Posts Tagged ‘education’
Environment Victoria’s Flemington Green: Project Update
Posted in Movements, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on January 19th, 2012
Photos from Flemington Green
From “Flemington women showing the way” from Environment Victoria:
Recruited by our Community Consultant, Iman Barabiaa, another group of Flemington residents have just completed their Flemington Green sustainable living training. The 16 women are from East African countries (Eritrea, Ethiopia and South Sudan), Turkey and Yemen and all reside on the Flemington public housing estate. The women have attended workshops on saving energy and saving water (with a guest presentation from City West Water), held by Environment Victoria at the Flemington Community Centre in November 2011. The group also visited SKM Recycling in Coolaroo to learn about waste and recycling – and we enjoyed a lunch of Turkish kebabs together in Broadmeadows.
They’ve told us they’ve learn a lot. Many participants, being new to Australia and having lived in countries where water and sanitation conditions are quite different, were very impressed to learn that Melbourne’s tap water does not have to be boiled before drinking, and said they’d keep that energy saving tip in mind. The visit to SKM showed the sheer scale of recycling that happens every day in Melbourne and the vast amounts of energy these processes require. Many participants said they’ll be talking to their friends about the need to recycle carefully and to reduce the amount of rubbish we throw away. Not all Flemington residents have the luxury of being able to recycle at home, but with the new recycling pilot program on the estate continuing to progress well, more and more will gain the opportunity.
After the energy saving workshop, each participant told us she went home and started taking action, such as switching off appliances at the wall; unplugging the mobile phone charger when it’s not being used (it still draws power even when it’s not charging); talking to her sister in her home about energy-guzzling down-lights and giving a presentation about ways to save energy in her English class.
New knowledge and motivation, and new environmental action – these Flemington women are showing the way for their community to take green action.
>> Find out more about Environment Victoria’s Flemington Green project.
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Energy, Transport, Housing & Summer Reading for the PM: Grattan Podcasts
Posted in Opinion, Research by Kate Archdeacon on December 22nd, 2011
Source: Grattan Institute
Australia’s energy future was considered in a seminar series that Grattan Institute ran jointly this year with the Melbourne Energy Institute. Webcasts are available for the final two seminars on the future of solar power and transport.
Grattan’s report Getting the housing we want was launched on November 21 by Cities Program Director Jane-Frances Kelly in conversation with former Victorian Premier, John Brumby. Transcripts and recordings of the launch are available, as is the report.
Every year Grattan Institute produces its Summer Reading List for the Prime Minister. The list contains books and articles that we found stimulating and a pleasure to read, and that we believe the PM, or indeed any Australian, should read over the break. Watch the launch or download the reading list.
www.grattan.edu.au
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A Sustainable Christmas Lunch
Posted in Events by samgreen on November 30th, 2011
| 7 December , 2011 | ||
| 12:30 pm | to | 1:30 pm |
Photo by MinimalistPhotography101.com via flickr CC
‘Tis the season to be jolly wasteful, but how do we separate nativity from naivety when it comes to sustainability? Join us for a Christmas lunch of tasty treats that won’t leave the planet more stuffed than last year’s turkey!
Date: Wednesday 7 December 2011, 12.30-1.30pm
Location: Reception Room, Maribyrnong Council Offices, cnr Hyde & Napier Streets Footscray
Bookings essential – please book online at www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/lunchbox or contact Council’s Sustainability Officer on 03 9688 0357 for more information
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Green Energy Future Day 2011
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on November 24th, 2011
| 3 December , 2011 | ||
| 10:30 am | to | 3:30 pm |
http://www.ceres.org.au/gefd
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Social Isolation and Older People: National Roundtable Forum
Posted in Events, Policies, Research by Kate Archdeacon on October 19th, 2011
| 14 November , 2011 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 5:00 pm |
This National Roundtable Forum will seek to develop a common understanding of the problem and identify key areas for action. Social isolation amongst older people is known to lead to poor health outcomes and to increased demand for services ranging from home help to residential care. We are seeking to identify strategies to reduce or prevent social isolation. The forum will facilitate dialogue between decision makers and service providers while engaging older people in the policy development process. Successful approaches should be identified, supported and replicated. The forum will have a focus on evidence based best practice and developing ongoing collaborations between participants. Topics to be covered that impact on social isolation of older people will include:
- Mental Health
- Housing and Urban Development
- Technology
- Age-Friendly Cities
- Late life learning
- Social Participation, Intergenerational Opportunities and Community Services
- CALD community issues
Monday 14 Nov 2011 from 9:00am to 5:00pm
ZINC at Federation Square, Melbourne
Conference fee: $190 Concession: $140
To register, visit www.4clivingwell.com
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Carlton Eco-Neighbourhood Launched
Posted in Models, Movements by Kate Archdeacon on September 27th, 2011
Photo: Jackson Architecture
Article by Kate Archdeacon:
Stage One of the redevelopment of part of the Carlton Housing Estate into the Carlton Eco-Neighbourhood was officially launched last Friday. The result of collaboration between residents, local action groups, architects, developers, the City of Melbourne, the Department of Human Services and Environment Victoria, the buildings incorporate environmentally efficient design. Natural lighting and ventilation, solar access and solar hot water, as well as water-saving systems that recycle water and capture rainwater all combine to reduce the carbon footprint of residents.
A potential demonstration project for many of the Eco-City principles mentioned by Cr Cathy Oke at the launch, the Eco-Neighbourhood is seen as an opportunity to combine technology with community-building to get to grips with a real-world test case for sustainable living in a Melbourne neighbourhood. The 174 apartments are a combination of public and private housing, and Environment Victoria is recruiting residents to train as Eco Champions, spreading information and practical examples of sustainable behaviour in a variety of languages and cultures. Charlie Davie from Environment Victoria explained that in the average Victorian household, the biggest energy uses tend to be heating, cooling and hotwater, but the careful design of these apartments means that the true gains in efficiency will be in the way residents choose and use their appliances. Eco Champions will be given test packs including Future Switches and microfibre cleaning cloths to try out for themselves as part of the training.
Residents have only started moving into the apartments in the last two months, so the community side of the project is still in early stages. It will be fascinating to see how the Eco Champion program progresses over time, since it’s clear that building design is only part of the equation for reducing occupants’ carbon footprints. The complex issues of choice, habit and long-term commitment to behaviour change are the reality that decides whether projects like these become reference points in the shift towards sustainable living that is so urgent.
www.environmentvictoria.org.au/carlton-eco-neighbourhood
http://carlton.vic.au/news/eco-carlton-neighbourhood-project/
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Footprint Flicks now available on DVD
Posted in Research by Kate Archdeacon on September 27th, 2011
Source: Sustainable Gardening Australia(SGA)
Whether you’re a first time gardener or a seasoned green thumb, these bite-sized, fast-paced, funny little flicks will get you growing in no time. For the low-down on everything from worm farming and composting to saving water, reducing your food miles and growing incredible edibles, you’ll find it all in these compact episodes of gardening wisdom. Gardening videos like you’ve never seen before. The Footprint Flicks 2 DVD set is available now in our webshop now. 17 short films for just $24.95. Click here to find out more or grab yourself a copy!
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Don’t know what the Footprint Flicks are? There are a couple up on the SGA website for you to preview – Lord of the Bins, DIY Compost, Part 1 & 2. Or read about their launch earlier this year.
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Sustainable House Day 2011
Posted in Events, Uncategorized by Kate Archdeacon on August 30th, 2011
| 11 September , 2011 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 4:00 pm |
Sustainable House Day, Sunday 11th September, will be celebrating its 10th year, the event will continue to showcase some of Australia’s most sustainable homes to the public as millions of Australians continue to embrace renewable energy, recycling, and other practices suitable to their lifestyles.
Houses are open for FREE between 10am and 4pm.
This year over 300 homes will open their doors for tours and give visitors opportunities to see firsthand the benefits and practicality of solar, ventilation, water harvesting, recycling, shading, thermal mass (materials that absorb and release heat), glazing and window treatments, gardens, and lifestyle products. Architects, builders and specialist service providers will also be on hand at many of the homes to provide expert tips.
Check out the house locations pages to see if there is house open near you, this list will keep getting updated until the event, so be sure to check back in.
Sunday 11th Sept 10am – 4pm
http://www.sustainablehouseday.com/
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Sustainable Living Brochures in Different Languages
Posted in Movements, Research by Kate Archdeacon on August 8th, 2011
Source: Environment Victoria via Mt Alexander Sustainability Group Inc (MASG)
As part of our Sustainability for Diverse Communities Resource Hub, we’ve pulled together some sustainability translations created by other orgs and have added lots of new translations of our own – you’ll find them in green. On this page you’ll find them sorted by language, and we also have a page of translations sorted by topic.
A word of warning! Many of the translations were produced by different organisations for different projects. We have tried to only include information which is widely relevant, so we don’t confuse people. If you find that any of these translations are confusing, or badly translated, please let us know. Also contact us if you have other translations you’d like to add, or if you find a link which is no longer working.
If you would like to widely distribute any of these publications, you’ll need to check with the original publisher on their copyright conditions. You are welcome to distribute the Environment Victoria publications, as long as you acknowledge Environment Victoria. Have fun!
www.environmentvictoria.org.au/translations
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Local Harvest Website for Melbourne: Seeking Input
Posted in Models, Movements, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on August 4th, 2011
Source: Ethical Consumer Group
Image: This Is A Wake Up Call via flickr CC
There is a growing need for easy-to-use information for sourcing food locally.
Local Harvest will be a website resource focusing on food relocalisation and the promotion of alternatives for food production in an urban setting. This includes a national directory for finding food co-ops, food swap meets, community gardens, farmers markets, box systems, ‘pick your own’ farms, farm-gate products, organic retailers, seed saver networks, free-range meats, and more. Users can find alternative local food sources based on their own locality by placing in a postcode.
A second component will be the promotion and exploration of do-it-yourself alternatives for food production and meeting essential needs, including resources for growing your own food, making your own produce, storing and preserving, low energy living.
We will largely be drawing from the many existing resources, and collating them into one place. This idea is based on the one existing for the USA found at www.localharvest.org.
- Core objectives of the project are to help people move away from dependence on the supermarket and industrial food system, and support local producers, reduce transport distance and associated energy and carbon impact, and build up connections between urban consumers and rural producers.
- The target audience is initially city dwellers who are looking to minimise their impact regarding food choices. Ultimately however, it will be a useful resource for everyone who eats and is concerned about making a difference with their everyday purchasing choices.
- Additional components such as a forum and blog by producers and/ or users may be included to enhance the ‘community’ and resource sharing aspect. A companion to the website resource will be an iPhone and smart-phone app using the same data.
- Local Harvest will be comprehensive and user-friendly, and an effective tool in encouraging behaviour change in food choices.
Involvement
Let us know if you’d like to be involved in this project. Here’s some ideas.
- be part of the organising team
- help with funding
- tidying up the content
- contributing content (resources you know of in your area)
www.ethical.org.au/local_harvest
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