New book from the Alternative Technology Association - “Water Not Down the Drain” book - A guide to using rainwater and greywater at home.

A perfect gift for anybody wanting to capture and use rainwater and greywater around their home and garden. Over 150 pages of comprehensive information and diagrams on how you can sustainably use water around the home.

Topics include:
Choosing rainwater tanks and harvesting rainwater
Supplying rainwater to the house and garden
Setting up a greywater diversion system for the garden
Greywater treatment systems for the house and gardens
Health and environmental concerns with greywater
Creating a raingarden to capture stormwater
Cutting greenhouse emissions while saving water

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Over the past few years, we have seen the emergence of a new social change movement, driven by an inspiring new wave of grassroots community activism. Around the country there are literally dozens of new groups, campaigning for effective action on climate change.

As yet, this new movement has not been able to gather in the one place. The climate movement convergence seeks to create this space in a one day forum, aiming to bring together the remarkably diverse climate change community we have here in Victoria, including local climate action groups, peak green groups, thinkers and strategists, and progressive businesses.

We will aim to provide an inspiring day of workshops, open space, an overview of the latest climate science, ideas on building a strong and vibrant movement, and the opportunity to ponder what opportunities are now present with a change in federal government.

We would welcome your involvement.

The convergence is being organised by the Sustainable Living Foundation (SLF), Friends of the Earth (FoE), the Greenleap Strategic Institute and Sustainable Business Practises and is supported by a range of climate groups including Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), Carbon Equity, Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, Environment Victoria, Futureye, Greenpeace, Moreland Energy Foundation, Western Region Environment Centre and Zero Emissions Now (ZEN).

Details will soon be available at: http://sustainabilityconvergence.org.au/ and http://www.foe.org.au/.

I recently attended the Agri-food XIV Conference based in Brisbane. Held by the Agri-Food Research Network, the Conference acts as a forum of discussion for Australian and New Zealand social scientists who are researching the economic, cultural, social and environmental implications of agricultural and food systems. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative event and one that I would recommend to any social scientists who are interested in food research.

Professor Tim Lang, author of the well-known book, ‘Food Wars‘, gave the keynote presentation in addition to a public lecture. Both of these can now be downloaded from the Agri-Food website at http://www.socialscience.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=62936.

Below is a position vacancy for Campaigns Director at Environment Victoria. Applications need to be lodged by 19 December.

Campaigns Director
In this key position you will manage Environment Victoria’s campaigns and play a leadership role in inspiring Victorians to act to achieve a healthy and vibrant environment.

Environment Victoria has been a strong and effective voice for the environment for nearly 40 years. As the state’s peak non-government environment organisation, we help over 150 member groups and tens of thousands of Victorians take action to improve our environment.

Environment Victoria works with government, business, other NGOs and the community to develop solutions for an ecologically sustainable future. Our work currently focuses on four key areas: Climate Change, Healthy Rivers, Zero Waste and Sustainable Living.

Reporting to the CEO, your role will be to lead and grow Environment Victoria’s campaigns to ensure we drive significant positive change in a time of rapidly growing community awareness and concern for the environment.

This full-time position is based in Environment Victoria’s office in the award-winning 60L Green Building.

If making a difference to the future of the environment is a priority for you, and you’d like the opportunity to lead a highly dedicated and professional team, please apply for this leading role:
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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROJECT OFFICER

This is an exciting community development project initiative, engaging and working with communities in Melton and Moorabool Shires to explore and develop practical and sustainable local solutions which meet the needs of transport disadvantaged communities in the Melton and Moorabool Shires. The role is funded by the State Government and is responsible to the Melton Shire Council as the auspicing agency, however the position will operate from both Melton and Moorabool Shire Councils. For more information please contact Lynette Green (03) 97477364

Below is the Farmers’ Market Newsletter for December by Miranda Sharp, Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets Freelance Food Writing, www.mfm.com.au.

MELBOURNE COMMUNITY FARMER’S MARKETS NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2007

Joy to the world, the rains did come! Buoyed by the downpours in November and the prospect of more to come, December has brought real cheer and hope for Victorian farmers. So let that be the spirit for the end of 2007…

There are two distinct ways of handling this end of year madness; one with absolute planning and the other with complete abandon and spontaneity so, with weekly farmers’ markets you can get organized and put your orders in ahead, or mooch along and go with the seasonal flow. At all the markets this month you’ll find fabulous quality apricots, nectarines, strawberries, early raspberries and cherries in full swing and, in vegetable matters, revel in snow peas, avocadoes, new season spuds, lettuces & mixed greens, beans, asparagus, garlic, zuchinni & leeks.

In essential holiday grub you’ll find Di’s rhubarb cakes, Eric’s pistachios, chutneys and relishes, falafel, lentils, olives and oils, dressings, biscuits, hazelnuts, chocolates, chilli sauces and pastes, muesli, fruit cordials, spice mixes, ginseng, pasta and sauces, wines, tempeh, pickled asparagus, juices and honey.
In global perspective this Christmas, Australian Conservation Foundation will be at Gasworks and Abbotsford Convent bringing fresh vanilla pods for sale in support of an community initiative in PNG where the Simbukanam people of Mandang Province have turned a decimated logging area into a Conservation Area. In order to create an income for the community, pesticide-free vanilla is now being grown, and a more sustainable industry secured for the future. The result is highly concentrated, beautiful quality fresh vanilla direct to you.

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As part of the recent State of Australian Cities Conference held in Adelaide, 28-30 November, the ARC Research Network launched The Australia Futures Task Force Report #1, Challenges and Directions for Australia’s Urban and Regional Future. Please find below an excerpt from their press release. The entire report can also be downloaded from their website at http://www.siss.edu.au/news/17.

An excerpt from the media release available at http://www.siss.edu.au/news/17.

“A report into the future of Australian society is calling on the newly elected Rudd Government to meet the challenges facing the country’s diverse cities and regions.

The Challenges and Directions for Australia’s Urban and Regional Future: Identifying the Key Issues report is from the Australia Futures Task Force , which is the collective effort of national panel of 18 prominent urban and regional analysts who are members of the Australian Research Council Research Network in Spatially Integrated Social Science (ARCRNSISS).

Led by Bob Stimson, Professor of Geographical Sciences and Planning at the Institute for Social Science Research at The University of Queensland, and economist Professor Bill Mitchell from the Centre of Full Employment and Equity at the University of Newcastle, the report sets out a comprehensive listing of the pressing issues confronting people, governments and business across the nation’s cities, towns and regions.

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The Environmental Jobs Network, Sustainable Living Foundation, Melbourne EnviroDrinks and o2 Australia would like to invite you all to their Christmas GreenDrinks.

Thursday 13th December from 6pm
Palookaville, 416 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (Tram 112, Stop 18)

$2 contribution for finger food, organic beer and wine available at the bar.

Come celebrate the successes of 2007! GreenDrinks is open to all! No RSVP required, however if you would like to bring a group please contact France on 0439 304 089 with anticipated numbers.

For information on how you can ‘green’ your Christmas function see the o2 toolkit at www.o2australia.org/green-christmas-function.

Another Sustainability Street Approach (SSA) Village Snap Shot - Chinese Leaders Visits Sumner Estate & East Keilor Sustainability Street Approach (SSA) Villages

Three very senior Chinese visitors, Mr Zhong, Mr Yin and Mr Wang, who are in Australia working with the City Of Melbourne as a part of the Melbourne: Tianjin sister city relationship, asked to meet Sustainability Street Villages, and last Sunday, had afternoon tea twice – with the Sumner Estate Crew and with the mob behind the now legendary East Keilor Sustainability Street community garden.

The three leaders from Tianjin are keen on setting up an SSA Village in the BinHai New Area, near Tianjin. This will be a flagship project of the Chinese Government, and is being built as an eco*sustainability focussed Industrial & Residential Development Zone.

For more information about the Sustainability Street Approach visit Vox Bandicoot at http://www.voxbandicoot.com.au/.

Below is a notice from Professor Steve Hamnett, Chair of the recent State of the Australian Cities conference held in Adelaide last week. I attended this conference and thoroughly enjoyed it - it was wonderful to experience the breadth and depth of issues that face our cities in addition to meeting the people involved in the research. The website for the State of the Australian Cities conference is www.unisa.edu.au/soac2007.

STATE OF AUSTRALIAN CITIES CONFERENCE 2007
The 2007 State of Australian Cities Conference was held in Adelaide from 28-30 November and seems to have been regarded as a great success by the 300 or so academics, researchers, students and policymakers who attended.

The conference attracted over 120 excellent research papers on the current state of research relating to Australian Cities and current urban policy challenges. Submitted papers and the four keynote addresses by Brendan Gleeson, Pauline McGuirk, Steve Dovers and Ruth Fincher will be made available on the conference website in the near future (www.unisa.edu.au/soac2007).

SOAC 2007 also saw the launch of the ‘Australia Futures Task Force’ report by Professor Bob Stimson. For details and a downloadable copy of this, go to www.siss.edu.au.

The Australian Sustainable Cities and Regions Network

NOW INVITES BIDS TO HOST THE 2009 SOAC CONFERENCE.

An outline of the purposes of the SOAC Conference and of the Selection Principles and Process can be obtained from the website (www.unisa.edu.au/soac2007).

On behalf of the Conference Organising Committee, I should like to express my sincere thanks to the authors, speakers, delegates, panel chairs, track chairs, referees, keynote speakers, sponsors, host universities, student guides, support staff and the many other contributors who helped make SOAC 2007 a success. The State of Australian Cities Conference is now firmly established on the Australian academic calendar and we look forward to another outstanding conference in 2009.

Steve Hamnett

Chair, SOAC 2007

Professor of Urban and Regional Planning
University of South Australia
Tel: +61 8 8302 2297; Mobile: 0407 728 339
Email: steve.hamnett @unisa.edu.au