Our first e-news for the year is a bumper issue including events, courses and lots of news.

 

To join our e-news list, email us via the contact us page.

Join us for our free 2 hr Energy Savers' Series Forum on 24th Feb (2 - 4pm) which is repeated on 27th Feb (1 - 3pm) at Mt Ommaney Library, Dandenong Rd.

It is funded by the Brisbane City Council through a Lord Mayor's Sustainability Grant.

Don't miss speakers which include energy gurus such as:

Peter Casey (Principal Engineer Energy Efficiency) from the Brisbane City Council;
the Carbon Doctors (Home Sustainability Assessors); and
representatives of the Alternative Technology Association.
Flyer reproduced above and available in pdf upon request.

I can also deliver some posters/flyers to you in hard copy if you're happy to distribute.

We're also calling for expressions of interest in future Low Carbon Diet workshops. These are likely to be held 24 & 27 March, 24 April and 22 & 26 May 2010 at the Mt Ommaney Library. We can also run sessions for your group at a time/date to suit.

Feel free to join our Facebook page to check out all our media clips and photos! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43398252388

For more activity information refer to http://sustainablejamboree.org or

http://www.ourbrisbane.com/whats-on/events/3235641.energy-savers-scheme-forum

Sustainable Jamboree does not necessarily endorse any external content or activities referred to in this newsletter.

All are welcome to our regular volunteer/planning meetings at Mt Ommaney Library.

 

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December 2009 activities

Thanks so much to everyone who volunteered for Sustainable Jamboree in 2009.

Thanks also to all those who participated in the Walk Against Warming on 12 December. It wasn't a bad roll up with thousands filling King George Square!

Make Poverty History supporters turned out among the thousands taking part in the Brisbane Walk Against Warming.

Photos by Ronnie Wright/OxfamAUS can be found at: http://www.aclimateforchange.org/profiles/blogs/walk-against-warming-brisbane

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Climate action - did you get enough?

 Though Copenhagen didn't achieve what we had hoped, Brisbane activists called for stronger action:

http://www.sixdegrees.org.au/content/copenhagen-failure-brisbane-demands-action

To get involved with more climate action, key websites include:

www.sixdegrees.org.au

www.climatenetworkqld.org

www.foe.org.au

http://www.qccqld.org.au/

About the Copenhagen Accord: http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=3089

To join '100 Million Voices for a Real Climate Deal in Mexico 2010' - see facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=212448202491&ref=nf&v=info

The United Nations meet ini Mexico 29 November – 10 December 2010
 
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Renew Magazine: Jan-Mar 2010 issue out now

ReNew: technology for a sustainable future is Australia’s premier magazine on practical sustainable living.

Each quarterly issue features the latest in sustainable building practice, alternative fuels and the latest renewable energy technology such as solar, wind, micro-hydro and geothermal.

Comprehensive articles and DIY stories provide practical information for you to use around your home.

http://www.ata.org.au/publications/renew
 
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1 Million Women Campaign featured in January Women's Weekly

Includes 9 pages all about ways women can help cut carbon emissions through this inspirational online approach.

http://www.1millionwomen.com.au/Get-Involved.cfm

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9th Australian Sustainability Awards Announced 9 Dec 2009

Here are just a few of the winners...

Sustainable Super Fund of the Year: HESTA
Ethical Investor Fund of the Year: ING Sustainable Aust. Share Trust
Sustainable Infrastructure Company of the Year: AJ Lucas Group
Special Award for Environment: Sims Metal Management
Sustainable Company of the Year: Stockland
The awards were hosted by Ethical Investor.

Free articles from them in December included the following quote about the risks companies face if they don't address their carbon risk...

"Food and staples retailing, energy, transportation and materials industries all face more than 4.5 per cent of value at risk. Some companies within these industries face more than 20 per cent value at risk; and indirect carbon liabilities linked to increased supply chain and electricity costs outweigh the cost of carbon trading for S&P ASX 200 companies."

Written by Oliver Wagg    Wednesday, 16 December 2009

http://www.ethicalinvestor.com.au/

http://www.ethicalinvestor.com.au/Awards/2009/09AwardsWinnersMediaRelease.html

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Urging submissions - Development Application

This message is for anyone who is concerned about how the proposed Hare Krishna temple might interfere with habitat and sightlines at the ridge of the Rocks Riverside Park (backing on to Jennifer Street in Seventeen Mile Rocks).

Centenary District Environmental Action group (CDEA) will be doing a proforma submission to help others doing a submission.

There may be concerns about tree losses, stability of soil/cliff, aesthetic issues and a departure from precedents about ensuring the view of the natural cliff from the river isn't interrupted by monuments/buildings. There may also be significant traffic issues.

DA  Ref No: A002256510.  Objections by 29 January 2010.

Let me know if you're interested and I can provide you with contact details for Shealagh Walker, President of CDEA if you would like more information/assistance or contact Brisbane City Council on phone 3403 8888.

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TAFE offers online 6 mth Diploma in Sustainability
 
http://www.msit.tafe.qld.gov.au/courses/info/605.php
 
Full Rate: $ 1089.00 Concession Rate: $988.20
 
Course starts 1 Feb 2010. Mid-year intake also.
 
Enquiries: MSIT Customer Service Centre Email 1300 657 613 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
William Williams | Training Consultant Asset Maintenance | Corporate business Solutions|Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE Mt Gravatt Campus PO Box 2614 Mansfield4122 Phone: (07) 3215 1554 Fax:(07)3215 1926

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Series of *Permaculture and Sustainable Living workshops* in 2010
Starts 6 February 2010
 
Presented by the Graceville-Sherwood Community Garden Planning Group
 
Topics include "Growing Healthy Vegies", "Keeping Chooks in Your Backyard", "Composting & Worm Farming", "Pests & Diseases"... and more!
 
Workshops in February and March are:
 
Composting & Worm Farming
with Richard Neilsen
Learn the art, science and mystery of creating lush compost and enlisting worms to enrich your garden soil.
Sat 06 Feb 2010, 1.30 - 4.30pm
 
Understanding Your Soil
with Richard Neilsen
Learn what's in your soil, how to test your soil and how healthy soil helps plants grow.
Sat 20 Feb 2010, 1.30 - 4.30pm
 
Growing Healthy Vegies
with Simon Ross
Seasonal selection, crop rotation, companion planting and other ways to get the best out of your garden.
Sat 06 Mar 2010, 1.30 - 4.30pm
 
Establishing & Maintaining a Healthy Vegie Garden
with Simon Ross
Learn how to build a 'no-dig' and other vegie gardens, plant them out and maintain them.
Sat 20 Mar 2010, 1.30 - 4.30pm
 
Richard Neilsen and Simon Ross are permaculture teachers from Northey Street City Farm.
 
All workshops are $50 per person, per workshop ($35 concession / health care card holders), and are presented by qualified permaculturalists and horticulturalists from across Brisbane. You'll learn how to turn your backyard into a source of healthy plants and nutritious food, and have access to expert advice on a range of gardening issues.
 
For further information, contact Paul Grace (Coordinator, Planning Group - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 3379 7998 after hours. Please feel free to invite others who may be interested.
 
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2010 courses at Northey Street Farm - starting 20 Jan
 
The start dates have been set for the following courses:
 
Organic gardening course begins on 30th Jan
Permaculture Design Certificate begins on the 25th Feb
The APT3 begins on the 24th Feb
For more info or to book in, contact:
 
NSCF Admin
Northey Street City Farm
16 Victoria St, Windsor 4030
Ph 07 3857 8775
Fx 07 3857 8108
Edible Landscapes Nursery
Ph 07 3857 8774
 
www.nscf.org.au
 
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'Transition Town Training' on Brisbane Transition Hub!
 
The Transition Towns movement is guided by its handbook written by UK author, Rob Hopkins. The book provides accounts of how individuals have responded with their local communities to the twin threats of Peak Oil and Climate Change. There are over 100 Transition Towns in the UK.
 
Transition Towns was featured at the 2009 Woodford Festival.
 
Sustainable Jamboree aspires to be a Transition Town. To check out the Brisbane network of Transition Towns see:  http://www.transitionbrisbane.org/
 
For 10  - 20% off all books including The Transition Handbook, see: http://www.sustainableinsight.com.au/
 
Other books currently featured at this website include 'Greening your office' ($13.46) and 'Green house plans' ($17.95).
 
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Australia Day BBQ and Cricket - Friends of Oxley Creek Common
 
Time: January 26, 2010 from 4pm to 8pm
Location: Environment Centre, Oxley Creek Common
Street: Sherwood Rd
City/Town: Rocklea
Phone: rsvp to Marion on 38990912 or email mfo40368 [at] optusnet.com.au 
 
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Grid connected solar power / photovoltaic buying group
 
This is the only not-for-profit organisation organising buying groups in Brisbane that we're aware of. They presented at our Energy Efficiency Show in Nov 2008.
 
Local Power has just announced that their Buying Group #4 (BG#4) is now being planned and will be open to receive orders in February 2010.
 
For more details please visit:
http://localpower.net.au/buyinggroup.htm
email - info [at] localpower.net.au
 
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Sponsors sought for the ClimateSmart Sustainability Awards
 
The fourth annual awards gala dinner, held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 12 June 2010.
 
The Queensland Government is inviting expressions of interest from Queensland businesses, industry and organisations interested in sponsoring the awards.
 
The awards will recognise the achievements by communities, businesses and industries, schools and individuals who are making sustainable and smarter choices for our future.
 
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/premiersawards/
 
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Green Drinks Brisbane
 
This is a monthly event for socialising and professional networking - a social think-tank for the environment.

Venue: Ashala Bar, 138 Albert Street, Brisbane City

Date rule: normally the final Tuesday of each month

Time: 5:30pm until late

Cost: free entry, pay for own drinks/food

No RSVP required, although there is an event listing for Facebook users who want to show their support.

Contact:  greendrinksbrisbane [at] gmail.com
 
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Protecting koala habitat - public consultation
 
Closing date for feedback: 28 February 2010
 
Koalas in South East Queensland are under serious threat from development, cars, dogs and disease.
 
In December 2008, the Queensland Government introduced the Koala Response Strategy committing to a number of planning and management actions to protect South East Queensland’s koalas.
 
The Department of Infrastructure and Planning and the Department of Environment and Resource Management are proposing to introduce new koala state planning instruments to protect koala habitat and manage conflicts with urban development.

On 24 December 2009, new draft state planning instruments were released for public comment until 28 February 2010. These are draft only and will take effect when finalised in 2010.
 
To find out more about and have your say on the new draft koala state planning instruments (open until 28 February 2010), visit http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/koalas/koala_crisis_response_strategy/state_planning_policy.html

For more information about this consultation
Web site:  http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/koalas/koala_crisis_response_strategy/index.html
Email address: seqkoala [at] derm.qld.gov.au 
Postal address:  Draft Koala State Planning Instruments
Department of Environment and Resource Management
Reply Paid PO Box 15155 City East
Brisbane QLD 4002
Fax:  07 3330 5515
 
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In the news - The ABC has a series of new environment pages online:
 
http://www.abc.net.au/environment/topic.html?t=green-living
 
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In the news - World's worst pollutors - Courier Mail Green blog
 
ROLLING Stone magazine has gone big… really big… on the culture of climate change denial and the people that fuel it with its latest US issue that carries this uncompromising cover headline.
 
For a commentary on the story about the planet's worst pollutors: http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermail/greenblog/index.php/couriermail/comments/rolling_stone_gathers_no_sceptics/
 
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In the news - survival at 4 - 6 degrees
 
Excerpts from the Scotsman.com
Published Date: 29 November 2009
By Jenny Fyall
MOST of the world's population will be wiped out if political leaders fail to agree a method of stopping current rates of global warming, one of the UK's most senior climate scientists has warned.
Professor Kevin Anderson, director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change, believes only around 10 per cent of the planet's population – around half a billion people – will survive if global temperatures rise by 4C.

Current Met Office projections reveal that the lack of action in the intervening 17 years... has set the world on a path towards potential 4C rises as early as 2060, and 6C rises by the end of the century.

Anderson, who advises the government on climate change, said the consequences were "terrifying".

"If you have got a population of nine billion by 2050 and you hit 4C, 5C or 6C, you might have half a billion people surviving."

If ambitious global targets for reductions have not been set by the end of next year, he believes it will be too late to stop emissions rising beyond 2C.

Scotland has set a 42 per cent emissions reduction target for 2020 but Anderson pointed out that even if this was achieved by rich nations throughout the world, it would only give a 60 per cent chance of avoiding a 2C global temperature increase.

Stewart Stevenson, Scotland's climate change minister, who will also be attending the summit, said: "Even quite moderate predictions do suggest that we will have vast movements of people around the world particularly on the borders of desert regions and that associated with that will be loss of life."
 
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In the news - Energy efficiency project grants for manufacturers
 
Tue, December 29, 2009
 
Thirteen manufacturers across Australia have received $2.8 million in grants to help improve the energy and water efficiency of their production process.
 
The dollar-for-dollar grants, which range from $10,000 to $500,000, are part of the fourth round of the Australian Government’s Retooling for Climate Change program.
 
The projects to receive funding included water treatment and recycling, converting production waste into energy, re-using waste heat from the production process, technology investment, and process re-engineering to cut energy or water consumption.
 
Full story at: http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/government_grants_help_industry_go_green/009279/
 
For information about the Government's Retooling for Climate Change: http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/InnovationandRandD/Re-ToolingforClimateChange/Pages/Re-toolingforClimateChange.aspx
 
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Get the latest Carbon Express News from www.abccarbon.com
 
You can get hold of Ken Hickson’s abc carbon express – a weekly e-newsletter on climate change issues and opportunities: energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon credibility and corporate sustainability. Go to www.abccarbon.com for the latest issue and subscribe. It’s free.  Also check out his book  - The ABC of Carbon.
 
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Interested in Sustainable Living and Sustainable Business?
 
Qld Government: http://www.climatesmart.qld.gov.au/
Australian Government: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/
About the Qld Solar Hot Water Program: http://www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au/queensland_solar_hot_water_program.cfm
Queenslanders urged to save energy though mercury rises: http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=67831

Australian Government Energy Efficient Homes package: http://www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency/

Brisbane City Council: www.citysmart.com.au  and www.greenheartcitysmart.com
Australian Conservation Foundation: http://www.acfonline.org.au/default.asp
G Magazine: http://www.gmagazine.com.au/
Courier Mail's Green Blog: http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermail/greenblog/