Clackmannanshire Green Map Initiative

Open Green Map

Monday, 09 August 2004

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 April 2009 )

[ Back ]

Simply Local Events

We have a number of events planned over the next few months, although with the project just starting dates and venues are to be confirmed

September - Local food, growing spaces and composting workshop

Now confirmed to be held in the Glancy Lounge, Kincardine Community Centre on Wednesday 8th with guest speaker, Ron Gichrist of Greenway Consulting.

October - Active Travel Day, a chance to car share, cycle to work, take the train or walk to school.

If you would like to be kept updated by e-mail drop us a line at simplylocal@actionforchange.net or check the website and community noticeboards at the Community Centre, Library, Post Office and Co-op.

What is Simply Local Kincardine?

Kincardine has seen many changes in the last 25 years, from the closure and demolition of the old coal-fired power station to the new rail link, road bridge and bypass route being built. 2010 / 11 will see the end of Kincairne, Sandeman and Ramsay Courts, the three blocks of high flats that have dominated the Kincardine skyline for 40 years, to be replaced by mixed social housing. A community that once saw thousands of people and cars passing through it every day is now quieter and less interrupted. Change is all around us.

Launch of the Open Green Map

On Friday June 5th, World Environment Day, Clackmannanshire celebrated along with 15 other countries around the world the global launch of the Open Green Map. At a presentation at Alva Parklands, now equipped with wireless broadband especially for the occasion, the Clackmannanshire Green Map Initiative joined with the Ochils Landscape Partnership and BBC Breathing Places to celebrate their respective projects. You can view the Open Green Map on this website, make a comment or even 'Suggest your own Green Sites' around Clackmannanshire.

Where do Green Maps come from?

Green Maps were first started in1992 in New York. Since then there have been 500 green map projects started around the world.

“If you get right down to it, sustainability is really the study of the interconnectedness of all things.”

Barbara Lither

Since 1995, Green Map System (GMS) has helped connect towns and cities to a global movement, children to their communities, governments to environmental issues, people to businesses and services and solutions to problems. The basic goal of GMS is to make community development more sustainable through inclusive participation. With the help of GMS’s resources and guidance, it’s up to the local Green Mapmakers to focus that participation on key issues and sites in their communities. Your Green Map will help everyone act locally for a healthier, greener future.

www.greenmap.org

What is a Green Map?

Green Maps are locally created maps of community strengths, mapping the things that make life worthwhile.

“If you get right down to it, sustainability is really the study of the interconnectedness of all things.”

Barbara Lither

Learning by Doing

Action for Change are working with the Disability Awareness Group (DAG) supported by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to carry out research into the barriers and enablers of people living with physical disabilities accessing and enjoying nature.

Learning for Living

Learning for Living is an exciting project, now completed, which received European funding through LEADER. We worked with the innovative Open Green Map which created a living portrait of community as mapped by local people. By charting all the local resources using the unique mapping language created by Green Map Systems it became possible to get a picture of Clackmannasnhire as seen by the people who live here.

The Story so Far

The Earth Charter is an international document created entirely "to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace."

Action for Change (AFC) supports, develops and trains organisations, communities and individuals in sustainable development and resilience. This arises from recognition that although initiatives such as Local Agenda 21 and Community Planning encourage a bottom up approach to development, a major problem exists whereby local communities on their own are often unable to contribute effectively to this process. AFC acknowledges that without addressing this problem and taking steps to create informed and engaged communities, the large scale social, economic and environmental change required for sustainable and peaceful communities in the 21st Century will not take place. AFC addresses this need by offering a holistic approach to sustainable development, using the ethical framework of the Earth Charter and its associated educational resources.

The Earth Charter is a product of a decade-long, worldwide, cross cultural dialogue on common goals and shared values http://www.earthcharter.org

Starting as a UN idea in 1989, it was carried forward and completed by a global civil society initiative, then finalized as a People’s Charter in 2000 by the Earth Charter Commission. In 2008 the Earth Charter Initiative (ECI) launched it’s strategy of decentralised empowerment, encouraging and supporting grassroots initiatives across the world to take forward the vision of the Earth Charter. The mission of ECI is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace.

AFC is the only Affiliate in Scotland of ECI.In 2005, funded by Awards for All, AFC produced a 16 panel exhibition (artwork supplied by ECI) called “Seeds of Change – The Earth Charter and Human Potential” used to support the 3^rd World Youth Congress in Stirling. AFC represented Scotland at ECI international conferences in Amsterdam in 2005 and 2008.

'It Starts with One' is the theme of Earth Charter+10. Launched at The Peace Palace in The Hague on June 29th 2010 together with a supporting exhibition 'Seeds of Hope' created by Soka Gakkai International (SGI) www.sgi.org/sd100629.html

It Starts With One

It starts with one universe

With one awakening, one choice

With one person who cares

With one teacher, one neighbour

With one dialogue, one collaboration, one action

With one dream

It starts with caring for one plant, one tree

Looking after one bird, one squirrel

Saving one drop of water

Picking up one piece of waste

Walking one journey