One World Centre Isle of Man

Continuing our series cataloguing simple changes we can all make to help us live with less harmful impacts on our planet.

Sustainability idea #20 Get your workplace involved.
We’ve already talked about individual actions you can take such as choosing tap water over bottled and using your own takeaway coffee cups but getting your workplace on board with such schemes can magnify the impact immensely. Maybe you could get your employer to sign up to be a Refill Station – or implement some other recycling scheme as a team effort?

Sustainability idea # 19 Understand your carbon footprint.
Knowledge is the key to action – work out your own carbon footprint using one of the many online carbon calculators. Learn where you create most impact and where you can make a difference.

Sustainability idea #18 Choose a speedy shower.
A quick shower is more efficient in terms of water and energy consumption than a big bath – although check the rate the water comes through if you have a very strong power shower. If you’re thinking of fitting a new shower go for one with a low flow head or any of the other energy efficient features available now.

Sustainability idea #17 Use a reusable coffee cup.
It’s estimated that somewhere between 2.5 and 3 BILLION single-use coffee cups were used in 2018. Help reduce that waste by taking your own reusable coffee cup with you – quite often, cafes will give you a cheaper cup of coffee too!

Sustainability idea #16 Resist continuous upgrading.
Many businesses tempt consumers into repeat purchases by the frequent release of new and upgraded features – even if these are things you don’t really want or need. Don’t let FOMO (fear of missing out) culture drive your decisions and use up more resources unnecessarily.

Sustainability idea #15. Buy local produce.
Reduce food miles and support local farmers at the same time by buying Isle of Man produce. You don’t necessarily need to pick/collect it yourself – check out the local farmers’ markets and choose Isle of Man produce over imported in the shops.

Sustainability idea #14. Walk or cycle more.
This one should be easier to start now the better weather is with us! Walking or cycling is a great way to reduce emissions and has the added bonus of keeping you fitter too!

Sustainability idea #13 Grow your own.
Reduce food miles and reduce packaging by growing your own fruit and veg. If you’ve only got a small yard or balcony you can still grow tomatoes, strawberries, radishes and other tasty treats in pots. Just avoid peat-based compost!

Sustainability idea #12 Ditch the dryer and use a washing line.
Tumble dryers use a lot of energy to generate heat but windpower is just as effective in getting your clothes dry – and will save you money as well. We’re not short on wind in the Isle of Man so if it’s a dry day, get the pegs out!

Sustainability idea #11 Share it!
With better weather coming (?), you might be starting to think about some home DIY or a new gardening project but we don’t all need to buy our own expensive tools such as drills, chainsaws or lawnmowers. Often these spend most of their time in a cupboard or shed so arrange to share between your friends and neighbours. You never know you might even get a helping hand!

Join us at the Global Village on Friday 5th July as we once again celebrate the Isle of Man’s international connections. Come and meet the charities and other organisations working in international and sustainable development, browse the various exhibits and take part in some family friendly activities.

As usual we will have stalls selling delicious hot food from around the world (Indian, African, Caribbean, Filipino, Thai and Colombian) as well as dance, music and karate performances on the stage.

This year we also have a touring performing arts group with us. Movingsounds will have spent the rest of the week in schools helping teach about environmental and sustainability issues, both from a local and global perspective, and will be on stage at 2pm with their eclectic collection of junk percussion.

The weather forecast is looking good so come on down and see us from 10am to 4pm! (And don’t forget to bring some cash for the foodstalls!)

We’re delighted to welcome back Movingsounds, a performing arts group from Lewes in Sussex who will be touring schools in the Isle of Man this week with a specially-prepared assembly and workshop on environmental matters. Movingsounds have worked with the One World Centre previously on Eco-School projects and their latest visit builds on the interest sparked by Year of Our Island and the award of the UN Biosphere status. Using a mix of story-telling and hands-on activities – and a lot of “junk” percussion instruments – Movingsounds will encourage students to explore our impact on the environment, some of the challenges around our consumerism and how we can make positive changes and choices for a better planet for all.

New props for Movingsounds latest visit to Isle of Man schools

The Movingsounds visit has been made possible through the IoM Government’s Development Education and Awareness Raising Grant which supports some of the educational activities provided by the One World Centre.

And don’t worry if you can’t see the group in schools, Movingsounds will also be performing for the general public around 2pm at the Global Village on Friday 5th July.

Call for action on climate change! The students have already been protesting but now it is time for everyone to show their commitment to tackling climate change by joining in The Time is Now! march taking place on Wednesday 26th June. This will coincide with a march taking place in London at the same time and is an opportunity for everyone to make their voice heard. The marches are supported by a wide variety of groups (not just churches) and the London march has been organised by the UK Climate Change Coalition (more information available here). Organisers of the Isle of Man march are presenting Tynwald with three requests: to keep fossil fuels in the ground, divest from fossil fuels and provide fare free public transport on the Island. Time and location is shown on the poster below. For more information please email l.whitelegg@christian-aid.org.

A (very) belated but heartfelt thank you to the Filipino Association in the Isle of Man who kindly made a donation to the work of the One World Centre earlier this year. As a charity, the One World Centre is dependent on donations, grants and sponsorship to fund our education work and we really appreciate the support from other groups on the Island.

A team from Castle Rushen High School representing DO! Developing Orphans were the overall winners in this year’s One World Charity Challenge, winning £5,000 for the Manx charity as their prize.

In a closely fought contest, teams from each of the Island’s secondary schools competed to deliver the best multimedia presentation on the work of a charity involved in international development.

The finals of the Challenge, which took place at Babbages, at the Mountain View Innovation Centre, was a live event in front of invited guests including the Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney and Tynwald President Steve Rodan MHK.

Each team was judged on a number of factors including how well they had researched their charity, demonstrating how the charity had impacted the life of a young person and how it was working to meet the sustainable development goals as well as the team’s overall presentation. The youngsters, who were all Year 12 students, were also challenged to be advocates for their chosen charities and this year the team from Ramsey Grammar School representing Excellent Development won the AFD Trophy and £1,000 prize for Advocacy.

Other teams involved were Ballakermeen High School representing International Refugee Trust, QE2 High School representing Kids Club Kampala, St Ninian’s High School representing Thare Machi Education and King William’s College representing Pahar Trust.

Congratulations to everyone who took part and thanks to our generous sponsors AFD Software Ltd for enabling the competition to go ahead.

Public donations to the street collection organised by the One World Centre on behalf of the DEC Cyclone Idai appeal raised almost £6,000. Thank you to all those who contributed and to all the volunteers who were able to help out at short notice.

As you may be aware, Mozambique was hit by a further cyclone (Kenneth) whilst still recovering from the impact of Idai. This is the first time in recorded history that there have been two cyclones of such power in one season in Mozambique.

DEC partner charities in the region have been concentrating on providing clean water and sanitary facilities to prevent a major outbreak of cholera. They have also been delivering emergency shelter materials and blankets, food such as pulses and maize flour, and urgent health assistance.

The DEC Cyclone Idai appeal is still live and donations can still be made via the DEC website at www.dec.org.uk or you can make a £5 donation simply by texting DEC to 70000.

As you will have heard, Cyclone Idai has swept through Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, leaving behind a trail of destruction, killing hundreds and affecting an estimated 2.6 million people.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has now called an emergency appeal to help raise funds for those affected by the cyclone.

As part of the DEC’s Rapid Response Network, the One World Centre is organising a street collection in the Isle of Man to allow members of the public to donate to the DEC appeal. This will take place from Friday 29th – Sunday 31st March 2019 and we are looking for volunteers to help with this collection.

Please get in touch by calling 800464 or emailing info@owciom.org if you can spare an hour or two to collect either in Douglas, Ramsey, Peel, Castletown or Port Erin.

We will post updates here and on our Facebook page. For the latest information from the DEC, go to the DEC website here