Should interest all of you who hoped to wave goodbye to cold and snow and ice!! It's facile to think we shall become a Mediterranean country overnight. Weather is well known as an example of a chaotic system in which small disturbances can create major effects. It is thus very risky to predict the weather by mathematical model, as the BBC know to their cost, or finger in the air techniques. The chaotic variability of weather has always been with us, but what we are dealing with here is the effect of a continual increase in carbon in the atmosphere, driving the slow but remorseless warming of our planet earth.
This is one of the big challenges of our age (I might have said 'only' until the Credit Crunch came along) . Finding efficient ways of generating electricity to reduce the lifetime release of carbon into the atmosphere (in manufacture of the generating plant as well as its operation). Winning this battle is vital to ensure the sustainability of our high energy way of life, which few of us would willingly give up, and to which the less developed world will quite reasonably aspire.
This week on Wednesday the Swansea U3A make a two pronged attack on this issue.
First up the lecture by Ian Masters from 'The Marine Energy Task Group for Wales', at 2.00 for 2.30 back in the Grove this week, who will speak on 'Turning the Tide - Marine Power along the Welsh Coast'.
Then after this lecture Mike Wiseman's Climate Change Group will take their second successive session on energy and he has called it simply 'More Energy'.
It is now several weeks since we all received the last U3A magazine accompanied by the January 2009 publication of 'Sources'. You may recall that, with windmills on the frontispiece, this issue was dominated by considerations of Climate Change, a topic close to the heart of the Chairman of the Third Age Trust Jean Goodeve and her husband Graham. Our Climate Change group leader Mike Wiseman had a full page piece entitled Climate Change and Sustainable Development in which he reminded us all to think of our generations poor stewardship of this planet and to reflect on the legacy we were leaving for the following generations, not least the prospect of a shortage of fresh water.
CHESS
The next meeting is tomorrow 16 February at Hazel Court from 10.00 onwards. Joan and I will be there to welcome you. We are hoping for a good turnout. Member Theo Joannides is suggesting cooperation/amalgamation with the Mumbles Chess Club who meet in the Ostreme Hall at 11am on Saturdays. I would be interested in your views either added as comments to this blog or emailed privately.
TOBACCO FACTORY, Bristol
If I am to express my interests in the Arts, top would come high quality theatre (which we have only occasionally glimpsed in Swansea in 40+ years). I am a devotee of 'Theatre in the Round' in which a small audience surrounds the 'stage' (and can almost touch the actors). There is no scenery, just a few props maybe just benches. A form which relies entirely on acting skill. I first came across this style in New York in the Off Broadway movement of the 50's, very often performed in a public upstairs room of an hotel. When we returned to the UK we lived in Stoke on Trent where directors Stephen Joseph (now famous for his theatre in Scarborough) and Peter Cheeseman started, they became the driving force behind the movement in the UK for decades, whilst Alan Ayckbourn practised acting as well as some directing.
Last year we discovered the Tobacco Factory because of the rave reviews for a production of Hamlet with Jonathan Miller as director. That performance Joan and I rate the finest theatrical experience of our life. Recently I read a review in The Guardian decrying the fact that the production failed to get to the West End for lack of a TV star in the cast, itself an indictment of commercial theatre. Incidentally I speak as someone born in Warwick in easy cycling distance of Stratford who as a young grammar school boy attended many productions in what was then called The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. A golden period from the late 40's and when John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson were amongst the actors,though I have no idea whether I saw them. Anthony Quayle was director at the time.
This year the Tobacco Factory are performing Julius Caesar from 12 Feb to 21 March followed by Anthony and Cleopatra from 26 March to 2 May. There is a performance every day but Sunday, with a matinee on Saturday (£15). A matinee is our choice since it allows either go and return in a day, or more enjoyably a hotel and good meal following the theatre. The production is unlikely to reach the heights of last year, but I notice the Bath newspaper acknowledge the high standard of the Shakespeare season over the decade The Tobacco Factory has been re-used as a centre for the performing arts.
YOUR CHRONICLE NEEDS YOU
Jill Govier on behalf of Derrick Jenkins and co. (the producers of the annual Swansea U3A publication THE CHRONICLE) is issuing a call for Articles, Life Stories or Poems on any subject but provides a few pertinent pointers.
We are growing rapidly as an organisation, and occupying an increasingly important and rather articulate section of the population, so written matter should be flowing in - but it is not. I have willing confessed that I was a fellow traveller for several years before discovering the rewards of commitment. Now all of you know that given a typewriter a pen or a computer I can go on a bit!! Please join in and make the most of membership.
It's news to me but to stimulate a few ideas Jill is reminding us that
2009 is the Year of Science
2009 is the Year of Homecoming for the Scots, so why not the Welsh or the Irish. Who wants the English to go home and Why? Because we can outscore the Welsh in tries at least!!
2009 will lead to a new set of Honours. Who would you nominate and Why?
The Homecoming is particularly to celebrate Scotland's great contributions to the world, but leads on to wider thoughts of Nationalism. Why did you choose Swansea for your retirement, was it a home coming or a home leaving?
Many have been investigating their genealogy. Are you willing to share your discoveries and think aloud of the implications?
The Old Topics are always welcome: Travellers Tales, The Time of My Life, Let me have My Say
Contributions, hand written, typed or computerised, can be handed to Derrick Jenkins, Helgi Opik or Jill Govier at any Wednesday Meeting
emailed to joyce.jenkins@ntlworld.com
or posted to
Derrick Jenkins
122 Belgrave Road
Gorseinon
SA4 6RB
Time is of the essence because the completed Chronicle is mailed with the notices ahead of the AGM in June. Please participate in the success of your own 'self help' organisation.
LATIN AMERICAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL
My interest in Latin America is well known and stems from our extensive slow, in depth, travel there in the past few years. It is a melange of fascinating, vibrant cultures, not least in music and dance. Brazil and Mexico like China and India will soon become the dominant economies in the world.
ALAS Swansea's Latin American organisation have for years run an annual Festival at the Dylan Thomas Centre. This time it will feature Cuba in the fifty years since its revolution, in a festival running over the weekend from 27 February to 1 March. As usual it will feature a broad program covering film, photography, art, poetry, a Salsa Party and Latin American music. As an organisation they raise funds for charities.
Tickets are already on sale. For more details visit the Dylan Thomas Centre or their website
http://www.alas.org.uk
TAI CHI
The second meeting was as successful as the first, again with a turnout just over twenty members. More could be accommodated in the large room at Hazel Court. If you want to join the sooner you do so the better, we are nearly all absolute beginners so far. The Group meets every Friday at 10.30, the tuition is excellent and pleasant, the exercises ideal for those who give importance to retaining flexibility, precise control of movement, and memorising of sequences. From now on the subscription will be £3 a week for the rest of the initial six session period at least. I feel it should develop into another regular Group activity. Michael Edmonds writes to give me the name of a second tutor should expansion of the group or a choice of days be needed.
AGE CONCERN myfriendsonline
http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/myfriendsonline
This year from 16 to 20 March there will be a international week long campaign to interest older people in social networking. Outdo your grandchildren, join the Facebook generation.
No doubt there will be more to say nearer the date. Our own Publicity section are preparing a presentation to the public in a 'Life begins at Fifty' event at the Leisure Centre on 26 March.
CADW
Angela Brunt writes to say that in celebration of St. David's Day on 1 March that CADW are offering free entry to all of their sites, and that there will be storytellers at many of them. She also informs that anyone over 60 can get a free Pass giving free entry at any time to any of their sites. An application form is on the CADW website.
CARDS for FUN
After a disappointing lack of turnout before Christmas Lawmary reports that nine turned up for their second session on Tuesday at the Taliesin Cafe. It seems as though another group is up and running. Next meeting 24 February.
JAZZLAND, St James Crescent
Come and hear a young, exceptionally talented, saxophonist Oliver Nezhati from Llandeilo. He plays with a sextet of youngsters drawn from old friends (pianist Mitch Jones from Pontadulais and Dewi Young from Cwmbran) and some friends from his studies at the famed Trinity music school in London. I first heard him in his mid-teens play the last half of the set with Bruce Adams, one of Britain's best jazz trumpeters, who remarked jokingly how dispiriting it was to have to play with someone so young and so talented.
For further details of the club program visit
http://www.swanseajazzland.co.uk
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