Transforming Our Futures

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods & Supporters 

This is the second of two interviews where we interview protagonists in the dispute that has arisen over Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. Today’s interview will involve those who support low traffic neighbourhoods.

The introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods as a result of central government finance being made available during the Covid pandemic has caused furore across London with accusations flying from each and every side.

Often there is so much in common between the antagonists in this debate. They all want calmer streets, lower emissions and a greener environment. The dispute seems to be about whether one model fits all, the seemingly absence of strategic planning and the lack of consultation.

So we have been asked to interview both sides in this discussion and we are more than happy to do so, This second one will  include representative from from the Bowes and Fox Lane areas and members of Better Streets for Enfield.

The hope is that we can find some common ground as all are concerned with improving the environment of our streets and addressing the pressing issue of carbon emissions.

In this Podcast we talk to Melanie Smith about the new Enfield Debt Churches Centre just about to be launched. There are something like 6 million people in debt in the UK and the average debt per adult is almost £32,000.

Covid has increased the burden of personal debt and as the ravages of climate change impact on us in this coming century then it can only get worse.

So Melanie together with a number of Churches in Enfield have got together to help tackle the problem of debt and they will be working with other organisations to help as well. They want to help families tackle debt, provide advice and support and also tackle some of the structural problems that make debt such a huge problem.

They have also been talking to Feryal Clark MP about a covid-debt cancellation initiative and how this maybe taken forward.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods & Doubts

In this first Podcast of two we interview protagonists in the dispute that has arisen over Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. Today’s interview will involve those who have reservations about low traffic neighbourhoods and the lack of consultation.

The introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods as a result of central government finance being made available during the Covid pandemic has caused furore across London with accusations flying from each and every side.

Often there is so much in common between the antagonists in this debate. They all want calmer streets, lower emissions and a greener environment. The dispute seems to be about whether one model fits all, the seemingly absence of strategic planning and the lack of consultation.

So we have been asked to interview both sides in this discussion and we are more than happy to do so, The first one will be on this coming Thursday November 5th at 6.0pm and will include representative from Bowes & Bounds Voice, Lakes Estate One Community and Winchmore Hill Residents.

In the following week on November 11th at 7.0pm there will be an interview with residents in favour of LTNs including residents from the Bowes and Fox Lane areas and members of Better Streets for Enfield.

The hope is that we can find some common ground as all are concerned with improving the environment of our streets and addressing the pressing issue of carbon emissions.

In this Podcast we interview Amelia Hadfield who is the Head of Politics at University of Surrey

As the world descends into crisis with pandemics, climate change and nuclear proliferation the world order seems unable to respond in a coherent way.

In this webinar we will discuss whether the global system of Governance that we have created since World War 2 is now fit for purpose. Is the United Nations able to fulfil the task of its charter and do organisations like the World Bank and the IMF reflect the needs of our world of turbulence.

We will discuss if there are other models that might offer some answers to the growing global chaos and whether one of the these is the Commonwealth model which emphasises collaboration, citizen involvement and learning.

Amelia joined the University of Surrey in January 2019 as Head of the Department of Politics, and Chair in European and International Affairs. She is a regular commentator on a wide range of media outlets, including: BBC World Service, BBC News24, Radio 5Live, BBC Radio London, BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio Ulster, Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC). TV appearances include BBC One, BBC News Channel, BBC Arab Network, Victoria Derbyshire Show, RussiaToday, and various outlets in Asia.

In this Podcast we interview Zoey Cooper from Southgate and who became an environmental activist in the last few years.

Zoey has wide experience in marketing and has always been interested in the environment but it was not until she joined an XR demonstration on Waterloo Bridge that she began to fully realise the seriousness of climate change. And as she says,

“Passionate about sustainability and permaculture, I leverage my 15+ years of communication and brand experience to inform and engage as wide an audience as possible on the climate and ecological emergency – and how to do something meaningful about it.”

Zoey now realises that if we do not take action now and not in a few years time then humankind could well be heading for extinction - the Sixth Extinction of life that our planet has known in its history.

Zoey now gives talks on the journey we are making towards extinction and tries to create awareness that we must do something now. Zoey has also offered to be active in the Enfield Climate Change Action Fortum as part of her mission to arouse awareness and to galvanise people to take action.

In this webinar we interview Zoey Cooper from Southgate and who became an environmental activist in the last few years.

Zoey has wide experience in marketing and has always been interested in the environment but it was not until she joined an XR demonstration on Waterloo Bridge that she began to fully realise the seriousness of climate change. And as she says,

“Passionate about sustainability and permaculture, I leverage my 15+ years of communication and brand experience to inform and engage as wide an audience as possible on the climate and ecological emergency – and how to do something meaningful about it.”

Zoey now realises that if we do not take action now and not in a few years time then humankind could well be heading for extinction - the Sixth Extinction of life that our planet has known in its history.

Zoey now gives talks on the journey we are making towards extinction and tries to create awareness that we must do something now. Zoey has also offered to be active in the Enfield Climate Change Action Fortum as part of her mission to arouse awareness and to galvanise people to take action.

In this Podcast we interview Tony Gaye a Professor from Loughborough University about the need for global wellbeing at a time of turbulent change.

Wellness and wellbeing are something we have discussed on here many times when we have discussed resilience, mindfulness and other ways of creating a positive attitude to life.

But how can we make wellbeing a global imperative at a time when many are thinking mainly of survival. This will be the focus of this interview where we look at how reflective learning and a goal orientated focus in life can create the conditions for a better world.

How do we scale up this approach to make it global and can it succeed when the odds against it are so huge.

This will be one of the interviews in the Conversation Across Borders series organised by GlobalNet21 and TracesDreams.

In this Podcast we discuss the idea of the Little Free Pantry.

The Little Free Pantry is a grassroots project applying the Little Free Library concept to address hyperlocal food insecurity. Motivated individuals or groups provide small, watertight structures at their site of choice and coordinate stocking however they choose

Individuals and groups may provide direct support to The Little Free Pantry project in two ways. Purchase items when grocery shopping, find a location, and place items inside. Or start your own Little Free Pantry!

The original Little Free Pantry was conceptualised and piloted by Jessica McClard in the USA. An avid reader and runner, she browsed Little Free Libraries popping up along her run route and became intrigued by the concept and the fact it had become viral. Conceptually, Jessica believes “Little Free” structures speak to people because they create space for community, enhancing quality of life for neighbours, while also facilitating manageable, direct action toward intractable issues—literacy and food insecurity.

Jessica with be joined by Lara Mackie who has developed this idea in Southend and Maria Lee who has done the same in Chelmsford.

In this Podcast we discuss with Adrija Biswas the theme of Gender and Equality.

Ardija is a survivor of 2001 and was there when two passenger planes were flown into the towers, ultimately bringing them down killing over 3,000. She says, “Those 45 minutes will remain with me forever, all trains and metro were halted and I could not travel back into New Jersey or to uptown NY into my university.

I witnessed employees wanting to return back into the burning building for work, mothers frantically looking for their daughters, husbands looking for their wives, team leads looking to collate their employees. I also saw burning bodies fall out of the windows and a Japanese woman next to me just stared in shock stating that it was her sister.”

She was also crowned as Mrs India UK Platinum 2019 in a Beauty Pageant.

Now holding a high position in an International Bank Ardija has found her inspiration in fighting for women’s rights across the globe.She is the “Ambassador of Peace” bestowed by the Universal Peace Federation United Nations.

She tells us,

“Being a 9/11 survivor, an innovator, a mother of two kids, having three degrees from three continents yet struggling through challenges, like losing the will to live at the lowest point and bouncing back and grabbing hope with both hands, makes me feel I have an inspirational life.”

Adrija is lovingly called “Queen of Hearts” by many women who feel she represents women from multi cultural backgrounds .She is an Inclusion and Diversity advocate, involved with CSR and UK Girls in STEM activities promoting women leadership, 50:50 gender balance as well as Mental Health awareness as a Mental Health Ally.

“She is also being the called the pride of Bengal who is already touching hearts and encouraging women to be brave, fearless and courageous.”

Born in India, the mother-of-two had a happy childhood in Mumbai.

Enfield Labour Party is split and this has caused some Labour Councillors to leave and form a group called Community First.

In this Podcast we interview two of these Councillors Dinah Barry and Derek Levy to find out why they left the Labour Party and why they felt the need to develop a new group - now consisting of four members.

What is it about Enfield that makes politics so toxic and how can it be mended or indeed can it be mended at all? And how can Enfield develop a leadership that is bottom up and collaborative rather than top down and somewhat dictatorial?

Does local government need reform so we move away from the Party silos and is indeed Enfield fit for purpose for the challenges facing our modern and troubled society.