WASTE AND CLIMATE CHANGE 10am-11.30am Wed 25 March

🗓️ Start: Wed 25 Mar 2026 10:00 am
⏳ End: Wed 25 Mar 2026 11:30 pm

Modern consumer society is currently trapped in a “take-make-waste” cycle, with the average person in the UK generating 620kg of waste annually—a figure contributing to 5.5% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. This crisis is driven by an economic model where it is often cheaper to replace items than to fix them, leading to a projected 70% increase in global waste by 2050. To prevent this refuse from flooding landfills and the environment, urgent regulation is needed to transition toward a circular economy. By prioritizing the repair, reuse, refurbishment, and recycling of goods, we can break the link between economic growth and environmental degradation.

https://u3acommunities.org/event/waste-and-climate-change-10am-11-30am-wed-25-march/

Discussion on the Poetry of Philip Larkin

🗓️ Start: Tue 24 Mar 2026 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 24 Mar 2026 8:00 pm

Just over a century after Philip Larkin passed away we will chat about what his poetry means to us today. We will start with his “A study of reading habits” and move on from there

https://u3acommunities.org/event/discussion-on-the-poetry-of-philip-larkin/

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

🗓️ Start: Wed 8 Apr 2026 10:30 am
⏳ End: Wed 8 Apr 2026 12:00 pm

Over the next decade, AI is set to transform healthcare by introducing machines with human-like intelligence that operate with greater speed and cost-efficiency than traditional methods. This technological shift spans from wearable hardware, such as AI-powered hearing-aids and spectacles, to core functions like diagnosing medical conditions, discovering new drugs, and tailoring personalised treatment plans. Beyond patient care, AI will streamline NHS administration and enhance public health screening initiatives, supported by significant financial backing such as the government’s £10bn AI Investment Programme commitment through 2028/29. In this wide-ranging presentation, Ian Hawker (East Suffolk u3a) will explore just some of these exciting opportunities.

https://u3acommunities.org/event/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare/

Electoral Reform

🗓️ Start: Thu 19 Mar 2026 10:30 am
⏳ End: Thu 19 Mar 2026 11:30 am

With the Middle East in flames and oil prices soaring, a significant piece of legislation – the ‘Representation of the People’ Bill – attracted little attention when it was debated in parliament earlier this month. Among several proposed reforms, the most far-reaching would be the extension of voting rights to 16/17-year-olds. You may agree or disagree with that, but much of the commentary afterwards focussed on what wasn’t in the Bill – our electoral system itself. As Britain’s political landscape continues to fragment, our long-standing ‘first-past-the-post’ system is increasingly delivering outcomes that are ever-further removed from the true balance of public opinion in the country today. So, at this month’s meeting, we’ll be discussing the pros and cons of replacing FPTP with a more proportional voting system. For more information, take a look at these recent articles: ‘After Gorton & Denton: The case for PR’ and ‘Restoring democracy: Labour’s challenge’

If you haven’t yet done so, there’s still time to join our mailing list, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group

https://u3acommunities.org/event/electoral-reform/

Question: do AGSulzberger and leaders at NYT have any civic responsibilities or patriotic duties? How is this not a #FrontPage scandal? Witkoff, pals w/Putin, working with Jared Kushner and failing the people and security of the United States.

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/post/3mgpqya2yux25

History Month March 2026

🗓️ Start: Tue 24 Mar 2026 12:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 24 Mar 2026 1:00 pm

History month: Tuesday 24th March at noon, we have a guest speaker from Newcastle u3a to tell us about, ‘Interesting News’.

This is a compilation of talks our speaker has given regarding fascinating events or people in history.

Not to be missed!

 

 

 

https://u3acommunities.org/event/55424/

Probably not many #FrontPage stories in NYT, WaPo, WSJ used “climate crisis” or “climate emergency” in their headlines in 2025. Did any?

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:77lswp42lgjyw36ozuo7kt7e/post/3mghmvrqmbc2w

In an era of extreme normalization and sanewashing … this is beyond comprehension. This is “He is king” might as well be “He is god”. We wish newsroom leaders would have the courage and patriotism to make this a #FrontPage multi-day story.

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/post/3mgfx6ep5ic2f

Should be #FrontPage

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ornpixmpy5ts36lh7hmi7wkp/post/3mg6un2jae22b