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

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.

The City of Stonnington presents its inaugural Sustainable Living Expo hich continues Council’s commitment to reducing our impact on the environment. The Expo will feature presentations and a range of exhibitors showcasing their products and services for homes and small business - visit the Exhibitors page for further information.

Free event
Friday May 9 to Sunday May 11: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Malvern Town Hall, Corner of Glenferrie Road and High Street, Malvern

Exhibitor expression of interest: complete the Expression of Interest form.
Info: Emma Bentley at Arts Events on 9663 7044, emma @artsevents.com.au or visit http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/
Hosted by: Arts Events

Village Well in collaboration with the Ethos Foundation, Donkey Wheel Trust, Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies (CERES), Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL) and RMIT invite you to….

Going Local and Making Great Places: A Free Public Lecture with Judy Wicks
Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab. Wednesday 21 May 2008
7.00pm - 9.00pm Storey Hall, RMIT, 342 Swanston Street Melbourne (MEL 579 K7)
RSVP: info @villagewell.org or 03 9650 0080 by Friday 2 May 2008

And

Workshop with Judy Wicks - Going Local: Creating Sustainable & Resilient Business Networks and Communities
8.30am-4.00pm, Thursday 22 May 2008
100 Mile Cafe, Level 3, Melbourne Central 211 La Trobe Street MELBOURNE

Judy Wicks
Inspiring founder and CEO of the White Dog Café in Philadelphia, cofounder and a director of the US-wide Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) and of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, Judy is the recipient of more than 40 local, national and international awards. In 2004, Inc. magazine named her one of America’s 25 most fascinating entrepreneurs, “because she’s put in place more progressive business practices per square foot than any other entrepreneur.” Find out how local businesses are meeting the challenge of globalisation, Climate Change and Peak Oil to create sustainable communities that sustain life, economic viability and the natural environment, and are deeply rooted in their natural and cultural place. Business people, entrepreneurs & everyone involved in the design, creation & management of our cities needs to come to this.

‘Business is about relationships. Money is simply a tool. Business is about relationships with everyone we buy from & sell to, and work with, and about our relationship with Earth itself.’ Judy Wicks

For more information about these events and to book for the workshop print out the pdf below.
going-local-lecture-workshop-1.pdf

Whether building, buying or renovating a sustainably designed home that is sensitive to your surrounds will always be more economical to run and healthier to live in. The “Renovate Sustainably” seminar will outline simple ideas and design principles that will help you create a healthy home lifestyle.

Presenters:
Bill Pemberton from SCARAB Solutions will speak on saving energy in the home when building covering: orientation, insulation, glazing, appliances, touching on embodied energy of building materials.
Jo Biddwell building biologist will speak about healthy building products, and finishes to reduce the toxicity of your home.

Time & Date: 6.45—9.00pm, Thursday 8 May, 2008.
Bookings: 9840 9129 / eepadmin @manningham.vic.gov.au
Where: Manningham City Council Chambers, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster.

Home Harvest Food Exchange - Join our Sustainable Living Challenge Home Harvest Food Exchange! Bring along your extra home grown food and exchange it with someone else. The Home Harvest Exchange runs before each seminar (6.30—6.45pm).

Renovate sustainably pdf

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

NEWSLETTER MAY 2008
May already and snow on them there hills! It was only days ago and the temperature was well into the 20’s. Speaking of weather…remember the appallingly windy day at the beginning of April? Sure enough it created lasting havoc for many farmers around Victoria including a completely devastated hazelnut orchard in Gippsland, two lost apple crops in Central Victoria and traumatised chooks who went collectively “off the lay” in the West.

In Victorian Farmers’ Market Association news, we are thrilled to finally have some of the funding in the bank from the much anticipated State Government pledge of last years election to see the growth of community-based farmers’ markets. As a result we have been able to employ a part-time Executive Officer, Chloe Crawley, who will be enacting projects such as the major accreditation program for markets across Victoria plus a website, conference and ‘how to’ guides for interested community groups and prospective stallholders. VFMA can be contacted on 9416 2090 and vicfarmersmarket @bigpond.com.

We need your input and feedback from the consumers point of view as this is a really formative time for us. We also should remind you that part of the funding is for community groups who can apply for up to $20,000 to start farmers’ markets in regional Victoria. VFMA has run a series of workshops for successful applicants and several community-run markets have started recently as a result of this support. More info www.business.vic.gov.au and find the farmers’ market grants program.

In produce around the state this month you’ll find the last of the berries, corn & field tomatoes but the reassuring re-appearance of parsnips, pumpkins, leeks, all the brassicas and other veggies will coax us into Winter gently.
There’s oodles in fruit and nuts too; mandarins, lemons, apples, pears, kiwis, pomegranates, feijoa, medlar, walnuts, chestnuts and quinces. Come and meet Shaw River buffalo cheesemakers at Collingwood.

It’s time to get bottling if that’s your thing. There are still green tomatoes around the markets which are an easy pickle to make to put away for winter antipasto platters. Slice the tomatoes as thinly as possible, toss liberally with cooking salt and weight down overnight. Rinse off in fresh water the next day, douse in white vinegar for an hour or so, rinse again then pack with olive oil and herbs in sterilized jars. Delish! Don’t forget there are 5 Saturdays in May so the last market is at the Abbotsford Convent on the 24th May.

Veg Out Farmers’ Market
3rd May & 1st Sat every month 8.30am-1pm.
Chaucer Street, St Kilda Melways 2P B9. Free Entry

Collingwood Children’s Farm Farmers’ Market
10 May & 2nd Sat every month 8am–1pm
St Heliers Street, Abbotsford Melways ref 44 G5
Entry $2 adults, stay all day.

Gasworks Farmers’ Market
17 May & 3rd Sat every month, 8.30am–1pm
Graham Street, Albert Park Melways 2J H7 Free Entry

Slow Food Melbourne Farmers’ Market
24th May & 4th Sat every month 8am–1pm.
Abbotsford Convent, St Heliers St, Abbotsford, Melways 44G5
$2 adults entry & carpark to Convent restoration & maintenance projects.

Please don’t forget all the markets are plastic bag free so get into the swing and BYO!
For more information www.mfm.com.au.

Farmers Market Newsletter May pdf

First Floor, 24-26 Hope Street, Brunswick
‘Transition to a Zero Carbon Future’, is our monthly discussion group focusing on the important task of developing real solutions to climate change in the Australian context.

The first discussion group, which focussed on the Victoria’s stationary energy sector, was a great success. This group is about moving beyond generalised calls for action on climate change, to examining real solutions, that are available now and the policy settings required to implement them. Our next discussion group will be focusing on the transport sector. We are very excited to announce that Dr Patrick Moriarty has agreed to address the group at our next meeting on Monday, 5th May.

Dr Patrick Moriarty is a leading academic and researcher in the field of Civil and Mechanical Engineering. He is currently Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Monash Universty. Over a thirty six year career he has researched and published widely in leading journals in Australia and overseas. His main research interests have included urban land use, transport and energy issues. An important part of his research has been the climate change implications of different fuels/energy sources for transport and electricity generation. He is also particularly interested in the limits of technological changes and efficiencies in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector, as opposed to behavioral changes or social efficiency measures. He has been actively involved in urban environment movements particularly in relation to proposed rail closures and urban freeway building. He has made, and continues to make a major contribution to debate around our transport future.

To assist us to provide adequate seating etc, please RSVP by 30th April to Mark Ogge
Email: mark @beyondzeroemissions.org
Ph: 0421 272 884

http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/discussiongroup/