NOT JUST ANOTHER ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR

The Global Footprint Network is pleased to announce a new Ecological Footprint Calculator!

Currently they have calculators available for the U.S. and Australia, with more countries being added all the time.

www.footprintnetwork.org/calculator

AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT- INITIAL REPORT

The Initial Report from the 2020 Summit to the Prime Minister, sets out thekey results of discussion by 1000 Australians over the weekend of 19 & 20April in Canberra.www.australia2020.gov.au/docs/2020_Summit_initial_report.doc

ENERGY AND EQUITY - Preparing Households for Climate Change: Energy, Equity and Immediacy

Energy and Equity, a report produced by Australia’s leading environmental, consumer and welfare organisations, says energy efficiency is potentially the quickest and cheapest way to cut greenhouse pollution. Energy savings of 30% are possible using immediately available effective technologies. The report recommends that efficiency improvements be complemented by appropriate utility tariffs and safety net measures.

The report, a joint project between the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS), the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and CHOICE, says five percent of existing homes should be retrofitted each year with energy and water saving technologies such as insulation, solar hot water and rainwater tanks to offset inevitable increases in utility prices resulting from emissions trading and other factors.

http://www.acoss.org.au/upload/publications/papers/4204__EnergyEquity%20low%20res.pdf

AAEE Awards

AAEE Executive and the Award Recognition Committee invite nominations for the 2nd Annual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Education in Australia. The Award is presented to a person who has made an exemplary contribution to the field of environmental education. The Award is coordinated through the recognition committee within the Australian Association of Environmental Education. Prior Chapter nominations can be entered again. Please send your suggested nominations toyour Chapter representative: NT Birut Zemits: birut.zemits@cdu.edu.au

Be informed about Uranium

Concerned about the idea of a Uranium mine near Alice?

Worried, as some people say this could contaminate our water supply?

Heard there will be some benefits?

Don't know what, or should that be who, to believe?


Dr Gavin Mudd, Environmental Engineer from Monash University Department of Civil Engineering can help you to sort the facts out from the fiction.

Dr Mudd has been an active researcher and advocate on the environmental impacts and management of mining for over a decade. He has been involved with many aspects of industry with a particular specialty in brown coal wastes, uranium mining and environmental management. His work has been showcased in several international journals and conferences. Gavin maintains an independent perspective, and has undertaken research for mining companies, community groups and aboriginal organisations. In particular, Gavin has had extensive involvement in examining the underlying scientific issues associated with uranium mining in Australia, with detailed knowledge of the Australian uranium mining sector as well as globally. With strong qualifications and experience, he has developed a unique understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of the environmental aspects of mining in Australia and globally, culminating in a distinctive view on how to quantify an apparent oxymoron – that of “sustainable mining”. Additionally, Gavin has active research interests in urban groundwater issues, groundwater management and assessment, especially with respect to climate change and sustainability.

Gavin will be the keynote speaker at a public meeting about the Angela/Pamela uranium deposit being held at Anzac Hill High School tomorrow

6pm, Wednesday 7th May, Anzac Hill High School

ClimateXchange: How’s your world?

Questacon and ASPAC have made a climateXchange website for the Asia Pacific region.

climateXchange is helping to raise awareness of climate change and its impacts on local communities across the Asia Pacific. The site provides a space to gather stories on climate change from schools and communities and to share the great things that schools and communities are undertaking.

Submissions can include pictures, written pieces or videos that examine the effects of climate change both locally and globally.The collection of submissions are presented on the climateXchange website where users click on a location and view a story about climate change in that area. Visitors can see stories from areas as diverse as The Great Barrier Reef, the Snowy Mountain and Antarctica through the eyes of people who live and work there.

Examples of stories include a video from a primary school in Sydney showing what they are doing to make a difference or an interview with a scientist who is battling hard to save the rare mountain pygmy possum.To get involved and share your story go to the climateXchange website

Teaching Resources for the 2008 International Day for Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat has launched an educational module for children and teachers to accompany the 2008 International Day for Biological Diversity. The module consists of an online portal for primary school students and five lesson plans for educators.

The web portal and lesson plans introduce the concept of biological diversity and highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture not only to preserve biodiversity, but also to ensure that we will be able to feed the world, maintain agricultural livelihoods, and enhance human well-being in the 21st century and beyond.

The International Day for Biological Diversity is on 22nd May 2008

Al Gore's new thinking on climate change

Green Drinks in Alice Springs

Heard of Green Drinks International?

Every month, in multiple locations across the globe, people who work in or who are interested in environmental and sustainability issues meet up for a drink at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity.

Alice Springs Green Drinks is something that a few of us have been talking about for a while - so we thought we'd get it happening. It will be a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone can invite someone else along, people visiting or new to town can find out about us on the web, so there will always be a different crowd, creating an organic, self-organising network.

To kick things off, we're holding a special event - Sustainability in the Pub during the Desert Innovation Festival

There will be an inspiring introduction to the evening from Jimmy Cocking (new coordinator of the Arid Lands Environment Centre ). You can also expect to see some familiar faces representing Afghan Traders, Alice Solar City, Outback Bushfoods and the (old) Centre for Sustainable Arid Towns.

Join us as and be a part of the emerging, creative, organic and unpredictable future of Alice Springs Green Drinks as we share our ideas on What is sustainability? How can we successfully apply it to our lives, homes and businesses? and who knows what else...

When: Tuesday 27 May 2008, 7:30pm

Where: The Firkin and Hound, 21 Hartley St, Alice Springs

Contact: alicegreendrinks@gmail.com for more information

Ghan Learning Challenge

Calling all innovative Primary and Middle years teachers

The Project: In 2007, a group from Anzac Hill High School won the Ghan Road Safety Competition. The prize was 60 seats on the Ghan from Alice Springs to Darwin return. Anzac Hill HS has generously donated these seats to be used as the focus for developing the ‘Ghan Learning Challenge’.

The Plan: In March 2009 a group of students in years 5-8 from Government Schools across Alice will travel, with teachers, from Alice Springs to Darwin for 3-4 days. Along the way they will explore the history, science, environment and language of the landscape they are crossing.

The People: We need a group of 15-20 innovative educators who are willing to come together to plan this exciting educational adventure. We are looking for both Primary and Middle Years teachers from a range of subject areas/specialities.

An AGQTP Grant has been awarded for the development of this project

The first meeting of the Ghan learning Challenge PLC was a great success with lots of exciting ideas being discussed. It’s not too late to get involved!

Come to our second meeting:
Thursday 1st May (Week 3, Term 2) 3:30pm – 4:30pm
All Seasons Oasis, Gap Rd (opposite the hospital)

For more information or to RSVP to meeting 2 contact:
Lisa Hall by emailing lisam.hall@nt.gov.au or by calling 89517007

Rocks and Things

Teaching Geology and don't know where to start?

Firstly there is a great resource Rock Around the Park which you can dowload from the Desert Park Education wiki. This resource was put together by local teacher Mel Phillips in her previous role as the Minerals Education Officer and Anne Scherer.

Secondly, Cathy McKeon, a long serving local teacher now working as an office based Science Teacher for Schools Division, has knowledge of rock, geology and earth science from her uni days. During her time here she has collected a quantity of resources on the local geology and has information on local excursions in the town area. Resources include maps, people, CD, books, posters, games and websites. Cathy is available to help teachers and can be contacted by email cathy.mckeon@nt.gov.au or by calling 8951 7052

2008 Melaleuca Awards for Environmental Excellence

Entries are now open for the Power and Water Corporation 2008 Melaleuca Awards for environmental excellence. The Awards which have been presented since 2003 recognise the environmental efforts of the community across Territory schools, businesses, community groups and individuals.  It’s expected that with a national focus on climate change, water conservation and recycling these areas of community concern will attract many interesting and innovative entries.

Projects such as stormwater recycling, rainwater harvesting, managing and recycling waste, effective energy management plans and energy saving initiatives are expected to be popular choices among entrants.  Commercial Territory businesses will also have an opportunity to demonstrate trade waste, energy management, environmental site plans and staff training programs as part of their entry.

Entrants can enter one or more award categories - community, commercial/industry, small business and schools.  Separate submissions can also be made to be considered for an environment grant.

Again this year, a Chairman’s Prize of $1,000 will be awarded to one entrant for donation to an environmental organisation of the winner’s choice.

Entries close on May 16 and the winners will be announced at a presentation on June 18. Information and entry forms are available on-line
or from any Power and Water Customer Service Centre.

Desert Innovation Festival

The Desert Innovation Festival begins on 25th April 2008, in association with the Australian Innovation Festival. It features a series of local and cross border events spanning desert Australia. Events in the festival are organised by Desert Knowledge Australia and other partners in the desert knowledge movement.

Highlights among the 19 listed events include a videoconference link-up involving researchers and businesspeople in the food industry to explore Desert Food Innovation (1 May), a virtual event discussing 4WD tourism in desert Australia; a cross desert conversation about innovative models, partnerships and approaches in the arts industry (21 May); and sharing experiences of local community sustainability initiatives to conserve energy and water (22 May). Download your copy of the 2008 Desert Innovation Festival program here.

Now in its fourth year, this festival celebrates how people in desert Australia are meeting desert challenges through partnerships, desert ideas, desert know-how and desert innovation.

101+ Web Resources for Students | studenthacks.org

This link will take you into a post on another blog - I think you could find several useful things here if you have a moment to take a look. Some of the content is geared towards American students, but lots is universal

101+ Web Resources for Students | studenthacks.org

TEACHING CLIMATE CHANGE

The Australia Institute, sponsored by Australian Ethical Investment co. has recently released this great free, web-based resource. It includes nine modules for teaching climate change including up-to-date, local data, student questions and activities. It covers the environmental, scientific, political, economic and ethical aspects of climate change and would be most suitable for humanities, science or integrated classes.
www.teachingclimatechange.com.au/