Upcycling is a new word for taking old or unused things and making them into something better.

On Saturday 22nd May 2010 between 10 – 2pm Halesworth Thoroughfare will see an upcycling event converting remnants of cloth into shopping bags, old knitted garments into new and turning old newspapers into logs for heating.

Organisers Halesworth in Transition (HinT) are part of a widespread and growing grassroots movement of people who are taking a positive attitude to preparing for the impacts of climate change and peak oil (when cheap and easy oil runs out). This event is just one of the things we are doing that focuses on waste.

For this event HinT have been gathering material from generous Halesworth people including members of ‘Time Out’, Halesworth Library’s over 60’s group. Volunteers have been sewing up bags in evenings in the public library. Brampton Primary School, who already have a reputation for their environmental awareness, are helping make bags in the week before the event.

On Saturday HinT will be giving the bags to people who would otherwise use new plastic carrier bags. And HinT also hopes to inspire people to make their own so will be giving out a very simple pattern to the public.

Every minute hundreds of thousands of plastic bags go into circulation globally. This wastes precious oil, creates mountains of waste and kills wildlife.

Many towns are already affiliated to the international Transition movement. Locally, this includes Bungay, Beccles, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Norwich, and Ipswich.

For more information about this event and other activities phone 01986 875323 or email [email protected].

What:
A promotional event raising awareness of peak oil and climate change and getting passers by involved in the re-use of materials. Bag-making; log making and knitting new from old.

When:
Saturday 22nd May 2010 10-2pm

Where:
Halesworth Thoroughfare, Suffolk.

Why:
– To replace wasteful, harmful oil-based, plastic carrier bags with longer-lasting cloth ones
– to promote the idea of re-using precious resources and not just throwing them away
– to protect wildlife and the environment
– to have fun making and using things that we need

Who:
Halesworth in Transition (HinT)
Linda Owen
01986 875323
[email protected] with help from the Time Out group and Brampton Primary School

HinT is not affiliated to any political party and is a non-profit-making organisation run entirely by volunteers.