Who?
My name is Mark James
I am an Englishman who has been living in Scotland since late 1987. Brought here to be nearer the mountains and lured by a community programme job. I have lived in Belhaven since Dec 2000.
When?
Involved in SD since its inception. I worked with the Climate Challenge funded programme as an energy advisor and in the active gravel project and at Belhaven Community Garden. I have been a Trustee/Director since September 2021.
Why?
Since the early 80’s I had been interested in environmental concerns. Nuclear power and “Saving” the rainforest were my initial motivations. Since the mid 00’s The transition movement had interested me for a while. I grew up in Lewes one of the early and most active Transition towns. A showing of an Inconvenient Truth in 2008/9? brought a core of people together. Rising to the challenge of peak oil and Climate Change led me to want to be involved in local solutions. SD was formed and Dunbar joined the transition town movement. I had to be involved.
What?
Achieve real change whilst having fun. I am certain people will be more likely to embrace change if supported and part of a positive movement. That change maybe small scale eg riding a bike more, eating more local food or larger changes in lifestyles.
I aim to give people opportunities to get together to socialise and to feel motivated to make positive changes, both in their lives and in the wider world.
I am currently running Dunbar Bike Hub. I am project lead for the Active Travel Project, Connecting Dunbar, and I organise the Climate Café.
I would like to see SD acquire an asset that will enable us to generate an income and be self-sustaining. I have been involved with pursuing a renewable energy asset.
I would like to see SD be part of a wider grass roots driven movement that inspire each other to effect lasting change across Scotland and beyond these boundaries.