from here

Canterbury & South Island:

Relief as CPW dam plan axed. (22 July, Stuff/The Press).

New NIWA freshwater management project for Canterbury. (22 July, Beehive).

Don't turn the Mackenzie Basin green, warns Forest & Bird. 34 companies and individuals have applied to take more than 164 million cubic metres of water from high country rivers and lakes to irrigate more than 27,000 hectares of public and private land in the Mackenzie Basin. (31 May, Forest & Bird).

Estuary research receives $1m funding. (17 July, University of Canterbury).

Bush Telly's Ellerslie Flower Show conservation interviews go online. (21 July, CCC).

Save Our Art Centre (SOAC): Website to oppose the establishment of the university's school of music in a new building at the Arts Centre. Essays by former Arts Centre director Christopher Doig, architect Peter Beaven, historian John Wilson, & City Councillor Chrissie Williams.

North Canterbury: Irrigation project 'outrageous'. (23 July, Stuff/The Press).

Nelson: Little greenie runs on $41 a year. NZ's highest-rated energy efficient home. (20 July, NZ Herald).

Waimate: Council may sell its forests. (20 July, Timaru Herald/Stuff).

Otago: Fish and Game costs action after its failed legal bid to get access for members to Crown pastoral lease land. (22 July, Otago Daily Times).

South Otago: 16 dairy farmers charged over effluents. (Otago Daily Times, 22 July).

Southland: Film Otago Southland accuses DOC of turning Mount Aspiring National Park into an "elitist playground" and forcing film production overseas. Access to the park the big bone of contention in management plan hearings, with recreational users arguing for less commercial access. (22 July, Southland Times/Stuff).

Milford Sound: Shortlisted in competition to be one of the 7 natural wonders. (23 July, Otago Daily TImes). See the 28 finalists (& vote) here: www.7wonders.com.

North Island & national:

Energy sector greenhouse gas emissions jumped 3.6 percent last year. (22 July, NBR).

Emissions reduction target 'a huge task' Smith tells Parliament. (22 July, guide2.co.nz).

UK stores reject NZ hoki because of bottom trawling. (21 July, NZ Herald).

Treasury outlines radical public service shake-up. (20 July, TVNZ).

Re-think urged on e-waste - or volunteers may be left to deal with it for several more years. (20 July, Stuff /The Dominion Post/The Press).

Survey: NZ culture more important than sport. Landscape and environment scored most highly. (21 July, Otago Daily Times).

Govt hampering debate on heavy trucks, say pro-rail activists. (21 July, NZ Herald).

Waikato: Council split on seaweed: Undaria pinnatifida, Japanese seaweed (in miso soup). One of world's 100 most invasive species - potential commercial opportunities also exist and Biosecurity NZ appears to be leaning towards freeing up harvest rules. (21 July, Waikato Times/Stuff).
See also: Miso soup kelp consuming the California Coast. (13 July, Treehugger).

Waitakere water ambassadors: Kids spread the word. (23 July, Stuff/Western Leader).

Kaipara Harbour: Turbines 'threaten to doom' snapper. Resource consent hearings for Crest Energy's 200 turbine proposal. (20 July, The Northern Advocate).

Northland: Call to close tracks to save dying kauri. The mould is a new strain and so far has no cure. (21 July, NZ Herald). Tracks shifted to save trees. (22 July, NZ Herald).

Palmerston North: NZ Falcon takes up residence. ''After leaving the nest, more populated areas provide a good supply of easy targets in the form of pet chickens, bantams or pigeons for falcon to practise on''. (21 July, DOC).

Wellington Harbour Hector's identity confirmed. (21 July, DOC).

LEARNZ: offers curriculum related online virtual field trips to all teachers (and their students) in New Zealand. Some trips for the new term:
Tongariro Volcanoes 29-31 July - More
Waikato Coal Mining 05-07 August - More
Southern Wind and Water Power 12-14 August - More
Waikato Dairy Farming 26-28 August - More
Kakapo 16-18 September - More

The Outlook for Someday: the third sustainability film challenge for young New Zealanders (up to 24 years). The challenge is to make a short film, individually or with a team, in any genre & with any camera, to interpret & make best sense of the term ‘sustainability’. For more, see: www.theoutlookforsomeday.net. (Project partners: Connected Media, Enviroschools, WWF, & others).

Public comment wanted: on new DOC Wild Animal Recovery Operation (WARO) concession permit. By 19 August. (21 July, DOC).

Submissions wanted: on proposed options for marine protected areas around New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands. By July 31. Background: See July 9 on Green Party's frogblog, page 3 - here (Scroll down a bit). Also here: Marine protection: Subantarctic Islands. (Forest & Bird).

Submissions wanted: Marine Protection West Coast, South Island. A series of seven ‘underwater national parks’ or marine reserves have been proposed. Your opportunity to protect some of the West Coast’s most prized marine areas and the threatened species that call it home, such as endangered hectors dolphin. More here. (Forest & Bird).

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• Is your local river polluted? Russel Norman, Green MP, is collating stories from around the country to get a region by region picture of the state of our fresh waterways. Is your local river or lake too polluted for swimming in summer? Subject to algal blooms? Are there persistent polluters in your area, etc.
  Send stories to Caitlin Carew, Out of Parliament campaigner on environmental issues: environment@greens.org.nz.
  
  
• Enviroschools/Good magazine offer: Good magazine will feature Enviroschools in August issue in its regular 8 page feature Good Cause. And publisher HB Media will donate 20% of all subscriptions sold between August and October to the Enviroschools Foundation. A 12 month subscription (6 copies) is $45 – ie $9 will go to Enviroschools.
  
  
• Save our Enviroschools: Green MP Catherine Delahunty's web page. (1 July, Green Party).
  
  
• Public consultation on draft Christchurch surface water strategy: CCC wants feedback on its goals and objectives for surface water (including stormwater) and water quality management in ChCh rivers and tributaries. Until 14 August. See under diary of events: for CCC information sessions, dates & venues. More info and online submissions here. (Have your say, CCC).
  
  
• Metro service review of North East & South West Christhchurch bus routes. Feedback sought. (14 July, ECan).
  
  
• School Food petition: MP Sue Kedgley is circulating a petition calling for the reinstatement of nutrition guidelines in schools, which the government repealed earlier this year. With guidelines gone, schools are free to sell as much junk food as they like. Find (& print) a copy of the petition here. To be returned by July 31.
  
  
• RSNZ Manhire prize for creative science writing: The place - past, present or future - of human beings in the universe. Closes 22 September.
  
  
• Quail Island/Otamahua: Closed July 10 - 31, for Mouse eradication. (DOC).
  
  
• Southern Right Whale sightings. DOC wants the public to report sightings as they (whales) make their way south.
  
  
• Submissions invited: on draft Kahurangi National Park management proposals. Including, for e.g., proposals to trial mountain bikes on the Heaphy Track. By 1 September.
  
  
• Have your say: CCC current consultations. (There are 9 presently, 3 more within the next month).


• Call for Heritage Award nominations in Hagley/Ferrymead area. (CCC).
  Have your say on the Brooklands Lagoon area parks plans. Consultation closes 31 August.
  
  
• ECan's Environment Enhancement Fund open: 1 June - 31 August. Anyone can apply for up to $5000 for projects that benefit the health of ecosystems in the region. More info/applications: www.ecan.govt.nz/eef.
  
  
• Sign On: help avoid catastrophic climate change. Sign on here. (www.signon.org.nz). Greenpeace climate change campaign - to
  get NZ to commit to target of 40% GHG reduction by 2020 at UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December.
  Haven't seen the Sign On TV ad? watch it here. (Youtube, 30 sec).
  

& from there

• Ireland: For a glimpse of what awaits Britain, Europe, and America ... look at what is happening to the Irish welfare state. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard. (18 July, Telegraph.co.uk).
  
  
• US: Financial crisis spurs people to work for free - good or bad? (13 July, Reuters).
  
  
• US: When will the recovery begin? Never. We can't just bounce back from the recession, because the old way of doing business is dead. Robert Reich, former secretary of labour under Clinton, now Berkeley prof. (13 July, Salon.com).
  
  
• Ancient global warming shows the limits of our knowledge. There may be feedbacks in the climate system we aren't aware of yet. (14 July, ars technica).
  
  
• Australia: The first world eco-system to disappear?: “There is no way out, no loopholes. The Great Barrier Reef will be over within 20 years or so.” (20 July, ecoWorldly).
  
  
• Turkmenistan: Tries to green desert with manmade lake. Critics predict only a drain on finance and another ecological disaster. (17 July, The Guardian).
  
  
• Ghana, China, India: e-waste nightmare. (Two Youtube videos, 10 min. each). (20 July, Treehugger).
  
  
• UK: Set to take back toxic waste from Brazil. (19 July, BBC).
  
  
• UK: Green dream runs low on power. Closure of Isle of Wight turbine plant symbolises dangerously becalmed renewables sector. (19 July, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: More wind than we thought? Assessment of global availability of wind for power. Also youtube (3min) clip of the world's largest wind turbine. (20 July, Energy Farms).
  
  
• China: Dust storm cloud circled the globe in just 13 days. (20 July, Reuters).
  
  
• Pakistan: Plants half million mangrove trees by hand in one day, breaks Guiness world record. Ramsar site. (16 July, ecoWorldly).
  
  
• UK: Four eco-towns given the green light. 10,000 homes to showcase environmentally friendly living. (16 July, The Guardian).
  
  
• Tuvalu: Vows to go carbon neutral by 2020. (20 July, BBC).
  
  
• Palestine: Bustan Qaraqa: using permaculture to green the hills outside Bethlehem. Ecologists get practical. (19 July, Treehugger).
  
  
• US: On tiny plots, a new generation of farmers emerges. (19 July, USA Today).
  
  
• UK: Meet the city dwellers going back to the land. (18 July, The Independent).
  
  
• UK: Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate signs on for Fairtrade. (22 July, Times Online).
  
  
• UK: Children under seven more vulnerable to pesticides due to lower enzyme level. (21 July, Environmental Health News).
  
  Technology:
  
• Simple bird-friendly fishing techniques help reduce massive albatross deaths. 100,000 a year from long-lining alone. (21 July, ecoWorldly).
  
  
• UK, Nepal: Cooking with sound: Biomass burning stove also converts heat into sound, then electricity. (20 July, Science Daily).
  
  
• Germany: Mercedes revives gull wing for electric sports car. (20 July, eocGeek).
  
  
• Italy: Researchers produce hydrogen from water using lasers and high pressure. (17 July, ecoWorldly).
  
  Natural world:
  
• 14000 km dragon fly migration discovered. Longest of any insect. Monarchs 'only' do 7000. (22 July, ecoWorldly).
  
  
• UK: Why raindrops come in many sizes. (20 July, BBC).
  
  
• Australia: Aborigines came via India, say Indian scientists. (22 July, Stuff).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Using ecoNet

Is easy. Just send in to the editor information about an event, activity or submission you want to share and it will go in ecoNet....as long as it's appropriate of course.

ecoNet is put out (Fridays) by Christchurch Branch of NZAEE (NZ Association for Environmental Education), a non-profit, national organisation of people working to promote and support environmental education, lifelong learning and sustainable behaviour throughout New Zealand/Aotearoa.

How do I contribute?

Use the links below to:

• forward ecoNet address to others you think may like to receive it - it's free
  
• become a subscriber
  
• send us information for the weekly diary.
• contact us

• Volunteers wanted: 2009 NZ Garden Bird Survey returns.

  To help enter survey results onto the internet. Need to have an internet connection, preferably broadband, & able to work from home.
  Contact: Eric Spurr spurreb@slingshot.co.nz , scientist for Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua.
  
  

• Presentation & discussion evening:

  Applying permaculture principles community wide; and the Genuine Wealth System: reciprocal finance -  community based finance without interest.
  Presenters: Joanna Pearsall and Bryan Innes, permaculture tutors.
  When: 6.00 pm for shared meal; Talks: 6.30 – c.9.00 pm Friday, 24 July.
  Where: 54a Oxford St, Lyttelton. (driveway between the swimming pool & the playground).
  Bring: Food if coming for the meal.
  More info/contact: Margaret 328 9243.
  All welcome.
  
  

• Event: Kakariki Sustainability Conference.

  Learn what you can do right now to make a difference. The day includes an international carbon-fee lifestyle guru (by video conference), local experts in transition initiatives, diet, home gardening and waste minimization.
  When: 9.30 - 5.30 pm Saturday, 25 July.
  Where: Ground floor, Erskine Maths building, corner Science Rd & Engineering Rd, University of Canterbury. (map here).
  Cost: $10.00. Students $5.00.
  More info/registration: www.sustain.canterbury.ac.nz/ksc09
  All Welcome. (Register ASAP through the website).
  Organisers: University of Canterbury Kakariki Environment Club.
  
  

• Film and exhibition: Taking a break from Capitalism.

  Film-maker: Paul Maunder .
  When: 2.30 pm Sunday, 26 July.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  
  

• Talk: Annual Jim Gardner Lecture: Getting inside the Tasman world.

  Speaker: Emeritus Prof Peter Hempenstall, .
  When: 2.30 pm Sunday, 26 July.
  Where: Girls High School auditorium.
  Also: Presentation of Rhodes History medal for long service to history, this year being awarded to Murray Thacker, founder and developer of the Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum.
  Organised by Canterbury History Foundation.
  
  

• Meeting: Save Our Water campaign.

  An update on Regional Council work.
  When: 8.00 pm Sunday, 26 July.
  Where: Sanddance Cafe, 3 Carnaby Mall, New Brighton'. (mall beside Paper Plus, off Seaview Road)
  All welcome, bring questions & requests.
  
  

• Whakanuia Te Wiki o te Reo Maori.

  Celebrate Maori language week. (27 July - 2 August).
  Homepage: www.koreromai.co.nz.
  
  

• CCC Information sessions: Draft Christchurch surface water strategy.

  When: 12.00, 1.00, & 5.30 pm Monday, 27 July.
  Where: Our City/Otautahi, crnr of Worcester Blvd and Oxford Tce.
  Also:
  6.00 pm Wednesday, 29 July at Little River Community Centre.
  More info/online submission forms: www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay. 
  
  

• Public meeting: Funding cuts to Adult and Community Education.

  Format: short addresses with time for comments and questions from the floor.
  Speakers (to date): Denis Pyatt, Principal, Papanui High School; Maryke Fordyce, President of CLASS (Community Learning Association Through Schools), current director of Risingholme Community Centre; Hon Maryan Street, Labour Party spokesperson, Tertiary Education; MP to be decided.
  When: 7.00 pm Monday, 27 July.
  Where:  Papanui High School Hall, 30 Langdons Road, Christchurch.
  
  

• Workers Rights Campaign planning meeting.

  When: 7.30 pm Monday, 27 July.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  byroncclark@gmail.com
  
  

• Inaugural event: Wednesday nights at the WEA - What about the workers?

  This week's speaker: Andrew McKenzie, industrial relations lawyer, on current NZ industrial law and its impediments for workers to get better wages and conditions.
  When: 5.30 pm Wednesdays for tea, coffee, soup. 6.00 pm for lecture and discussion.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Cost: Gold coin.
  Register/contact/info: cwea@xtra.co.nz or 366 0285.
  
  

• Last chance!: Practical Organic Home Gardening.

  Tutor: Lily White, manager of Opawa Community Garden & 'Kids Edible Gardening' programme.
  When: Starts 29 July. 6 Wednesdays, 6.00 - 7.30 pm.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Cost: $32.
  More info: CWEA programme. (#14).
  Enrol/contact: CWEA.
  
  

• Green Drinks: a relaxed catch up with other environmental professionals, activists and thinkers.

  When: 5.30 pm, Thursday 30 July.
  Where: upstairs lounge at Fat Eddys, in South of Lichfield Square. (around the back of CCC; accessible from Tuam, Manchester or Lichfield).
  
  

• Movie: Salt of the Earth. US, 1954.

  Feature film based on labour rights, feminism, community. Initially blacklisted in US as un-American.
  When: 6.30 pm Thursday, 30 July.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Cost: koha/gold coin.
  Background info: here. (wikipedia).
  More info/contact: otautahianarchists@gmail.com.
  
  

• Event: Integral philosophy and Transition get together.

  Learning to embrace change in an ecologically challenged world.
  Coach: Linda Watts, Life Design Network.
  When: 7.00 - 9.00 pm Thursday, 30 July.
  Where: St Albans Community Centre, 1047 Colombo St.
  Cost: Free.
  Contact/info: Linda 3745069, 3375069 or
  021 556756.
  
  

• 2009 International film festival.

  Christchurch showings: 30 July - 16 August.
  Programme: see here.
  
  

• Talk series: Save the world.

  Three evening lectures.
  Speakers: 1 Geoff White, general manager for Trade Aid, on The birth of the stakeholder economy.
  2. Pauline McKay, 9 years with WHO, now director for CWS, on World health issues.
  3. Prof Ian Spelllerberg, Lincoln University, on Is the focus on climate change warranted?
  When: 7.30 pm Thursday, 6, 13 & 20 August.
  Where: University of Canterbury.
  Cost: $10. Enrolments close Thurs, 30 July.
  Contact/enrol: 3642 470.
  Organised by: UN Association of NZ, Canterbury Branch.
  
  

• Workday: Revegetation planting at Orton Bradley.

  700 native plants.
  When: 10.30 am Sunday, 2 August.
  Where: Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay.
  Bring: spade, picnic lunch, family, friends.
  Info/contact: Steve (Trees for Canterbury) 982 1028 or 027 297 3829;
  or Ian (Orton Bradley) 329 4730 or 027 242 9300.
  
  

• Film and discussion: "The Recession".

  Speakers: John Miller, Trade Unionist, on workers rights in the recession; &
  Rev Bob Henderson, Ambrosia Food Bank, on local poverty and deprivation.
  When: 1.00 - 4.30 pm Sunday, 2 August.
  Where: New Brighton Museum, cnr Hardy & Beresford Streets
  Cost: Koha.
  Contact: Don or Olive 3886882.
  New Brighton Cafe Conversations.
  
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 9.00 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week: Murray Rogers, Water Rights Trust, on Canterbury water issues including the latest on the Hurunui River.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  NB: Listen again to Earthwise programmes on archive.
  
  

• Collectors wanted: Amnesty International annual street appeal.

  When: 6,7,8, August.
  More info/contact: Helen: helloon@gmail.com ;
  or Sara, National Freedom Week co-ordinator:
  freedomweek@amnesty.org.nz
  or 0800 AMNESTY (266 378) xtn 208.
  

Coming up:

• Discussion evening: Updating GE issues:

  The botched GE brassica trial at Lincoln and its consequences, & the current status of NZ GE R&D.
  Speakers: Dr Elvira Dommisse, Steffan Browning, co-chairs, NZ Soil & Health.
  When: 7.00 pm Thursday, 6 August.
  Where: 14 Harrison St, Shirley.
  Cost: non-members a god coin/koha.
  Organised by Canterbury Soil & Health.
  
  

• Workshop: on an Estuary Shoreline Walkway proposal.

  When: 1.30 - 4.30 pm Saturday, 8 August.
  Where: Mt Pleasant Yacht Club.
  All welcome.
  Contact/RSVP (by 31 July, for catering): 3842 160, or coordinator@estuary.org.nz.
  Organised by Avon-Heathcote Ihutai Trust.
  
  
  

• Two day course: Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

  LCA is an analytical tool for the systematic
  evaluation of the environmental impacts of a product or service system through all
  stages of its life. Full explanation & more info here. (Incl. venues, registration, cost etc).
  When: 13, 14 August, Auckland, & 17, 18 September, Christchurch.
  Organised by NZSSES. (NZ Society for Sustainability Engineering and Science).
  
  

• October Conference, Northland: National Marine and Freshwater Wananga.

  For all those involved or interested in freshwater & marine conservation, education and community engagement.
  Theme: Mountains to Sea - Engaging communities in marine and freshwater
  conservation.
  When: Wednesday 7th - Friday 9th October, 2009.
  Where: Whakapaumahara Marae, Whananaki, Northland.
  More info: www.emr.org.nz
  

Reminders:

• Short courses and public lectures: July - September.

  University of Canterbury's learning for life programme: courses on social issues, adult education, environment, community development, anthropology, cultural studies, climate change, etc.
  For info/to contact/& registration, see here: www.cbe.canterbury.ac.nz/community-education/courses.
  
  

• Free home composting workshops:

  Hot composting of kitchen scraps & garden waste, Bokashi and worm farms. All methods demonstrated.
  At several sites:
  1. Seven Oaks Education Centre, 35 Hassals Lane. 1.00 - 2.30 pm each Saturday.
  2. Okeover Community Garden - University of Canterbury, Engineering Road. (Map here). 12.00 - 1.30 pm each Wednesday.
  3. Lyttelton Community Garden, 54A Oxford Street, 10.30 – 12.00 pm each Saturday.
  More info/contact: Annmarie 021 190 4559 or 942 7190 (evenings).
  Supported by CCC.
  
  

• Gardening courses: starting a garden, seed saving, composting, pickling & preserving, etc.

  Where: Strickland Street Community Garden, 188 Strickland Street, Spreydon. 
  When: for times & dates see their website www.sscommunitygarden.net.nz.
  Further info/contact: 942 6630.
  Supported by CCC.