WHAT'S ON

London Region of U3As Talks: the LRU3A series of online talks has been extended through 2021. You can see their programme of events here.

iU3A Monthly Meetings: for the two iU3A talks each month see the details below.

iU3A IT Support Meetings: once a month, see the group page for details here: IT Support Group

Tuesday 16 November 2.30-4.30pm approx, Audley Visit: a chance to visit new upmarket retirement apartments overlooking Clapham Common. Audley has run successful retirement villages for over 20 years; this is its first development in London. It is for those who wish to buy a flat, live independently, with on-site services such as swimming pool, restaurant, cinema, guest rooms, and extra care if needed. A rule against sub-letting helps preserve a sense of community. This is a briefing and Covid safety compliant visit for a group of up to 30 followed by complimentary tea and cake. Meeting at South Clapham Tube Station. There are only a limited number of places available — members should apply to Judith Altshul (groups@islingtonu3a.org) by the end of October.

Thursday 25 November 10.00, iU3A Annual General Meeting: please support your u3a, please come and vote. More information here: AGM

Monthly Meetings, Speakers Programme
See below (left-hand column) to see if the Monthly Meetings is a 'hybrid' form (ie you can attend in person at RfL or online through Zoom) or only online. See details below. If it's a hybrid meeting the Risk Assessment for the venue can be viewed here.

The main Talk will start at 10.00am and run to 11.00 — see the details below. It's suggested you are present at least ten minutes before the scheduled start time. There will only be the one topic, the main speaker. The Zoom invitation to these meetings will be sent to all members in the Bulletin.

DATE	MONTHLY MEETING PROGRAMME:
14 Oct online only	How indigenous people are vital players in protecting the planet from climate change. Anthropologist (and long-time Highbury resident) Prof Gill Shepherd will illustrate the role her profession can play by taking us to the dense rich forests of the Congo Basin, the second largest area of tropical forest in the world after the Amazon. 20 years ago Gill’s involvement in discussions between the local forest dwellers (pygmies) and a European logging company helped secure an arrangement offering mutual benefits from both ecological, social and economic points of view. Revisiting this area now (virtually herself, but with an on-the-ground African team), to draft Biodiversity and Climate Change initiatives for the British Government's DEFRA to fund as part of their COP-26 commitments, she has become acutely aware of the changes which have occurred over that 20 years. The main market for Congo Basin timber now is no longer Europe but Asia, and Chinese logging firms are moving in with far lower standards and far less concern for indigenous people or for wildlife. Her proposals, which have been accepted by DEFRA, include policy change to give pygmies far greater rights and responsibilities in their forests. These measures will help to protect wildlife and keep forests in place.
28 Oct hybrid	Jane Lewis and Patrick Mulrenan: Housing Policy in 2021 and Beyond. Dr Lewis and Professor Mulrenan will explore what has led to the present position concerning social housing and look ahead to how the situation will develop. Dr Lewis teaches urban sociology and has an interest in social and spatial inequalities, globalisation, labour markets and housing and urban regeneration policy. She has worked as a lecturer at London Metropolitan University for over 20 years. Professor Mulrenan is the course leader for the Community Development and Leadership Degree course at London Met.  He coordinates the professional validation of a number of programmes with the Chartered Institute of Housing, and is an Associate Professor teaching on modules in housing, leadership, management and employability.
11 Nov online only	No details yet.
25 Nov hybrid	(at 11am after the AGM) David Nutt: Drugs and Drug Policy without the hot air. After his fascinating presentation on psychedelics Professor Nutt makes a welcome return to talk to us about current drug and alcohol policies and how these should be changed. Professor Nutt is a neuropsychopharmacologist at Imperial College specialising in researching drugs which affect the brain, and conditions such as addiction, anxiety and sleep. He is the Chair of DrugScience.a non-profit organisation he founded in 2010 to promote independent evidence-based information on drugs.  He was famously dismissed from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs following the publication of his controversial study of the relative harms of drug use and his expressed opinion that alcohol is more harmful to society than illegal drugs. Hybrid — at RfL and on zoom.
09 Dec online only	Peter Stone: London and its Links with Slavery. During the 18th and 19th centuries British ships carried more slaves from Africa to the New World than any other nation. London was at the centre of the trade: Its slave ships made 3,000 voyages and delivered around 700,000 Africans; its banks provided the necessary credit; and many of the owners of plantations on which slaves toiled lived in London’s fashionable suburbs. Peter will tell the story of London’s links with slavery, and of its abolition. He has long studied many aspects of London’s history, from Roman times to the 20th century. The results are continually added to his website www.TheHistoryOfLondon.co.uk. His book The History of the Port of London is a standard work on London’s maritime history. He is a Committee Member of the Docklands History Group, which meets at the Museum of London Docklands, and is a lifetime member of London Historians.

Dates of Future Monthly Meetings/Speakers beyond the above for 2022 are:
To be set yet.

Coffee Mornings

These are back to meeting physically again now. Our iU3A coffee mornings are a popular way of getting to know other members. They are on varying days of the week and are free to iU3A members. See the latest Bulletin for date of next coffee morning.

Our coffee mornings are organised by Sally Fox. To book up for any of the coffee mornings please email Sally here. She will then advise you that you are booked. If you can't attend a coffee morning you've booked for, please let us know by emailing Sally (same link as above) to say you can't now make it.
 

iU3A's pub lunches provide an opportunity for members to meet each other in a social atmosphere. They take place monthly, around Islington. If you are buying a lunch the cost is around £10 to £12 with drinks being extra. If you'd like to come along to one of these please email Howard Stone here for more information or to reserve your place.

All those held so far have attracted about 15 iU3A members, who've enjoyed some good chat. While originally conceived to attract more male members there has been good support from the women members. Do come along and join us.

Pub lunches are now a 'group' and details of their schedule can now be found in Beacon.