We are really excited to be collaborating again on a Green Screen event with Henley’s Regal Picturehouse. On Wed 30 Nov at 6:20pm they will be showing new documentary film The Oil Machine, exploring the energy crisis and the fight over North Sea oil and gas. Following the film we are hosting a discussion with a panel of 4 local campaigners and experts on whether activists and investors can spark the end of our oil and gas addiction.

The Oil Machine – what’s it all about?

The Oil Machine explores our economic, historical and emotional entanglement with fossil fuels by looking at the conflicting imperatives around North Sea oil and gas. This invisible machine at the core of our economy and society now faces an uncertain future as activists and investors demand change. Is this the end of oil?

By highlighting the complexities of how oil runs through every aspect of our society – from high finance to cheap consumer goods – The Oil Machine brings together a wide range of voices from oil company executives, economists, young activists, pension fund managers and considers how this machine can be tamed, dismantled, or repurposed. 

We have five to ten years to control our oil addiction, and yet the licensing of new oil fields continues in direct contradiction with the Paris Climate Agreement. This documentary looks at how the drama of global climate action is playing out in the fight over North Sea oil. 

“I believe that what we do over the next five years will determine the future of humanity for the next millennium.” 

Sir David King, UK Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor 2000–2007, in The Oil Machine

After the film we’ll be joined by a panel of local campaigners and experts, including Ed Atkinson: steering committee member of Citizens Climate Lobby UK, Helen Fraser: an independent financial advisor from Orchard House, Patrick Fleming: renewable energy specialist and Yelena Kalyuzhnova: Vice Dean (International) of Henley Business School. 

Come join the discussion!

Tickets cost £5 members and £8 non-members. 6.15pm at The Regal cinema, 30th November.
Don’t forget your re-usable mug for a free hot drink!

The Panel

Ed Atkinson 

Ed studied Engineering at Cambridge University and worked in International Development as a research Water Engineer at HR Wallingford.  He has been motivated by environmental issues since being a University Club ‘Survival’.  More recently he has been involved with Extinction Rebellion and has been a member of the international Climate Lobbying Group “Citizens Climate Lobby”.  Ed is on the CCL UK Steering Committee.  Ed has been a foster parent with his wife Maggie since 2003 and they also have 2 adult daughters

Helen Fraser 

Helen Fraser is an independent financial advisor from Orchard House (IFAs) Ltd. She has always been interested in Ethical and more recently ESG (Environment, Social Responsibility and Good Governance) investing as it allows clients to invest in a way that fits with their principles and beliefs. The starting point is to understand what is important for the client in terms of their attitude to risk and, through a proper discussion, understand any preferences to exclude or include certain sectors/themes.  The next step is to research an investment or pension fund that fits and present back the recommendations.  There is no one size fits all.

Patrick Fleming 

Patrick is self-employed as an engineering consultant with a specialism is in renewable energy. Patrick is passionate about the environment because it is our future. Patrick is Chair of Greener Henley; a local volunteer led group committed to tackling the climate and ecological crisis using education, action and collaboration. 

Professor Yelena Kalyuzhnova  

After working as an Economic Adviser to the President of Kazakhstan, Yelena founded and is Director of the Centre for Euro-Asian Studies at the University of Reading. Yelena  is an authoritative expert in the areas of oil and gas and emerging economies.

Find out more

Website: https://www.theoilmachine.org/
#TheOilMachine #greenerhenley