e-News 16 March 2007
Posted on 8 March 2007 by e-news
Weekly News Digest
MASG NEWS
* Jobs at MASG – Project Officer – fulltime – mainly responsible for managing renewable energy working groups (solar, wind, biomass and communications) and the promotion of Greenpower in association with major energy providers. Project Officer – part time – to manage the new and innovative LoCO2 Fund project, funded by Commonwealth Government with the aim of supporting small businesses and organisations to reduce their energy use. Closing Date: 27 March 2007. For details see “Work with us” button above.
* Castlemaine State Festival. Loads of exciting developments. See new version of flier of MASG festival events available from the Office.
* Book soon for the evening meals on 1 and 4 April – seats are limited. Pay at the MASG office to secure your place. New number for bookings – 5470 6891
* Walking the Shire – Discover the region on foot, in the quiet of morning. Guided walks throughout the festival – free – bookings – 5470 6891
* Breakfast with Jonathon Ridnell, ABC Radio on Thursday 5th April outside the Market Hall. More details next week.
* Final volunteer co-ordination meeting on Wednesday 28th March at 12.30 at MASG office/garden. We provide lunch.
* River Of Bikes Ride – Final Details!!
Hooray and happy cycling to the 130 cyclists who have registered. ERTH theatre group have some fantastic ideas for the ride, which will include giving you bike bells with varying sounds, cool and coloured bike overalls, topped off with helmet head gear to give that flowing feel as we ride along. Riders need to be listed in advance. Please come to:
* Monday 19th March – 6pm, Victory Park for BRIEFING and costuming; bring bikes, and a screw-driver (normal type)
* Thursday 29th March – 5pm, DRESS REHEARSAL – Victory Park
* Friday 30th – 5pm OPENING NIGHT – RIVER OF BICYCLES RIDE gather at location determined at dress rehearsal, then first ride at 6.20pm, second ride at 6.45pm. Contact vol@masg.org.au “attn. Jill” / 5470 6978
* Sustainable House Tour – fully booked: a future tour will be held, date to be arranged. Contact MASG to express your interest.
* Carbon calculator intensive workshops take place this weekend – there will be future options to be involved. Watch this space.
* School Environmental Awareness Week – MASG will support Castlemaine Secondary College’s initiative that runs from 30 April to 4 May. More details in future weeks.
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OTHER: for members’ information – these events are not MASG endorsed
* CYCLIMATE – As a personal response to watching ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ I am planning to cycle from Castlemaine to Parliament house in Canberra, leaving on World Environment Day (June 5th). This is a child-friendly journey of approximately 800km over 32 days. My aims are to directly empower individuals, community and government to take immediate action on climate change by addressing carbon emissions in Australia as an urgent moral and economic issue. I have support from United Nations Education Program and Australian Conservation Foundation. I need assistance to organise the final logistic of co-ordinating with Rotary Clubs. If you are able to help or are interested in joining me on the ride please e-mail helena@gcom.net.au
* Bikes Alive Gathering at Western Oval on Saturday 31st March, 11.00-3pm, including uni-cycle display and planned ride out to Guildford.
* MAP2020 – Tell the Shire what you think. Give your input about what matters to you and what you want to see for the future of the Mount Alexander Shire. Attend between 10.00am to 3.00pm, Saturday 17 March, Castlemaine Town Hall, 25 Lyttleton Street, and later at other locations. You can register to attend, or to complete the MAP 2020 survey by telephoning the Community Plan contact number (03) 5471 1786; or http://www.success-works.com.au/MAP/home.html
* Useful discussion sheets produced by the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance www.sydneyfoodfairness.org.au) – they are issued under a Creative Commons attribution/no-change licence rather than the more restrictive copyright regime. You can download, print and distribute under the same Creative Commons license.
* Good website: http://www.climateinstitute.org.au/cia1/index.php including Australian Attitudes to Clean Energy media release and Carbon Trading Discussion.
GLOBAL NEWS
UK High Street chain Marks & Spencer announced a five-year plan to make the company carbon neutral. Under its “eco-plan”, the company says it will cut energy consumption, stop using landfill sites and stock more products made from recycled materials. Chief Executive Stuart Rose, who has overseen a recovery in M&S’s fortunes, said the project would “change beyond recognition” the way it operated.
Local food: As well as cutting energy and using more renewable materials, M&S will aim to source its food from the UK and the Republic of Ireland as a “priority” in an attempt to reduce air freight. Labels will identify food that has been flown into the UK. M&S said the carbon savings it aimed to achieve under its plan would be like taking 100,000 cars off the road each year.
** Quote of the week:
“We believe responsible business can be profitable business. We don’t have all the answers but we are determined to work with our suppliers, partners and government to make this happen. Doing anything less is not an option.” Marks and Spencer Chief Executive Stuart Rose, January 2007.
Source BBC website, London, 17 Jan 2007
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