by Stuart Candy
Introduction
A large stone farmhouse, in northern England. Rolling hills surround it, verdant pastures are neatly segmented by dry stone walls; black-faced sheep graze peacefully, clouds drift overhead. It’s cold outside, on this Saturday morning in December 2004, but it’s warm by the living room fireplace as a group of people of diverse backgrounds, ages and nationalities gathers in a circle to discuss a big idea. NGO workers, environmentalists, academics, teachers, journalists – more than 20 in all – will devote this weekend to meeting, socialising, and working out how to bring a compelling vision to life.(continue…)