"Tent universities" inspire new Cardigan courses (From Western Telegraph)

"Tent universities" inspire new Cardigan courses

11:10am Thursday 4th October 2012 in News

Free weekly informal learning sessions, aiming to help people prepare for the future, will be run in Cardigan through October and November, starting today (Thursday).

The wide ranging sessions have been inspired by the recent ‘tent universities’ at the Occupy the Cities events in London and New York.

The Cardigan courses will include practical skills as well as theory and debate.

“The idea is that anyone with expertise or skills can sign up to deliver their workshop, lecture or practical activity,”

says organiser Vicky Moller.

Most of the lectures and activities start at 2pm every Thursday and will be in the Pwllhai market and Ecoshop.

The first event is a beekeeping lecture, with live bees today (Thursday). This will be followed by a wool processing afternoon on October 11th.

The following day sees the grand finale of Cardigan’s Ecoweek and includes a tour of Pwllhai, the communityowned area of Cardigan; a talk by Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood on the green economy for Wales, a tour of the castle and a panel discussion on renewable energy.

“The mix of high theory, revealing films and down-toearth practical skills is very innovative and exciting,” said Vicky.

“If October is successful we can carry on in December.

There are plenty of great ideas and skills out there waiting to be shared.

“Why should education be restricted by cost? It should be freely available, and it is here.”

Visit www.ecocymru.org or phone 01239 820971.