Download the poster (pdf) for printing.

Some of this work will be performed at 7.30 pm, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at ‘Le Pub’, 19, High St., NEWPORT NP20 1FW. https://www.lepublicspace.co.uk/

This will be a live performance featuring spoken word, music and film.

The event is organized by Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynaliadwy.

Details for those who wish to perform or attend, from: <robert.minhinnick@sustainablewales.org.uk>

GWENT LEVELS CAMPAIGN

Ten days before Christmas, 2023, I went with writer and artist Laura Wainwright to explore parts of the ‘Gwent Levels’, at Uskmouth. It was my first visit, although Laura is familiar with the area, sometimes taking her children walking there.

We went because the area is increasingly threatened by various developments. Only in the last four years has the Welsh government rejected plans for a new extension of the M4 motorway through parts of these wetlands.

The weather proved raw and blustery, but we were both delighted to encounter immediately some of the very particular wildlife that inhabits the area.

I saw my first ever reed bunting, and keen-eyed Laura identified a heron on the Severn mudflats, and thus we are writing, painting and sketching our expedition highlights.

This exploration occurred at the same time as the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians, especially in Gaza. Personally I found combining in my writing the situations in both Gwent Levels and Gaza, quite natural.

THE REEN

a poem for two voices

Or rhyne or rhewyn

or simply ditch but even

the word itself disappearing

but nothing to be done, nothing to be done

like the creatures

we might have discovered there

yet nothing can be done

nothing can be done

and I turn on the radio

and over the ghettoes of Gaza

in the ruined boulevards

another child is weeping

but nothing will be done

nothing will be done

 - ah, the petrol-coloured dragonfly,

the chevron of the demoiselle,

this one red, this one emerald -

or an exhibit in the museum

of barbed wire

with which we encircle the world,

no nothing to be done

nothing to be done

voice of the reaper, song of the drone

while the children must cry all night

in the rhyne  and the rhewyn in the ditch in the reen

but even the word itself disappearing

like the creatures we might

have discovered there 

 - ghost of a yellowhammer

glimpsed  though gorse,

grass snake aswim

in sedge beside the solar farm,

heron, a hermit holding on

beside its JCB scrape  -

but nothing can be done

nothing can be done

so once again I turn on the radio

and over the ghettoes of Gaza

comes the harpies’ music,

the predator’s sigh

when even the words are disappearing,

rhyne or rhewyn or ditch or reen

because it is somebody else’s language

loved and lost

but nothing can be done

nothing can be done

and then I am reminded

that language is my own

but there’s nothing to be done

nothing to be done

but how memory maims

and how all grief is someone else’s guilt

while somebody else’s country

is vanishing like pixels on a screen

yet there’s nothing to be done 

nothing to be done

in the ditch and the rhewyn and the rhyne and the reen

but nothing will be done nothing will be done

and now I am reminded by the same radio

that the country is my own,

and the voice of the reaper, the song of the drone:

they too are mine.

Yet there’s nothing will be done,

nothing will be done…

(With thanks to  Marwan Makhoul, poet born to a Palestinian father and a Lebanese mother in 1979 in the village of Boquai'a in the Upper Galilee region of Palestine).

A photographic presentation of Porthcawl*

With the regular Poetry Open Mic

*may contain Elvis

Find out more at SUSSED

Stage Door, Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl CF36 3YW

https://www.serenbooks.com/productdisplay/delirium

This collection of short prose begins with a real 1945 diary kept in Burma, and Minhinnick telling stories to his mother in her care home.

It includes a series of pictures of war-stricken Baghdad, and vignettes about place and travel, dedicated to Jan Morris.

On the way we encounter a Middle East island devoted to sustainability, close ups of what clearing a family house reveals, and the writer’s intimately imagined Welsh sand dunes.

Minhinnick also watches the Stereophonics in Sydney, mourns the Golan Heights and meets a family of destitute Bedouins.

Throughout we encounter the Covid pandemic, threats of extinction, and images of post-apocalyptic life.

A breathless epic…

Gorwelion Shared Horizons / Robert Minhinnick’s Delirium at Chapter Arts

Chapter
Market Road
Canton
Cardiff
CF5 1QE

7pm JULY 7.

This is a joint event with Robert Minhinnick’s latest work, ‘Delirium’ (Review)

Download the poster: as a picture jpeg or here as a PDF

GREEN ROOM RETURNS

WITH ELVIS-THEMED NIGHT - Above SUSSED

Sustainable Wales, 5, James St., Porthcawl CF36 3BG

“A little satire will add to the fun”.

After a summer break, Sustainable Wales’s ‘Green Room’ performance space recommences with a series of events.

Friday, SEPTEMBER 28, at 8pm, we celebrate the Elvis festival in Porthcawl, with a welcome satirical look at ‘the King’.

There will be Elvis Presley-themed films, and readings from Wales’s finest performance poet, Peter Finch.

Peter will also be speaking about his recent book, ‘The Roots of Rock’ (Seren), in which Elvis, of course, is featured.

Leading Cardiff academic, Dr Daniel Evans, will discuss the ‘class’ element of the Elvis festival.

Co-ordinator of Sustainable Wales, Margaret Minhinnick, says:

“The Elvis festival weekend is now well-established. This extraordinary eisteddfod is unignorable in the town, so our charity is making a contribution to the fun.

“Peter Finch will be sharp! And our popular Open Mike will include film and photographs, drawn from the history of Elvis in Porthcawl.

“Giving a local perspective will be writer Robert Minhinnick, photographer Peter Morgan, musician Gerry Rae and film-maker Paul Woodford.”

Everyone welcome! Croeso cynnes i bawb!

£4 entrance.

Shwmae!

Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynhaliol is celebrating 20 years as the first Welsh NGO promoting sustainable responses to the cultural challenges we face. In celebrating this landmark we would like you to join us on a convivial evening of birthday cake, spoken word, music and film including poets Robert Minhinnick, Rhian Edwards, Kris Evans, music from Honey Peg with the Earl and Pearl Alive band (fomerly One Time Alive) and a clutch of other contributors to entertain and celebrate…

Thursday, Nov 16th – 7pm till late, Stage Door (downstairs), Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. CF36 3YW. Bar available

Do you have images or memories of Sustainable Wales activities you'd like to share? email Margaret on mm@sustainablewales.org.uk

Eventbrite page for booking (free) tickets (opens in a new window)

More details to follow.

Register your interest in coming: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-meeting-producing-our-own-energy-tickets-32530788464

ADVANCED NOTICE – PUBLIC INVITATION

PUBLIC MEETING – LOCALISING RENEWABLE ENERGY - GRAND PAVILION, (STAGE DOOR), Porthcawl, 7.30pm, Thurs APRIL 6TH.

The event, organised by Sustainable Wales, includes guest speakers from Community Energy Wales, RENEW Wales, Cardiff University, IWA-Institute Welsh Affairs and Bridgend Council.

Bridgend Council Leader, Huw David, has also agreed to welcome the guests.

The meeting is being organised to discuss how some communities are taking back control of their energy systems and thus the potential of Porthcawl and Bridgend establishing community owned local renewable energy companies. A step towards economic renewal.

Wales and the UK lag far behind our European neighbours and some states in the USA regarding local energy production.

The scene will be set by a viewing of the film ‘Shine a Light’ which suggest that more support should be forthcoming.  The Porthcawl film was premiered in Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff and was produced and directed by Sustainable Wales and supported by Community Energy Wales.

Sustainable Wales suggests that all UK political parties commit themselves to locally owned renewable energy schemes. Politicians should acknowledge that such schemes are becoming significant in combating climate change. Importantly, these schemes also build more resilient communities, creating local jobs and new opportunities.

These ideas and others will be discussed by our guest speakers.

Speaking of the event, Director Margaret Minhinnick said:

“It is difficult to think of more important issues, tackling climate change and economic regeneration locally. ‘Shine a Light?’ is a beautifully made film, with a wonderful soundtrack. The speakers are experienced and committed to supporting local initiatives I hope local people attend.”

Additional Notes:

Producer, Margaret Minhinnick, Director Sustainable Wales says: “Shine a Light? supports the idea of democratising our energy supply, bringing ownership and profit back into communities whilst reducing climate change“. 

It contains images of the Cenin ‘renewable energy cluster’ at Stormy Down and Porthcawl’s iconic breakwater, rapidly becoming world famous because of its breaking waves.

Music is supplied by Twm Morys, singing traditional Glamorgan ‘tribannau’ to his own tune. It was recorded in the Minhinnicks’ bathroom and is yet another integral Porthcawl feature.

A key contributor includes former MP Alan Simpson, who describes himself as a ‘recovering politician’;. He has been an advisor to the Assembly’s Environment and Sustainability Committee, and commented:

“I think the UK debate has been wrongly focused on windfarms, fracking, etc. It is a question whether localities have: a) ownership of what is being proposed, and b): whether they are direct beneficiaries of the gains that come out of it.”

The film and also profiles practitioners who are amongst the real local heroes of renewable energy  production in Wales.

It illustrates the difficulties that communities have in developing such initiatives, and urges the next Welsh government and local authorities to rectify this. “

WLGA climate change projections**

** Welsh Local Government Association climate change projections suggest that if we don’t plan ahead extreme weather events will become more prevalent. The conditions outlined below are likely:

• essential infrastructure (transport, IT energy, waste) may be compromised;
• water and food supply may be disrupted;
• risks to communities increase, especially among the elderly and other vulnerable groups;
• economic productivity may be reduced due to flooding, high temperatures and transport impacts;
• agriculture may suffer due to loss of soils, lack of water;
• ecosystems services (flood retention, food production) may be degraded.

Find out about the Bridgend Fairtrade Festival and the Sustainable Wales Fair-Trade Bake-off on the dedicated page

The first of a new series of talks and debates at the Green Room  'What is Sustainability and how do we make it part of our culture?'. These are planned for the second Friday of the month (orange posters).

The sub questions will be along the lines of belonging and culture and how mainstream culture seems to be based on using consumerism as a way to belong, which in turn may make it a difficult thing to let go of.  So how do we link sustainability with belonging, on a local level as well as a global level?  And how do we appeal to people who may see becoming 'eco' as moving away from their traditional communities?

Hosted by Suzanne Williams.

BYOB, Free but donations are welcome. Some refreshments will be available from our fairtrade range of teas and coffees. Please share this on social media. More events planned for the Green Room this year so check our twitter, these event pages etc. 

GREEN ROOM RETURNS WITH LOCAL WRITING

Charity, Sustainable Wales welcomes all local writers to its GREEN ROOM, 5, JAMES ST. PORTHCAWL CF36 3BG on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, at 8pm for a celebration of ‘new writing’.

Entirely devoted to the ‘open mic’, the event will feature Robert Minhinnick, Gerald Webber and a variety of other prose and poetry writers.

Entrance £4.

More information: Sustainable Wales 01656 773627

JUNE FUNDRAISING FROCK SWAP INVITATION

THURSDAY 16TH JUNE. 7.30PM The Green Room (above SUSSED) 

Entry £3.00 Frock Swap 16th June 2016, Porthcawl

Organised by Sustainable Wales the June Frock Swap, offers opportunity to reduce, reuse, recycle and refresh wardrobes, have fun and save cash.

Select items that are no longer worn, don’t fit or are not you, but ones you think others will value. Give those clothes or accessories an extended life and swap for others of a similar value. Only good quality items acceptable. Donations welcome in advance.

Refreshments will be available. But bring your own bottle!

1 item = 1 swap, 2 items = 2 swaps etc. Classy items are swopped with others or are worth 2/3 swops of cheaper items.

Our sister project, SUSSED, is also offering a 10% discount on all their new fairly traded clothes or accessories bought by the swappers that night.

“According to researchers, the average household owns a staggering £4,000 worth of clothes, 30 percent of which languishes unworn. Extending the average life of clothes by just three months of active use would lead to a 5-10% reduction in our carbon, water and waste footprints”, commented Director, Margaret Minhinnick.

The popular frock swap returns!

Thursday, October 22nd from 7.30pm. The Green Room (above SUSSED) £3 entry.

All welcome to join our Pop-Up Autumn Event +10% of all SUSSED clothing.

We are organizing an Autumn Frock Swap, offering another chance to update your wardrobe, live more sustainably and save cash.

Select items that you no longer wear, don’t fit or are not you, but ones you think others will value. Give those clothes or accessories an extended life and swap for others of a similar value.

“According to researchers, the average household owns £4,000 worth of clothes, 30 percent of which languishes unworn. Extending the average life of clothes by just three months of active use would lead to a 5-10% reduction in our carbon, water and waste footprints”, commented Director, Margaret Minhinnick.

 “It’s also a very enjoyable and social event. Bring only good quality clothes, accessories and jewellery (donations welcome in advance) Margaret said.

“1item =1swap, 2 items = 2 swaps etc”

“Refreshments will be available and our sister project, SUSSED, is also offering a 10% discount on all their new fairly traded clothes or bags bought on the night.

For more info call the office on 01656 783962

If you enjoy the sea and the beach come along to our events & find out how you can help

Marine Biologist To Speak At The Green Room, James Street, Porthcawl

Learn About The New Swansea Bay Marine Wildlife Voluntary Code Of Conduct For Sea Users And Help Protect Marine Life In The Bay.

The free workshops are funded by the FLAG, (Fisheries Local Action Group) and will launch the new marine voluntary code for all sea users that has been developed by the Nature Conservation Team at Swansea County Council and Judith Oakley, Marine Biologist (Oakley Intertidal). 

The new marine wildlife voluntary code of conduct aims to help people interact safely with marine wildlife and help minimize disturbance to the fantastic sea life present within Swansea Bay.

Passionate marine biologist, Winter Dotto will lead presentations and discussions in the Green Room, above SUSSED, 4/5 James Street, Porthcawl, CF 36 3BG, 27th July, Neath Civic Centre 23rd of July and NSA Afan Employment Academy in Port Talbot 22nd July. 

She is currently working for the Swansea Environmental Forum on the Clear Streams Initiative and explains that "The events hope to draw attention to the new voluntary code of conduct for sea users and get people on board. I will also talk about marine recording, and how people can submit their sightings to their Local Authority Biodiversity Unit.” 

The code of conduct applies to recreational and commercial sea users across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend counties.  

Local marine biologist and author Judith Oakley will also be running sessions in Swansea on 22nd and 23rd July.  

Monday 27th July 2015 

Green Room at Sustainable Wales, James St Porthcawl CF36 3BG   No booking required 6.30-7.45pm

For Further Information Please Contact: winter@environmentcentre.org.uk  

Telephone: 01792 480 200

SUMMER FROCK SWAP

Tuesday, June 9th 7.30pm. The Green Room (above SUSSED) 

All welcome to join our Summer Party +10% off all SUSSED clothing

Sustainable Wales are organizing a summer Frock Swap and another chance to update your wardrobe.

Search your closet for items that you no longer wear, they don’t fit or are not you, but you think others will value. Give those clothes or accessories a second life and swap for others of a similar value.

Be green-friendly, reduce, reuse and recycle, socialise and have fun, whilst refreshing your wardrobe.“ said Co-Organizer Sian Williams 

“As a nation we have a staggering £30 billion worth of clothes stashed within wardrobes that we never wear.  Around 30 per cent of clothes bought every year are not worn. 0.4 kg of CO2 is saved for every item of clothing that is re-used rather than bought new, says Director, Margaret Minhinnick.

Bring only good quality clothes, shoes, accessories and jewellery. (Donations also welcome in advance)

1 item = 1 swap, 2 items = 2 swaps etc

Also 10% off SUSSED’s range of new dresses on the night.

Entry £3.00 refreshments available.