Success for Alternatiba Exeter: Festival of solutions to global crisis

On Saturday 21st November, 230 people attended the Alternatiba Festival, held in Exeter.

Over 30 different community groups and organisations came together to share stories and experiences of how we can live in a more sustainable way and enjoy being part of a rich and diverse community.

Gillian Baker from the community group Transition Exeter, said:  “It was so empowering to see groups with common interests who have never met before coming together in such a joyful environment and sharing their enthusiasm for positive change.”

The festival included talks by Rupert Read and 15 different community groups.  There were food stalls and an alternative xmas market where people could buy locally produced crafts and foods.  People attending were able to purchase Exeter Pounds as xmas presents, buy shares in Exeter Community Energy and find out about the new West Town Farm Community Trust.

The event was run ahead of the COP21 conference on Climate Change in Paris to raise awareness of how important it is for individual, communities and countries to make the right decisions to ensure the climatic stability of our fragile planet. 

Jacques Kluska from the Alternatiba Exeter organising committee said: “We know about the problems of climate change, I do not want to add to the problems, I want to be part of the solution!”

For more information about Alternatiba Exeter see www.alternatiba.eu/exeter/