It’s time to act
Posted on 14 November 2013 by e-news
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This weekend, it’s time to act. With rallies all over the country, we are planning one for Castlemaine. Come and join us! If it’s all you do this year, let’s make our numbers count.
Rally for the climate in Castlemaine this Sunday, 17 November
Venue: Victory Park and Botanic Gardens.
Meet at the Market Building at 10.30am to help Ben Laycock paint a placard. OR, walk or cycle holding placards with climate messages, gathering friends and other climate action participants along the way, and converge on the Market Building steps at 11am.
Please wear red, orange etc and bring noise and music making instruments and things to make a noise as we march to the Gardens. After listening to speakers we will then march together, leaving the Market Building at 11.30 am to march up Barker St to the Botanic Gardens, led by young people with a banner “Our Climate, Our Future”. Arriving Botanic Gardens at 12pm we will hear from another speaker, have some entertainment and enjoy a picnic.
Recent GetUp research indicates: A majority of Australians think Australia should adopt a 15-25% emissions reduction target, as recommended by the Climate Change Authority, according to a new poll.
This weekend, you will be joining tens of thousands of Australians rallying in the streets for stronger climate action. It’s time to come together, turn up the heat and launch a summer of climate action.
Trashed!
Following the rally, (well, a bit later at 5.30pm) is Trashed, starring Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, (www.trashedfilm.com) a multi-award winning documentary feature film that explores the global waste crisis and the environmental and human costs of humanity’s excessive generation and irresponsible disposal of waste.
TRASHED received a Special Screening at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. It will screen at the Castlemaine Theatre Royal on Sunday 17 November at 5.30pm to coincide with National Recycling Week.
Reminder: MASG AGM tonight
MASG Annual General Meeting tonight, 7.30pm in the Ray Bradfield Room. We’d love to see you at the meeting, if for nothing more than a get together and to hear about what we’ve been up to. But if you are interested in nominating for one of the positions on our committee, please come along. We’d love to see you!
Sustainable House Tour
House Tour Update: five houses for the price of four! And Lucky Door prizes! View our Facebook page and housetours link for more information. Cost: $30: $20conc./member :$50couple. Book here, or ring 5470 6978.
Congratulations Mount Alexander Council!
Our Council has received a Victorian Government grant for climate change adaptation planning, to be shared with four other Councils. Council and our Councillors are demonstrating they are now taking the climate crisis seriously, and we are anticipating good decision making and some excellent outcomes from the Shire.
Community Planning in Mount Alexander Shire
And while we’re on Council matters, information about the Castlemaine community planning process is on the Council website and YOU can get involved. Let’s get sustainability issues front and centre in the Castlemaine plan.
Think about our town’s sustainability consciousness, celebrate our clean food and choice, our arts and culture, and make Castlemaine the sustainability centre of Victoria, with community renewable energy projects.
A few points you may want to include:
- improved planning and sustainable community principles
- better walkability within town
- reduced traffic in favour of increased people access
- improved cycling and attention to bike paths, more bike racks
- involving local artists and gardeners to beautify streetscapes
- maintaining a sustainable community through creative affordable housing options for the homeless, young and older people
Tell your friends the survey’s available – Facebook it, Tweet it, call them, and … try chatting over the back fence.
Hub Plot Jottings
It’s been great to have a wet spring, but don’t forget to prepare for the heat and dry to come over summer.
What better way than to come to the Hub Plot for a Watering With Wisdom workshop? Author, Wendy van Dok, will explain all you need to know about watering more efficiently using smart irrigation and grey water basics.
You can bring a sample of your grey water along for pH and salinity testing.
Watering with Wisdom workshop, Saturday 23 November, 10 to 11 am OR 2-3 pm at The Hub Plot. It’s all free!
Limited spaces so please RSVP to Dallas on 54711768 or d.giles@mountalexander.vic.gov.au
Special visitor at the Hub Plot
The Hub Plot is having a special visitor join us for lunch at 12pm, Monday, 25 November. Chris Walsh from Manchester is in town for a few days to share his experiences and insights to do with creating strong local food systems. If you can’t make it to any of the events he is speaking at, bring a plate to share and have lunch with Chris and the Hub Plot folk. All welcome!
Volunteers anyone?
Anyone interested in joining the team of volunteers who organise the Growing the Harvest Festival? Next year’s dates: 29-30 March 2014. Please contact Heather on 0409 327 791 or email heather@box311.biz
It’s high time motorists got used to sharing the road
Cyclists vs motorists: how the media fuels the fire Are cyclists are obnoxious lycra-clad road hogs who like nothing better than annoying motorists? Hardly, says Alan Davies.
Slacktivism!
Don’t tax the sun
In just a week, nearly 10,000 concerned solar lovers and owners have added their name to Solar Citizens’ new petition telling the Prime Minister, State Premiers and Energy Ministers not to tax the sun.
This new proposal if adopted would hurt every solar household in Australia. Will you sign and share the petition, and join the competition to reach 25,000 signatures nationwide?
AND IT’S TIME TO DIVEST
If your bank is investing in fossil fuels, or loaning to fossil fuel projects, it’s time to say bye bye.
Go to: gofossilfree.org/aus-banks to get started
Last word
Alan Davies
It might be that some motorists, when they see a cyclist, don’t see an individual who’s vulnerable and warrants special care and consideration. Rather, they see the cyclist merely as an impersonal symbol of everything they detest. If so, that’s not a relationship that’s good for either party, least of all the cyclist.
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