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 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

United Nations Association of Australia

Did you know the nomination deadline for the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards has been extended? You now have until close of business Wednesday May 7 to submit your entry for these Awards!

These Awards recognise those businesses, local governments, community organisations, schools, individuals and the media whose work serves to protect, manage or restore the environment.

Categories this year are: Building Commission Award for Best Sustainable Residential Development; Business Sustainability Awards; Community Award; DSE Excellent in Marine and Coastal Management Award; Excellence in Sustainable Water Management Award; Individual Award; ITW Industrial Packaging Education/Schools Award; Lincolne Scott Triple Bottom Line Award; Local Government Awards; Media Award for Environmental Reporting; Sustainability Victoria Meeting the Greenhouse Challenge Award; Szencorp Green Building Award.

For further information and entry forms, visit the website www.unaavictoria.org.au.

Kind regards,

Laura Szekfy
Communications and Events Manager
United Nations Association of Australia (Victorian Division)
Ph: 03 9670 7878 || Fax: 03 9670 9993
Email: office @unaavictoria.org.au
www.unaavictoria.org.au

Please find a message below from Growing Communities.

Dear all across Australia,
It is time to bring the Australian school gardens community together to celebrate our achievements learn from each other’s experiences and examine the role of school gardens in bringing about a sustainable future.

Growing Communities would like to invite you all to the 1st Australian School Gardens Network Gathering & Learning in the Garden Seminar, Brisbane, 13th, 14th, & 15th July 2008.

After our suggestion for a National gathering of the school garden community about a month ago, already 10 people from outside Queensland have said they want to come. So, seriously think about booking your flight and registering as if there are lots of people coming, then will need to adjust size of venue, re-think billeting, etc.

For program and registration details visit http://www.growingcommunities.org.au/litg2008.htm.

All inquires email: litg @growingcommunities.org.au

Hope to hear from you all soon.
Happy gardening.

Growing Communities

Growing Communities
192 Boundary Street
West End Qld 4101

p: 0423 945 621
f: (07) 3844 7322
e: info@growingcommunities.org.au
i: www.growingcommunities.org.au

Growing Communities is a community based cooperative enterprise working to promote the establishment, development and on-going support of school gardens, community gardens and city farms in South East Queensland and beyond.

The State Government has asked for public comment on Sir Rod Eddington’s Investing in Transport Report. Yarra City Council is holding a Community Information Session to discuss the recommendations in the report, the consultation process, issues affecting Yarra and key transport issues affecting the east-west corridor.

When: 6.45pm (for 7.00pm start) - 9.00pm, Monday 12 May, 2008
Where: Main Hall, Collingwood Town Hall, 140 Hoddle Street, Collingwood
RSVP: Wednesday 7 May, 2008 by calling 9205 5025

The meeting will include information about Sir Rod Eddington’s 20 recommendations, a presentation on transport patterns and needs in the eastern corridor and a round table discussion of the issues.

Council strongly encourages members of the Yarra community to make their own submission on the report to the Department of Infrastructure by mid-July.

For more information on the report and consultation process visit www.doi.vic.gov.au and follow the ‘East-West Link Needs Assessment’ link.

I found this report listed on the Australian Policy Online newsletter and thought it might interest the Sustainable Melbourne audience.

Wedges: understanding the potential to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions
The Nous Group / Victorian Government
Posted: 04-04-2008
This report looks at the potential for emissions reductions across the energy, transport, agriculture, land use and forestry and waste and industrial sectors. It provides important guidance on areas for future focus and trade-offs associated with different options.
To read the full text visit http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/summit/Resources/Wedges%20Report.pdf.

As part of our research at the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab, VEIL , we are currently designing an online, urban food production map of Melbourne. We are asking people involved in the local food / sustainabilty sector to contribute feedback to the design of this project.

We hope that the VEIL food map will:
• Record the quantity & variety of urban food production present within Melbourne;
• Allow Melbournians to contribute data to this site;
• Form a database for people to use to design new products & services towards greater sustainability within Melbourne;
• Provide evidence that urban food production currently exists within Melbourne in order to foster greater policy support of this industry.

The type of produce to be recorded on this website is food that is primary produce, ie. fresh & not value-added/ processed . These food examples must be larger than household production. Examples of urban food production models include: community gardens, commercial production and market gardens, shared private gardens (such as extended family/ group of households), & food produced on public space (such as street edge gardening, nature strips & street trees).

To test the site and contribute feedback visit http://www.veilmap.sustainablemelbourne.com/.

To move around the map:
• Either double-click the cursor to zoom in or use the scale on the top left-hand corner to zoom in or out;
• Hold the cursor down to drag the image from side-to-side;
• Swap from ‘map’ to ‘satellite’ to ‘both’ views by clicking on the boxes on the top right-hand side.

To submit or edit data:
• First, check if the site has already been added. If it hasn’t, submit data on http://www.veilmap.sustainablemelbourne.com/record_entry.php
• If you would like to edit data on the site please email the details to me at fedwards @unimelb.edu.au.

Please email all feedback to Ferne Edwards at fedwards @unimelb.edu.au.

Find below the latest newsletter from eVillage Melbourne. To see more details visit the website at http://evillagemelbourne.com.au/.

Hello to all eVillage Melbourne members,

Future Melbourne draft plan
The final stages of the Future Melbourne project are fast approaching, as the City of Melbourne puts the finishing touches to the Future Melbourne draft plan. This document will reflect the contributions of eVillage members and the wider Melbourne community. And these contributions will become even more evident shortly, with the official opening of the Future Melbourne draft plan wiki.

From Saturday, 17 May to Saturday, 14 June, you will be able to log into, read and edit the Future Melbourne draft plan wiki via www.futuremelbourne.com.au. This is an exciting development for the City of Melbourne and the Future Melbourne project and we’re sure you’ll enjoy this final opportunity to help shape Melbourne’s future.

Archived options and talking points
The Future Melbourne’s ‘Considering the options’ phase is now over, and the project is moving into final phases. We have archived all options-related posts, so you can still see and read what was said but you won’t be able to reply to any posts. As all discussion and ideas under each ‘talking point’ have now been absorbed into comprehensive goals and directions within the Future Melbourne draft plan, the talking points have now served their purpose and will be ‘retired’.

Key themes for discussion and action
Out of all the discussion about the future of Melbourne on the eVillage, 17 issues and themes have emerged as the most important and pressing for our members. Here are some of these.
- Spending on major events brings people to our doorstep. These people come back, and they are ambassadors for our city when they go home.
- Melbourne should continue to develop its standing as an education-focused and design-oriented city.
- Melbourne should place a far greater emphasis on green spaces and appropriate development.
- Violence on the streets must be reduced, and better liquor licensing laws are needed to help manage the problem.
- Businesses and residents have competing interests.
- The city needs to shift its transport planning from motor traffic to bicycles and feet.
- The city should develop programs that better integrate its constituents into ‘one’ community (business, residents, students, employees and so on.)

You can view and comment on these and more at Discussion HQ.

Thank you for your continuing contributions and interest, your efforts are making a difference to the future of our city.
The eVillage Melbourne Team.

See invitation below from John Dee, Planet Ark.