Weekly News Digest, Friday 19thDecember 2008
Posted on 19 December 2008 by e-news
Key Dates – Summary
Wednesday 24th December: MASG office closes for 2008
Tuesday 6th January 2009: MASG office opens for 2009
MASG News and Events
Concerned about Climate Change? We ask you to join other MASG members to let our local and federal politicians know that our government is backing down on its election promise to rise to the challenge of climate change. Please take time to do one of the following:
Make an appointment to tell our local Federal MP, Steve Gibbons, that you are deeply disappointed with the 5% target. (Telephone 5443 9055 or freecall 1300 131 663). His electorate office is at Cnr Williamson and Myer Streets, Bendigo.
Or, if you can’t make a personal visit, write a letter to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the climate change minister Penny Wong or to local MP Steve Gibbons.
Steve.Gibbons.MP@aph.gov.au, , http://www.alp.org.au/people/email/wong_penny.php
Check the white paper on this website for complete details: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/whitepaper/summary/index.html
Welcome to our new Executive Officer: After managing the Wesley Outdoor Education Campus in Healesville for the last few years, Mike Hall is taking up the EO position at MASG on Friday 19th December. The Outdoor Ed Campus has a strong emphasis on sustainable living and environmental management. Mike is currently undertaking a graduate certificate in sustainability, having already completed a BA and Diploma of Education. Having just moved to Castlemaine, we welcome Mike, his wife Gerry and children to our community and look forward to working closely with him.
May all your Christmases be Green: Looking for a Christmas gift with a difference? Want to have a green Christmas but avoid chopping down a Christmas tree? Consider giving a membership of MASG as a gift this year. Your family and friends will thank you … and so will the environment. MASG membership costs $20 per annum for an individual and $30 per annum for a family. Simply visit the MASG website, download a membership application form (under Support), provide your family member or friend’s contact details and your credit card details. Send the form back to the MASG office and a new membership card will be sent on your behalf. You will receive a confirmation of the gift and a receipt for tax purposes.
General support of MASGs projects and activities can also be provided by donating to MASG’s campaigns for 2009. Follow the links from the Donate button on the MASG home page to donate via our community. Donations of $10, $20, $50 or $100 can also be made via our membership form, or contact the office on 5470 6978 if you would like to contribute a larger amount. And whatever you are doing this Christmas, think about making it a Green Christmas.
Solar Open House: The display house will be open to the public on Saturday 20th December between 10am and 3pm and on Sunday 21st December from11am until 3pm. It will then reopen on Saturday 17th January.
Rain is not enough: so please help water the Solar House vegetable garden in Campbells Creek during the summer period. The vegetable patch is a fantastic way of demonstrating to people how simply they can reduce their greenhouse emissions and environmental footprint. If you are able to assist, e-mail Daniel Borton: daniel.borton@optusnet.com.au advising what dates/days you’re available.
Events organised by other groups
Heritage Victoria is seeking real-life examples of the following heritage building types for the Joint Sustainability and Heritage Project: Mid-late Victorian, single and double storey; Edwardian; Interwar and Postwar. This research project seeks to understand the embodied energy, operational energy and water usage of heritage buildings and is at the leading edge of research into environmental sustainability of existing buildings. For further information email: paula.judson@dpcd.vic.gov.au or ring: 9637 9286.
Interesting Information and Links
Green Building fund: The Green Building Fund ($90m over 4 years) aims to reduce the impact of Australia’s built environment on green house gas emissions, by reducing the energy consumed in the operation of existing commercial office buildings. Round 1 for the Green Building Fund closes at 5pm local time on 15 January 2009.
Refrigerated Beaches: Interesting link!
Green Tip
Half of urban car trips made in Australia are less than 5 kilometres. Use the holiday period to experiment with walking or cycling on some of those short journeys.
Quote
Retiring judge, Justice Michael Kirby, said love was the most important thing he had discovered in life. Addressing new graduates of Brisbane’s Griffith University on 16th December, he said: “I am going to share it with you, like a precious jewel, fit for this special occasion. I refer to love. Love for one another. Love for our community. Love for others everywhere in the world. Love, you see, transcends even scholarship, cleverness and university degrees. It is greater than pride and it’s greater than wealth. It endures when all worldly vanities fade.”
MASG’s E News is compiled by Jill Bryan. If you would like to advertise an event or comment on any items, please send to: e-news@masg.org.au by 3pm Wednesday.
For further information ring: 5470 6978.
Comments are closed.
