Chester World Development Forum

Wed 29th Jan – Lecture “Towards a Geography of Industrial Decarbonisation?”
2020-01-29 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Best Building, University of Chester, Exton Park Campus, off Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ
A lecture by Prof Joseph Howe, Executive Director of the University’s Thornton Energy Research Institute. In December 2018 the UK Government announced the Industrial Grand Challenge to enable the deployment large scale industrial decarbonisation infrastructure. This presentation provides an overview of this initiatives, detailing some of the initial proposals emerging from the UK, and examining how different localities are responding.
Visitors are welcome to attend this lecture. Further information 01244 512190.

Fri 31st Jan – “Palestinian Voices Matter”
2020-01-31 19:00 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
A group of Palestinian students from Jerusalem and Bethlehem are coming to Chester. They are meeting with students at the University in the afternoon and Chester Friends of Palestine are organising this open evening meeting. They would love to see a good audience there to hear the students sharing their experiences of accessing higher education under occupation and their personal and political hopes for the future.
Further information: chesterfriendsofpalestine@hotmaul.com
(This meeting replaces the usual monthly CFOP meeting listed for Wednesday 29th January)

Mon 3rd Feb – Greenpeace Chester: Introductory Meeting
2020-02-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Town Crier Pub, City Road, Chester, CH1 3AE
We’re a local group of volunteer activists based in Chester. The Chester Group meeting will be once a month. Members of the group and anyone interested in joining are encouraged to come to this meeting. We’ll cover the ins and outs of activities that local Greenpeace members can choose to take part in, the code of conduct we’ll adhere to, examples of recent campaigns as well as an overview of what campaign we will be focussing on next.
Further information: https://greenwire.greenpeace.org/uk/en-gb/groups/chester-greenpeace

Sun 9th Feb - Visit to Chester by Robin Roth, Traidcraft Chief Executive
2020-02-09 10:30 - 14:30 | Wesley Church Centre, St. John Street, Chester, CH1 1DA
Wesley Methodist Church, St John’s St, Chester, CH1 1 DA
Robin Roth Chief Executive of Traidcraft, will be the guest of, Wesley Methodists at their 10.30am Morning Service, to be followed by coffee and informal chat.
For those not wishing to attend the Service, there is an opportunity afterwards to meet Robin and to hear him speak about Traidcraft’s thoughts, plans and priorities for the future: From approx 12.30 pm you are invited to join him at Wesley for informal chat before a simple lunch (optional) at 1pm, followed by a talk and Q & A Session. Please contact Sue Bownas if you’d like to join lunch: 01244 679270, Mob: 07949 532684 or email: sbownas@btinternet.com If not wanting lunch just come along after 12.30pm, no need to confirm.

Fri 14th Feb - Climate Strike: in support of the UK Student Climate Action Network.
2020-02-14 11:00 - 13:00 | Chester Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, Chester, United Kingdom
Join us for the next Climate Strike and support the UK Student Climate Action Network. This is also the annual date for The Climate Coalition’s – Show The Love when people swap red hearts for green on Valentine’s Day to show they care about our planet and are concerned about Climate Change.
Meet up 11am outside Chester Town Hall with your banner and your green hearts.
Further information: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/support-the-uk-student-climate-network-strike-and-show-the-love-tickets-91311205273

Mon 24th Feb – Sun 8th Mar – Fairtrade Fortnight “She Deserves Fairtrade”
2020-02-24 - 2020-03-08 | Various venues
Each year Fairtrade Fortnight is a big opportunity for campaigners, businesses, schools and places of worship show their support for the farmers and workers who grow our food in developing countries.
Watch out for information about local events.

Mon 2nd Mar - Christian Aid Lent Lunch
2020-03-02 12:00 - 13:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF
Mondays in Lent: 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 Mar – Christian Aid Lent Lunches
Arranged by City Centre Churches Together. Please join us for a simple meal. £5 donations to Christian Aid: “Working to end poverty and injustice worldwide”. 01244 375606.
[Lent Lunch on Mon 30 March moves to Handbridge, see below]

Mon 9th Mar - Christian Aid Lent Lunch
2020-03-09 12:00 - 13:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF

Tues 10th Mar - CWDF Forum
2020-03-10 18:45 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
6.45pm – 9.00pm The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
Speakers: Linda & Stewart Shuttleworth, talking of their personal involvement with the charity “Jamie’s Fund”, supporting the development of mental health care in Uganda. http://jamiesfund.org.uk

Mon 16th Mar - Christian Aid Lent Lunch
2020-03-16 12:00 - 13:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF

Sat 21st Mar - Sustainable Chester Fair - Sustainable Fashion - NOW POSTPONED
2020-03-21 11:00 - 17:00 | Rowton Hall Hotel & Spa, Rowton Lane, Chester, CH3 6AD
Organised by Eco Communities/ Friends of the Earth Chester & District as their fourth Sustainable Fair. This event will have an extra Sustainable Fashion theme, working with Cheshire West & Chester Council, with talks and workshops throughout the day.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/eco-communities-friends-of-the-earth-chester-amp-district-20117717104

Mon 23rd Mar - CA Lent Lunch - NOW CANCELLED
2020-03-23 12:00 - 13:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF
NB: Lunches on 23 and 30 March NOW CANCELLED
Mondays in Lent: 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 Mar – Christian Aid Lent Lunches
Arranged by City Centre Churches Together. Please join us for a simple meal. £5 donations to Christian Aid: “Working to end poverty and injustice worldwide”. 01244 375606.
[Lent Lunch on Mon 30 March moves to Handbridge, see below]

Fri 27th Mar – Q & A Session with Chris Matheson MP - NOW POSTPONED
2020-03-27 18:00 - 19:30 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
This is the Forum’s first opportunity to meet Chris Matheson since his re-election as MP for the City of Chester at the December 2019 General Election.

We’ll meet at the Forum’s usual venue, The Unity Centre, 6.00pm for 6.15pm start, with Chris Matheson able to be with us for about 1 hour.

Chester Friends of Palestine - West Bank visitors + AGM - NOW POSTPONED
2020-03-27 19:15 - 21:00 | Room 204, Riverside Building, University of Chester, Castle Drive, Chester, CH1 1SL
CFOP’s March meeting will be held on Friday 27th at 7.15pm in the Riverside Building in Castle Drive. We have changed the date because we have visiting speakers from Bel’in in the West Bank and this was the date which fitted with their itinerary. That meeting will conclude with our AGM.

Mon 30th Mar - CA Lent Lunch- NOW CANCELLED
2020-03-30 12:00 - 13:30 | St Mary’s Handbridge Centre, Overleigh Road Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7HL
NB: Final two lunches NOW CANCELLED
Mondays in Lent: 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 Mar – Christian Aid Lent Lunches
This is the last in the series of Lent Lunches, for which we move across the river to St Mary’s Handbridge Centre
Arranged by City Centre Churches Together. Please join us for a simple meal. £5 donations to Christian Aid: “Working to end poverty and injustice worldwide”. 01244 375606.

Tues 21st Apr – “Is Africa developing? Challenging some popular perspectives?” - NOW CANCELLED
2020-04-21 16:30 - 17:30 | Best Building, University of Chester, Exton Park Campus, off Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ
A lecture by Prof Tony Binns, University of Otago, New Zealand, drawing on his long standing interest in African community development and the livelihoods and wellbeing of Africans. Lecture arranged on behalf of the Geographical Association. Visitors welcome.
Further information: Gill Miller (GA President 2019-20) 07941 629236

Tues 28th Apr – Film “On Her Shoulders”- CANCELLED or POSTPONED
2020-04-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
The documentary film “On Her Shoulders” is about Nadia Murad a young Yazidi woman who escaped from ISIS and has helped to publicise the plight of the Yazidi and women and children victimised by genocide and mass atrocities. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018.
Further information www.storyhouse.com or amnesty.chester.wrexham@gmail.com

11-17th May - Exhibition and Conference "Our Journey to Sustainability" - NOW 9 - 16 NOV
2020-05-11 - 2020-05-17 | Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh Street, Chester, CH1 2DY
By putting on this exhibition with Chester Cathedral, the Chester Sustainability Forum aims to display the wide range of responses to the climate emergency that are being planned and implemented by the many faith groups, environmental groups, businesses, and political parties which share the common objective of improving the environmental sustainability of Chester and its surrounding area
We hope that, by visiting the exhibition, you will learn a little more about the environmental problems we face, be inspired to take action yourself, and even join one of the groups, whether in Chester or, if you are a visitor to our beautiful city, back in your home town.
Further information, Colin Watson, 07511 038385.

Tues 12th May – CWDF Forum AGM - CANCELLED, AGM POSTPONED
2020-05-12 18:45 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
Prior to our AGM business we’ll be hearing from Stephen Maund, providing an update on community development projects in Malawi.
6.45pm – 9.00pm The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN

Fri 15th May - "All Creation Waits" - NOW 10 NOVEMBER, CATHEDRAL
2020-05-15 19:30 - 21:00 | Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
A dance theatre piece created by Claire Henderson Davis, and run in association with the Cathedral Exhibition “Our Journey to Sustainability”
More information + tickets available at www.storyhouse.com/event/all-creation-waits.

Mon 18th May - Workshop "Money Makes Change" - POSTPONED
2020-05-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF
A workshop run by Chester Quakers as an event associated with the Cathedral Exhibition “Our Journey to Sustainability”

Learn about how the way you spend, save and invest money can make a huge impact on the world around us.
Free of charge but please register at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/money-makes-change-tickets-99010602377 if you would like to attend.

Tues 14th Jul - CWDF Forum - CANCELLED
2020-07-14 18:45 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
Our final Forum meeting before the summer break. Speaker TBA
MEETING NOW CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Thurs 6th Aug - Hiroshima and Nagasaki Flower Memorial
2020-08-06 20:00 - 21:00 | The Bandstand, The Groves, Chester
Here is the poster for this year’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki Flower Memorial on August 6th at 8pm. Our usual pattern has been adapted to meet social distancing, so all the group events will take place on The Groves. If you and your friends then want to walk onto the bridge to drop flowers, or walk over to the Peace tree on the south bank to leave them there, please do this at the end of the readings, in small groups.
It’s the 75th anniversary this year, but we still face the threat of nuclear destruction, along with climate change and the current pandemic. It’s a dangerous place we live in, so it’s all the more important for us to commit ourselves to remembering, and to working for a safer world.
In Peace, Margaret and Dai

Tues 8th Sept - CWDF Forum-by-Zoom
2020-09-08 19:00 - 21:00
Our first meeting of the 2020/21 period takes place in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and before restrictions and constraints have fully eased. This Forum will therefore be run as a Zoom session.
Our speaker will be Namrata Bhattacharya-Mis (Namrata), giving a talk “Global Health Update” based on her current research. Namrata is Gill Miller’s successor at Geography and International Development at the University, and her talk on a vital topic at this time.
We will send further details nearer the time. The number of Zoom screens will necessarily be limited and specific invitations will be sent to those wishing to participate.

Thurs 17th Sept - Chester CND
2020-09-17 19:30 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
This meeting, like the one that had to be cancelled in March, is to discuss the future of the group. When this incarnation of CND was set up, there was the possibility of cancelling the next Trident order, but in the current climate, there is no obvious immediate focus for our activities. The group can of course just hibernate for a while, but it feels as if spring is a long way off, and there are perhaps at the moment other more pressing issues for activists to be involved in.
If you can come to this meeting please do – if you can’t come but have ideas on these points please reply to chestercnd@gmail.com and we can take your thoughts there. We will of course let everyone know what decisions we come to.
In peace, Margaret & Dai.

Sat 26th Sept – Chester Friends of Palestine Vigil Against Arms to Israel
2020-09-26 14:00 - 15:00 | The Cross, Chester
2-3.00pm The Cross, Chester
Last month’s Vigil was very successful, catching shoppers’ attention, the group standing in front of empty shops and conveniently situated for maximum visibility. The Group knows that some avoid these events, feeling uncomfortable handing out leaflets. At this event leaflets are only given to those who approach us.
Come and support us! Further information chester4palestine@gmail.com

Thurs 1st Oct - CWDF Q&A (Zoom) session with Chris Matheson MP
2020-10-01 18:00 - 19:15 | Zoom Session
Joining at 6.00 for start at 6.15pm. Issues to be raised and discussed with Chris include: the Foreign Office/International Development merger; working towards Zero Carbon Britain; post-EU Trade Deals; Covid and developing country Debt.
The session will be Zoom-hosted and chaired by Gill Miller. We hope you can join in. To participate please email bernard.payne691@btinternet.com and we’ll send the necessary joining instructions.

Fri 9th – Sun 11th Oct - What If...? Imagining our green and fair recovery
2020-10-09 - 2020-10-11 | Zoom Session
A Virtual weekend, where a variety of contributors will be speaking on a range of environmental and social topics. Each session will last around an hour with time for Q&A from the audience.
Sessions will take place across the whole weekend and anyone can register to watch as many sessions as they like, live via Chester FoE and Eco Communities on CrowdCast.
Further information here: LINK
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/our-second-virtual-event-what-if-tickets-117306957267?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-source=strongmail&utm-term=listing

Wed 14th Oct – Chester Greenpeace: A Green Recovery, future of transport in Chester
2020-10-14 18:30 - 20:00
Greenpeace nationally has started a Transport campaign. Locally we wish to organise an event, Wednesday 14th October at 6:30 pm, where we can engage our local authorities to speak on local transport issues, and particularly seeking contributions from groups that are campaigning on the intersections of race and transport, and the accessibility of transport, and who understand the local context.
Further information about this event: Sean Anglish, Local Group Coordinator Chester Greenpeace, s.anglish@yahoo.com
Topic: A Green Recovery: the Future of Transport in Chester
Time: Oct 14, 2020 06:30 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://greenpeace.zoom.us/j/98661096058?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 986 6109 6058
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Sat 31st Oct – Chester Friends of Palestine Vigil Against Arms to Israel
2020-10-31 14:00 - 15:00 | The Cross, Chester
Our recent vigils have been very successful, catching shoppers’ attention, the group standing in front of empty shops and conveniently situated for maximum visibility. The Group knows that some avoid these events, feeling uncomfortable handing out leaflets. At this event leaflets are only given to those who approach us.
Come and support us! To let us know you are coming, and for further information please email: chester4palestine@gmail.com
