Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Network – The European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on June 2nd, 2008
Please find information about the network, The European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign. This campaign has information on local sustainable development and the implementation of the Aalborg Commitments. Check out their website to learn more about how to achieve your local sustainability targets. Read the news, follow the debate and check the events. The partners of the ESCTC provide you with practical guidance, project ideas and tools, showcased in the Sustainability Kit and in the linked partners’ websites. To mainstream local sustainability throughout Europe, the Campaign fosters the implementation of the ‘Aalborg Commitments’. You can follow their structure throughout many of the items on this site. Enjoy browsing at and become part of the biggest movement for local sustainability across Europe!
URL: http://sustainable-cities.eu/index.php
Resource – “Not-So-Tragic “Commons” from the State of the World website
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on May 30th, 2008
Please find below a post from the State of the World website by Seamus Murray.
“What do Wikipedia, water temples, conservation trusts, and community gardens have in common? All are examples of modern “commons”—equitable alternatives to public or private property systems. Jonathan Rowe, a fellow at the Tomales Bay Institute, writes in State of the World 2008 that there has never been a better time to look beyond privatization and nationalization in our efforts to sustain scarce resources. Often, social ties between people can lead to more effective management than a top-down approach.
Read: State of the World 2008, Chapter 10: The Parallel Economy of the Commons
Vote: What do you think is the best example of “commons” management today?â€
Resource – List of organizations doing good work on local/ sustainable food and farming issues
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on May 22nd, 2008
The information collated below was discussed on Community Food Security email list and has since been collated and posted on the blog; http://gardenofeatingblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/seeds-of-change-groups-doing-good-work.html.
You can subscribe to the Community Food Security email list at: https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/comfood.
The future of food security begins at home: new report
Posted in Uncategorized by kirsten on May 22nd, 2008
Lead author Kirsten Larsen, based at the University of Melbourne, says food production will be increasingly challenged by changing climate, dwindling supplies of cheap oil and declining water and soil resources.
“What has become patently clear is that major innovations – well beyond efficiency improvements in existing food production – are needed, and soon, if we are to have good food to feed all Victorians and to meet export demands.â€
The report, Secure and Sustainable Food Systems for Victoria, produced by the Victorian Eco-Innovation Laboratory (VEIL), investigated the relationship between food, resources, health and the environment. It suggests that developing more sustainable and resilient food systems will enable longer term food security in the face of rising input costs and environmental risks.
The report can be downloaded from www.ecoinnovationlab.com/pages/library.php.
The media release and key findings
Resource – “Solar Power: Another Sunny Year†from the State of the World website
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on May 21st, 2008
Please find below a post from the State of the World website by Scott Robinson.
Solar cell production increased 51% in 2007, to 3,733 megawatts. And since 1996, enough solar photovoltaics have been installed worldwide to meet the annual energy demands of 3 million European homes. But this soaring demand coincides with shortages of polysilicon—a key component of solar cells. Read on for country-by-country solar power statistics and an analysis of future PV pricing and investment.
Read:
- Vital Signs Update: Another Sunny Year for Solar Power
- Worldwatch Report: Powering China’s Development
Resource “Our Water Challenge†from the State of the World website
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on May 20th, 2008
Please find below a post from the State of the World website by Michael Foley.
Water is as essential to economies as it is to human life. But there is strong evidence that there will not be enough water to produce the food needed to feed the world in 2050, and more than 75% of the global population may face water scarcity by 2025. Ger Bergkamp and Claudia Sadoff write in State of the World 2008 that innovations in water management and policy can promote equitable and sustainable water use.
Read:
- State of the World 2008, Chapter 8: Water in a Sustainable Economy
- Vital Signs Update: Irrigated Area Stays Stable
- Vote: What do you think is the most effective way to encourage sustainable water use?
Comment – Sustainable Advice on Cities
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on April 24th, 2008
The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #56, 22 April 2008, compiled by Stephen Ingrouille. Going Solar, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport.
Sustainable Advice on Cities
“A leading international city planner is calling for the 2020 summit to consider radical changes to the way Australians live, work and move around their cities. Prominent Danish urban designer Professor Jan Gehl says Australia’s obsession with cars comes at the expense of the liveability of its big cities and the health of its citizens. … But he says it is not too late to change. ‘Originally, we made the cities for people but then, in the past 50 years, gradually we’ve forgotten more and more about that and now many of them have been made more and more for cars’, he said. ‘I remember a big sign in Perth saying, “Your car is welcome to the cityâ€, but we always whispered, “You’re not†… Australian cities – the suburbs and right down to the city centres – have been very, very influenced by traffic engineer thinking, absolutely too much compared to other places in the world.’ … ‘When we started recently in Sydney, we found that in certain streets, half the walking time was spent waiting to cross the street … We are suggesting that it should become much more easy to walk in the cities and that cars generally are parked at a longer distance from where you work or where your shopping opportunities are. Everybody would like a lively city, an attractive city, a safe city, a sustainable city and a city which invites more healthy lifestyles. By being sweet to the pedestrians and sweet to the bicyclists, you can actually accomplish quite a bit of all these goals’… Professor Gehl says Australian cities will undergo a ‘very marked change’ over the next 10 to 15 years because of concerns about petrol prices, climate change, obesity and its cost to the health system.â€
Ref ABC News Online 18/4/08
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/17/2219693.htm
Sustainable Cities Update – Mount Alexander Sustainability Group Weekly News Digest
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on April 12th, 2008
For more information see http://masg.org.au.
Friday 11th April 2008
Deadlines: more details in newsletter below
12 April – Carbon hero nominations
12 April – buy your raffle tickets
14 April – poetry competition entries close
MASG News and Events
Welcome back Carolyn, who re-starts work at MASG on Mondays, starting 14th April. Please come to the morning tea at 10.30am to welcome her back from maternity leave.
Community-Owned Wind Park Open Day: Saturday 19th April from 10.00am to 2.00pm. Phee Broadway Foyer, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine, with light refreshments provided. MASG are investigating the potential for a community owned wind park in our shire. All members are invited to an open day to learn more about the project and how you can be involved. Written info available on the day. Wind park developer David Shapero and MASG representatives will be present to answer enquiries and discuss the project. More information and bookings: Jayson 5470 6978 and jayson@masg.org.au
Congratulations to MASG committee member Tony Smark who gave a very well- researched and well-reasoned presentation to the MA Council public meeting on the 08/09 budget. His major recommendations were around the Council’s use of GreenPower, how it offsets its vehicle fleet emissions, the opportunities in the retrofit of the School of Mines Building & the Council’s HACC Home Maintenance program working to increase the energy efficiency of our low income resident’s homes. Tony’s full presentation can be downloaded from the MASG website http://masg.org.au.
For more information see http://masg.org.au.
Apologies – SustainableCitiesNet.com is experiencing technical difficulties
Posted in Events, Models, Movements, Research, Uncategorized, Visions by fedwards on March 15th, 2008
The SustainableCitiesNet.com website has been experiencing some technical difficulties over the last week. Due to these problems we have been unable to update content on the site. People are working on fixing these problems to get the site up and running as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
China & UK: Partners in Sustainability
Posted in Events, Models, Uncategorized by chriscotton on February 28th, 2008
China & UK: Partners in Sustainability is the landmark business-to-business conference in 2008, organised by the China-Britain Business Council designed to bring the UK-China dialogue on sustainability to a company to company level.
As China seeks to maintain its rapid economic growth while achieving its goals of sustainability, environmental potection & social cohesion, what are the opportunities for cooperation between UK & Chinese businesses? For more information, visit: www.chinasustainability.com
Featuring keynote speeches from Rt Hon John Hutton, UK Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham and Richard Lambert, Director-General of the CBI; Peter Mandelson, EU Commissioner for External Trade; and senior Government & business representatives from China, this programme is your chance to meet Chinese organisations and seize the business opportunities arising out of China’s new sustainability agenda.
Break-out sessions will explore how UK technology, know-how and experience can help China pursue sustainable development:
- Finance & the Economy: financial services, banking, legislation
- Energy & the Environment: clean energy, environmental technology, training
- Social Development: pensions, housing, healthcare, education
And a bespoke business-matching programme will help you schedule one-to-one meetings with Chinese companies.
For more information, visit: www.chinasustainability.com
