Rhys and I have been involved with Awel Aman Tawe for
the past six years, inspired by the drive and enthusiasm of the founders,
Emily Hinshelwood and Dan McCallum.
I first got involved with Emily through
Pontardawe Script Café and community plays about climate change and community
action:- ‘Nine meals from Anarchy,’ ‘Conscious Oil’ and ‘Fall Out 84’.
It is my belief that when you meet
individuals who inspire you (it doesn't happen very often!) through their commitment,
beliefs and actions, they're really worth supporting. So when we held our art
and poetry joint exhibition called ,’Sorry I don’t eat Fish,’ celebrating
nature and raising awareness about climate change at the Roald Dahl Gallery in
Cardiff Bay, we donated the proceeds of profits from sales of Rhys’ paintings
to Awel
Aman Tawe. The amount was tiny-just about enough to pay for one screw
and bolt in one turbine! Last year we were pleased to invest a bit more in
Egni-their community solar energy coop. Not sure how many screws we contributed
to on one solar panel, but to Em and Dan it’s not the amount of money you give
it’s the support it represents that’s important.
The couple have spent the last two decades trying to get planning for a
community wind farm-just two small turbines that will generate electricity to
the community in the Aman Valley in West Wales-an area devastated by the
decline of the coal industry. As they've jumped through and over all the
hoops and hurdles and finally got planning permission, the Government has
reneged on their commitment to offer tax relief to community groups investing
in renewable energy. So, Awel Aman Tawe have fast
forwarded their plans in order to be able to attract investors who believe
renewable energy is an important component of action against climate change,
who want to get a good yield on their funds (7%) or who want to support a Welsh
community that is struggling.
After the hopes and failures of the Climate
Change Summit in Copenhagen many people felt despair. We attended workshops
based on the work of American eco-psychologist, Joanna Macy, an environmental
activist. They explored how we can empower ourselves as individuals and
communities by understanding the inter-connectedness of all beings and our
relationship to the land. The Paris
Summit on Climate Change looms ahead and if you feel like us that it is
probably the most important issue for the future of our planet, buying a screw
in a community wind farm may not change the world on its own, but one screw and
one bolt at a time surely is a good start.
Janet
Teal Daniel
Nov
14 2015
