Posts Tagged ‘consumption’
Carrotmob Dinner to Fund a Restaurant Veggie Patch
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on November 15th, 2011
| 17 November , 2011 | ||
| 5:30 pm | to | 7:30 pm |
Do you want to go out for dinner this Thursday, maybe a drink too? An Evening Mob with Pizza, Peroni, Music & more….
Il Pomodoro at Fed Square & Carrotmob call on Melbourne to support sustainable food! Il Pomodoro Italian Restaurant located at Federation Square, Melbourne is committing 100% of its profit from 5.30pm-7.30pm Thursday 17th November to the expansion of a Vegie Patch and Herb Garden. So come help us ‘mob’ Il Pomodoro – eat and drink Italian and know that your dollars are helping to support deliciously sustainable cuisine and reduce food miles.
This very first evening mob will feature pizza & Peroni deals, as well as great home-style Italian favourites, al fresco dining and music by Matt Wicking from The General Assembly. Come past for a quick after-work drink, dinner with friends or even coffee and dessert. Take-away available for carrots in a rush.
What’s carrotmob? We harness the power of the consumer dollar to support local businesses to take steps to become more sustainable! We’re the opposite of a boycott!
http://carrotmobmelbourne.wordpress.com/
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Retrofittable Window Insulation
Posted in Models, Research by Kate Archdeacon on November 14th, 2011
Source: EcoVoice
Photo by sanbeiji via flickr CC
In October 2011 MEP Films launched Enerlogic® Window Film, a retrofit window film designed to give single-glazed windows the thermal performance of triple-glazed windows. Adding up to 92% more insulation to windows, it can deliver year-round results in cold, warm or mixed climates, with two types of film available. Enerlogic®35 has been designed to deflect 99% UV rays and 76% solar heat, and is suited to warmer climates. Enerlogic® 70 allows the winter sun’s natural light and warmth to enter the building while shielding the heat from the summer sun, for cooler climates.
Read more about this product on Eco-Voice.
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NB: We try not to promote specific products here on Sustainable Melbourne, and we can’t endorse a brand, but this seemed like a product that would be of interest. KA
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St Kilda Community Kitchen: Renovated and Reopened
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on November 2nd, 2011
Via Port Philip Urban Fresh Food Network (PPUFFN)
“The kitchen is back in operation after recent renovations and the room looks fantastic. It’s great to see delicious dishes, aromas, and laughter filling the kitchen once more.” PPUFFN October Newsletter
The St Kilda Community Kitchen is a community-run weekly activity that is based on the idea that we all get stuck on cooking the same recipes day in, day out. But, while those recipes might be tired and boring to one person, they’re completely new and exciting to others! Each week people from backgrounds come together to have fun socialising and cooking, all the while expanding their cooking repertoire. So if you’ve ever wanted to learn a few more cooking skills, this is a great and engaging way to do it!
With everybody pitching in their ideas and skills in this way, you don’t need to be an expert to join in the fun, since it’s really about enjoying the experience of cooking in a relaxed and friendly group setting. In this way, a fantastic group cohesion is created that strengthens the local St Kilda community on the journey to preparing a delicious feast!
WHEN: Every Monday from 6:30pm ’til around 8:30pm. Come and stay for as much or as little as you like!
WHERE: Corner of 114 Inkerman St & Bath St, St Kilda. Enter off Bath St and look for the signs pointing to the Community Room.
COST: FREE!! All you’ll need to prepare a delicious feast is provided, just be sure to bring your appetite!
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The St Kilda Community Kitchen uses food that is kindly provided by SecondBite. SecondBite is an innovate organisation dedicated to the redistribution of surplus fresh food from local food donors directly to local community groups. This sustainable and award winning program was created in 2009 to further SecondBite’s mission of making a positive difference to people by identifying sources of surplus fresh food that might otherwise go to waste. SecondBite is always looking to engage more volunteers. For more information on how you can be involved, go to secondbite.org.
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Do we have a Plan B? Exhibition: Fishmarkets in Japan
Posted in Events, Opinion by chardman25 on October 24th, 2011
| 27 October , 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm |
“Scientific paper, after scientific paper that I read all seem to present the simple statement – that our oceans are dying and we are killing them. The oceans are the life force that keeps our planet alive – yet it has been predicted that we will have wiped out all the life in the oceans by 2049. This is within my lifetime – and this is just one of those things which keeps me awake at night. I wonder: Do we have a plan B? What shall we humans do, once we fish the last fish?” Georgia Laughton
In February 2011, Georgia went to Taiji Japan for a month to photograph the annual 6 month-long dolphin slaughters. Planning to return in September 2011, the day prior to her arrival back in Kii Katsurra, a typhoon struck this area – with a death tally of more than one hundred people. With the town in crisis, a plan B for her time in Japan was launched – and time was spent in Tokyo exploring and photographing the fish market there.
Do we have a plan B? is graphic and confronting images of Georgia’s exploration of fish markets in during her visits to Japan – and she poses the question: Do we have a plan B for when we kill the ocean?
Do we have a Plan B? is showing at one hundredth gallery between 26 October and 6 November.
Opening night October 27, 6:30pm
one hundredth gallery is located at 49 Porter Street Prahran (between greville and commercial) and is open Wednesday – Friday 11-7 and Saturday – Sunday 12-5.
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Drinking Water: New service models in Melbourne
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on October 13th, 2011
Photo by Harry Troedel
Article by Kate Archdeacon:
Last week the Southbank Campus of the Victorian College of the Arts stopped selling bottled water through its vending machines, bars and cafés, with the support of staff, students, commercial tenants and Sharyn Lowe from Do Something! Water is now available through public water fountains (Aquabubblers) across the campus, as well as in the ReSauce café on site. Harry Troedel, Sustainability Manager, Implementation, at the University of Melbourne, explained that including the café tenants in discussions about the move away from bottled water allowed them to make decisions about the services they could offer instead. As a result, ReSauce now owns and operates a Freshie water vending machine. Patrons can refill their bottles from the machine, with prices varying depending on what type of water they buy. The choices range from chilled, filtered, sparkling, and flavoured water, with prices coming out at considerably less than a single-use bottle. The water from the Aquabubblers is the same quality and temperature as tap water, so the café has an opportunity to provide a point of difference.
As part of the initiative launch, Vestal Water gave away some of their stainless steel water bottles. Vestal Water are developing new services around water supply – they have a V.I.P. card which allows the bearer to refill their water bottle for free at participating outlets (cafes, service stations etc) on purchase of a hot drink, and they are developing a refill station map to support this promotion. Mr. Troedel says that Hairy Little Sista, the bar at Council House 2 (CH2) has replaced their bottled water with a Vestal Water system.
Shifting water consumption away from throwaway packaging while still providing quality products has been proposed as a great product-service-system in many student designs we’ve seen at VEIL. It’s great to see some real-world examples emerging in Melbourne.
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Community Power Conference: Australian communities taking charge of their energy use
Posted in Events, Research by Kate Archdeacon on October 12th, 2011
| 14 October , 2011 | ||
| 15 October , 2011 |
Are you looking for practical, achievable ways to reduce the impact of electricity price rises in your community? The Community Power Conference: Australian Communities Taking Charge, aims to showcase how regional Australian communities: are developing innovative energy projects, helping to reduce local economic shocks can take practical action to hedge against rising energy prices.
14 -15 November, The Capital – Bendigo Performing Arts Centre, View Street, Bendigo
The Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities, in its third biennial conference on renewable energy, is partnering with the Central Victoria Solar City project, part of the Australian Government’s Solar Cities program, and the City of Greater Bendigo, to deliver an exciting exploration of current energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies and actions being taken by Australian communities. This conference will show your community what it can do with regard to:
- more efficient use of energy in homes and businesses
- more effective demand management to smooth peak energy loads, and
- developing local, renewable energy generators embedded within the national distribution network.
The conference will bring together leaders in the renewable energy industry including government, industry associations and communities which have adopted sustainable strategies built on innovative, renewable energy business models. Speakers will engage with community and municipality leaders:
- Outlining and developing comprehensive strategies for local and regional energy sustainability (identifying appropriate business models, overcoming policy barriers, engaging your community, knowing your technology options);
- Showcasing examples of regional communities that have already, or are in the process of putting such strategies in place; and,
- Reviewing and developing communities’ local and regional energy sustainability policy and programs.
If your community is facing increased energy costs and you would like to learn how to address this issue at the local level then this conference can help you. Follow the link below for more information.
www.centralvictoriasolarcity.com.au/special-projects/communitypower
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Your Money or Your Life
Posted in Events by samgreen on October 10th, 2011
| 16 October , 2011 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
Photo by Rubbermaid Products via flickr CC
Based on the bestselling book ‘Your Money or Your Life’ , this session explores ways in which you can simplify your life and financial goals; align spending habits with personal values in order to save money, promote a sense of fulfilment and reduce consumer impact on the environment; and reduce over-consumption and clutter.
Date: Sunday 16 October 2011, 10.00am – 12.00pm
Location: Blackwood Street Neighbourhood House, 114 Blackwood Street, Yarraville
Presenter: Grace Girardi, Maribyrnong City Council
To register for this session, please visit ww.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/greening or for further information contact council’s Sustainability Officer on 9688 0357
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Love the way you shop! Workshop
Posted in Events, Movements by EcoCentre on October 4th, 2011
| 9 October , 2011 | ||
| 2:00 pm | to | 4:00 pm |
Love the way you shop! Workshop on conscious shopping
Let’s discuss what the impacts on our consumer choices are and how to channel your $$ power to practices you support. We talk about: GMO, organic, supply chain, corporate power, health, community, budget restraint, embodied energy, carbon footprint….. …..and anything that puzzles or disturbs you.
The workshop is FREE! Just bring $5 you will spend on shopping – a hands-on exercise during the workshop!
- Sunday, 9 October: 2pm – 4pm
- Wednesday, 12 October: 6pm – 8pm
- Thursday, 13 October: 6pm – 8pm
Bookings: reception@ecocentre.com
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Buy Nothing New Month: October
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on September 22nd, 2011
Source: Ethical Consumer Group
Why Buy Nothing New? Buy Nothing New is not about going without, nor is it Buy Nothing New Never. It’s about taking October to reassess what we really need, think about where the stuff we buy comes from (finite resources), where it goes (landfill), and what our alternatives are. It is about conscientious consumption and by not spending on stuff we don’t need, increasing our savings for the things we do need.
Pledge to Buy Nothing New during October and challenge over-consumption. You’ll have more time on your hands and money in your pockets.
http://www.buynothingnew.com.au/
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Secondhand Books Online: Brotherhood Books
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on September 21st, 2011
Brotherhood Books is a Social Enterprise from the Brotherhood of St Laurence and is intended to encourage the recycling of high quality books and to contribute funds to the Brotherhood’s charitable operations. Over the last 10 years, we have received in excess of 45 tonnes of donated books, and the collection continues to grow. Books are sorted and cleaned, then sold through the Brotherhood Books website and delivered to your doorstep. However if you love to browse the shelves, our books are also available in the Brotherhood Community Stores around Victoria. For locations please click here.
Brotherhood Books also works with other like-minded charities, including our most recent partner, St Luke’s of Bendigo. St Luke’s is regional Victoria’s largest not-for-profit welfare agency. Working in rural and regional communities, St Luke’s aim is to help people to make positive changes and contribute to their communities. With sites throughout the Loddon Mallee and southern New South Wales, St Luke’s staff of over 360 works with children, their families and communities to bring hope and create opportunities for development and improvement. 100% of the profits from Brotherhood Books’ collection go towards the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s work in helping disadvantaged people build better lives. Click here for more about the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
http://www.brotherhoodbooks.org.au/
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