Weekly News Digest – 18th April 2008
Posted on 18 April 2008 by e-news
For more info call 5470 6978
MASG News and Events
Solar Display Home – concrete slab poured on Monday 21 April,
More pictures here.
Community-Owned Wind Park Open Day: More than 100 people attended this event that took place on Saturday 19th April from 10.00am to 2.00pm at the Phee Broadway Foyer, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine, with light refreshments provided. MASG are investigating the potential for a community-owned Wind Park in our shire. More info from Jayson 5470 6978 / jayson@masg.org.au
Growing the Harvest Festival was a great success! This event was run completely on the goodwill of volunteers. Full attendance at most of the food workshops, a sell out Harvest Café, a wonderful produce display, delightful song, dance and harvest Church services and a community lunch with over 200 people served local food … what a fantastic effort! Thanks to all involved.
Raffle Winners: Growing the Harvest raffle winners were: 1. Glad Laity, 2. Trish Pilley, 3. Stephen McGrath, 4. Della Wales, 5. Megan Carroll. Thanks to all who bought tickets.
Rural Women’s Award: Congratulations to Lucy Mayes, a MASG member, who was a runner up for the Rural Women’s Award.
Cent-a-meters? MASG member John Sanderson is investigating the possibility of bulk-ordering electricity measuring Cent-a-meters which allow you to monitor your household electricity usage from a convenient wireless digital display located wherever you want to put it. Indications are that for a bulk order the cost of a unit will be approximately $100, (compared to the standard retail of $150 to $200). Note that the sensor unit should be installed by a licensed electrician. If you are interested, please register your interest with Jane Knight by Wednesday 23rd April. You will be contacted by email to confirm the exact price and timeframe before you have to commit to purchase.”
Can you help with the hiring of bikes during the Australian Poetry Festival? All you need do is be at MASG between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 26th April and Sunday 27th April; help people select a bike and helmet that suits them, ensure that they know how to ride a bike and use the brakes etc., and log the bike in and out. A good book will come in handy! If interested ring Jill B on 5470 6978 or email jill@masg.org.au
Solar Pizza Oven: Planning and work on the solar cooker for MASG is starting week beginning Monday 21st April so if you want to help with this project don’t forget to contact Grace on 5472 1128.
Retail Development – Lets Make It Sustainable! MASG member, Doug Falconer, is asking MASG members to look at the planning application for the proposed retail development on the corner of Forest and Wheeler Streets. He is lodging an objection to the current proposal with some amendments that will enhance the proposed building’s environmental credentials and help make it a building the town can be proud to have at its most important entrance. Doug suggests the building should reflect the town’s values and build on our area’s reputation as a centre of sustainability. If you can help or wish to add your input into the public comments for the planning application contact Doug on 5472 5300 or email dougf@greengraphics.com.au
MASG media watch:
MASG’s Jayson Burhop on Win TV Friday 18th April 6.30pm., discussing our Wind Park information day; and was on ABC radio yesterday morning.
“Love’s Harvest – Raspberries”. SBS Wednesday 8pm – Inside Australia. Final part of series looking at organic farming and set locally in Yandoit.
The Gulf Stream and the Next Ice Age: The US Govt predicts that the collapse of the global ocean circulation will lead to an ice age in Europe by 2010. Sunday 8:30pm SBS.
David Attenborough’s Life in Cold Blood: Monday 7:30pm 21st April Nine
Insight – Is genetically modified food safe? Tuesday 7:30pm 22nd April SBS
(repeated Fridays 1:30pm)
Interesting archived material (transcripts & audio) on Radio National Website:
The climate engineers (Background Briefing ABC Radio National)
The plea of the Great Barrier Reef (Ockham’s Razor ABC Radio National)
Solar Cells (Science Show ABC RN)
Events managed by other organizations
Peter Harper lecture: Zero Carbon Britain. Peter is a world leader in the transition to a low carbon future and is currently Director of Research and Innovation at the renowned Centre for Technology in Wales. http://www.cat.org.uk/ Highly recommended! 22nd April 2008 at 6:30pm. Venue; La Trobe University , Visual Arts Centre, View St, Bendigo. RSVP: 5442 7816 or executive@bendigochamber.com
Resource Smart Forum: Bendigo, 22nd April. 7am – 9am Calder Regional Waste Management Group RSVP by 18th April Kerrie Tomkins email: kerriea@chariot.net.au
Two FREE Events About Energy And Climate Change; both are 6pm to 7.30pm: entry from 5.30pm., at BMW Edge, Federation Square. FREE ENTRY.
1. Renewable Energy, Monday 21 April. Professor Andrew Blakers FTSE ANU, Canberra Solar Photovoltaics and Solar Thermal Dr. Adrian Williams – Former CEO Geodynamics Ltd Geo Thermal Ms. Dominique La Fontaine – Immediate past CEO Clean Energy Council Wind, Bio Mass, Tidal and Waves, And
2. Non Renewable Energy; Monday 28 April with Dr Louis Wibberly – Chief Technologist, Energy Technology, CSIRO, Newcastle Brown Coal and Gas, future utilization. Dr. Peter Cook FTSE CEO Cooperative Research Centre Greenhouse Gas Technology (C02CRC) CO2 sequestration Dr. Ziggy Switkowski FTSE – Chair, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Melbourne Nuclear Energy.
http://www.sustainablemelbourne.com/urban-design-and-built-form/two-events-about-energy-and-climate-change-21-28-april/
Forum on Climate Change: Sunday 27 April at 5.00 – 6.30pm, Castlemaine Uniting Church in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine. Come along and hear Tito Tapungao talk about his experience of living in Tuvalu with the effects of global warming and how the Uniting Church is responding. Enquiries: Rev. Gordon Bannon 5470 6007
Interesting Information and Links
Garnaut Interim Report: This is an important time to support Prof Garnaut’s efforts. Please take five minutes to respond, by contacting Jane Morton mortonj@ozemail.com.au
or Wendy French on wfmaldon@gmail.com
Remember Your Bag Campaign working group: expressions of interest to participate in a Calder Regional Waste Management Group. Rather than “plastic bag free” campaign they are planning a “remember your bag” campaign: most people have their own bags, they just forget them. Kerrie Tomkins: kerriea@chariot.net.au , 5427 3803 / 0419 106 461
Legislating for sustainable housing: You’ll need broadband, and go about 15 minutes into the program http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bydesign/stories/2008/2199384.htm
Whitlam Institute empowers public with energy security forum. 14 April 2008
How to power the future of Australia will be discussed in a series of public forums organised by the Whitlam Institute and the College of Health and Science within the University of Western Sydney.
http://pubapps.uws.edu.au/news/index.php?act=view&story_id=2161Wind turbines
Africa: ‘Increase Agricultural Productivity While Reducing the Environmental Footprint’
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804150172.html
Beauty . . .“We see beauty through filters shaped by our values and beliefs. Some people think wind turbines are ugly. I think smokestacks, smog, acid rain, coal-fired power plants and climate change are ugly. I think windmills are beautiful. They harness the power of the wind to supply us with heat and light. They provide local jobs. They help clean our air and reduce climate change.” David Suzuki www.newscientist.com
note to readers:
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