Welcome

to ecoNet Newsletter.

Keep sending us info for promoting your environmental events and causes. And pass on news of ecoNet Newsletter and our subscription address: eventdiary@environment.org.nz to others you think may find it interesting/useful.

Here's a further selection of news and articles and bits and pieces of interest from around and about, and here and there, eg:

from here

CTU on privatisation. Youtube clip. (21 October, NZ Council of Trade Unions).

Race halted: Heathcote River running deep - with trash. (20 October, The Press).

Canterbury Water Management Strategy October e-Newsletter. More background information here: http://www.canterburywater.org.nz/

Ground water consents granted to 41 applicants in Selwyn-Waimakariri zone. (20 October, ECan).
Lucky run for Selwyn-Waimakariri farmers may yet dry up. ie They might find their consents are useless. (23 October, Stuff/The Press).
Aquifer tests throw doubt on water availability in Selwyn-Rakaia zone. (21 October, ECan).

Consultation begins on Christchurch business zones. (22 October, CCC).

First Sight: South Island light. New York Finch at the Christchurch Art Gallery. (23 October, CCC).

Company director fined for wetland drainage. (23 October, ECan).

Climate change and long term council community planning. An overview with links to further info. (October, Ministry for the Environment).

Bumpy ride on carbon tax whatever way you go. Climate change policy is by far the most most pressing environmental concern this election. (23 October, NZ Herald).

Warning: to politicians from Engineers for Social Responsibility: oil shock imminent. "It will have a major impact and it will be ongoing." (21 October, NZ Herald).

NZ's medical reputation put at risk by Government approving animal to human transplant technique before proper assessment. (21 October, SustainabilityNZ.org).

Claim: ESR questioned safety on GM food item - so NZFSA shopped around for 'updated' advice. (10 October, SustainabilityNZ.org).

Sue Kedgley derailed so catches bus to launch Greens' big transport plans for Wellington. (22 October, TVNZ).

Tourism: Financial crisis brings gloomy forecast - front coming. (23 October, NZ Herald).

Transport Safety Minister might need a helmet: recycles bike debate. (23 October, Stuff/Dominion Post).

Otago: Wind farm hearings relocated. Who knows why? (21 October, Otago Daily Times).

Tuatapere, Southland: Public warned of E.coli in the milk, listeria in the yoghurt: dairy factory probed. And: Factory closes. (23 October, Stuff/Southland Times).

Developers give up Hastings $100m beach plans. (21 October, Stuff/Dominion Post).

New Plymouth: New wetland to be created as filter for stormwater. (21 October, Stuff/Taranaki daily News).

Rare sea lion murdered. (20 October, TVNZ).

Percy the yellow-eyed penguin bounces back in style. (...How on earth does a penguin come to burn its bum? - ed). (21 October, Otago Daily Times).

After 50 years of silence kokako return to the south. (22 October, TVNZ).

Hawkes Bay: 'Extinct' Kiwi fern found. (21 October, Stuff/Dominion Post).

Eau de kakapo pulls the birds. (21 October, NZ Herald).

Christchurch Antarctic Centre: baby blue penguin defies the odds. (22 October, NZ Herald).

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• LEARNZ: online education upcoming programmes: 1. Kiwi: 4 - 7 November.
  2. Science On Ice: (Antarctica) 10 - 20 November.
  3. Takahe: 18 - 21 Nov. More info: LEARNZ.
  
  
• Support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Background info here. (www.converge.org.nz).
  
  
• Now open: 2009-10 Sustainable Management Fund. (Ministry for the Environment).
  
  
• Info here for Sir Peter Blake Environmental Leader Award for secondary school students Years 9-10. (Enviroschools).
  
  
• ECan 2008 Resource Management Awards – Finalists.
  
  
• New doco on NZ and its economic future: Paul Callaghan's Beyond the Farm and the Theme Park. Premiers on TVNZ's Channel 7, 9.10 pm, 4 November.
  
  
• Vote with your wheels: Vote cycling. CAN's pro-cycling election campaign 2008. (Cycling Advocacy Network).
  
  
• The Global Education Fund (GEF): targeted and contestable funding for Global Education activities - ie small projects to develop awareness and understanding of global perspectives among New Zealanders, to encourage them to become responsible global citizens, and to create a safe and just world. More info here. Applications close 31 October.

• Council’s Community Waste Minimisation Fund: Up to $10,000. Individuals, groups or community organisations can apply. Applications close 30 October. More info here.
  
  
• Government intends to prepare a national policy statement for renewable electricity generation. Submissions close 31 October.(Ministry for the Environment).

• Information for submissions to ERMA to oppose Agresearch applications for GE animals. Before 31 October.
  

• Last days!: Nominations (till end of October) for this year's Roger Award:
  Organised by CAFCA. info here.   
  Also: CAFCA opposes NZ Free Trade Agreement with US, wants your help: The NZ not for sale campaign.
  

& from there

• Climate:
  WWF says climate change accelerating: far beyond IPCC forecast. (20 October, The Telegraph).
  
  Arctic's record autumn air temperatures 5 degrees above normal. (17 October, New Scientist).
  
  As waters warm: migrating Alaskan pollock creating potential for new dispute with Russia. (19 October, Los Angeles Times).
  
  India: Climate change driving increase in tiger attacks. (21 October, New Scientist).
  
  Typhoons bury vast amounts of CO2 at sea. In just a few days a single storm can dump an amount of carbon to the bottom equivalent to an entire year of rain. (19 October, New Scientist).
  
  UK: (Not exactly climate - but definitely weather): Weather eye: visit of the Devil in Widecombe, 1638. (21 October, Times Online).
  
  
• Financial crisis:
  EU's climate change plans in disarray from global financial crisis as Italy joins Iron Curtain revolt. (17 October, Times Online).
  
  US: Dream turns sour in US heartland. (2.40 min video clip). (21 October, BBC).
  
  Millions of home owners in desperation mode - Now that government has 'saved' Wall St hasn't the time finally come to save Main Street too? (19 October, AlterNet/New York Times).
  
  Economic downturn hits US police with double whammy. (21 october, Reuters).
  
  
• US: How our economy is killing the earth. (16 October, New Scientist).
  (need to subscribe to explore all the links, but interesting article in itself - ed).
  
  
• UK's ancient woodlands being lost 'faster than Amazon.' (21 October, The Guardian).
  
  
• Unnatural resources: landfill mining becoming both more viable and increasingly sophisticated. (19 October, TheStar.com/Toronto Star).
  
  
• How lucky(?!) Cuba survives Peak Oil: 20 billion barrel oil discovery puts Cuba in the big league. (18 October, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: eBay in worldwide ban on sale of ivory to save endangered elephants. (21 October, Times online).
  Also: Environment crims build $10 billion empire on sale of ivory, timberand skins. (13 October, The Guardian).
  
  
• Fish farming in Malawi's dustbowl. (22 October, BBC).
  

• Africa: Organic farming "could feed Africa". Traditional practices in east Africa increase yields by 128 per cent. (22 October, The Independent).
  
  
• Blog: What's organic farmland worth? Pearl without a price? (21 October, Energy Bulletin).
  
  
• Transition network structure document finished: "who we are and what we do." (15 October, Transition Culture).
  
  
• UK: Drug may reverse MS brain damage. (22 October, BBC).
  
  
• California: Fire protection: home owners discovering new uses for aloe, agave, cactus. (19 October, The Independent).
  
  
• Australian man creates home-made biodiesel from algae. (16 October, CleanTechnica).
  
  
• California: Hedge fund mogul drops out, calls for hemp revolution. (21 October, ecolocalizer).
  
  
• Chinese company unveils tiny solar-powered car for $5,560: entirely powered from roof top panels. 90 mile range. (16 October, gas2.0.org).
  
  
• Solar refrigeration: a hot idea for cooling. (20 October, Scientific American).
  
  
• UK: supersonic car: targets 1000 mph. (1600 kph). (22 October, BBC).
  
  
• US: Our oil addiction: Hours we work to pay for 15 gallons of gasoline. 1970 & now. (Bar graph - worth a quick gander). (17 October, WorldChanging).
  
  
• US: Challenging car culture: free bikes on campus. (19 ocotber, New York Times).
  
  
• Korea: Seoul turns to bicycles to combat global warming. (22 October, Yahoo News).
  
  
• Pop quiz: Trace the carbon in your beer, jacket, shoes, soap. (15 October, Worldchanging).
  
  
• UK: Blow to image of 'green' re-usable nappies. (19 October, Times online).
  
  
• UK: corrugated cardboard sculptures carry serious message about recycling. Look good too. (13 October, The Guardian).
  
  
• Japan: Strange clouds appear over Sea of Okhotsk. (HubPages).
  
  
• The big picture: earth from above. Photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand aims to inspire people to think globally about sustainable living. (6 October, The Boston Globe/boston.com).
  
  
• China: "Bizarre" feathered dinosaur discovered. Shows feathers likely used for ornamentation before evolving for flight. (22 October, BBC).
  

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
  
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• contact us

 

Disclaimer: whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of details, NZAEE - Christchurch Branch accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. Opinions printed herein are not those of NZAEE - Christchurch Branch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• HomeSmart:

  Free, research-based advice on sustainably renovating your home: warmer, drier, healthier, more affordable to run & kinder on the environment.
  More info: www.beaconpathway.co.nz
  
  

• Heritage Week: Theme - RETROspective: Christchurch life, architecture and design 1940s - 1970s.

  When: 17 - 27 October.
  More info & what's on where: www.heritageweek.co.nz.
  
  

• Landscape architecture display:  Final year Lincoln students.

  When: Thursday 23 – Mon 27 October.
  Where: Christchurch Art Gallery foyer.
  
  

• Election: Talk, docos & discussion: clean green or melamine - food in the 21st century.

  DVDs: The True Cost of Food, The Meatrix, Green Achievements.
  Speaker: Steffan Browning.
  When:  7.30 pm Friday, 24 October.
  Where: St Mary's Parish Hall, 329 Halswell Road, Halswell.
  All welcome.
  Organised by Selwyn Greens.
  
  

• Spring season plant sale:

  Shrubs, natives, perennials, succulents - with advice on how to grow them.
  When: 9.00 – 1.00 pm Saturday, 25 October.
  Where: In front of the information centre, Botanic Gardens.
  Organised by Friends of the Botanic Gardens.
  
  

• Talk: Constructing the Modern City:

  aspects of post-war Christchurch architecture.
  Speakers: architectural historians Associate-Professor Ian Lochhead, Dr Jessica Halliday & Jenny May.
  When: 2.00 pm Saturday,  25  October.
  Where: Christchurch Art Gallery.
  Free. (Heritage Week).
  
  

• Event: Labour Day picnic: to celebrate 109 years of Labour Day.

  Who: CTU - Council of Trades Union (Canterbury)
  When: 2.00 – 4.00 pm Monday, 27 October.
  Where:  Heathcote Domain, Port Hills Rd.
  Contact: Karena Brown 0275 498479 or Karena.brown@epmu.org.nz
  
  

• Talk: Benefits of wood as a renewable building material.

  Using timber in non-residential construction.
  Speaker: Prof Andy Buchanan, School of Engineering, Universtiy of Canterbury.
  When: 6:00 - 7:00 pm Tuesday, 28 October.
  Where: Christchurch Art Gallery Auditorium. (UC in the city lecture series).
  More info here.
  
  

• Course: Amnesty International NZ series:

  Human Rights & community; Human Rights and law; Human Rights and the environment - esp. in the face of climate change.
  When: 7.30 - 9.00 pm Tuesday, 28 October - 11 November. (3 evening weekly sessions).
  Fee: $10.
  More info & registration here. (Community Education, University of Canterbury).
  Contact: 364 2470 or uco@canterbury.ac.nz.
  
  

• Talk: Globalisation and NZ business - challenges and opportunities.

  Speaker: Rod Oram, financial journalist.
  When: 5.30 - 7.00 pm Tuesday, 28 October.
  Where: Upstairs Dining Room, University Staff Club, 87 Ilam Rd.
  Organised by: NZ Inst of International affairs.
  
  
  

• Lecture: How we learned what the stars are made of.

  (A beginners guide to the history and science).
  Speaker: Graham Townsend.
  When: 7.00 pm Wednesday, 29 October.
  Where: University of Canterbury (venue on enrolment).
  Cost: $15.
  More info: here. (UC community education).
  
  

• Talk: Climate change and its impact on the environment.

  Speaker: Dr Sue Worner, Lincoln University.
  When: 2.00 pm Thursday, 30 October.
  Where: Canterbury Horticultural Society, Riccarton Ave.
  Cost: $5.00. (members $3.00).
  
  

• Green Drinks.

  When: 5.30 pm Thursday, 30 October.
  Where: Dux de Lux upstairs lounge.
  Background info: www.greendrinks.org
  
  

• Election event: DVD: The Last Resort.

  Speaker: Metiria Turei.
  When: 7.30 pm Thursday, 30 October.
  Where: Diamond Harbour hall.
  Contact: Christine 329 4067.
  
  

• Lecture: Fate and effects of trace organics (EDCs & PPCPs) in the Australian environment: CSIRO's latest research.

  Speaker: Dr Rai Kookana, waste & contaminant risk assessment research stream, CSIRO.
  When: 11.00 am Friday, 31 October.
  Where: Rm 531, Chemistry building, University of Canterbury.
  
  

• Critical mass: re-claim the streets for bikes.

  When: meet 5.15 pm Friday, 31 October.
  Where: Cathedral Square.
  (dress up as ghost, goul or gremlin (Halloween)).
  Followed by film screening at Otautahi Social Centre, 206 Barbados Street (near corner of Barbadoes & Tuam). More info: 374 2495.
  
  

• Event: World Vegan celebratory dinner.

  When:  7.00 pm Saturday, 1 November.
  Where:  Boaters restaurant Christchurch.
  Cost: $30.
  Bookings: Monica 355 7776 or info@vegetarianchristchurch.org.nz
  
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 10 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week's interview: Maurice Carney, Friends of the Congo.
  The Congo war & multinational profiteering.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  
  

Coming up:

• Addington Community Fair.

  When: 9:30 - 12:30 pm, Saturday 1 November.
  Where: Church Square, Addington.
  
  

• Talk/workshop/travelogue: Cycle Touring: planning, getting there, doing it. With pictures.

  Speaker: Karey Meisner.
  When: 7.00 – 9.00 pm Tuesday, 4 November.Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Cost: $7
  Info: cwea (see list item 19) or WEA: 366 0285.
  
  

• Talk: Living on the edge: the earthquake driven landscape of Canterbury.

  Speaker: Prof Jarg Pettinger, Geological Sciences.
  When: 6.00 - 7.00 pm Tuesday, 4 November.
  where: Christchurch Art Gallery.
  University of Canterbury: in the city lecture series.
  
  

• Talk, slide show, music: From Ancient Gondwana to the Pago Pago 2008 Festival of Pacific Arts.

  Speaker: Bill Sykes. 
  When: 7.30 pm Thursday, 6 November.
  Where: St Albans Community Centre, 1047 Colombo Street.
  Admission: gold coin.
  Proceeds to the Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust. More info: www.tautaipacific.com 
  
  

• Talk: Ganja & the Rastafari.

  Speaker: Gareth Morgan.
  When: 4.10 pm Friday, 7 November.
  Where: Rm 323, Rutherford Building, University of Canterbury.
  more info here.
  
  

• Talk: Lincoln Efford Memorial Lecture: A Welfare State fit for the 21st century.

  Speaker: Susan St John, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Auckland University; & founding member of the Child Poverty Action Group.
  When:  7.30 - 9.00 pm Tuesday, 11 November.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester Street.
  
  

• Tramp: Guided tour of Happy Valley:

  (to help save Happy Valley from Solid Energy's proposed coal mine). 
  When: Friday 14 - Sunday 16 November.
  Contact: frances.mountier@gmail.com
  
  

• Talk series: Fair Trade in a free trade world.

  Speakers: Helen Tulett, Geoff White.
  When: 12.30 - 1.30 pm starting Monday, 17 November (a weekly series of 3).
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  More info & to register: cwea or 366 0285.
  
  

Reminders:

• Governors Bay Landcare Group: Old Man's Beard Control Project.

  When: every Tuesday morning.
  Tools provided, but wear sturdy footwear, warm clothing. 
  More info: Dick Tripp 329 9752, or sdtripp@xtra.co.nz
  
  

• Free Home Composting Workshops:

  (Bokashi, Hot Compost, and Worm Farms).
  

  Where: 1: Opawa Community Gardens, 176 Opawa Rd (at Aynsley Terrace).
  When: 1.00 pm 1,4 November. (1st & 3rd Saturday each month & 1st & 3rd Tuesday).
  2: Okeover Community Gardens, University of Canterbury.
  When: 12.00 - 1:30 pm, 25 October. (2nd & 4th Saturday each month, 2nd & 4th Wednesday).
  3. Lyttelton Community Gardens, 54a Oxford Street.
  When: 1.00 - 3.00 pm Sat, 1 November; 10.00 - 12.00 pm Mon, 3 Novemeber.
  How: Just turn up.
  More info: Annmarie Banchy 021 190 4559, or 942 7190 (evening), abanchy@paradise.net.nz.
  Sponsored by CCC.
  
  

• Bike trailer - one month's free trial:

  See how easy it is to carry loads without a car.
  Contact: Steven Muir: 365 8238 or
  thepope@cyclingchurch.org.nz.
  
  

• Opawa car sharing group:

  interested in cutting the costs of personal transport? Contact Caroline 980 9113 or Dave 366 0628 or email transportmatters@paradise.net.nz