MASG news February 9th 2007
Posted on 12 February 2007 by e-news
MASG NEWS
* Congratulations to Robin Taylor who has just become our 250th member!…we are on target for 300 members so help us by spreading the word about our work and how you can be involved.
* Final reminder: 9 Feb 2007 – A Quick and Clean celebration for all members 5.30 to 7.30pm, 7 Munro Court (at the end of Dudley Street, last turn on the right before going under the railway bridge on Castlemaine’s northern edge). Jan “Yarn” Wositzky has fabulously donated his considerable story and music skills and from 6.15ish pm will entertain adults and children for half and hour or so. Drinks and nibbles provided.
* Welcome to Ian Lillington, our new Project Officer who began this week. Ian will work at MASG on Tues- Friday inclusive, initially until June 07. Ian brings a wealth of sustainability experience from work with government and non-government organisations in Victoria and South Australia. You can email Ian on ian@masg.org.au .
* Co-ordination lunch for volunteers who are involved in the Castlemaine State Festival: Wednesday 14 Feb at 1pm at MASG. All welcome, we will feed you. This meeting is to hear reports on how each sub-group is progressing and what is needed between now and the big event (30 March – 8 April). More info from Ian on 5470 6978
* MASG and the Castlemaine State Festival Business Supporters project.
The Castlemaine State Festival has committed to being a carbon neutral event and is encouraging other businesses to buy Green Power for the duration of the festival. For only a few dollars, businesses can source all their energy needs from Green Power for the duration of the Festival. Participating businesses will display a special Green Power and State Festival Carbon Neutral logo and be listed in promotional material. MASG will assess each business’s energy use for the 10 day period. The cost for each café, shop, office or gallery will vary, depending on their actual energy used. This could be as little as $5 for a small business to around $50 for a larger operation.
All businesses and venues are invited to participate. Contact Ian at MASG on 5470 6978 or ian@masg.org.au for further details.
*Sustainable house tour: A tour of 3 local houses that incorporate sustainability principles. One new house, one “newish” and one renovation. Sunday March 18th. $60 pp includes lunch, afternoon tea, detailed notes and information pack & discussion time with the designers. Limited numbers. Bookings and pre-payment are essential. Contact Peter on 54742403 or email bundara@netcon.net.au
MASG REQUESTS
* Computer chair for volunteer computer users.
* Thanks to those who have offered bicycles for use by Festival Patrons. We need helmets, locks and racks as well – all would be greatly appreciated. They can be brought to the MASG office, give a call first on 5470 6978 or email Jill vol@masg.org.au
* Cyclists to participate in the “River of Bicycles” event that we are planning to have as part of the MASG contribution to the Castlemaine State Festival Ring the office on 54706978, or email Jill vol@masg.org.au to register your interest in being part of the ride. See River of Bicycles or MABUG web site for more details.
OTHER:
Please note these events are not MASG endorsed and are for members information only.
*Sustainable Living Festival; 16th – 18th February, 2007 Federation Square, Find out great ways to be part of sustainability See their website.
* Tonksculpture Prize will once again be part of the Fringe Festival Carnival of Chaos. Get your entry details from Tonks or the Fringe office, above Stonemans Bookroom. START SCULPTING RIGHT NOW to be in the running for a $300 prize for entries from a secondary school age sculpturer or a $100 prize for a entry from a primary school age person.
*C500 Energy Smart Workshops happening on Mondays in February 12th, 19th & 26th. All workshops start at 7pm sharp and will be staged at the Theatre Royal.
* More community groups get involved in climate change. Implications of Climate Change Speaker: Rob Gell For further information, contact: Greg Morvell greg.morvell@netcon.net.au or phone 5428 910 Friday February 23 Venue: Bullengarook Rec. Reserve, Rob Gell is the President of Greening Australia Victoria, Chairman of the Mornington Peninsula and Westernport Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd. and a member of the Victorian Coastal Council. Rob is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an Inaugural Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. He is the savewater® ambassador and was Environment Ambassador to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
* Getup aims for 200,000 members. For more information on this organisation working on climate change and other issues see the Getup website.
FINAL WORDS
….some good news
City of Melbourne joins Chicago Climate Exchange
The City of Melbourne has become the first Australian local government to join an international greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme, with the council now planning to encourage other municipalities to participate in the trade of emission “credits”.
The Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne, John So, says the council decided to join the Chicago Climate Exchange in order to make an ongoing commitment to reducing its organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions while preparing the council for any future Australian-based emissions-trading scheme. See the exchange’s website.
Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.
Attributed to Mark Twain (1835–1910)