Greenbelt Associates CMS have been working with Neema Crafts in Tanzania, a group started by Susie Hart, a British person with a disability, who worked with the Tanzanian Diocese of Ruaha to train people with disabilities in crafts, and run a popular cafe.

Greenbelters who were at the Festival in 2008 will remember a team of people from Neema Crafts, based in the CMS tent, who demonstrated their abilities to make paper from elephant dung.

Neema Crafts have now been nominated in the Telegraph Expat Best Of British Awards, for best British-run establishments overseas. We'd like to encourage Greenbelters to visit the Neema Crafts page and vote for them!

A win would give them great publicity, as well as networking opportunities to help in fundraising for their physiotherapy unit for disabled children. It would also give them a platform from which to highlight world-wide the issues of childhood disability and deafness in Africa.

So do vote – it's a worthy cause, and a good way to get involved without literally getting your hands dirty.

Greenbelt is supporting the speaking tour by the Israeli campaigner Jeff Halper of ICAHD throughout March. Jeff is in conversation with Dr Ghada Karmi, a leading Palestinian writer and academic, to discuss how boycotts and other sanctions can allow the public to have a direct involvement in a complex situation, and achieve concrete solutions – similar to those achieved by global action against South African apartheid.

They're speaking in Exeter, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bradford and London, and there are engagements in each that the public can attend. All dates are free entry. See below for dates and locations…

15 March – Exeter
6.30pm – Institute of Arabic & Islamic Studies Dept, University of Exeter – Streatham Campus

16 March – Birmingham
7.30pm – Birmingham Unite Offices, Broad Street

17 March – Glasgow
7.30pm – Boyd Orr Building, University of Glasgow

18 March – Edinburgh
7.30pm – Augustine Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

19 March – Bradford
5.00pm – Bradford University

20 March – London
2.30pm – G2 Main Building, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)

It promises to be a fascinating and motivating set of discussions that allow a real insight into this challenging situation. We hope to have some audio and video content from Jeff and Ghada up on the Greenbelt site soon.

The charity Human Rights Watch is having its 14th International Film Festival in London from March 17th.

Following close on the heels of the Toronto HRW IFF, and before the New York edition in June, the London IFF features 28 films from 20 countries, which look at a wide range of themes from Accountability and Justice, and Development and Migration, to Closed Societies, among others.

Key films include the Benefit Gala film The Balibo Conspiracy, a story from Indonesia's 1975 invasion of East Timor;

the opening night film Moloch Tropical, a drama about political disintegration in Haiti; and Festival-closer The Sun Behind The Clouds: Tibet's Struggle For Freedom, which explores the tension between the non-violent ways of the Dalai Lama and the impatience of the younger generation.

There's also a stream – Youth Producing Change – dedicated to the work of young filmmakers from across the globe, giving uniquely personal insights into areas of human rights crises.

The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival runs from March 17th to 26th 2010, at the Brixton Ritzy, ICA, Curzon Soho and Curzon Mayfair. For more information on the full range of films, check out the HRW IFF London website, or download the PDF of the Festival Programme.

In our second podcast of 2010 we take a look at the volunteering dynamic which drives Greenbelt – the handmade Festival.

We talk to Linda Watson, The Festival's volunteer coordinator, about her role and working with so many volunteers, Chris Parker, Site Manager for the Children’s Festival area, Saga Arpino, heading up the Festival’s Site Vibing Team, Luke Warner, a volunteer in the Box Office Team, and Stuart and Karen Radcliffe, husband and wife volunteers in the Festival’s Operations Team.

Click here to download the .mp3 podcast file (27.2MB)

Or stream the audio using the player below.

Timings – so you can dip in and out if you want to:

00.00 – 00.50 – Intro

00.50 – 03.25 – Linda Watson, Greenbelt’s Volunteer Coordinator

03.25– 05.55 – Chris Parker, Site Manager for the Children’s Festival area

05.55– 10.00 – Saga Arpino, head of the Festival’s Site Vibing Team

10.00 – 12.30 –Luke Warner, Festival Box Office volunteer

12.30 – 16.20 –Stuart and Karen Radcliffe, Festival Operations Team

16.20 – 17.55 –Linda Watson, Greenbelt’s Volunteer Coordinator

17.55 – 19.33 –Outro

Resources and links

How to get involved

Volunteering Generally

Apply

FAQs The Teams

Match your skills to the teams

Volunteer Profiles

Children's Festival Team

Site Vibing – Making Days – Make bunting!

The Soundtrack

• Together – Rob Mooney
• Paradise Circus (Gui Boratto Remix) – Massive Attack
• Together – Kin
• Music Box - The Low Anthem
• A very short sample from Together – Dr. Israel
• Psyche – Massive Attack
• March of the Volunteers – Monkey
• Ticket Taker – The Low Anthem
• Together – Music from the BBC Series
• A History of Scotland - BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
• Better Together – Live feat. G. love – Jack Johnson
• Join Together – The Who

Credits

• Narrated by Grace Wroe and Garry Rutter
• Mixed and Edited – bigJohn Noble
• Written and Executive Produced by Paul Northup
• Co-production – bigJohn Noble
• Narration recording – Iain Archer
• Field Recording – Paul Northup

The Bible tells us many things about Jesus, but on one topic it is sadly lacking – namely, "What sort of iPhone Apps would He download?"*

However, it's not too outlandish to imagine that He might like something like The Jesus Comic, an iPhone app that tells the story of His life.

The twist is that the story is told through snazzy orange-hued cartoons, and using only minimal text. The creator of The Jesus Comic, Jason Ramasami, intends this app not to be a replacement for reading the Bible, but a prompt for discussion amongst families, youth-groups and comic fans. The cartoon depictions are sometimes literal, sometimes oblique, and sometimes symbolic.

As a way of using arts to explore faith, as well as a great sideways look at stories that we know so well, The Jesus Comic is a very Greenbelt-y idea, so why not check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below?

It's available from the iPhone Apps Store, and you can check out more information at The Jesus Comic website, Facebook group and Twitter page.

* He wouldn't need Shazam, for example, due to omniscience.

Those of you looking forward to Shrove Tuesday and Lenten abstinence – there must be some of you out there – will be interested to hear that Greenbelt is hosting the launch of Andrew Rumsey's book of Lent readings "Strangely Warmed: Reflections on God, Life and Bric-a-Brac".

Andrew is Vicar of Christ Church Gipsy Hill. He's a Third Way contributor and a Ship Of Fools columnist. His book is a collection of daily pieces for the forty days of Lent, and is a wry and witty look at everyday aspects of the world that provoke questions of faith – the advertising slogan, the bus journey, the church jumble sale… "Strangely Warmed" aims to present serious doctrinal points in a lighthearted way, and to allow people to enjoy reflecting on faith.

And he's already amassed some fans… Ian Hislop has described the book as "witty, erudite, eloquent and thoughtful", and Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham has said it is "like Spike Milligan doing Thought For The Day".

The event is on Thursday 18th February at 6.30pm, and will take place at All Hallows On The Wall, London Wall, London, EC2M 5ND (click here for a map). Andrew will read from the book, there will be some live music, and there will also be a glass of wine or two to tempt you from your post-Ash Wednesday sobriety.

If you can't make the event, though, don't worry! We'll hopefully have some video content with Andrew at the event up on the website soon.

There are several organisations with offices in the same building as Greenbelt, one of which is Stamp Out Poverty. Stamp Out Poverty are an organisation which campaigns on development finance, primarily looking at ways that financial institutions can generate money for the developing world; money to fund vaccination and treatment of disease, and to eradicate poverty.

One way proposed by Stamp Out Poverty is the Tobin Tax, named after Nobel Laureate James Tobin, which suggests a tax on currency transactions worldwide. The idea being that a small tax (0.05% or so) on global transactions could raise hundreds of billions of pounds in funds for development both globally and within the UK.

Now, they've joined with a dizzying list of other organisations, given the Tobin Tax a snappy new name – The Robin Hood Tax, and roped in Bill Nighy and Richard Curtis for this brilliant video…

Despite the fact that Bill Nighy backing a campaign could persuade me to get excited about most things*, the Robin Hood Tax is at worst a thought-provoking idea, and at best a radical way to make a real difference to the world's most vulnerable people.

What do you think? Will it work?

Read more about it and consider doing something to support the campaign, and Greenbelt's neighbours!

.

.

* Which was fine when he was being a rogueish newspaper editor, but less fine when he was being a Nazi. And a squid-faced pirate.

The Site Vibing volunteer team make the Festival site look amazing. Every gold-wrapped tree, hand-crafted venue sign, or triangle of bunting is made by this creative bunch.

And now, they're inviting you to join them!

The Site Vibers are running four Making Days in Leeds and London, at which the creative among you can contribute a little time and talent to making Cheltenham Racecourse a bit less like a racecourse and a bit more like Greenbelt.

If you have skills in cutting and sewing fabric, drawing and colouring, or crafty construction with card, plastic and other materials, then the Site Vibing Team would love to see you in Leeds in March, and in London in May…

LEEDS – Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th March
Left Bank Leeds
Cardigan Rd, Leeds, LS6 1LJ
(Click here for a map)
Time 10am to 5pm

LONDON – Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd May (please note changed dates)
Greenbelt HQ
All Hallows On The Wall, 83 London Wall, London, EC2M 5ND
(Click here for a map)
Time 10am to 5pm

For more information, check the Site Vibing Throughout The Year page, which also contains patterns for making bunting, or email volunteers@greenbelt.org.uk to RSVP and be added to the list.

Share your creativity with the GB community, and make something beautiful!

As the effects of the earthquake in Haiti continue to occupy people's thoughts, we would like to encourage Greenbelters to consider giving to help the people of Haiti endure this ongoing disaster.

Since the earthquake struck on Tuesday 12 January, the devastation has affected three million people, and the Haitian Interior Minister estimates that it will claim up to 200,000 lives.

Greenbelt's patron, the Archbishop of Canterbury, sent this message of support:-

"I am profoundly shocked and concerned to hear about the devastating earthquake in Haiti. As the news comes through, we are learning more about the tragic loss of life, injury suffered and terrible damage to the country. We stand alongside all the people in Haiti affected by this terrible disaster in prayer, thought and action as the situation unfolds. We pray for the rescue of those still trapped and look towards the rebuilding of lives and communities.

"I commend the swift action of the UK Government's Department for International Development and the relief agencies and churches in mobilising an emergency response. In this time of catastrophic loss and destruction, I urge the public to hold the people of Haiti in their prayers, and to give generously and urgently to funding appeals set up for relief work."

Both our partners – Christian Aid and DFID – are working hard in the area, and would value your support, both donations and prayers.

For more information on the development of the crisis, and for a link to donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee's appeal for Haiti, visit the DFID website.

To donate to Christian Aid, and for more information about their campaign to Drop Haiti's Debt, click on the banner on the right-hand side of the Greenbelt website, or click here.

When asked to write ten resolutions for a greener New Year, GB09 speaker Tamsin Omond instead came up with twelve. Twelve examples of "things that are filling the space between more radical activism and the real world – that are pulling the mainstream into a sustainable vision".

There are some great tips in there for Greenbelters looking to act upon things they heard in Tamsin's talks; things like…

6. I’m starting to like vegetables a lot, especially from my friends’ allotments, terraces or window boxes. And an ex who works on an oil rig(!) has been throwing “meat-free Monday” parties. (http://www.meatfreemondays.co.uk)

Read the rest by clicking here.

Tamsin's talk from GB09 – "WWJD?" – is available from the Greenbelt Talks Shop, and her book "RUSH! The Making of a Climate Activist" is available from Amazon.