Öpik Opens Landmark New Exhibition At CAT

4.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 17th Mar 2006

Lembit Öpik, MP for Montgomeryshire and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, opened a landmark new exhibition at the Centre of Alternative Technology (CAT) in Machynlleth today.

The exhibition focuses on 'Energy and Power', and is housed in a brand new, two-storey timber frame building. It includes state of the art interactive exhibits, and aims to entertain and educate visitors about how energy is created, what we use it for, and the range of options that exist for energy production and conservation.

Lembit said: "This is brilliantly imaginative way to teach people about sustainable development. The interactive exhibits are fun and fascinating. Instead of reading about things, you can do them and see the effects before your eyes. This is a fantastic new exhibition that will teach countless people vital lessons about the world we live in."

In his speech at the launch Lembit paid tribute to CAT:

"In three decades CAT has established itself as the environmental Mecca of the British Isles. Nowhere else in the country has any organisation been more effective at driving the environmental agenda.

"This latest exhibition is just the logical progression from what's gone before. It helps the Centre educate, encourage and inspire ordinary people to do extraordinary things about global warming. We don't have to reduce our quality of life to improve the sustainability of our planet.

"If we apply the lessons of CAT today, Montgomeryshire can become the environmental capital of Britain. With their expertise, and the public's support, I believe it's time to make a start."

Speaking afterwards, Lembit said:

"I want Wales to become a world leader on green issues. We have the best renewable resources in Europe. And in organisations like CAT and IGER we have great research units and knowledge centres to build on. The public will is there, we just need the Government in Cardiff Bay and Westminster to give the green light to green action.

"Wales is going to become more and more a knowledge-based, research-based economy. The green economy has huge potential for creating jobs. This is a huge new industry opening up that will grow rapidly over the next decade. Wales can't afford to be left behind.

"The eco-economy can create thousands of jobs, and open up great new opportunities for green businesses. Our environment and economy will benefit if we follow in the CAT's footsteps."