Weekly News Digest – Thursday 14th June 2007
Posted on 15 June 2007 by e-news
A summary of news and events: for further details follow the links; or contact the office (03) 5470 6978;
MASG NEWS
Sustainable schools: Important meeting for school staff and parents:
Inspirational sustainable schools activist, Mark Smith will present his experiences from working with clusters of eco-schools around Victoria. Monday 18th June at 6.30pm, at St Mary’s Catholic School,
, Castlemaine. Tea, coffee available from 6pm. More info from Ian: 5470 6978.
AND thanks to the 20 staff at Winters Flat Primary School who have signed up as MASG members. FREE training for energy advisors: places still available for 2 day training course on Sat. June 30th, the second on July 21st, (venue and time to be confirmed). In return for the free training we ask that participants also commit to doing three more business audits for which they will be paid (a nominal fee). Call Jane on 5470 6978.
GREY water: Following a successful training session led by Janet Phillips and Ian Lillington for trainers within the prison system, Tarrengower Women’s Prison will receive an hour session on grey water re-use, for about 10-15 of their 50 women prisoners. Thanks to MASG member Helena Read who has taken on this job. Membership renewals and mailout. The Sustainability Group values our members and the strength and credibility it lends to our work. All members should have received our once-a-year mailing about renewal of membership. MASG membership is valid for the financial year of July 1st to the following June 30th. If you joined in 2006 it is time to renew now. Please let us know if you don’t get a letter soon as we probably need to update your address. If you have joined recently your membership will be valid for the next financial year (07/08). Please rejoin and sign up a friend, and remember you need to be a current member to vote at the MASG AGM on August 2nd.
Special General Meeting Tuesday July 3rd 2007, 5.30pm, Front room,
Castlemaine. All members should have been notified by mail that a meeting has been called to vote on a proposed 6 changes to our Rules of Association to make the operation of the organisation more efficient. Proposed changes are available on our website as are proxy voting forms, see: www.masg.org.au
Training for public speakers on behalf of MASG. We want to train speakers to meet the demand to give talks to a range of community groups. Sessions will be led by Geoff Chestney. Geoff is a former President of Bendigo Toastmasters. Geoff expertly creates an environment in which people feel very safe to ‘have a go’, deal with any fears they might have and work to improve various aspects of their speaking. There will be 3 x 4 hour sessions, all between 9am and 1pm in the front room at the MASG office,
Castlemaine: Friday 22nd June, Friday 29th June, Friday August 10th. Cost per person will be $80 for the 12 hours. If you would like to become an accredited speaker for MASG, please enrol for this course asap by calling 5470 6978. Course numbers are limited to 15.
Finding our power-a community forum on securing our energy future. The Sustainability Group will be hosting a forum in the spring, October 19th and 20th ,to explore how we can secure our energy supplies from non polluting, locally based sources. Keep this space free in your diary and watch this space for more details.
MASG WANTED:
1. Garden tools of any age and any type, to help us plant and manage the gardens here; please leave outside the office anytime. 2 Indoor pot plants. Could you loan us a nice indoor plant for our offices for a month. Your guest plant will enliven our space and be returned after its sabbatical with us.
OTHER EVENTS, not MASG endorsed:
The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil Presenter: Elvira Griffiths, an Australian who went to Cuba and interviewed some of the people portrayed in “The Power of Community”. She invites you to come along: Castlemaine Community House,Lyttleton St.
, on Sunday 17th July, 5.30pm -7.30pm. Gold coin donation. Film, slide show, and “question-and-answer” session. For further information please contact Luke Bennett (m) 0407 364 654 (e) bunyip@mmnet.com.au
Castlemaine 500 Project are seeking homes who wish to have a home energy assessment undertaken. If interested please contact: Geoff Brown, Castlemaine 500 Project Team, geoff@tangentconsulting.com.au, Mob: 0403 763 660 Position vacant: Apprentice farmer at CERES environmental park, Brunswick East, Applications close: Friday 6th July 2007, by email to chris@ceres.org.au or by mail to: Chris Ennis, Manager Organic Farm and Training Programs, CERES Community Environment Park.8 Lee Street, Brunswick
East 3057. More info: 03 9387 2609. A very rare opportunity to work as an urban farmer – if you love building the living soil, growing organic food for your local community and being a part of Australia’s leading community environment park – then this is the job for you.
Heaven on Earth – Katherine Seppings stunning exhibition with images from 11 countries continues at “Art With Heart”, Galleria Lounge,10 Howe Street
, Daylesford. Not open Monday and Tuesdays. (You will be guaranteed visual overload in Daylesford in June. There are about 120 events!)
George Monbiot: What Australia Should do to Stop the Planet Burning; Live via climate- friendly video conference. Tuesday 3rd July 2007, 6.30 PM – 8.30 PM, Law GM15 Theatre, Law Building, Melbourne University Parkville campus, corner of Leicester and Pelham Sts. more information: email: globalisation@foe.org.au, 9419 8700, and see: George Monbiot (www.monbiot.com) Expressions Of Interest (EOI) – two unusual invitations: 1. EOI for funding to establish Eco-Living Demonstration Centres. Grants of between $50,000 and $300,000 are available to help community groups develop Eco-Living Demonstration Centres, which will inform residents about sustainability through practical demonstration and by delivering education and behaviour change programs to their local communities. Over four years, $3 million will be invested in the Centres from the Sustainability Fund, as an initiative of Our Environment Our Future Sustainability Action Statement 2006 – Action 13.4. http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrence.nsf/LinkView/BE96743DB0C03151CA2572F4000C7BD7E2176756455B21FFCA256E57007C82CF 2. Call for applications from across Australia by The George Alexander foundation/ ISS Institute Fellowship, for trades people and artisans to 35 years of age. Applications are invited in: * Environment and Sustainability, * Alternative Energy. If you have interest and the passion to study in areas of expertise that are not yet available in Australia go to http://www.issinstitute.org.au/os/index.html Final Word ‘The Environmental Revolution resembles the Industrial Revolution in that each is dependent on the shift to a new energy source. And like both earlier revolutions (Agricultural and Industrial), the Environmental Revolution will affect the entire world.’ Lester R Brown (2001) in Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth. London, UK: Earthscan Publications Ltd. p 75Comments are closed.
