Archive for April, 2007
Movement – Plastic-bag free towns
Posted in Movements by fedwards on April 30th, 2007
At 8am this Monday morning, the town of Modbury in Devon, UK, became the first plastic bag-free town in Europe. Stirred by Modbury-born Rebecca Hoskins’ reaction to the destruction caused by plastic bags on sea life in the Pacific, the town’s 43 traders have vowed not to sell, give away or otherwise provide plastic bags to anyone in Modbury during the next 6 months. Choosing alternative wrappings of corn starch paper, cotton or cloth – or even the souvenir 2,000 official Modbury bags – the town will remain plastic-bag free.
Movement – Interview with Bill Mitchell on ‘smarter’ cities
Posted in Models, Movements, Research by fedwards on April 30th, 2007
An interview with Bill Mitchell, head of the Smart Cities research group from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was recently published by The University of Melbourne Voice, Vol. 1, No. 4, 30 April – 14 May, 2007. Professor Bill Mitchell commenced his studies at the University of Melbourne in architecture and is now researching new technologies to enhance urban design and transport systems in his Smart Cities project. An excerpt of his discussion with David Scott, journalist from the Voice, is reproduced below.
Q Your work focuses a lot on ‘Smart Cities’ and the smart use of space.
But aren’t our cities already pretty smart and still evolving?
A Well, no they are pretty dumb and they need to be a lot smarter. It’s worth putting this into a broad historical context. Early cities before the industrial revolution were essentially skeleton and skin. They provided shelter, they held up the floors and kept you protected, but there wasn’t much more to them than that. Then the industrial revolution came along and the cities got artificial physiologies – water supply systems, sewer systems, gas systems, electrical systems.
Event – City Development World 2007 Conference
Posted in Events by fedwards on April 27th, 2007
This is big! The upcoming City Development World 2007 Conference brings together an audience of developers, investors, government and urban designers and planners to discuss the world’s future of creating sustainable communities and cities. World-class speakers to lead the discussions include Susan Anderson from the City of Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development, Rod Fehring from the Lend Lease Corporation, Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia and Andrew McAnulty from Stonebridge Housing Trust, London. Held from 4 to 6 June – at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, early bird registration is still an option! Go to City Development World 2007 for more information.
Resource – The Ecologist journal
Posted in Research by fedwards on April 27th, 2007
The Ecologist, hardcopy or on-line, is an excellent environmental journal based in the UK that reports current news, has discussions on blogs, provides podcasts and archives – great for environmental researchers! – on international environmental issues. It targets a radical audience "providing a forum for social and environmental activists who seek to change current developmental policies in both the developing and the developed world".
Top news stories in the last few weeks includes:
Sustainable Cities – www.SustainableRotterdam.com – recycling
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on April 26th, 2007
We read at Springwise:
Going green has gotten a lot more enticing to consumers in communities served by Philadelphia-based RecycleBank.
Households can earn RecycleBank Dollars, redeemable for discount coupons at select retailers, just for putting their recyclables out to be collected. But the incentives don’t stop there. It’s also great promotion and community recognition for participating businesses. Sound too good to be true? Well, you may be surprised to learn that it’s even more cost-effective than most traditional recycling programs.
Sustainable Cities – www.SustainableMelbourne.com – Sustainability Street
Posted in Models by fedwards on April 26th, 2007
by guest author, Jason Cox
Sustainability Street focuses on achieving Ecological Sustainability and Building Strong Community Links. On Sustainability Street this is one goal not two as these goals are inseparable in reality.
Seeking Resource – VISUAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR BLOGSITES WANTED
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on April 4th, 2007
Www.SustainableMelbourne.com and strong>wwww.SustainableCitiesnet.com are two blogs currently in production looking for images to complement their content. Both sites showcase environmental initiatives and house debate to push ahead urban sustainability knowledge and practice.
We are looking for artists, designers, illustrators and filmmakers who would like to contribute Photos, Film, Drawings and Maps.
All contributions will have full acknowledgment and retainment of author’s ownership. These blogs will also be heavily promoted through media, events and associated environmental networks.
For more information, send a posting to this site (see below).