Archive for the ‘Seeking’ Category
Seeking is the category used by people and organisations who are looking for a response to a local sustainability issue or initiative. For example, contributors may be holding a competition and requiring applications, there may be a conference with a call for papers, or there may be a campaign that’s drumming up support. Alternatively, you may like to know the answer to a local environmental issue – you are welcome to post your question on the site using the “seeking” category. To do so visit the “How to use this site” page and follow the prompts.
New Projects: Climate Conversations
Posted in Movements, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on August 5th, 2010
Source: Locals Into Victoria’s Environment (LIVE)
The next City of Port Phillip Climate Conversations session will be held on Saturday 7 August – this session will be for those proposing New Project ideas.
Since March this year 163 people have attended Climate Conversations sessions. 14 project ideas have been proposed by participants to adapt our city to climate change. More ideas are needed, so why not come along to the New Projects session? Climate Conversation sessions, and the projects that arise out of them, are community-led and driven projects. Their purpose is to green up local streets, activity centres and homes. The City of Port Phillip Council is acting as a catalyst, providing resources, and expertise, to get projects started, and help out along the way. Council has many climate action projects and hopes that Climate Conversation sessions will empower local people to implement more.
Find out more about the Climate Conversations.
10 am – 1 pm, Saturday 7 August 2010
South Port Uniting Church, 319 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne Melway Map 2K, B3. Take Tram 96 to Stop 127, then walk 100m up the path to Dorcas Street. The church hall is across the road to the left of the bluestone church.
Please RSVP (http://www.live.org.au/community-events/rsvp-form) if you are coming as it helps with catering. Make sure you mention any special dietary, hearing, access or interpretation requirements you may have.
—
Bike Futures 2010 Conference: Call for Papers
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on July 15th, 2010
Source: Friends of the Earth Melbourne
The 2010 Bike Futures conference is a once a year opportunity for national and local leaders, planners, designers and builders to come together around the opportunities and challenges we all face in meeting the ever rising demand for bicycle transportation. The 2010 Conference will tackle issues specific to bike transportation such as:
• Separating riders from traffic and tuning traffic signals
• Designing effective shared paths and developing shared use
• Applying the new AustRoads guidelines
• Links to workplaces and public transport and end of trip facilities
• Bikes plans, land use and high return investments
The Conference will bring you up to date with the latest and best solutions. The practical presentations will enable you to unlock the solutions to the problems you face and take advantage of the many benefits that bike riding brings to your community. If you feel that you are struggling on your own with bike issues the conference will put you in the network. Participants last year said things like ‘From a professional perspective it puts us in touch with a whole lot of people who we would normally not meet’. Bike Futures is a Bicycle Network project that supports people who are working in, with or alongside Local Government in Australasia.
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne: Thursday 14th – Friday 15th October 2010
The Call for Papers is open until August 31st.
—
Hoddle Street Planning: Have Your Say
Posted in Policies, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on July 14th, 2010
Source: Victoria Walks
Hoddle Street is often choked with traffic and is an unpleasant environment for walking. What ideas do you have about making this street more vibrant and people friendly?
VicRoads is currently undertaking a planning study to investigate options to improve the efficiency and reliability of all modes of transport along Hoddle Street, from the Eastern Freeway to just north of the M1 Freeway (Citylink). As with any transport planning investigation, it is important that we understand the interests, issues and concerns of all users – so we want to know what you think.
Project description
Hoddle Street is critical to north-south and east-west transport movements in inner Melbourne and to the flow of Eastern Freeway traffic to and from the CBD. As conditions change and demand continues to increase, the challenge will be to find ways to reduce congestion and improve transport flow whilst considering the needs and safety of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. The study will examine key issues and investigate potential solutions, including grade separations and opportunities to enhance the efficiency of public transport.
Have your say
Your input is important in helping us better understand key issues relating to congestion, public transport, pedestrian and bicycle use, land use planning and urban design. Join in the discussion by clicking through on the questions on the website. You will be asked to register to participate, your privacy is protected and your name and email will never be disclosed.
Here’s your chance to join the discussion and help promote a more walking friendly environment!
—
Climate Communities Grants: Applications Open
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on May 11th, 2010
Source: Sustainable Living Space
The Climate Communities grants program is a Victorian Government initiative designed to promote and support local actions to tackle climate change. It provides local groups across Victoria with information, advice and grants of up to $50,000 to take practical action on climate change in their own communities.
The Climate Communities grants program will help to link existing community networks centred around local councils, service clubs, schools and environment groups. It will also encourage and support the establishment of new groups who wish to take environmental action at a local level.
The key objectives are to support local communities to:
* reduce emissions
* build community resilience to adapt to climate change
* trial and/or promote new ideas to help tackle climate change.
The program, managed by Sustainability Victoria, supports communities by providing grants of up to $50,000 for community organisations. The Victorian Government has also appointed Climate Communities facilitators to work with local communities across the state. These facilitators will provide information, advice and assistance with grant applications.
Inspire Meaningful Change Through Game Design: Competition
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on April 28th, 2010
Image: rockmixer via flickr CC
Design 21: Social Design Network is Looking for the Next ‘Game Changer’
Crises tend to have a bad connotation, but they can also act as catalysts for change. Seeing the flip side of the recession as a chance to start over, DESIGN 21 – an online platform founded by Felissimo and UNESCO to promote better design for the greater good – developed the Game Changers competition. Creatives from across the globe are invited to design a game that creates change by improving lives or inspiring new behaviors. DESIGN 21 will award $3,000 to the winning ideas.
Although the world has been rocked by a deep recession, it has forced many to reset priorities and rethink the future creatively. The design industry is a fitting example and throughout history has responded to troubled times by adopting new materials, technologies and thought processes. According to Felissimo Director and DESIGN 21 Founder Haruko Smith, “We created the Game Changers competition as a means for our global network of designers to spur positive and meaningful change in the world.”
Entrants are asked to develop an idea and design a game that improves lives or inspires new behaviors whether for an individual, group or community. It can involve teaching new life skills or proposing a more sustainable way of living, working or interacting with others. Digital and traditional forms of games are accepted and can involve any number of players as long as it includes an element of fun. Entries must be illustrated and accompanied by a clear description.
Members of DESIGN 21′s Advisory Board will judge the submissions based on creativity, practicality, quality, aesthetic appeal and overall effectiveness. Two designers will be awarded $2,000 and $1,000 for first and second place, respectively.
Deadline for entries: May 11, 2010
For more information, please visit: http://www.design21sdn.com/competitions/26
—
UNAA World Environment Day Awards 2010
Posted in Seeking by UNAAVictoria on April 20th, 2010
The United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) is a non-profit, non-government organization dedicated to promoting the objectives of the United Nations through its World Environment Day Awards, Media Peace Awards and Model United Nations Education Program. The annual World Environment Day Awards were established by the Association in 2000. The Awards seek to focus community attention on the environment, and in particular on positive programs that are working towards protecting or restoring the world’s natural heritage. Each year, the United Nations selects a theme for World Environment Day. This year has been declared as the International Year of Biodiversity and global citizens are urged to take action to safeguard the variety of life on earth.
You can take action and get involved by nominating for the World Environment Day Awards in 2010. There are a broad range of award categories providing opportunities for businesses, local governments, schools, community groups, individuals and the media to gain recognition for their environmental initiatives and achievements. Categories include:
- Virgin Blue Business Awards
- Department of Sustainability and Environment Biodiversity Award
- WSP Lincolne Scott Sustainability Leadership Award
- Szencorp Green Building Award
- Local Government Awards
- Meeting the Greenhouse Challenge Award
- Media Award for Environmental Reporting
- Excellence in Marine and Coastal Management
- Community Award
- Individual Award
- Education/School Award
- Excellence in Sustainable Water Management
Nominations close on May 14.
For further information or to download nomination forms go to www.unaavictoria.org.au or contact the office on: (03) 9670 7878 / email: office@unaavictoria.org.au
—
Carbon Compass: Sharing Sustainability Solutions for Business
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on April 12th, 2010
Want free access to proven carbon, climate change and sustainability solutions for your business? Would you like to know what other businesses are doing to successfully adapt to the carbon constrained economy? Do you have a carbon, climate change or sustainability solution you’d like to share with the business community? Carbon Down’s Carbon Compass website provides all of this, free for small and medium sized businesses. Carbon Compass provides businesses with access to practical solutions which have been implemented by other businesses and organisations, making Carbon Compass a unique sustainability hub.
Joining is free and as a Carbon Compass member your business will be able to:
- Gain one-stop-shop access to solutions and resources relating to carbon, climate change and sustainability – enabling you to implement within your own business
- Rate and review solutions that other businesses have posted on Carbon Compass
- Provide your own solutions that other businesses can implement
- Receive feedback from other businesses on the solutions you provide
- Expand your network, raise the profile of your brand and gain access to a growing community of like minded businesses
The site provides fact sheets and case studies through an archive that is easily searchable by industry, type, resource or topic.
Simply visit www.carboncompass.com.au to register your business.
—
Bold Ideas, Better Lives: Applications open
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on April 5th, 2010
Source: Social Traders
Applications are now open for the Bold Ideas, Better Lives Challenge. So if you’ve got a big idea we’re offering up to $1 million and capacity building partnerships to turn your idea into reality. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity. Read all about it on our Challenge pages and apply.
We’re committed to supporting up to 10 projects that show the best and brightest ideas in social innovation across Australia. Your idea could deal with anything from healthcare to climate change, unemployment to the internet as long as it addresses a social need faced by communities in Australia.
The Bold Ideas, Better Lives Challenge is open to just about anyone – you could be an individual, a group of friends, an organisation, a private company – from anywhere in the world, as long as your idea addresses a social need faced by communities in Australia we want to hear from you.
So don’t keep your ideas to yourselves – set them to work to make our world a better place.
Visit the website for more details.
What moves you? What moves your vote? Public Transport Peoples’ Poll
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on April 1st, 2010
Source: Going Solar Transport Newsletter
On Saturday 27 November, Victorians will vote in the next state election. The pt4me2 peoples’ poll is a chance for you to have a say on the improvements you want for public transport. We’ll collate ALL your responses and present them to ALL the major parties in May 2010.
Click the links below to get started. Do one or all of the surveys – each one only takes a minute or so. Please tell your friends about the surveys and have your say before they close on 30 April 2010.
#1 Train users’ survey | #2 Bus users’ survey | #3 Tram users’ survey
# 4 What’s best and worst about public transport survey?
Premier’s challenge: What would be your first three decisions regarding public transport if you were Premier?
Where’s the best and worst railway station in Melbourne survey?
The local surveys are now live
#5 Inner Melbourne: including Melbourne, Yarra, Port Phillip and Stonnington
#6 Northern suburbs: including Whittlesea, Moreland, Hume and Darebin
#7 Eastern suburbs: including Boroondara, Manningham, Whitehorse, Monash, Knox, Yarra Ranges and Maroondah.
#8 Western suburbs: including Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham
#9 North-Eastern suburbs: including Banyule and Nillumbik
#10 South-Eastern suburbs: including Glen Eira, Kingston, Casey and others
U18 voice – the U18 youth poll is open!
Australian Food Labelling Review: Respond by May 14
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on March 26th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Image: allaboutgeorge via flickr CC
Australian food labelling is currently under review. The initial round of submissions closed in November last year. Although the review was only open for one month and received minimal publicity 6000 people responded to it. The Review panel has released an Issues Consultations Paper along with 39 questions for the next round.
Unfortunately the paper brushes off concerns about GM, irradiation and nanotechnology in food and is misleading:
- Section 3.1 of the paper states that GM food must have a label. In fact loopholes in the current food standard means that most GM food escapes labelling.It is estimated that up to 70% of processed food contains GM ingredients. How many GM food labels have you seen?
- Section 3.11 implies that GM, nano-technology and irradiation have no public safety concerns
- Section 3.16 implies that labelling GM, nano-technology and irradiation will cause these technologies to be “inhibited”. This truly bizarre statement prompted MADGE (Mothers Are Demystifying GE) to issue a media release saying “If, as this review suggests, GM, nanotech and irradiation only have a future if they are hidden, consumers need to be extremely concerned.”
- Section 2.5 lists the objectives of FSANZ, our food standards agency responsible for food labelling, as:
- (a) the protection of public health and safety;
- (b) the provision of adequate information relating to food to enable consumers to make informed choices; and
- (c) the prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct.
It appears to be failing on all three accounts in reference to GM food, irradiation and nanotechnologies.
There are concerns that if GM food labelling does emerge it will in fact be “non-GM” labelling. This means that ordinary food would need labelling (GM free – 0% GM or non-GM – some GM contamination allowable if accidental) while GM ingredients would be seen to be the norm and so escape labelling. The costs of testing, labelling and also the liability for being sued if food labelled either “GM free” or “non-GM” is contaminated, would lie with any farmers, food manufacturers or retailers trying to produce GM free food.
Please consider putting in a submission to the labelling review. Public hearings are being held throughout Australia from March to May. Sign up to attend one.
MADGE will be studying the review and putting out suggestions. If you would like to help or have any comments on what you want to see on food labels please email info@madge.org.au