ii) September 2, 12 -1pm – HortTalk – Worms at Work, Botanic Garden Centre, Upper Lovelock Avenue
Worms at Work – vermiculture unearthed, presented by Robbie and Rosanna Dick from Central Wormworx. Learn how thousands of tonnes of waste can be taken out of the waste stream and converted into high quality soil conditioner to improve the quality, yield and vibrancy of plants.
botanic@dcc.govt.nz.
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/events/garden-and-environment/botanic-garden/horttalk5
Dear Members,
Our co-chair, Jocelyn Harris, sent through this one – hope it puts a smile on your face!
The Green Thing
In the line at the supermarket, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment.
The woman apologised to him and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”
The cashier responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment.”
He was right – our generation didn’t have the green thing in its day.
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soft drink bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The store sent them back to the factory to be washed and sterilised and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
But we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator in every department store and office building. We walked to the grocery shop and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.
But he was right. We didn’t have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby’s nappies because we didn’t have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts — wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen not a screen the size of Western Australia.
In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us.
When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn’t need to go to a gym to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But he’s right; we didn’t have the green thing back then.
We drank from a water fountain or tap when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade was blunt.
But we didn’t have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the train, tram or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their Mums into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electric outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn’t need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites thousands of kilometres out in space in order to find the nearest pizza place.
But isn’t it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the green thing back then?
Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a young person.
Read on!
i) THIS Thursday, September 1, 5.30 – 6.30pm – Shall we lower the lifeboats?
ii) September 2, 12 -1pm – HortTalk – Worms at Work, Botanic Garden Centre, Upper Lovelock Avenue
iii) Starting September 10 – Composting Made Easy
iv) Sunday, September 4, 11am – 2pm – MARKET ON THE MOVE!
v) September 11 – 18 – Conservation Week
– From 350.org
– From the ODT – waste wood could heat buildings
– From our friends at GetUp Australia
– Medical Students for Global Awareness
– And let’s finish with something everyone needs – loo paper!
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We’d love to advertise your sustainability-related event or course – please send contributions in to dk.sk@xtra.co.nz.
i) THIS Thursday, September 1, 5.30 – 6.30pm – Shall we lower the lifeboats? A marine geological view of warming climates – The Inaugural Professorial Lecture from Professor Gary Wilson, Department of Marine Science, Castle 1 Lecture Theatre, Otago University
Contact Jenny Leyden 479 7534 jenny.leyden@otago.ac.nz
ii) September 2, 12 -1pm – HortTalk – Worms at Work, Botanic Garden Centre, Upper Lovelock Avenue
Worms at Work – vermiculture unearthed, presented by Robbie and Rosanna Dick from Central Wormworx. Learn how thousands of tonnes of waste can be taken out of the waste stream and converted into high quality soil conditioner to improve the quality, yield and vibrancy of plants
botanic@dcc.govt.nz.
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/events/garden-and-environment/botanic-garden/horttalk5
iii) Starting September 10 – Composting Made Easy
Compost, keep your garden happy and reduce waste to landfill
Regular Composting, Bokashi and Worm Farms
Hands-on workshop led by Michelle Ritchie, Organic by Design
Macandrew Bay: 10 September (RSVP by 1 September)
Maia: 24 September (RSVP by 14 September)
Mosgiel: 19 November (RSVP by 9 November)
Proudly supported by the Dunedin City Council, phone 477 4000
Cost: $10.00 (includes afternoon tea)
Time: 1.00pm to 5.00pm
Maximum 12 participants per workshop. Location and further details on registration.
RSVP to Customer Service Centre on 477 4000.
iv) THIS Sunday, September 4, 11am – 2pm – MARKET ON THE MOVE!
WARRINGTON SCHOOL MARKET is held on the first Sunday of every month from 11am-2pm, rain or shine, in the grounds of Warrington School! Experience a unique blend of food, coffee, plants, produce, art, craft, prints, pakoras, books, toys and more! Free stalls available ph 027 7811799 www.market.betterthannormal.co.nz
We are looking forward to opening on the 4th of September at Warrington School and you are very welcome to join us!
v) September 11 – 18 – Conservation Week
The national theme for Conservation Week this year is “Love NZ”. Coastal Otago Area will be focusing effort on The Great Living Legends Muck-in restoration planting day at Waitati on Sunday September 25.
For more info about Conservation Week, to view event listings, register your own event and access to teaching resources see www.conservationweek.org.nz.
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This section is about some of the inspirational things happening in our community, as well as ‘sustainability’ volunteer opportunities in and around Dunedin. If you’ve got a project you need more hands for (or even a project that needs hands to get started!), or a group you think our members may like to join, send me a paragraph…and don’t forget your contact details. And if you’re doing something inspirational, or know of someone that is, let me know (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz).
From 350.org – The Moving Planet Challenge
ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?
On 24th September 2011, the people of Dunedin will join a global call for governments to take action on fossil fuels. The ultimate goal is to set in place real action plans to lower the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere to 350 parts per million to prevent uncontrollable climate change.
Moving Planet Dunedin is setting The Moving Planet Challenge from 11am-1pm on Saturday 24th September – a race for a low-carbon future, against time and around town, using just the strength of your body and maybe a bike or a skateboard or two. Teams will work their way from the start to the finish line by completing a series of tasks at different locations around town. The tasks will link to the theme of the day – moving beyond fossil fuels.
WE NEED YOU
We know Dunedin is full of groups, organisations and businesses that are using their knowledge and skills to work towards a more just and sustainable future. You are a valuable resource and the 24th is an opportunity to share your knowledge with the wider community, demand action from Government and have a lot of fun!
WHAT YOU CAN DO
We are asking you and your group/organisation/business to design an interactive race station for the Challenge, one of the tasks the teams have to complete. Race teams will rock up at your station and complete the challenge you set them. This challenge can be whatever imagination comes up with but needs to fit within these parameters:
· Creative e.g. draw a vision of Dunedin where the numbers of cars and cyclists have been swapped
· Constructive e.g. how to pot-up a plant seedling
· Interactive e.g. put your stamp on a public art installation
· Specific to your group e.g. if you’re a dance troupe, something around dancing
· Fosters community engagement
TO REGISTER YOUR RACE STATION
Send your idea in an email to dunedin@350.org.nz
For more background on why Moving Planet is happening around the world go to www.moving-planet.org and www.350.org
From the ODT
A Dunedin energy consultant is promoting construction of New Zealand’s first torrefaction plant here, saying it would turn a waste resource on the city’s doorstep into an energy-efficient and competitively priced heating fuel.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/174953/waste-wood-could-heat-buildings
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Do you know of an amazing podcast everyone should listen to? An article or a blog or a site that would be of interest to all SDC members? Send me a short explanation and the link (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz), and we’ll add it in here. Links preferable to attachments, because they tend to fill up everyone’s inboxes.
– From our friends at GetUp Australia
Currently, Australia’s laws do not take proper account of the irreversible impacts of coal seam gas mining.
If we don’t act now, we’re losing precious time to protect the health and livelihoods of communities, the quality of our water, and the sustainability of our farmland.
From Sydney’s water supply catchment to the rich agricultural lands of the Liverpool Plains and the Darling Downs, the coal seam gas industry is expanding at breakneck speed. Government regulators are playing catch-up, leaving local communities to deal with a poorly regulated, rapidly growing industry. They’re doing so by locking the gate to their properties, writing to politicians, and informing their neighbours about the issue.
http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/coal-seam-gas/petition/stop-coal-seam-gas?t=dXNlcmlkPTM2ODI3NCxlbWFpbGlkPTI5OA==
– Medical Students for Global Awareness
MSGA is New Zealand’s largest social advocacy organisation for medical students and we are proud to work in partnership with a number of non-governmental organisations. MSGA strongly believes that a doctor’s role not only includes clinical practice but is one of advocacy and instituting social change.
Lignite mining and processing in Southland New Zealand: a fossil-fuelled disaster for current and future generations
http://www.orataiao.org.nz/file/view/MSGA+position+statement+on+Southland+lignite+proposal.pdf
– And let’s finish with something everyone needs – loo paper!
http://www.wwf.org.nz/take_action/choose_wildlife_friendly_toilet_roll/
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Tēnā koutou katoa,
Suze Keith (SDC’s newsletter compiler)
dk.sk@xtra.co.nz
Vivienne Bryner (SDC’s secretary)
secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz
Sustainable Dunedin City Inc.
Dear Members,
Wammo! What a stunning day – Dunedin at its best. Just in case the stunning show of nature draws you closer to the fire rather than the outdoors, there’s a heap of reading this fortnight. We hope you enjoy it. As always we welcome your feedback and input into the newsletter or SDC.
Read on!
1. Upcoming SDC Events and Projects
i) Thursday August 25 at 5.30pm – GreenDrinks Dunedin in the Back Room of Filadelfios at the Gardens
2. Upcoming Sustainability Events and Courses
i) Friday August 19, 2011 2 – 4pm – Energy Studies Programme The Bioenergy Strategy – 25% of NZ Consumer Energy from Bioenergy by 2040
ii) August 20 – 27 – Keep New Zealand Beautiful Week
iii) September 2, 12 -1pm – HortTalk – Worms at Work, Botanic Garden Centre, Upper Lovelock Avenue
iv) Sunday, September 4, 11am – 2pm – MARKET ON THE MOVE!
v) September 11 – 18 – Conservation Week
vi) September 24 – 350.org – Start an Event for Moving Planet
3. Dunedin Sustainability in Action!
– From Bart at Otepoti Urban Organics – As the days start getting longer…
– From DCC – Mountain Biking Otago Inc Using Waste Product As All-Weather Track Surface
– From Scott Willis and the Waitati Energy Project – Oil Drilling and us
– DCC Community Grants Scheme
– Ministry for the Environment Community Environment Fund
– From Pure Advantage – Share your vision for Green Growth in NZ to win
– Signs of Change Conference 2010 – NZ’s E-Conference for Sustainability
– Australia Sustainability in Action!
4. Food for Thought
– Who killed economic growth?
– From Chris Martenson.com – Nate Hagens: We’re Not Facing a Shortage of Energy, But a Longage of Expectations
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SDC is driven by member ideas and volunteer man-power, so if you have an idea for an event or project you’d like SDC to run, or you’d like to run under the SDC umbrella, please let us know – secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz. This section also signposts who to contact if you’re keen to help out with a particular event/project.
i) Thursday August 25 at 5.30pm – GreenDrinks Dunedin in the Back Room of Filadelfios at the Gardens
GREENDRINKS Dunedin provides an opportunity for everyone interested in sustainability and the environment to meet in a relaxed setting. It is organised in Dunedin by the Sustainable Dunedin City Society and is part of GreenDrinks International, a social networking movement.
We meet on the last Thursday of each month at 5.30pm. Each month a different community group hosts a theme. Everyone interested very welcome. Please bring a friend!
THEME THIS MONTH: National’s BlueGreen Vision for New Zealand: Delivering conservative environmental policy
We are back at Filadelfios! Michael Woodhouse (List MP for Dunedin South, National Party) is our invited speaker this month. Over the next few months, SDC will host a political candidate from each of the three major parties to talk to us about their party’s environmental policies. Speakers will have fifteen minutes followed by time for questions. This is a rare opportunity for many of us to chat in a relaxed way with an MP about important election issues. Hope to see you there!
From Michael’s Office: “Dunedin born and raised, Michael was educated at St Pauls High School (now Kavanagh College) and graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. He is a Chartered Accountant and has a Master of Health Administration from the University of New South Wales.
Prior to entering parliament Michael was the CEO of Mercy Hospital Dunedin, a position he held for seven years. He has previously held senior management positions with ACC and at Dunedin Hospital in change management, funding and planning roles. He was president of the NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association and vice-president of the NZ Private Hospitals Association. He is a member of the NZ Institute of Management and the NZ Institute of Directors.
He has been an active Rotarian since 2001 and is an avid rugby fan, being a premier grade rugby referee as well as a “fair weather” runner. He is married to Amanda and they have three young children. In his spare time he enjoys spending time in Cromwell where he has a crib, and the great outdoors of Central Otago.”
To find out more National’s environmental policy please go to www.national.org.nz/environment/
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We’d love to advertise your sustainability-related event or course – please send contributions in to dk.sk@xtra.co.nz.
i) Friday August 19, 2011 2 – 4pm – Energy Studies Programme The Bioenergy Strategy – 25% of NZ Consumer Energy from Bioenergy by 2040, Brian Cox, Executive Officer, Bioenergy Association of New Zealand, Room 314, Science III Building, 730 Cumberland Street
ii) August 20 – 27 – Keep New Zealand Beautiful Week
Keep Dunedin Beautiful and the DCC are offering residents the opportunity to beautify our city.
Between August 20 and August 27 we ask the public to take some time to clean up an area of your choice. It might be a park, the area between your fence and the street, a beach, a favourite walkway – anywhere at all. The amount of time you spend is entirely up to you as every little bit counts
Registered people/groups will receive gloves and specially marked bags which can be put out with your regular kerbside rubbish collection between August 22 and September 2nd. Remember to put recyclables in your own yellow wheelie bin or glass in your blue bin. This will save unnecessary waste going to landfill.
Register by:
-ringing Keep Dunedin Beautiful on 474 3401 or
-emailing Keep Dunedin Beautiful on dethomso@dcc.govt.nz
Information required:
– Name (if group – number of participants would be helpful)
– number of bags/gloves required
– address (so contractors know where to pick up bags)
– area you will clean up
– day of your kerbside rubbish collection
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/events/garden-and-environment/keep-new-zealand-beautiful-week
iii) September 2, 12 -1pm – HortTalk – Worms at Work, Botanic Garden Centre, Upper Lovelock Avenue
Worms at Work – vermiculture unearthed, presented by Robbie and Rosanna Dick from Central Wormworx. Learn how thousands of tonnes of waste can be taken out of the waste stream and converted into high quality soil conditioner to improve the quality, yield and vibrancy of plants
botanic@dcc.govt.nz.
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/events/garden-and-environment/botanic-garden/horttalk5
iv) Sunday, September 4, 11am – 2pm – MARKET ON THE MOVE!
WARRINGTON SCHOOL MARKET is held on the first Sunday of every month from 11am-2pm, rain or shine, in the grounds of Warrington School! Experience a unique blend of food, coffee, plants, produce, art, craft, prints, pakoras, books, toys and more! Free stalls available ph 027 7811799 www.market.betterthannormal.co.nz
We are looking forward to opening on the 4th of September at Warrington School and you are very welcome to join us!
v) September 11 – 18 – Conservation Week
The national theme for Conservation Week this year is “Love NZ”. Coastal Otago Area will be focusing effort on The Great Living Legends Muck-in restoration planting day at Waitati on Sunday September 25.
For more info about Conservation Week, to view event listings, register your own event and access to teaching resources see www.conservationweek.org.nz.
vi) September 24 – 350.org – Start an Event for Moving Planet
Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to call for solutions to the climate crisis — a single day to move away from fossil fuels. Come on your bike, on skates, on a board, or on foot. Come with your neighbours and your friends, your family and your co-workers. Come be part of something huge. It’s time to get moving on the climate crisis. Here’s what Moving Planet is calling for: Science-based policies to get us back to 350ppm – making sure that climate politics is in line with climate science; A rapid, just transition to zero carbon emissions – encouraging programmes that aim for 100% renewable energy, zero carbon emissions, leaving fossil fuels in the ground; Mobilising funding for a fair transition to a 350ppm world – to support policies and programs that ensure financing for a fair transition, such as adaptation funding appropriate to the risks and damage already happening from climate impacts, funding for access to clean, renewable energy to lift people out of poverty; Lifting the rights of people over the rights of polluters. See much more on the website.
www.moving-planet.org/video
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This section is about some of the inspirational things happening in our community, as well as ‘sustainability’ volunteer opportunities in and around Dunedin. If you’ve got a project you need more hands for (or even a project that needs hands to get started!), or a group you think our members may like to join, send me a paragraph…and don’t forget your contact details. And if you’re doing something inspirational, or know of someone that is, let me know (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz).
From Bart at Otepoti Urban Organics – As the days start getting longer…
Hello there!
While we are still most definitely in the winter season, it has been a rather mild one and the days are now starting to get noticeably longer. With recent decidedly balmy temperatures I figured it was time to emerge from hibernation and touch base with all of you gardeners from Dunedin and beyond. I hope that all of you had a successful season with bountiful harvests leading in to autumn and beyond. I am lucky enough to still be harvesting root crops, brassicas, leafy greens and herbs at the moment and not to mention being thankful each day that I planted plenty of garlic last winter! The braids are still providing so if you have not yet established a sizeable garlic patch, it is not too late and it is definitely a worthwhile endeavor if you are a garlic lover!
With spring visible on the horizon, we will be cracking open the seed vaults and doing a stock take of our seed collection in order to compile the Spring 2011 Seed Catalog which I aim to have released in early September. As such I would like to take this opportunity to kindly request that if you happen to have any surplus seeds that you have saved from your crops last year, we would be very very appreciative of any seed donations that you are able to make to our Symbiosis Seed Exchange. With over 100 varieties offered through our list, it is impossible for me to grow all of these for seed in my own garden, and as such the seed exchange relies on you, our members, to do your bit and save the seeds from at least one crop per year to help keep the seed exchange alive and flourishing. If you do have seeds available to donate, they can be posted to:
Otepoti Urban Organics
47 Cole St
Caversham
Dunedin 9012
Everyone who donates seed receives credits for free packs of seeds from our catalog. That means that if you make the effort to save a bunch of seeds from just one crop in your garden, you can literally never have to pay for seeds again! It’s a pretty sweet deal. I would like to extend a heart felt thank you to those of you who have already sent in seeds this season – your efforts are much appreciated and I am certain that you will be looking forward to the release of the spring seed catalog so you can choose your varieties for the upcoming season!
Enjoy these winter days while they last, and be careful to not be lulled into a false sense of security by these occasional balmy days – there will still be a few cold snaps yet, no doubt!
Cheers,
Bart Acres
otepoti.urban.organics@gmail.com
From DCC – Mountain Biking Otago Inc Using Waste Product As All-Weather Track Surface
Mountain Biking Otago Inc (MBO) has permission from the Dunedin City Council (DCC) to develop a multi-use climbing track at Signal Hill Reserve. Starting at the back of Logan Park School, the two-metre wide track zigs and zags for some six kilometres before emerging on the plateau near the monument. The track is designed so a person of moderate fitness can run, walk or ride up and back, while those with greater skill can use the other purpose-designed, down-hill tracks.
To make the track sustainable and useable in all weather conditions, it needs to be gravelled. Downer EDI have generously donated about 600 tons of ‘road millings’ to surface the track. Technically known as ‘Recycled Ashpalt Products’ and typically 95% aggregate and 5% tar-seal, these road millings would normally be reused in the construction industry, for farm roads or taken to a land fill. Using them on the track will save approximately $13,000 in material and transport costs.
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/latest-news/august-2011/mountainbiking-otago-inc-using-waste-product-as-all-weather-track-surface
From Scott Willis and the Waitati Energy Project – Oil Drilling and us
The ODT yesterday reported that oil company Anadarko will be in Dunedin next week and will hold private talks with the city council about off shore drilling.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/171979/mactavish-wary-oil-drilling
Dunedin has a major debt problem and councillors may see this proposed project as part of the solution. Anadarko is a 25% shareholder in the Gulf of Mexico’s doomed Deepwater Horizon exploratory rig, and is planning with its partners to start drilling deep-sea wells off NZ this summer.
Please take some time to contact Dunedin councillors. If we had an energy strategy, we’d have somewhere to put this proposition. As it stands, Dunedin is on a knife edge between a clean-tech future (with bright spark entrepreneurial companies like Powerhouse Wind and our strong range of sustainability initiatives) and a brown-tech future, in which big companies use Dunedin as a base to extract the more difficult, costly and risky fossil fuel resources found within NZ territory. One direction provides our children with an optimistic future, the other offers only bigger and greater challenges in term of climate change, environmental mess, and lack of clean-tech alternatives to the fossil fuel economy. Please let councillors know how you feel about where we should be heading. http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/councillors
Scott Willis
Waitati Energy Project
DCC Community Grants Scheme
To help organisations that are benefiting the wider community, DCC make funds available twice a year through the Community Grants Scheme. This is for groups providing activities and facilities for the well being of community. It is aimed at non-profit organisations that serve the social, educational, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development of the community.
The deadlines for all schemes are the last working Fridays in March and September.
For more info see http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/dccfunding/funding-and-grants
Contact Michael Laufiso Ph 474 3513 mlaufiso@dcc.govt.nz or Paul Coffey Ph 474 3847 paulcoffey@dcc.govt.nz
Ministry for the Environment Community Environment Fund
The Ministry for the Environment wants to work with you to help make a positive difference to the environment. The purpose of the Community Environment Fund (CEF) is to provide funding to ensure that New Zealanders are empowered to take environmental action. It also ensures that:
• partnerships (relating to practical environmental initiatives) between interested parties are supported and strengthened
• community-based advice and educational opportunities are increased
• awareness on environmental legislation and issues is heightened.
For more info see http://www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/funding/community-environmentfund/
From Pure Advantage – Share your vision for Green Growth in NZ to win – EXPEDITION to ANTARCTICA
Robert Swan, polar explorer and environmentalist, will lead an expedition to Antarctica in February 2012. Pure Advantage will send one young New Zealander with him. Submit a video to earn your place on this once-in-a-lifetime journey. Tell me more.
http://www.pureadvantage.org/antarctica/
Signs of Change Conference 2010 – NZ’s E-Conference for Sustainability
http://www.youtube.com/user/signsofchangeconf
Australia Sustainability in Action!
Exciting news: yesterday 430,000 hectares of Tasmania’s magnificent native forests, including spectacular areas such as the Blue Tier, Tarkine, Upper Florentine and Styx were announced for immediate protection by Prime Minister Juila Gillard and Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings.
Just weeks ago it looked as though the forests would only be declared ‘informal reserves’ — but now those forests will be protected from logging by a legally binding Conservation Agreement, which can only be removed by both houses of Federal parliament. The Federal Government has also ruled out providing any funds for Gunns’ proposed pulp mill.
Hundreds of thousands of Australians have fought long and hard for over thirty years to see these forests saved, especially through community groups and conservation groups such as Environment Tasmania, The Wilderness Society and the Australian Conservation Foundation. Congratulations to the tens of thousands of you who over the last two weeks have written to the Prime Minister calling on her to give the forests immediate legal protection. As a result of that pressure, combined with the work of other groups and the parliamentary Greens, the forests that go into informal reserves will also be given additional protection by a legally binding Conservation Agreement.
Many forests, including high conservation value forests on public and private land remain threatened. There still remains a lot of work to do before we can feel secure that Tassie’s forests have received the permanent and lasting protection they deserve as globally significant treasures.
The Federal and State Governments have committed a total of $276 million to deliver the agreement, including funds to manage the new forest reserves and to initiate regional development opportunities.
Our ongoing efforts will be required to ensure the passage of the National Park legislation through the Tasmanian parliament. We will also need to keep the pressure on Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to make sure all 572,000 hectares of Tasmania’s high conservation value native forests are permanently protected, including giving the globally significant areas World Heritage status.
We often contact our politicians asking them to do the right thing – so when they do, it’s important to show that we are listening. If you’d like to send the Prime Minister a message of congratulations for yesterdays historic announcement click here.
With admiration for all you do,
The GetUp Team.
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Do you know of an amazing podcast everyone should listen to? An article or a blog or a site that would be of interest to all SDC members? Send me a short explanation and the link (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz), and we’ll add it in here. Links preferable to attachments, because they tend to fill up everyone’s inboxes.
– Who killed economic growth?
Excerpted from: http://www.endofgrowth.com
Richard Heinberg proposes a startling diagnosis- humanity has reached a fundamental turning point in its economic history. The expansionary trajectory of industrial civilisation is colliding with non-negotiable natural limits.
– From Chris Martenson.com – Nate Hagens: We’re Not Facing a Shortage of Energy, But a Longage of Expectations
http://www.chrismartenson.com/blog/nate-hagens-were-not-facing-shortage-energy-longage-expectations/61024
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Tēnā koutou katoa,
Suze Keith (SDC’s newsletter compiler)
dk.sk@xtra.co.nz
Vivienne Bryner (SDC’s secretary)
secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz
Sustainable Dunedin City Inc.
A packed theatre listen to SDC committee member Bob Lloyd give a sobering summary of the looming crisis at the 'Cheer Up Bob' event.
Dear Members,
Thanks so much to those of you who braved a chilly Dunedin evening to come to our AGM. We always enjoy your participation, ideas and feedback. As we discussed on the night, we are charging ahead with a number of projects this year, including:
· collaboration with the DCC on a Sustainability Summit/Futures Forum of representatives from local government, educational institutions, business and the community to identify the knowledge and experience held by each organisation on the effects of climate change and peak oil, and feed the results into the DCC 10-year plan;
· another Election Forum before the general election in November;
· continuing to work with youth though Janet Young’s work, and members’ involvement with 350.org;
· another Big Green Challenge;
· a membership drive; and,
· a campaign against the proposed lignite mining in Southland. Jocelyn has written to the Australian organisation, Get Up, to suggest they mount one of their campaigns against this.
Read on!
i) TONIGHT – Tuesday August 2nd 8.30pm – Gasland Movie Screening
ii) THIS Sunday August 7 from 10am-whenever we finish – Sustainable Houses Tiki Tour
iii) Coming up – Dunedin Permaculture Course
i) THIS Friday August 5, 1pm – 3pm –Energy Studies Programme Energy Policy in New Zealand
ii) Friday August 19, 2 – 4pm – Energy Studies Programme The Bioenergy Strategy – 25% of NZ Consumer Energy from Bioenergy by 2040
iii) August 20 – 27 – Keep New Zealand Beautiful Week
iv) Sunday, September 4, 11am – 2pm – MARKET ON THE MOVE!
v) September 24 – Start an Event for Moving Planet
vi) Sunday, September 25 – The Great Living Legends Muck-In – Otago/North Otago
– From Coal Action Network Aotearoa
– Pure Advantage Campaign – Green Growth?
– Nothing changes the planet as much as the way we eat – http://planeat.tv/
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SDC is driven by member ideas and volunteer man-power, so if you have an idea for an event or project you’d like SDC to run, or you’d like to run under the SDC umbrella, please let us know – secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz. This section also signposts who to contact if you’re keen to help out with a particular event/project.
i) TONIGHT – Tuesday August 2nd 8.30pm – Gasland Movie Screening
SDC’r Janet Young has a series of events coming up. First up she’ll be screening this amazing movie at the Clubs & Socs Building in the Evison Lounge. Free entry.
http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/
ii) THIS Sunday, August 7 from 10am – whenever we finish – Sustainable Houses Tiki Tour
Join us for a tiki tour up north to visit some people who are really doing it! Jennie Upton and Murry Grimwood live entirely off the grid. Tania Mclean and her partner grow most of their own food. Come see how they live, plus others!
iii) Dunedin Permaculture Course
Janet is also currently exploring the possibility of running a two day permaculture course in Dunedin in mid-August. If you would be interested in attending the course, or if you and anyone you know might be interested in organizing or teaching, please contact her.
Janet Young
yjanny@gmail.com
027 753 4082
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We’d love to advertise your sustainability-related event or course – please send contributions in to dk.sk@xtra.co.nz.
i) THIS Friday August 5, 1pm – 3pm – Energy Studies Programme “Energy Policy in New Zealand” Honourable Hekia Parata, Associate Minister of Energy and Resources, New Zealand, Quad 4, Geology Building, Leith Walk
ii) Friday August 19, 2 – 4pm – Energy Studies Programme The Bioenergy Strategy – 25% of NZ Consumer Energy from Bioenergy by 2040, Brian Cox, Executive Officer, Bioenergy Association of New Zealand, Room 314, Science III Building, 730 Cumberland Street
iii) August 20 – 27 – Keep New Zealand Beautiful Week
Keep Dunedin Beautiful and the DCC are offering residents the opportunity to beautify our city.
Between August 20 and August 27 we ask the public to take some time to clean up an area of your choice. It might be a park, the area between your fence and the street, a beach, a favourite walkway – anywhere at all. The amount of time you spend is entirely up to you as every little bit counts
Registered people/groups will receive gloves and specially marked bags which can be put out with your regular kerbside rubbish collection between August 22 and September 2nd. Remember to put recyclables in your own yellow wheelie bin or glass in your blue bin. This will save unnecessary waste going to landfill.
Register by:
-ringing Keep Dunedin Beautiful on 474 3401 or
-emailing Keep Dunedin Beautiful on dethomso@dcc.govt.nz
Information required:
– Name (if group – number of participants would be helpful)
– number of bags/gloves required
– address (so contractors know where to pick up bags)
– area you will clean up
– day of your kerbside rubbish collection
iv) Sunday, September 4, 11am – 2pm – MARKET ON THE MOVE!
Coast Road Market (formerly at Seacliff) is reopening this spring in the grounds of Warrington School with its first market on Sunday the 4th of September!
The market will continue on the first Sunday of every month from 11am – 2pm with its unique blend of food, coffee, art, craft, prints, pakoras, plants, produce, preserves and more!
All welcome.
Free stalls continue to be available and children’s stalls are particularly welcome.
For dates and details ph 027 7811799 or visit www.market.betterthannormal.co.nz
Liz Abbott and Rudie Verhoef
v) September 24 – Start an Event for Moving Planet
Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to call for solutions to the climate crisis — a single day to move away from fossil fuels. Come on your bike, on skates, on a board, or on foot. Come with your neighbours and your friends, your family and your co-workers. Come be part of something huge. It’s time to get moving on the climate crisis. Here’s what Moving Planet is calling for: Science-based policies to get us back to 350ppm – making sure that climate politics is in line with climate science; A rapid, just transition to zero carbon emissions – encouraging programmes that aim for 100% renewable energy, zero carbon emissions, leaving fossil fuels in the ground; Mobilising funding for a fair transition to a 350ppm world – to support policies and programs that ensure financing for a fair transition, such as adaptation funding appropriate to the risks and damage already happening from climate impacts, funding for access to clean, renewable energy to lift people out of poverty; Lifting the rights of people over the rights of polluters. See much more on the website.
Start an event! Invite your friends, your family, your neighbours. Wellington has the only registered NZ event so far, Dunedin is getting one together! http://www.moving-planet.org/events/nz/wellington/218
http://www.moving-planet.org/
vi) Sunday, September 25 – The Great Living Legends Muck-In – Otago/North Otago
Living Legends would like to invite you to take part in a unique conservation project happening on Sunday 25 September this year.
Living Legends is a community conservation project that is coordinating 17 native tree-planting projects throughout New Zealand during Rugby World Cup 2011.
Each muck-in is being run in conjunction with a provincial rugby union and is dedicated to a regional ‘Rugby Legend’ who has been selected by the union. These Rugby Legends are people who have made a significant contribution to rugby in New Zealand. Kees Meeuws has been chosen as the Living Legend for Otago and North Otago regions.
All the plantings take place on public conservation land and will encourage New Zealanders and overseas visitors to participate in the events. As well as being part of this unique event, you may even get to meet a Rugby Legend!
We’d love to hear from you …
We are looking for volunteers to muck-in with the planting of 5,000 native trees at this site as part of the Living Legends programme of work – come and join us.
If you are interested in taking part in this unique event please register at www.livinglegends.co.nz/regions-events/otagonorth-otago/. Once you’ve registered, more details will be sent to you nearer to the event date.
The Living Legends team is very keen to give the event a fun, family-orientated, festival-type atmosphere. Would your organisation be interested in using the opportunity to raise funds – providing a sausage sizzle, hot soup, teas and coffees, cake-bake stand, face-painting or other childrens’ activities? If you are then please send an email to contact@livinglegends.co.nz letting us know what you would be happy to add to the mix. We’d obviously like everyone to come along and take part in the planting too!
The planting event is free. It’s a unique opportunity for everyone to make a positive difference to the landscape of your community, as well as a learning opportunity. The team from the Department of Conservation will be educating us all on the plants and why the site was selected for regeneration.
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Do you know of an amazing podcast everyone should listen to? An article or a blog or a site that would be of interest to all SDC members? Send me a short explanation and the link (dk.sk@xtra.co.nz), and we’ll add it in here. Links preferable to attachments, because they tend to fill up everyone’s inboxes.
– From Coal Action Network Aotearoa
We now have a resources page on our blog, which brings together lots of information and pictorial resources you can use in campaigning and to educate your friends. If you do nothing else, check out the photos of overseas lignite mines halfway down the page. This is what we’re trying to stop. This is what Solid Energy wants to unleash on Southland.
http://coalactionnetworkaotearoa.wordpress.com/downloads/
– Pure Advantage Campaign – Green Growth?
A successful business needs a competitive advantage. A successful country is no different.
New Zealand’s economic and environmental performance is sliding, and with it our single greatest opportunity to lead the world.
It’s ours for the taking if we can improve our green credentials, foster our high value exports and build industries that will thrive in a rapidly changing global economy.
We need to build a sustainable competitive advantage. Our Pure Advantage.
Join a group of business leaders determined to deliver world-leading improvements to our economy, our environmental performance and the living standards of all New Zealanders.
http://www.pureadvantage.org/
– Nothing changes the planet as much as the way we eat – http://planeat.tv/
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Tēnā koutou katoa,
Suze Keith (SDC’s newsletter compiler)
dk.sk@xtra.co.nz
Janet Brady (SDC’s secretary)
secretary@sustainabledunedincity.org.nz
Sustainable Dunedin City Inc.
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