Did you know that:

• 70 % (4,824) of the worlds known languages occur in these 35 Hotspots and 5 wilderness areas, which is an area that is less than a quarter of the Earth’s land surface.
• In the hotspots, 1,553 of the languages are spoken by fewer than 10,000 people and 544 of those have less than 1,000 speakers.
• The Wilderness areas have 1,251 languages with fewer than 10,000 speakers and 657 are spoken by less than 1,000 people.

Suzanne Romaine, Merton Professor of English Language in the University of Oxford,  predicts between 50–90% of known languages will have disappeared before the end of this century. She joined us here on Radio Free Brighon to discuss this, and the impact that it will have for future generations.

Listen in on Thursday the 17th at noon (repeated at midnight) to hear more, or check it out here right now.

Find out more about the issue here. And for further examples of Suzanne’s work please look here.

Thursday May 17^th

Teach the ‘IDAHO Lesson’

Making schools safer and improving learning achievement for all!

Marks International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

The event is at the Old Steine, Brighton.

For further information, please contact Eric Page on 01273 294638.

Friday, 18^th May

Sunday, 20^th May

Brighton Festival Fringe concert: Rachel Fryer (piano)

The former Green city councillor plays Bach’s Goldberg Variations

St. Michael’s and All Angels Church, St. Michael’s Place, Brighton, 6 p.m.

Wednesday May 23^rd

Climate Jobs Caravan visits Brighton

Promoting the One Million Climate Jobs report.  The Climate Jobs Caravan will visit over 25 towns and cities.  It will argue that the creation of one million climate jobs could help solve both the economic and environmental crises we are facing.

More details: www.climate-change-jobs.org/node/14/pamphlet and www.climate-change-jobs.org/caravan.

For more updates and to follow the Caravan on twitter: @climate_caravan or the website: www.facebook.com/groups/253497651395542/.

Friday 25th — Sunday 27th May

The Hanging Gardens of Brighton

In the Old Steine Gardens with live music, cabaret and food

Saturday, 26^th May

Action for Access: Shoreham Downs walk

By car: there is a car park on the A283 near Dacre Gardens (not recommended as this is not a circular walk, so drivers will need to walk back another mile after Erringham farm!).

Tuesday 29th May

Sussex Equality Group meeting

7 — 9 p.m. at The Friends Meeting House

Brighton Sussex Equality Group is a voluntary organisation working to reduce income inequality in Sussex to make a better local society for everyone.

More information: www.sussexequalitygroup.org.uk or contact Stuart at stuart.hill@sussexequalitygroup.org.uk.

Friday and Saturday, 15th-16th June

A national showcase of the latest technologies which perform a crucial role in protecting the environment and making our daily business and home lives more efficient.  Over 100 exhibitors.

Tuesday, June 19^th

Brighton Café Scientifique

Detecting earthquakes and nuclear explosions

Cyril Isenberg, University of Kent.

Latest Music Bar, Manchester St, Brighton; 7.30 for 8 p.m.

www.cafe-scientifique-brighton.org.uk, e-mail: contact@brightoncafesci.com.

Outside Brighton and Hove

Wednesday May 23^rd

On London’s Oil Road: A journey to the heart of the energy economy
Transition Walks, in association the Ramblers Association.

Starts at 6.30 p.m.  Tickets: £5 + 75p booking fee from http://oil-walk.eventbrite.co.uk/, who will notify the exact starting point to all those who have registered one week before the event.
www.festivaloftransition.net/walks/oil-walk

Friday, July 27^th – Sunday, July 29^th

Reclaim the Fields: Summer Gathering

The Clervaux Trust, Croft-on-Tees, Darlington, DL2 2LF

Suggested donation: £5 a day — includes all meals

Bookings or more info:  rtfsummergathering@gmail.com, www.reclaimthefields.org.uk

Local Schools have begun a competition, in partnership with the Eco Technology Show to make their schools greener and more energy efficient.

All local primary and secondary pupils have been challenged to come up with ways to reduce their schools’ impact on the environment in one of the following areas: water, waste, energy and transport.

The deadline for the designs is on May the 17th, and the winning designs will be announced and exhibited at the American Express Community Stadium at the Eco Technology Show 2012 (15–16 June), where it will be seen by thousands of visitors.

’”Robyn Steer, Creative Arts Coordinator, Albion in the Community, said: “The project was set up to engage young people in an eco-discussion and to give them the opportunity to actively explore what their school already does that is ‘green’.

“The project lets Brighton and Hove’s young people audit their school’s existing eco-projects and take creative control in designing how their school could be even greener.

“All of the schools involved so far are eco-schools, but this project enables them to look that bit further and see what else they could do – with no budget set, the project really encourages blue-sky thinking. It’s also open for any new local school to get involved and I am really excited to see what they design!”

Nicola Gunstone, director at the Eco Technology Show says: “Environmental awareness and sustainable behaviour is becoming increasingly important within schools, to help the younger generation better understand the issues facing our planet and to look after their environment.

“The Eco Technology Show at Brighton’s Amex Stadium is a great day out for local families, as well as school groups and teachers. It provides access to the best suppliers of sustainable products to help minimise waste, improve energy efficiency and reuse products for use in homes, schools and businesses. It’s also the place to gain clarification on environmentally focused government regulations which will be covered in a series of free seminars on the exhibition floor.

“Furthermore, activities and interactive elements of the show to ensure it’s an entertaining day out for families and schools. Visitors can try out the latest transport equipment on our free Test Track, such as the Segways, and check out the latest Eco cars and scooters, including the brand new Renault electric car the Twiz and the new solar powered e-trikes. Do also come and taste and shop in our sustainable food market or join one of the many practical workshops and seminars.“‘

For further information please see www.ecotechnologyshow.co.uk

On Thursday the 3rd of May Under the Bridge Studios, the home of Radio Free Brighton, Music for Kids and many others, was proud to have a group of talented children from the local Moulsecoomb School come and vist. Whilst here they were given the chance to record a song of their choosing with some of Brighton’s most talented musicians.

The result, a cover of Aloe Blacc’s I Need a Dollar, can be listened to here. Check it out and let us know what you think!

We launch our scheme on Wednesday 16th May, 7.45pm at the Friends Meeting House in Brighton.

Brighton MP Caroline Lucas will give an introduction, and newly-elected leader of Brighton Council Jason Kitkat will also say a few words. Then the directors of Brighton Energy Coop will outline the scheme, and answer any questions you might have.

It’s also a chance to pick up a copy of our share invitation, which will also be available on this website after the event.

Newly-elected council leader Jason Kitkat will also say a few words

Do come along and feel free to invite invite friends and  neighbours. It’s a great opportunity to learn of our journey to this point and about the details of this exciting scheme. In the meantime, if you’re interested in investing, you can pledge your investment here.

After the free showing of the film Robert Mugabe…What Happened? (Dir Simon Bright), there took place a fascinating and informative panel discussion , chaired by Ian Scoones (Institute of Development Studies, UoS).

Screened to packed houses in South Africa, Belgium, Holland and the UK,
this critically acclaimed film is a definitive account of Mugabe’s life.

You can here the panel discussion here in full.

Also, check out our Radio Free Brighton interview with Mike Holdgate about his time teaching in Zimbabwe here, or listen to it as our Wednesday Special Interest story on Wednesday at noon (repeated at mindnight).

Radio Free Brighton talks to Brighton & Hove Women Against Cuts.  BHWAC is a group of local women who have come together to take action against the coalition cuts. This is their first ever experience of doing a radio show and we thought it a terrific start! Brave girls! They are very well informed and we hope to have them back on a regular basis to keep us up to speed with the changes,  the many ammendments, and what people can do to oppose the cuts.

http://www.mixcloud.com/RadioFreeBrighton/brighton-and-hove-women-against-the-cuts-/

Bryan is currently visiting us from Macclesfield doing a week’s work experience. Bryan’s brother Mark is in We Walk In Straight Lines who regularly practise at our rehearsal studios.  Bryan got his first taste of radio when he chatted with Rob about his love of live music and played us some tunes he’s been digging at the moment, including tracks  by Fei Comodo and Miss May I. Listen here to his first ever radio show

http://www.mixcloud.com/RadioFreeBrighton/bryan-selects-some-of-his-favourite-metal-tunes/

Bryan drums for metal band Araxa, who have a female vocalist. They’ve just start putting together some of their own tunes, and hope to start gigging out in nearby Manchester soon. Watch this space!

You can find out more Araxa by visiting their facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Araxa/328154910575324

If you – or someone you know – would be interested in doing work experience at our studios feel free to email us at  studio@radiofreebrighton.org.uk

Brighton Bike Fest aims to celebrate cycling as a safe, clean, healthy and cheap alternative to the car, bringing together various Brighton cycle groups in a self-organised celebration of the bicycle.

Brighton Bike Fest is also about discovering and sharing the liberating, fun and playful side of the bicycle, and its capacity to bring people together on the road (and off it!).

Explore the how, what, who and where of bikes and bike culture in Brighton. Cruise up and put the brakes on for a week’s worth of bike fun as learners and pros alike share films, stalls, maintenance sessions, stories, music, races, rides and matches. Well-oiled eco-mmuter or budding rider, you can join other bicycle lovers and local cycle groups to take part.

For programme go to http://brightonbikefest.org/

Hot new band Weatherbird, soon to be releasing their debut single I Might Be More Than You Know, with a sound compared to a “Grunge Supergrass” ((www.keyo.tv) were coming on Radio Free Brighton on the 14th at twelve noon to perform their songs, give us a taster of the single, and speak to us about their band, their influences, and what they hope for the future. And while your at it, have a look at their webpage here to hear them now, and to watch their music video!Now they are stuck on the motorway heading for Birminham single launch. Will be with us in a few weeks. So let’s here the amazing Alex The Great from last month instead — well worth a listen. Follow them at

Official webpage of Brighton independent folk rock band Alex the Great.