from here

Canterbury & South Island news:

Ocean outfall consent deadline extended. (30 September, CCC).

Second canister of toxic pellets found on beach. (29 September, CCC).

Boost for Akaroa's French connection. (29 September, Stuff/The Press).

Endangered Haast tokoeka kiwi chick hatched at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, the first kiwi of the season. (28 September, Stuff/The Press).

Orana Park special refuge: Habitat hope for endangered Maud Island frog. (29 September, Marlborough Express/Stuff).

Human impact on godwit journey. Worries that environmental issues may compromise their feeding grounds. 5 min video clip. (28 September, TVNZ).

Nelson: Cyclists plead for room to be safe. (29 September, Nelson Mail/Stuff).

Nelson Editorial: Sue Bradford's departure will see Parliament without its most effective voice for the most marginalised people of this country – the unemployed, the underpaid, the young. (28 September, Nelson Mail/Stuff).

Pelorous Sound: Battle likely for marine farming. (28 September, Marlborough Express/Stuff).

Rangitata: Residents fight to save stranded whale. (28 September, Stuff/The Timaru Herald).

Nevis Valley, Central Otago: Challenge on tenure review exclusion."They are being heavy-handed in suggesting they would disqualify submissions that have the words 'hydro-electric' in them." (30 September, Otago Daily Times).

Clutha River: No new dam options for Contact Energy. (30 September, Otago Daily Times).

Invercargill: "Teach with a smile, learn with a laugh" - keynote US education conference speaker. (30 September, Stuff/Southland Times).

Southland: Council wants approval for Stewart Island visitor levy. (1 October, Southland Times/Stuff).

North Island & national:

Health researchers say NZ going backwards on climate change. (25 September, TV3 News).

Treasury unimpressed by govt's emission scheme logic. (29 September, NZHerald).

NZ is now a climate change laggard. Gary Taylor. (28 September, NZ Herald).

Call for incentives to use solar energy. Visiting Australian PV expert. (1 October, Otago Daily Times).

Deep water could help fill NZ's energy needs. Renewable power could get a boost if scientists discover pockets of energy they suspect are buried between 5km and 7km deep. (28 September, NZ Herald).

NZ's addiction to oil here to stay. 25-year projections of the country’s energy supply, demand, prices and emissions. Ministry of Economic Development report. (30 September, NBR).

Editorial: A car colliding with a large group of cyclists on Tamaki Drive at the weekend has energised a campaign for cyclists' rights. (29 September, NZ Herald).
Also: What can be done to make cycling in NZ safer? Readers' views. (NZ Herald).

Maps will outline public walkways. After years of debate and animosity over the rights of people to access beaches, lakes, rivers and mountains, the NZ Walking Access Commission yesterday launched draft guidelines about the rights and responsibilities of the public and landowners. Copies of the draft guidelines are available at www. walkingaccess.org.nz. (1 October, NZ Herald).

Hoki catch limit raised. "The latest scientific research and monitoring shows a substantial increase in hoki stocks." (30 September, NZ Herald).

Big Game hunting discussion document welcomed. Open for submissions till 23 November. (25 September, DOC).

Auckland: New road surface run-off design to help clean harbour. (28 September, NZ Herald).

Waiheke Island: DOC questions poison claims. (29 September, DOC).

Hawera: Dairy farmer fined $12000 for stream diversion. (29 September, Taranaki Daily News/Stuff).

Ten kokako leaving on a jet plane. (30 September, DOC).

Treasure trove of marine knowledge uncovered. (28 September, DOC).

Avian pox may be behind shrinking silvereye numbers. 2009 NZ Garden Bird survey. (29 September, Yahoo! News).

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• Exhibition (multi-media): "Greater Christchurch - there is a plan, we're on our way".  Showcases the Urban Development Strategy, adopted in 2007, which aims to protect water, enhance open spaces, improve transport links, create more liveable centres and manage population growth in a sustainable way.
  Where: Our City O-Tautahi, corner Worcester St and Oxford Tce.
  When: 10.00 - 4.00 pm, Mon-Sat, 22 September - 24 October. Free admission. (The UDS is a partnership of CCC, Waimakariri District Council, Selwyn District Council, ECan & the New Zealand Transport Agency).
  
  
• Bikes on buses extend to Northern Star routes. Also a list of bus routes that take bikes now. More to come in November. It's free to take your bike on the bus. (Source: www.metroinformation.org.nz).
  
  
• Cast a vote: Forest & Bird poll for Bird of the Year.
  
  
• Submissions wanted: The Northern Pegasus Bay Management Plan: Waimakariri & Hurunui District Councils are releasing draft bylaws to control the use of vehicles and horses and the use of land for camping on the foreshore, beaches and adjacent areas of Northern Pegasus Bay from north of the mouth of the Waimakariri river to the Rocks area of Amberley Beach. Hurunui proposals open for submissions until October 30 and Waimakariri submissions open from September 26 to October 27.
  
  
• Entries for 2010 Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards open 1 September and close 23 October, 2009. Entry forms/more info: www.bfea.org.nz or contact: Nicola Hunt, Canterbury Regional Co-ordinator, Ballance Farm Environment Awards, (03) 353 9711, email bfea@ecan.govt.nz.
  
  
• MAF sustainable farming fund: applications for over $20,000 close 7 October. more info here. (MAF).
  
  
• Feel the Heat Petition. Take action on Climate Change. (www.oxfam.org.nz).
  Also:
  Sign on. There's no planet B. Sign On (More than 110,000 NZers so far). (www.signon.org.nz).
  
  
• Have your say: current CCC consultations.
  
  
• Love it or lose it: save our heritage places. No government has the right to deprive our children of our most treasured places and native species. Download the petition, send a message to PM. (The Green Party's anti-mining webpage).
  
  
• Nominations for the 2009 Roger Award for the worst transnational corporation operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand close 31 October. More info/entry forms: here. (CAFCA).

& from there

• US inertia could scupper world climate deal in Copenhagen, says expert. (28 September, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: Ancient glaciers disappearing faster than ever. (24 September, The Independent).
  
  
• UK scientists: Four degrees of warming as early as 2060 'likely'. (28 September, BBC).
  
  
• Copenhagen countdown: climate negotiating text - 200 pages to save the world? Draft agreement for discussion is long, confusing & contradictory. (see also: interactive beginner's guide to the text). (28 September, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: CO2 is green: the TV advert making viewers choke. (environment blog, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: The poor are burdened twice. Vandana Shiva on the injustice of carbon offsetting.
  Also: The gathering storm. Rich countries got us into this mess. Now they must get us out of it. (17 September, New Statesman).
  
  
• US: Is the global fuel tank half full, is it half empty...or are we running on fumes? Richard Heinberg. (27 September, Energy Bulletin/Post Carbon Institute).
  Also: Where we really stand with respect to oil & natural gas supplies. Simplistically, demand will rise to more than 5 mbpd, but there is only 4mbpd available. By Heading Out. Synopsis of a power point presentation. (29 September, The Oil Drum).
  
  
• US: Alternative energy projects stumble on need for water. (29 September, New York Times).
  
  
• US: America's teacher. Naomi Klein interviews Michael Moore on completion of his new documentary film Capitalism: a love story. (23 September, The Nation).
  
  
• UK: Director gaoled over food firm's false organic claim. (22 September, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: Judge overturns approval of Monsanto biotech sugar beets. (22 September, New York Times).
  
  
• UK: A letter from a friend in Africa. Marc Wegerif appraises Rob Hopkins' Transition Handbook from a Tanzanian perspective. (29 September, Transition Culture).
  
  
• UK: Time capsule found on the dead planet. Margaret Atwood. (26 September, The Guardian).
  
  
• Germany: Naked back-packers get 18km hiking path. (25 September, Times Online).
  
  
• US: The wonderful world of bamboo. Slideshow with notes. (June 19, Treehugger).
  
  Technology:
  
• US: Electric mountainbike gets equivalent of 2287 mpg. Could bikes like these be the future of transportation? (23 September, gas2.0)
  
  
• China: Buys 80 very high speed trains (380 km/hr). (29 September, Treehugger).
  
  
• US: Is this the light bulb of the future? Philips believes it's about to win a $10m prize from US Department of Energy. (28 September, New York Times).
  
  
• US: High tech airships: making a comeback. (28 September, ecoGeek).
  
  
• US: Scientists solve windpower's mass bat-killing problem. (29 September, Treehugger).
  
  Natural world:
  
• China: Found - a bird-like dinosaur with four wings. (28 September, Reuters). Also:
  Sexy science of chickens and egg-heads. Vital gaps have been filled since the discovery of bird fossils in China and a new gene. (30 September, Times Online).
  
  
• China: One of the world's largest freshwater fish - Yangtze River's giant Chinese paddlefish - on the verge of extinction. (29 September, EarthNews, BBC).
  
  
• Mediterranean: Dragonflies go thirsty - going extinct? (29 September, Treehugger).
  
  
• Macquarie Island: King penguins return to "killing fields". Tens of thousands were slaughtered for their blubber oil. (28 September, Sydney Morning Herald).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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:

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• contact us

• Work day: weedbusting (the fourth of four) - Boneseed removal.

  When: 9.00 - 12.00 pm Saturday, 3 Sept.
  Where: Barnett Park; meet end of Bayview Rd.
  Bring: gloves, saw, loppers. Otherwise supplied.
  Contact: Nigel 941 7573 or 027 234 1353.
  Organised by Port Hills Rangers Service, CCC.
  
  

• Walk: World March for Peace and Nonviolence.

  The Christchurch Peace March follows the Christchurch Peace Walk established by CCC & the Peace Foundation Disarmament and Security Centre as a Christchurch Peace City initiative.
  When: 1.00 pm Saturday, 3 October.
  Where: Starts at Tautahi Pa site, Barbadoes St. where Maori elders will share some of their peace heritage; then via Fire Fighters' Memorial & Elsie Locke Park to Victoria Square poupou marking the ancient site of the Puari Waitaha pa. Then alongside the Avon - speakers at Bridge of Remembrance, the Peace Pole and Friendship Corner. It will end at the World Peace Bell in the Botanic Gardens (about 3.30 pm) where the bell will be rung to connect with those travelling on from Wellington on the World Peace March. Speakers include City Councillor Chrissie Williams, former Mayor Garry Moore & two of the international marchers.
  More info/contact: Kate Dewes, Disarmament & Security Centre.
  Also:
  

• Mahatma Gandhi photo exhibition

  When: 21 September - 31 October.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester Street.
  
  
  

• Work day: Quail Island Restoration Trust planting day.

  When: Sunday, 4 October.
  (Ferry leaves Lyttelton 9.20 am and returns 3.30 pm).
  Booking essential.
  Contact: Ian McLennan ph 384 5338 or id.mclennan@xtra.co.nz.
  Background info: www.quailisland.org.nz
  
  

• Talk: Introducing the 2009 UC in the City Lecture series: How to stop the great brain robbery.

  A presentation on the vision, mission, values and choices for Canterbury University.
  Speaker: Dr Rod Carr, Vice-Chancellor, University of Canterbury.
  When: 6.00 - 7.00 pm Tuesday, 6 October.
  Where: Christchurch Art Gallery.
  
  

• Talk/seminar: The Antarctic circumpolar current:How do you measure a river within an ocean?

  Speaker: Dr Mike Williams, NIWA. (more).
  When: 7.00 - 8.00 pm Tuesday, 6 October.
  Where: A3 lecture theatre, University of Canterbury. (map here).
  (As part of Polar Week, Oct 5 - 9, where scientists seek to inform global citizens about the local relevance of urgent physical, ecological and social changes occurring in the polar regions of our planet).
  
  

• Public Meeting: Where is Humanity?

  Talk & discussion about Palestine, including Gaza.
  When: 7.30 pm Tuesday, 6 October. 
  Where: St Mark's Church, 7 Somerfield St.
  
  

• Book Launch: "Looking for Answers: A life of Elsie Locke" by Maureen Birchfield, Canterbury University Press.

  When: 5.30 - 7.00 pm Wed, 7 October.
  Where: Great Hall, Arts Centre, Worcester Blvd.
  More here.
  
  

• Wednesday nights at the WEA. What about the workers?

  When: 5.30 pm (free tea & coffee); 6.00 pm for presentation and discussion.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Gold coin donation.
  
  

• Free workshop: Enhancing Banks Peninsula's biodiversity.

  For farmers and landowners interested to increase the native biodiversity on their properties. The programme features many speakers which much experience in various aspects of monitoring & enhancing biodiversity.
  When: 9.00 am - 7.00 pm Thursday, 8 October.
  Where: Gaiety Theatre, Akaroa.
  More info: http://ecolinknz.blogspot.com.
  Contact/to register: Rachel 03 3296340 or rachel.barker@bpct.org.nz.
  Organisers: Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust and Lincoln University.
  
  

• Conference: 7th bi-annual Conference for humanity: Creating the forms of the new world.

  When: 9 -12 October.
  Where: Arts Centre, Worcester Blvd.
  More info/contact: See here (www.christcollege.co.nz/conferences) or
  sevenrays@clear.net.nz, or 03 355 1395.
  
  

• Community planting day: Horseshoe Lake Reserve restoration project.

  Planting native trees & shrubs into regenerating native bush & wildlife habitat.
  When: 10.00 - 12.00 pm Sunday, 11 Oct.
  Where: Near 1 Broomfield Terrace, Horseshoe Lake Reserve. (Entry from Broomfield Tce, opp. Burwood Park North - look for the signs).
  Bring: Family, friends & a spade. BBQ afterwards.
  Info/contact: Robin 982 1028, or 021 121 3304; or Steven 941 8256 or 027 482 1453.
  Organised by Transport & Greenspace Unit, CCC.
  Trees donated by Trees for Canterbury.
  
  

• The second Rolleston Envirotown Market for produce and crafts.

  Fruits & vegetables, water cress, meat, honey, free range eggs, plants, lavender products, crafts ...& much more.
  When: 10.00 - 1.00 pm Sunday, 11 Oct. (2nd Sunday of the month).
  Where: Rolleston Square (off Rolleston Drive).
  More info/contact: Catherine 347 8240; or Nicole tonicermu@gmail.com (with Rolleston Envirotown Market in the subject box).

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 9.00 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week: Dr Jonathan Boston, holder of  Personal Chair in Public Policy at Victoria University and also Director of the Institute of Policy Studies: Holding Humanity to Account for the Future State of the Planet.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  NB: Listen again to Earthwise programmes on archive.
  

Coming up:

• Transition Forum.

  When: 12.30 pm Tuesday, 13 Oct. (Open 12.00 pm for lunch & socialising).
  Where: St Albans Community Centre, 1047 Colombo St.
  More info/contact: 374 2465.
  
  

• Forest & Bird talk: The High Country: Threats to New Zealand’s unique tussock grasslands.

  Speaker: Sue Maturin, Forest & Bird Otago and Southland Field Officer.
  When: 7.30 pm Wednesday, 14 October.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  
  
  

• Public demonstration/march: Hurunui Dam Busters.

  Help fight plans to ruin the last wild
  river in Canterbury. Help highlight the importance of this issue to the people of Canterbury.
  Speakers (at conclusion of the march): Russel Norman MP, and Rosalie Snoyink.
  When: 12.15 pm Friday, 16 October.
  Where: Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel St. & a
  walk alongside the Avon to Victoria Square.
  
  
  

• Sustainable living course at New Brighton.

  Six sessions.
  When: 11.00am - 1.30 pm Saturdays, 17 Oct; & 7 , 14 , 21, 28 Nov; & 5 Dec.
  Contact/more info/register: George Aorangi (available Tues &Thurs, or leave phone message) at New Brighton Community Garden  3886506, or nbgardens@xtra.co.nz. 
  
  

• Orari Gorge alder removal day.

  When: From 9.00 am Saturday, 18 October.
  All (with loppers, gumboots) welcome. BBQ lunch to follow.
  More info/contact: here (http://ecan.govt.nz).
  Also: Here. (Timaru Herald/Stuff)
  
  

• Work days: Quail Island Restoration Trust planting days.

  When: Sunday, 18 October.
  (Ferry leaves Lyttelton 9.20 am and returns 3.30 pm).
  Booking essential.
  Contact: Ian McLennan ph 384 5338 or id.mclennan@xtra.co.nz.
  Background info: www.quailisland.org.nz
  
  

• Neighbourhood week:

  CCC provides resources and limited financial support to local groups, & even individuals, who would like to get to know their neighbours.
  When: 31 October - 8 November.
  More at: www.ccc.govt.nz/programmes.
  

Reminders:

• 350.org: Global Day of Action, 24 October.

  Choir - Join 349 other singers at Victoria Square (in front of the Plaza Hotel) 2.00 pm, for 2.30 start, 24 October, to sing a set of easy to learn songs (with an opportunity to practice before going 'live').
  Contact: Jocelyn jyc497@gmail.com so you
  can be kept informed of arrangements. Thanks to those who have already
  been in contact.
  Also:
  
• Ideas, volunteers, and donations needed for the Global day of Action on the 24th October (and plenty of action building up to it!)
  If you are concerned about Climate Change, now is the time to do something.
  Want to join in?  Already being planned - Dawn celebration, massed choir, massive bike cavalcade, & more - see: www.350.org.nz
  or contact: Torfrida 382-0580 or 021-107-3937 or torfrida@snap.net.nz.
  
  

• 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.
  
  

• Event: Oxfam Trailwalker, 10 - 11 April 2010. Four people one goal: 100 km in 36 hours.

  More info & registration: here. (Oxfam Trailwalker NZ).
  Funds raised support Oxfam NZ's humanitarian, development and advocacy work to lift some of the world's poorest people out of poverty. Oxfam Trailwalker won Best Environmentally Sustainable Event at the 2009 Event Industry Awards.