Logan and Albert Conservation Association
A weekend "Transition Living Camp" was held from 3 - 5 July 2009 at Wild Mountains. The purpose was to consolidate understandings and plan for greater community engagement on environmental issues confronting us, centred on peak oil, climate change and their ramifications, and with the overarching context of our transition to resilience.
There were 17 attendees, with 5 from the Scenic Rim Region and others from Northern NSW, greater Brisbane and our creative facilitator, Robin Clayfield, of Earthcare Education at Crystal Waters. The program for the weekend was co-designed with Robin's guidance. This process was very successful and allowed for everyone's needs to be met.
The weekend provided much-appreciated rest and relaxation for committed community workers, with guided bushwalks and vigorous unstructured discussions, as well as preparing and sharing meals. As well, the group divided for 2 in-depth discussions, on "Burn out" and on "Ideas to empower and connect people with the transition town/climate change - peak oil movement". See the Outcomes document from the second workshop. A plenary session on "Engaging with local government" was also conducted with welcome contributions from two attendees, a Lismore City employee and a Ballina Shire councillor.
Comments on the weekend in the Wild Mountains Visitors Book included "A worthwhile and rewarding weekend in a special place." and " Thank you all at Wild Mountains for your efforts and compassion for preserving our earth. All the best in education forever."
Further workshops using a newly-completed frame for Wild Mountains courses will continue to harness growing interest and concern for action in Scenic Rim Region and beyond.
Scenic Rim Region Council support of Wild Mountains' for this weekend is visionary and foundational, not only for our region but also more broadly in our bioregion, as shown by the wide geographical spread of attendees at the workshop.
Wild Mountains looks forward to further collaboration with agencies in the Scenic Rim Region as well as Scenic Rim Region Council, including Ethos Foundation and Scenic Rim Escapes.
Ideas to empower and connect people with the transition town/climate change - peak oil movement.
Film nights -
Organise regular film nights at the local movie theatre. Negotiate a reasonable price with the movie theatre on one of a traditionally quiet night ie. Monday nights, advertise through community notices and email networks and host film nights. You can charge $5 - $10, and have a table of info that people can take. Also guest speakers could do a presentation or facilitate a question and answer session. To assist with free press and editorial coverage you could invite the Mayor/Local members to give a talk or at least attend.
Invite neighbours and friends around to your house for a film night. A great way to meet your neighbours. You could call it a 'House Party' and invite people to bring food to share also to increase the energy. House Party sounds more exciting somehow.
Link the community groups, make sure events (film nights) are sent out to all the different mailing lists in your community. It would be great if each community group could have at least one active member who is interested in assisting with Transition Towns.
Bush tucker audit of the Shire, bush tucker trail
Community gardens -
Perma-blitz (operates in Brisbane ) - have a group that goes around and creates herb/veggie gardens in peoples front/back yard. The idea is that a group of people each help each other to create veggie gardens and set up composting. To promote the idea of ‘grow your own' hold a competition with the winner/s getting a veggie patch built in their yards. (Front yard veggie gardens provide a visible display to help promote.)
Music/Art festivals.
Get some bands together with speakers and community groups with info to promote Transition Towns and bring a new audience into the movement.
Parking Day (google parking day 18th September) invite various people from within the community to be involved - this started in San Francisco .
A Database of all the community groups, schools, churches etc with a contact name and email, send info to all groups and encourage two way correspondence.
Resilience days - involve older folks, CWA (Country Womens Association) etc to pass on skills (knitting, sewing, preserving fruits and vegies, repairing bicycles, motors, etc)
Promote and join cyclist groups, and lobby for safer bikeways connecting towns, residences, sports fields and shopping areas.
Social networking - facebook group. Have links to other groups on emails, and have your email link on other groups emails (ie newsletter emails) Blogs and Getup style connections for quick lobby action.
Go and speak at community groups, business groups, schools - some have Environment Clubs
Munch and crunch - Bangalow Primary School has a worm farm and herb/veggie garden with produce used in canteen and classrooms. P & C are active and parents take turns ensuring they are cared for. Also kids cooking classes for older students - could do school cookbook as a school project
To encourage veggie gardens in schools, link with an interested school teacher. This book is a great resource. Outdoor Classrooms - A Handbook for School Gardens By Carolyn Nuttall and Janet Millington
Organise an event that gets all the professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc) to an event and get them involved with the campaign.
Look for those people who have solar hotwater or solar panels, and veggie gardens and put info in those letterboxes.
Articles in the local newspapers that let people know what Transition Towns are about, local radio stations.
Get to local food growers from the farmers market involved and promoting the Transition Towns philosophy - they will benefit greatly if more people buy food that is grown locally.
Potential DVD's
Power of Community (53 Minutes),
Story of Stuff (about the supply chain and consumption patterns goes for 20 minutes - is down loadable off the internet), and on this website
An Inconvenient Truth
Think Global, Eat Local by Morag Gamble - a 15 minute film that is right on topic.
There is also a Maleny Co-ops film by Paul Alistair called 'Building Prosperous Community' or something close to that.
Food Connect is a unique, innovative fresh food distributor, with the dual goals of making clean, local food an affordable reality for as many families as possible, while working towards creating a sustainable food system for South East Queensland.
By eating food that is grown within a five hour radius of Brisbane - Logan City - Scenic Rim Region, Food Connect members cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions and reduce their carbon footprint. Several farmers in Scenic Rim are part of this local food system.
Farmers are paid fair prices and are offered incentives for farming in chemical free, ecologically sustainable ways.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are packed into boxes each morning, and the boxes are distributed to central pickup points for subscribers to pick up in the afternoons.
Most subscribers pick up their boxes on their way home from work, or from picking up their children from school, which further cuts down on fuel use and carbon emissions
Food Connect is 2009 Banksia People's Choice Award Winner
Food Connect is leading the way towards responsible food production and distribution in Australia. Unlike most national food distributors, major supermarket chains and produce box schemes, Food Connect sources its sustainable produce from local and regional family farms. They provide our family farmers a fair price for their produce, which encourages them to continue growing our food. This, in turn, helps our region to be more food secure. Furthermore, our local food distribution system ensures a significant reduction in the carbon emissions that are associated with transporting food long distances.
Your food choices matter!
As a Food Connect subscriber, your choice contributes in very tangible ways to building an ecologically and socially sustainable world.
Read more about them at their website www.foodconnect.com.au Read more about the awards on the website www.banksiafdn.com. This process in known as community supported agriculture CSA.
The Banksia Environmental Awards are based on
Achieving a Sustainable Australia
Recognising and rewarding environmental excellence
Promoting best practice principles
Contributing to action-learning and education
Our local Where I live section of the online newspaper Logan West Leader provides some coverage here.
whereilive.com.au readers from any area to read write and comment on local news as well as check on local events
THERE IS PROVISION FOR READERS TO COMMENT ONLINE IF THEY WISH. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
The story is below for your convenience. MPs were asked these questions
Do you support a Logan City Council proposal to build a new substation in the area, negating the need for the Loganlea to Jimboomba powerline?
Do you think there is any point to the community consultation process when the decision on the powerline’s route appears to have been made?
MP’s position on Energex powerline (along and across the Logan River)
JOHN MICKEL, MEMBER FOR LOGAN
In a new article published in the Barry Law Review, Science & Environmental Health Network SEHN Legal Director Joe Guth argues that we have long assumed we can tolerate the endless growth of small increments of environmental damage in the pursuit of economic growth. But now, the mounting cumulative impact of the human enterprise is threatening the long-term habitability of the biosphere. The law will have to abandon its use of cost-benefit analysis to justify individual environmental impacts and instead adopt the goal of maintaining the functioning ecological systems that we are so dependent upon.
The article can be read or downloaded here . 35 page article.
Degradation of ecosystems from human activities is worsening. Scientists are also explaining clearly that human beings are utterly dependent on a biologically functioning biosphere, and that to survive and prosper we need the very ecological systems that we are so quickly degrading.
It's time for a new economic paradigm - By David Suzuki with Faisal Moola
I've heard economists boast that their discipline is based on a fundamental human impulse: selfishness. They claim that we act first out of self-interest. I can agree, depending on how we define self. To some, 'self' extends beyond the individual person to include immediate family. Others might include community, an ecosystem, or all other species.
I list ecosystem and other species deliberately because we have become a narcissistic, self-indulgent species. We believe we are at the centre of the world, and everything around us is an 'opportunity' or 'resource' exploit. Our needs or demands trump all other possibilities. This is an anthropocentric view of life.
Thus, when faced with a choice of logging or conserving a forest, we focus on the potential economic benefits of logging or not logging. When the economy experiences a downturn, we demand that nature pay for it. We relax pollution standards, increase logging or fishing above sustainable levels, or (as the federal Canadian government has decreed) lift the requirement of environmental assessments for new projects.
A fundamentally different perspective on our place in the world is called 'biocentrism'. In this view, life's diversity encompasses all and we humans are a part of it, ultimately deriving everything we need from it. Viewed this way, our well-being, indeed our survival, depends on the health and well-being of the natural world. I believe this view better reflects reality.
The most pernicious aspect of our anthropocentrism has been to elevate economics to the highest priority. We act as if the economy is some kind of natural force that we must all placate or serve in every way possible. But wait! Some things, like gravity, the speed of light, entropy, and the first and second laws of thermodynamics, are forces of nature. There's nothing we can do about them except live within the boundaries they delimit.
But the economy, the market, currency - we created these entities, and if they don't work, we should look beyond trying to get them back up and running the way they were. We should fix them or toss them out and replace them.
Ipswich Koala Protection Society is one of the key groups that have formed an alliance to fight the nexus between developer donations and political decisions.
"We're tired of writing submissions and 'comments' that seem to be ignored," said Helen Darbellay, IKPS Secretary, "they have not provided any protection to Ipswich koalas in the past and are not likely to in the future unless serious changes are made to stop landclearing and protect essential regrowth" she said.
"About six years ago we, (IKPS) worked with Ipswich City Council planners to identify and map key areas of koala habitat only to have much of it 'unmapped' by the state government" Ms Darbellay said.
"The comparison between koala observations in Ipswich and the latest GHD koala habitat mapping show little recognition of large areas of high density and important lower density koala landscapes throughout Ipswich, with Ipswich being shown as largely white space on the GHD map," she said.
"The Regional Plan maps and Infrastructure plans threaten core areas and koala corridors. The proposed Southern Freight Rail Corridor threatens large tracts of prime habitat, known to be home to a large population of healthy koalas. The area is an undocumented Biodiversity hotspot, yet is afforded no protection under any local, State or Federal legislation.
"The koala as an umbrella species and fauna icon should be declared Endangered"
Please browse the pages of the IKPS's website to learn more about their activities. Based in South-East Queensland, IKPS is an incorporated group that provides a 24/7 ambulance service for more than 100 sick, injured or orphaned koalas each year. IKPS helps to raise baby koalas orphaned by motor vehicles and domestic dog attacks. IKPS plants trees that provide koalas food to replace those lost as a result of development.
IKPS provides information to the community and to local government on koalas, their needs and their future. IKPS has no paid staff ... everyone is a volunteer. And you can help too!
Any assistance you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Koalas to lose ‘prime habitat' is all too familiar headline we are reading constantly in newspapers from areas all across south east Queensland.
Media Release
Monday, August 17, 2009
SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND KOALA ALLIANCE FORMED
TO FIGHT DEVELOPER INFLUENCE
Representatives from key community organisations across South East Queensland met today at Griffith University to form an alliance with one key purpose - to save the koala and with it, our South East Queensland quality of life.
From the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Caboolture, Redlands, Scenic Rim and Brisbane groups repeatedly gave the same stories of how the State Government's South East Queensland Regional Plan is eradicating the koala and systematically destroying the environment and values that make South East Queensland such a special place.
"Today clearly confirmed that the State Government's SEQ Regional Plan is the blunt instrument which is killing off the koala all across South East Queensland. The Regional Plan and the Infrastructure Plan serve the interests of the development industry, not the community and certainly not the koala. The words and maps in the Plan reflect Government denial of the serious plight of the Koala," said Ted Fensom of the Brisbane Region Environment Council (BREC)
Wayne Cameron of Bulimba Creek Coordinating Catchment Committee Inc. (B4C) agrees: "The koala is the canary in the coal mine. Its spiralling numbers and potential local extinction are a direct consequence of the development which is overwhelming the environment and diminishing quality of life across South East Queensland."
Simon Baltais of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ) added: "There is not a day goes by in SEQ that a community group cannot point to a development outcome that ignores the science and the community yet seemingly favours the developer."
"We all know that ‘he who pays the piper call the tune' and so one of the key objectives of the Alliance is to break the nexus between developer donations and political influence. The Alliance will be pushing for a Royal Commission into developer-funded electoral campaigns and seeking to ensure that this hijacking of democracy is brought to an end in Queensland," said Simon Baltais.
Lavinia Wood of the Community Alliance for Responsible Planning (CARP) Redland Inc. agreed, adding "The SEQ Regional Plan is the product of a pro-growth agenda delivering short-term financial advantage to developers, but long-term disadvantage and harm to the people and wildlife of South East Queensland. Clearly the Regional Plan must be amended immediately to prevent this from happening."
David Stephen of FAIR GO Committee who is dealing with the Southern Freight Rail Corridor through key koala habitat said,
"It's fantastic to see city and rural folk working together to save the koala and our children's future."
Lynn Roberts of the Koala Action Group & Eprapah Creek Catchment Landcare Association Inc. (ECCLA) summed up the value of the Alliance, "Today was inspiring - the community coming together to take on a David and Goliath battle, groups setting aside any differences to rescue SEQ from developer-driven planning. This is all about putting the decisions about the future back in the hands of the people."
Contacts:
Lavinia Wood - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Simon Baltais - Mobile: 0447 539 968
Brisbane, Australia - July 10 2009 saw the launch of a national book reuse and recycling program to save thousands of books from landfill and help those in desperate need of educational resources. Most of us love a good book, but what happens to the book when we have finished reading it? In many cases it is probably packed into storage, gathering dust on the shelf or thrown out in the rubbish.
Sustainable Insight, an online sustainability and environmental bookstore has taken an active step to extend the lifecycle of these books by launching ReRead, a new national book reuse and recycling program.
The aim of ReRead is to provide better resource management of books, by providing books donated by the public to charities, schools and not-for-profit organisations who are in need of resources for their libraries and education programs. Only books that are badly damaged and deteriorated beyond repair, will be recycled through an appropriate paper recycling service. In turn this is intended to reduce the number of books ending up in landfill and conserve the environment by encouraging the use of second hand books instead of new.
Visit the online bookshop website to find out more about the program and collection dropoff places.
 | Find local solutions to global problems at Hillbrook Anglican School's Sustainability Day Environmental Expo Saturday 22 August 2009 - including new and ongoing Recycling initiatives for Hillbrook Sustainability Day. |
What can you recycle on the day -
Read more about the day - speakers' program, market stallholders,entertainment and recycling opportunities at the school's website for the event.
Free Speakers - Kate Jones MP, Opening 10am, Annette McFarlane, ABC Gardening Guru and many more great presenters
Market Stalls showcasing green businesses
Variety of local Food Stalls
Free Music
Free Activities for kids and prizes to give away
Photography exhibition
Australia's unique biodiversity is under threat and needs your help.
Tiwest Night Stalk runs from 1 September to 16 October with the aim of getting members of the community out into nature to do some spotlighting for wildlife.
In previous years, this community action program has focused on marsupials and introduced species but now its scope has been broadened to include all animal species, native and introduced. Each year will focus on a particular group of animals. In 2009 Perth Zoo is asking Tiwest Night Stalkers to keep a keen eye out for unique bird species.
Tiwest Night Stalk is easy, fun and something everyone can do. All you need is a torch and the Spotter's Log. Choose a night or number of nights between 1 September and 16 October and spotlight in your local bushland. Record all the mammals, birds, bats, reptiles and frogs that you find and then send your Spotter's Log to Perth Zoo or email it in via the online form.
The information will be collated and made available online for interested members of the community. It is also sent to conservation agencies to help determine the number of animals still living in the wild, especially near urban areas, to better direct conservation efforts. This regular monitoring can provide a valuable record of changes to the distribution of animals over time and help the community realise which species live in the various habitats surrounding them.
Tiwest Night Stalk is a great way to become involved in community conservation action and to learn about our native animals, their habitat and their threats.
Get involved and more information can be found on Perth Zoo website.
