tom.Campbell@dsckim.ie

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FEASTA's Working Groups - Come & Make YOUR Project Happen

One of the great benefits of FEASTA membership is the opportunity to get involved with, or start, a working group. FEASTA's working groups address a wide range of topics - democracy, housing, food & health, energy - for more details, see /www.feasta.org/active.htm

Working groups allow FEASTA members to make their projects happen. From advice on how to draw down funding for a project to the collective experience of the FEASTA Executive, the structure of the organisation enables 'newbies' to turn their ideas into real projects.

So why wait to join FEASTA? There's so much work to be done!

FEASTA's Education Group is currently reforming. Anyone interested or involved in education is most welcome to get in contact via the FEASTA office. This is a great time to get involved - as the UN Decade for Sustainable Development kicks off. ECO-UNESCO and Sustainable Ireland have joined forces to bring this initiative forward and are creating an online directory of stakeholders in Ireland focused on the EDS (Education for Sustainable Development).

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New Discussion Forums on www.feasta.org

We now have discussion forum software up and running on the FEASTA website. This means that we can host discussion forums directly from the site rather than through Yahoo. Participants in the forums will also have the option of setting up an online profile for themselves which should enable them to make contact with other FEASTA members who have similar interests or live nearby.

We'll shortly be posting a link to the forum software from the front page of the website. If you'd like to know more or have any suggestions about the forums, please e-mail website@feasta.org

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Venue Chosen for Members' Weekend

This year's Members' Weekend will take place in the autumn in Co. Cork. All FEASTA members are welcome to attend this annual gathering, which gives us a chance to catch up with each other, review progress and plan for the year ahead. See the printed newsletter for more details.

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New FEASTA Books - Food Glorious Food

We have a limited number of new titles, mostly to do with Food (as a happy result of the recent conference)

Real Food For A Change How the simple act of eating can * boost your health & energy * knock out stress * revive your community * save the planet
I'm so there! This very practical book by Wayne Roberts, Rod MacRae & Lori Stahlbrand is yours for only €12, Members price €10

The Pesticide Detox An anthology of essays on sustainable agriculture, edited by Jules Pretty. €34, Members price €30

The Living Land More on sustainable agriculture from Jules Pretty, in this meticulously researched book. Price €28, Members' price €26

The Party's Over and Powerdown Two powerfully gripping works about the end of the world as we know it, from Richard Heinberg. FEASTA members, see the newsletter for full length reviews of these books. Powerdown €16 / €15, The Party's Over €18 / €16

When ordering above titles please add €3.50 post & packaging. Free copy of FEASTA Review 1 with every order placed.

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Membership

Membership of FEASTA gives you the opportunity to support the foundation's work and entitles you to a discount on the Feasta review due out next month, two newsletters, quarterly e-mail bulletins, and concessions on our events and publications.

€20 for a years membership
€10 concession for students and unwaged
€30 for a voluntary group or organisation
€65 for a funded group or organisation

If you are not a member please consider becoming one. Credit card payments accepted, and of course, donations are very welcome.