The newly formed Climate Emergency Network that links groups and individuals working on the declaration of climate and sustainability emergency and on the achievement of a safe climate will be holding its second workshop on 25th May at Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St Abbotsford. Melway 44 G5.

The Climate Emergency Network (CEN) is a not-for-profit, non-politically-aligned network of community organisations that are campaigning for all governments to recognise and declare a state of climate and sustainability emergency in order to ensure we have a safe climate future for all people, all species, and all generations. The network aims to bring together the many Climate Action Groups and community organisations across the nation to work strategically together towards this goal.

The network has been established only 3 months and has over 70 members in Victoria, representing many existing Climate Action Groups. We welcome new people and groups to join the network. The Climate Emergency Network Charter is attached.

Please come along to meet with members of the Network.
• Hear how the work of the Network is developing and become involved in jobs and projects needing workers!
• View the latest version of the Climate Code Red slide show.
• Learn how to train as a presenter of the slide show and Climate Code Red emergency message.
• Hear how your Climate Action Group can become involved in a project to meet with your Local Community Leaders.
• Hear about plans to meet and discuss the Climate Emergency message with key policy makers and influential members of our society.
(A detailed agenda will be circulated closer to the date)

****Feeling creative??? The network is seeking ideas for a logo. We invite everyone to bring along their suggestions on the day. We will decide on a basic concept or logo with the option to pass them onto a graphic designer for development****

We would appreciate a donation to contribute to room hire expenses.

Lunch: We will have a late lunch break about 1.30pm to 2pm. Food is available at the Convent Cafes or BYO.
Getting there… by bike or foot: The Capital City cycling and walking path passes the site.
Getting there… by public transport:
Via Train: Victoria Park on the Epping/Hurstbridge line is the closest railway station. Buses 200, 201, 205 and 207 run along Johnson Street.
Via Bus: Catch the Garden City/Bulleen Bus 203 from the city in Lonsdale St, this will run along Johnson St. Get off at Clarke Street Bus Stop. (Make sure you are going in the Kew Junction direction). Turn left from Clarke Street into St. Heliers and follow the sign to The Collingwood Childrenís Farm. The entrance gates of the Convent are on the right before you reach the Farm.
Getting there… by car: Enter Clarke St from Johnson St, then left into St. Heliers Street. All day parking is available on the north side of St Heliers Street and costs $4.00(coins only). There is also 15 minute parking on the street. There is no vehicular access to the Convent site.

To RSVP or for more information contact: climatecodered @yahoo.com

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council in collaboration with the CRC for Construction Innovation is conducting a series of Sustainable Built Environment workshops. I hope you don’t mind that I have forwarded this to you for your interest or to forward onto others.

Valuing Sustainable Commercial Buildings Workshops

27 May, 28 May, 30 May Location – Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne

These half day workshops focus on:
- valuation concepts with regards to commercial buildings
- the relevance of sustainability to specific value drivers
- differing role of property market stakeholders and how sustainability affects their perception of value
- a hands-on approach to considering different scenarios
- future trends in commercial building markets with regards to sustainability and value

Presented by Richard Reed, Professor of Property and Real Estate at Deakin University, his background includes real estate valuer in both the private and government sector. His current focus is on property and sustainability and he is editor and author for several national and international journals and publications for the property industry

For more information: http://www.slatteryit.com.au/crc_sustain_may08.html

Life Cycle Costing for Sustainable Commercial Buildings workshops

13 June, 16 June, 26 June

Location – Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney

Owners and users of buildings need to make informed decisions about the purchase of equipment and materials. Although initial capital cost is often the key criteria, ongoing costs should also be considered to achieve the best outcome. Life cycle costing is a method of identifying and calculating all the costs (current and future) over the life of an asset.
The focus will be on:
- the LCC methodology
- the use of Net Present Value (NPV) to calculate future cash flows
- discount rates, and their effects on LCC analysis
- examples of how LCC can be used in decision making for buildings
For more information: http://www.slatteryit.com.au/crc_sustain_jun08.html

Facilities Management for Sustainable Commercial Buildings

Location – Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney in July.

For more information http://www.slatteryit.com.au/crc_sustain_jul08.html

The Mayor and Councillors of Moreland City Council invite you to:

Embodied Energy
Embodied Energy investigates and highlights the engagement by contemporary artists with the concept of a sustainable art practice. It seeks to address the question: how do artists challenge or take responsibility for the materials and processes they use; the waste they generate; their ecological footprint and the possible environmental consequences?

Curated by Penny Algar and Edwina Bartlem
Artists: Tony Adams, Ros Bandt, Hannah Bertram, Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Mary-Louise Edwards, Mandy Gunn, Chaco Kato, Vin Ryan, Deb Taylor, Georgia Thorpe, Vicki West and Ilka White.

Official opening: 6pm – 8pm, Thursday 5 June 2008
To be officially opened by: Mayor Cr Joseph Caputo JP and Mike Hill, Chair Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd (MEFL)
Exhibition dates: Friday 6 June – Sunday 29 June 2008

Free Public Forum: 2 - 4 pm, Saturday 21 June 2008
This forum aims to encourage dialogue between artists, sustainability experts and the wider community on issues of art and sustainability, focusing on the possibilty of socially responsible art practices.
Bookings essential on 9389 8622.

Embodied Energy is supported through the Moreland Community Development Grants program, and Arts Victoria

Counihan Gallery In Brunswick
233 Sydney Road, Brunswick, VIC 3056
Wednesday to Saturday 11 am to 5 pm
Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm. Closed Public Holidays
Phone 03 9389 8622 Fax 03 9387 4048
counihangallery @moreland.vic.gov.au

Curator: Edwina Bartlem www.moreland.vic.gov.au
Front image: Robyn Cerretti, Arrival/Departure, 5/10/07, 2008, digital stills from video installation
Embodied energy art exhibition pdf

WANT TO CREATE THE FUTURE OF MELBOURNE…?

Future Canvas Inc., Future Melbourne and the City of Melbourne are proud to present Futurelab, a FREE two-day workshop to be held on 17 and 18 May 2008 at Digital Harbour, Docklands. Designed to stimulate creativity and social entrepreneurship among a new generation of Melburnians, Futurelab’s objective is to create and organise community projects that will make Melbourne a more sustainable and innovative city in which to live.

Futurelab is designed to spark youth-driven creative community projects to tackle the city’s social and environmental problems. Through creating small, tangible projects, participants will work towards building communities that are healthy and are in balance with their environment.

Day 1 Creativity:
The first day involves extensive tours through the city (our canvas) where participants are encouraged to observe everyday life and processes around them and become aware of specific issues, with the view to generate solutions and new visions of interaction - both between people, and their environments.

Day 2 Innovation:
The second day involves a consolidation of the ideas generated on day one; through discussions and interactions with experts in a variety of fields participants will focus and develop a few key ideas into projects with social and environmental benefits. They will leave with ownership of, and inspiration from, these projects. A number of events have been planned post Lab to encourage and support the implementation of these projects.

Also.. we will also be making community waste sculptures, listening to local dj Dave Cull … mixing his vinyl collection & listening to an amazing array of social entrepreneurs share their expertise with us.

and…Lord Mayor John So is also expected to make an appearance on the second day to hear about the amazing project ideas you develop to make the city a better “place to be” (have to live up to the number plate slogan).

How to register
Register online at: www.futuremelbourne.com.au
Registration closes Monday 12th May - be quick places are limited!
Participation is free.

Queries and more info:
futurelab @futurecanvas.org
Cathryn Kriewaldt
Senior Tutor
School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning
RMIT University
GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne 3001
Room 48.4.12
t: +61 3 9925 8261

The post below is from Vox Bandicoot who run the Sustainability Street program. This is a wonderful initiative which supports local communities to work together to promote greater environmental and social sustainability in their areas. For more information visit the website at http://www.voxbandicoot.com.au/sustainability_street.html.

On Ya Bike
East Melbourne Sustainability Streeters learn how to be safer, more confident cyclists. Transport is one of the major energy use items of most households. The simple act of riding a bike instead of taking the car can improve the health of the planet and the person. Apparently the only thing stopping some people riding is a flat tyre, dodgy brakes, or a loose chain. Not East Melbourne Sustainability Street.

East Melbourne Sustainability Streeters who attended the workshop, held at East Melbourne Library, can now adjust brakes, tighten chains, fix punctures, change tyres, lube moving parts and generally be a lot more confident about using their bikes. Huw Vellacott gave us practical demonstration of how to do all these simple maintenance tasks as well as some good advice on riding safely. Huw actually fixed peoples bikes as part of the workshop.

Keep an eye out for a workshop in your street soon. We’re running them in cycles. www.commutercycles.com.au

The Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL), SustainableMelbourne.com and VicUrban would like to invite you to:

The Sustainable Cities Round Table - SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
6:30 – 8:30pm including drinks, Wednesday 28 May
Melba Hall, Ground Floor, Conservatorium Building (near Gate 12), Royal Parade, University of Melbourne
RSVPS essential to fedwards @unimelb.edu.au
Proudly supported by VicUrban

The Sustainable Cities Round Tables showcase local environmental initiatives and encourage networking for people working in urban sustainability issues. In addition to our “famous” 3 minute presentations of people from the public, private and community sectors, we will also be featuring music accompaniment by pianist Dave Newington, an exhibition of RMIT University students’ work on food in cities and networking and drinks. To view previous Sustainable Cities Round Tables click here. The theme for the next event is “sustainable food systems“.

Speakers include:
Kirsten Larsen, VEIL Report: Sustainable and Secure Food Systems
Mary Stewart: Insights into the food retail and wholesale sectors
Marika Wagner: Water for food petition
Ferne Edwards, VEIL: Introducing the VEIL food map
Michael Chew, Environment Victoria: Scoping the Fruit Peddler project
Marcus Godhino, CEO, One Umbrella
Mikhil Kotak, Co- founder, Tiffins
Grant Taresh: Elgo Estate Wines
Chris Ryan, VEIL: Jim’s food ventures in Melbourne 2032

Seats are limited! RSVP to Ferne Edwards at fedwards@unimelb.edu.au by 23 May.

This report listed below was found on the Australian Policy Online newsletter and thought it might interest the Sustainable Melbourne audience. Retrofitting rather than simply building new environmentally-friendly buildings is a key concern regarding climate change.

The greening of existing buildings
Your Building
Posted: 27-04-2008
Current research has identified that most of Australia’s CBD stock, constructed in the 1970’s, is entering a phase of retrofitting. Most of this existing stock performs poorly against sustainability benchmarks and there is huge scope for improving the sustainability of the existing commercial building stock in Australia. This link is a collection of recent articles addressing the topic of greening of the existing building stock, found in EcoLibrium, the official journal of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH).

Read full text: http://www.yourbuilding.org/display/yb/The+Greening+of+Existing+Buildings.

A one day workshop that will teach you how to plan effective communication campaigns for social causes.

The workshop will cover key aspects of campaign planning including:
- setting campaign goals
- designing a communication strategy
- choosing and working with your audience
- using effective communication models and frameworks
- pre-testing your communication concepts
- using a social change strategy checklist

Presented by Gerald Frape, a communications consultant and RMIT / UNSW lecturer with 30 years experience in designing and directing social cause communication campaigns for the World Health Organisation, the Dalai Lama Australian Tour, Oxfam Australia, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Greenpeace Australia and others.

Pre-registration is essential. Closing date: Monday May 12.
Info: advocacy @rmit.edu.au, http://www.rmit.edu.au/advocacy, ph: 03 9925 2910
Hosted by RMIT Community Advocacy Unit.

Merri Creek Management Committee invites you to:

ENABLING CHANGE WORKSHOP- A 2 full-day challenging and inspiring, expert workshop on engaging your community in grassland conservation.
Tuesday 13th and Wednesday May 14: 8.00am for 8.30am start; finishes 3.30pm each day.
Craigieburn Tennis Club, Selwyn Ave, Craigieburn, Melways Map 387 A9
Presented by: Les Robinson - author of Enabling EcoAction and the Seven Doors Program Design model

Les was Social Marketing Director at social Change Media for 10 years. Les is one of Australia’s most experienced communication trainers and facilitators. Les’s approach distills a wealth of practical campaign experience together with in depth research into social psychology and social marketing, combined with global research into good practice in the
design and evaluation of social change programs. The workshops have been refined through testing with over 1000 project staff in fields as diverse as health promotion, crime prevention, sustainability, natural resource management, and emergency services.

This enjoyable workshop will provide you with proven strategies and tools to design programs that really motivate people – all richly illustrated with numerous cases from Australia and overseas.

You will:
• have powerful insights into behaviour change
• make your programs more persuasive
• know how to set achievable objectives
• understand how to work with values, norms and comfy zones
• learn to avoid common pitfalls
• simplify the process of evaluation.

DAY 1: Understanding behaviour change - Explore what makes voluntary change happen, and examine key concepts and models of social change – illustrated with numerous examples from social marketing programs in Australia and overseas. The outcome from Day 1 is a rounded insight into the processes of social change.

DAY 2: The program design template - This is a system of program logic designed to deal with social change projects. Participants work in teams to develop a program framework to tackle their own ‘change challenges’. The Day 2 outcome will be a customized program design and evaluation strategy, targeting communities living near Native Grasslands, including tactics, messages and evaluation methods.

Registration form: www.mcmc.org.au and send to Ray Radford ray @mcmc.org.au, ph 9380 8199
Cost: $330 Per person / $110 Concession - Includes lunch and morning tea