Weekly News Digest – 11th April, updated 14 April 2008
Posted on 11 April 2008 by e-news
For more info call 5470 6978
MASG News and Events
Community-Owned Wind Park Open Day: Saturday 19th April from 10.00am to 2.00pm. Phee Broadway Foyer, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine, with light refreshments provided. MASG are investigating the potential for a community owned wind park in our shire. All members are invited to an open day to learn more about the project and how you can be involved. Written info available on the day. Wind park developer David Shapero and MASG representatives will be present to answer enquiries and discuss the project. More information and bookings: Jayson 5470 6978 and jayson@masg.org.au
Congratulations to MASG committee member Tony Smark who gave a very well- researched and well-reasoned presentation to the MA Council public meeting on the 08/09 budget. His major recommendations were around the Council’s use of GreenPower, how it offsets its vehicle fleet emissions, the opportunities in the retrofit of the School of Mines Building & the Council’s HACC Home Maintenance program working to increase the energy efficiency of our low income resident’s homes. Tony’s full presentation can be downloaded from the MASG website
Welcome back Carolyn, who re-starts work at MASG on Mondays, starting 14th April. Please come to the morning tea at 10.30am to welcome her back from maternity leave.
Growing The Harvest Festival, 12th & 13th April: Includes FREE making olive oil demonstration at 12.30 and honey at 1.30. Full program available at the MASG office.
Also on Saturday:
* Local food & produce display 10am – 3pm at Anglican Church Hall with morning tea between 10.30 – 11.30
* Anglican Church gum tree service – 11am in Mostyn St. near the church.
* Harvest Café: Uniting Church Hall, 11.30 – 1pm: A café offering wholesome warm local produce.
* Singing with Fay White. 2 – 5pm Presbyterian church hall, no experience needed. $5/$3 children free with an adult.
Sunday 13th April: Services at the churches and Tiddalik – Anglican Church hall. 10.30am: dance the story with Ron Murray of Kinja $5 / $3. Children free with an adult. Participants then perform Tiddalik at the shared lunch. Info: Thais 5472 5172.
Our Carbon Heroes: who do you know in our community that is your Carbon Hero? Can you share your story of their efforts and achievements? Or are you one of our many heroes, in which case can we hear from those you inspire? And what constitutes a Carbon Hero? It may be someone quietly reducing their carbon footprint; sharing their knowledge with others; have always been energy efficient; just joined the campaign; the unexpected; was once a climate change sceptic; are a carbon hero to you for any other reason; an individual; a child; a family; a big-end business; someone sustaining low income; an un-sung hero? Please contact Deanna: 0428 751 090 (by 12th April)
MASG poetry prize $500: topic of Climate change, part of the National Poetry Festival that will be held in Castlemaine from 25 – 27th April. Competition Entries close 14th April. For details see the notice board in MASG window, pick up a bright pink program from the library & see page 2 of the brochure: http://masg.org.au/?page_id=315
Glass cutters for solar cookers. Wanted: skilled MASG people to help make a large concentrated solar cooker (hopefully solar pizza oven) for MASG. We need volunteers to help make the solar cooker, eg to cut mirrors into small squares; metal workers to mend the satellite dish; and anyone else interested? Contact Grace on 5472 1128.
Roberto Perez talk – was very successful with MASG members car and bus-sharing to Daylesford. Around 300 people (from all over Central Victoria) enjoyed Roberto’s talk. Questions followed. An organic supper topped off the evening while folks enjoyed poring over the stalls and carried their numerous raffle prizes either to read, view or plant. The event raised $1300 for the Cuba-Australia Permaculture Exchange
Historical Bike Display: MASG is organising this display in the Castlemaine Town Hall for one week in September this year. Arrangements have been made with a major private bike collector in Richmond to bring a semi-trailer load of stunning 19th century bikes here. We are looking for people with a range of talents as well as ample enthusiasm and a deep love of the humble bicycle, to be on Working Group for the event. Please contact Neil on 54 72 3094 or email: neil@box311.biz
MASG media watch, with thanks to Gary Schurr for pointing out these items coming soon on TV and Radio National: SBS Wednesday 8pm – Inside Australia. “Love’s Harvest – Eggs”. 3rd part of this series looking at Organic farming. ABC1 Thursday 6:05PM – Grand Designs Abroad. A reality series, but touches on building a straw bale house. And Radio National (621AM): Saturday 9am – includes “Edible Estates: re-inventing the front lawn” & “Trends: legislation to enforce green housing” Archived programs (transcripts and audio) available at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bydesign/default.htm
Coming Events, not endorsed by MASG
The Kite Runner: first Castlemaine screening. Thursday, 17th April at 7.30pm. Presented by Rural Australians for Refugees Castlemaine & Theatre Royal. Tickets: $15 and $12 (conc.) from Theatre Royal. Movie rated M and is therefore not suitable for children. Proceeds will help a homeless Afghan family in Pakistan. Info: 5472 1196
Youth Environmental Forum: 12th April at the Star Cinema, Eaglehawk at 3.30pm.
Liz White 54346092, or e.white@bendigo.vic.gov.au
The Climate Forum in Ballarat – Saturday 12th April 2008; 12:30 to 5.00 pm. $12.50 adults; concession $10.00, students $5.00. Bookings essential: 5338 0980. Plus: BREAZE AGM: same day as the Climate Forum at 10:30. http://www.breaze.org.au/
Bendigo Sustainability Group, who are launching their group on Sunday April 13 at 2pm, at the Kangaroo Flat YMCA. They now have a website at www.cvga.net.au/bsg
Resource Smart Forum: Bendigo, 22nd April. 7am – 9am Calder Regional Waste Management Group RSVP by 18th April Kerrie Tomkins email: kerriea@chariot.net.au
Community Lunch, At Castlemaine Community House, across the road from Togs. Every Tuesday at 12.30. You’re welcome to join us! A vegetarian veal for a gold coin donation. Enquiries; please ring Community House: 5472 4842
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/
“The world’s first climate change festival”. Claimed to be the world’s first climate change festival it will take place this [northern] summer, from 31 May to 8 June, in Birmingham, England.
Other News
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 or 0419 106 461
The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook: Recipes for Changing Times. Intentional community pioneer Albert Bates on surviving peak oil. Bates is a civil rights and environmental attorney who has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, and a guru of US sustainability. Albert Bates doesn’t think that either peak oil or global warming will usher in the apocalypse. Nor does he advise citizens to start stockpiling firearms and Krugerrands. “Honestly, what I think is coming is a good change. We’ll find that we have more time. What we’ve really lost in the last century of development is that we’ve become slaves to the clock. We waste a lot of time we spend commuting over highways and stuck in traffic snarls in cities. As we begin to shift back to a more nature-based life rhythm, following the seasons and the flow of the day, we’re going to find we have more time. We’ll have time to do skills like painting, knitting and art that we have lost. It’s going to create a happier population.” http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3927
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