Hey guys! I want to briefly chat a bit about one of my best friends Riley who has submitted this recipe to us. Riley is an absolutely fantastic baker and has provided us with a lovely basic bread recipe below.
If you follow our twitter feed, you’ll notice that I have been tweeting recently about the climate protesters from the No Dash for Gas group who are being sued by energy giant EDF for a whopping £5 million. The No Dash for Gas group, including my friend Riley, occupied a gas-fired power station at West Burton which is the first of 20 proposed gas power stations under new plans. The plant is still under construction, but the seven day occupation by No Dash for Gas activists saved 19177 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Here is a short video from No Dash for Gas explaining how and why they occupied West Burton.
As some of you may know, I’m an environmental scientist and so can talk about climate change at great length if given half the chance. Ill try to keep it brief! What’s key to know is that the UK government has exempted West Burton power station from emissions regulations for basically the entire life span of the plant – 45 years – even though when operational it is predicted to emit more carbon dioxide that the whole of Paraguay. This new dash for gas power threatens our ability to meet our (woefully unambitious) emissions targets, which we need to not only meet but exceed if we have any hopes of keeping global temperature rises below 2 degrees Celsius.
As such, many of us feel that the potentially drastic consequences of climate change calls for drastic measures. The No Dash for Gas group put their bodies on the line to make a stand against global climate change, and EDF are suing them for a whopping £5 million. Whilst EDF make billions of profit every year, £5 million is more than Riley or any of the other defendants could dream of earning in a lifetime. This whole suing malarkey is an unprecedented slap in the face to the UK’s vibrant history of civil disobedience and protest, and really raises questions about big corporations trying to deter dissent and criticism.
A brief list of things you can do to help:
- Sign and promote the petition calling for EDF to drop its civil action
- Switch energy supplier and email EDF letting them know why
- Tweet @edfenergy and ask them to drop the civil suit against No Dash for Gas
- Follow No Dash for Gas on facebook and twitter
- Invite someone from No Dash for Gas to your union branch, university, church, local group, etc.
- Help shut down EDF’s conference on 1st May
- Organise a banner drop or solidarity action where you are.
- Jess
Now, on with the bread!
Ingredients: 1lb strong white bread flour (or 50/50 strong white and wholemeal), 1 tsp instant yeast, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 pint warm water, handful porridge oats, handful pumpkin/sunflower seeds, pinch of herbs eg. oregano.
eigh out the dry ingredients into a bowl. Give it a stir in between adding the yeast and the salt because the salt will slow down your yeast.
Mix in the water until the dough comes together. I use my hands but you can use a spoon if you don’t like mess. Leave it for 10 mins.
Then turn out on to an oiled OR floured work surface and knead until soft, supple and smooth.
Put it back in the bowl, covered with a tea towel or a plastic bag, and leave for about an hour in a reasonably warm place.
Put the oven on at 200C to preheat. Lightly oil your baking tin or tray.
Turn your dough out onto the surface and divide into two. Shape each lump of dough into a round shape and place onto your pre oiled baking trays.
Cover with a tea towel and leave in a warm place for 45 mins. It’s ready when it doesn’t spring straight back when you lightly prod it.
Cut a slit into the top and lightly dust with flour.
Bake in the oven until golden brown. Start checking after half an hour.
Leave it to cool at least a little before slicing.
