NZ Assn. for Environmental Education, ChCh Branch:
Issue No: 1

Welcome to the first issue

ecoNet is LIVE!!

Welcome to the inaugural issue of ecoNet… a weekly electronic information and up-coming events diary. Activities and information about the environment and sustainability will updated and published each Friday.  Local plans, policies or strategies relating to the environment and sustainability issues open for public consultation will be listed and there will be links to other sites or information of interest.

Since the Christchurch Environment Centre’s weekly ECOWEB stopped arriving in our in-boxes a few years ago, many people have commented on the hole it left. Without it, it has been harder to know about events, activities and consultations relating to the environment and sustainability, and there has been no ‘one-stop’ shop for community groups and individuals to advertise their events. The NZ Association for  Environmental Education, Christchurch Branch, (NZAEE) is now sponsoring ecoNet and hopes it will go some way towards filling these needs.

Who are we?
NZAEE is a non-profit, national organisation of people working to promote and support environmental education, lifelong learning and sustainable behaviour throughout New Zealand/Aotearoa.

Using ecoNet
It’s easy. Just send in to the editor the information about an event, activity or consultation you want to share and it will go in the next ecoNet.
If you know anyone that may be interested to be added to the distribution list, please forward this on to them.

We look forward to hearing from you in the future.

Phillipa Gardner
Chair, NZAEE – Christchurch Branch

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

• Mid-winter dialogues - Water and Health in Canterbury

  Time: Friday 6 June, 12.30-1.30 pm.
  Presenters: Dr Alistair Humphrey, Medical Officer of Health for Canterbury, Mr Ken Taylor, Director of Investigation and Monitoring, Environment Canterbury
  Place:     Rolleston Lecture Theatre, Christchurch Hospital
  
  

• Lincoln Envirotown Trust: Energy Blitz

  (Future Proof Energy Expo - as part of World Environment Day.)
  Saturday, June 7, 10 am - 4 pm.
  Lincoln township.
  For programme and list of speakers see: www.lincolnenvirotown.org.nz and click on Latest News.
  
  

• Tidal Power from Cook Strait

  David Beach and Chris Bathurst from Neptune Power Ltd will speak on: Tidal power from Cook Strait – the first trial plan.
  Tuesday June 10, 5 - 6 pm, Waiau Theatrette, Environment Canterbury.
  All welcome. However as venue capacity is 60 people, RSVP to:
  Mike O'Connell
  T: (03) 372 7047 ddi
  E: mike.oconnell@ecan.govt.nz Tea/coffee available outside theatre (ground floor) from 4.45pm.
  
  

• Not Letting Rivers Dry Up

  Liz Griffiths, Forest and Bird Society, speaking at the Canterbury WEA, 59 Gloucester Street. Wednesday 11 June, 1.30 - 2.30pm.   All welcome. Cost: $4.  Phone 366 0285
  
  

• Sustainable Communities:

  Dealing with the changes of the future: modern pop mythology, the stages of grieving, actions you can really do - Associate Professor Susan Krumdieck, Department of Mechnical Engineering, University of Canterbury
  (part 2 of a 3-week series).
  Thursday June 12, 6 - 8 pm, WEA, 59 Gloucester St. Free.
  (part 3: June 19: DVD and discussion: Six Degrees Could Change the World).
  Contact: Phone 366 0285 Email: cwea@xtra.co.nz
  
  

• Lance McCaskill Memorial Lecture: (Royal Forest and Bird Society):
  

  Hutton’s Shearwaters: their Discovery and Beyond.
  Presenter: Geoff Harrow.
  Wednesday, June 11, 7.30 pm.
  WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Geoff Harrow discovered the breeding grounds of the Hutton's shearwaters, high in the Seaward Kaikoura Range - a location completely unknown to science until the 1960's.  His subsequent work studying and protecting the birds has been a valuable contribution to conservation.
  (This illustrated lecture will follow F&B’s AGM). All welcome.
  
  

• Sustainable Living short course:

  Four evenings 7 to 9pm starts Tues 10 June (if numbers sufficient), includes reducing your carbon footprint and eco-building/renovation. Riccarton High School Community Education, Curletts Road, Christchurch. Christine 03 348 5073 info@riccarton.school.nz

• Seminar evening: ‘Are there wiser ways of living?’

  - climate change, peak oil, pollution, loss of biodiversity, drought, famine, rising food prices …. the issues mount up.
  Five people representing five differing world views – Christian, Buddhist, Mãori, Scientific, and Deep Ecology - will share their perspectives.
  Date: Thursday 26th June Time: 7-9pm
  Venue: Environment Canterbury lecture theatre, 58 Kilmore Street
  Cost: koha gold coin. Supper will be provided.
  For more information contact: Jocelyn Papprill, jyc@caverock.net.nz (NZAEE branch sec)

• Exhibition: Artists for SAVE OUR WATER

  Artists based in Te Waipounamu concerned at the effect the taking and diverting of water in the Mackenzie Country for intensive farming will have on our instream ecosystems, birdlife, water quality, and the cost to our beloved landscape. When: exhibition 3 June – 30 June
  Where: NG Gallery, 212 Madras St, Christchurch
  
  

• Earthwise, Plains FM 96.9
  

  Each Monday & Wednesday at !0 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths