A sustainable Father’s Day

 Events, Shopping  Comments Off on A sustainable Father’s Day
Aug 262016
 

Hi everyone,

It’s Father’s Day on Sunday 4 September. If you observe Father’s Day, here’s some ideas to give it a bit of a green theme.

  • If ties, socks or clothing is on the list, look for organic cotton, bamboo or hemp items
  • If giving shaving products is a preference, avoid synthetic and chemically based and choose items with organic and natural ingredients
  • If your Dad enjoys a drink, choose from the ever increasing selection of organic wines or green beer ranges
  • Lots of Dads are into gadgets – there’s a great range of solar powered chargers, clocks, watches and even wind-up gadget options available these days
  • If your Dad is a keen gardener, a tree or shrub will be a long lasting gift to enjoy
  • Check out antique shops, op shops and garage sales to find that extra special vintage gift
  • Opt for a service instead of a gift such as a massage voucher or movie tickets
  • Give an experience such as a BBQ cooking class, Barista course, winery tour or sailing trip – the Internet has a stack of sites that offer gift experiences
  • Consider a sponsorship or a donation to your favourite charity e.g. Oxfam Unwrapped, World Vision Gifts, Greenfleet, Fuel for Father’s Day
  • Grab a green gift certificate from the many online eco-stores available on the Internet
  • For the avid readers, consider a subscription to an eco-magazine or online newspaper
  • Homemade gifts are a good choice or offer to spend an afternoon doing something that your Dad chooses to do or even a disliked chore like cleaning the car or mowing the lawn
  • Serve local and/or organic food at your Father’s Day lunch and avoid disposable cups, plates etc

Enjoy Father’s Day and help to make it a green day too.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 10:03 am

Next week it’s Keep Australia Beautiful Week

 Activism, Crowd sourced, Events, News, Plastics  Comments Off on Next week it’s Keep Australia Beautiful Week
Aug 192016
 

Hi everyone,

Nearly every day is Keep Australia Beautiful for me. I pick up bottles, cans, plastic bags and other rubbish while I’m out and about walking to the train station, around the park and along the beach etc. I find it really hard to walk by knowing that it could end up in our beautiful waterways.

Next week it’s Keep Australia Beautiful Week. The campaign is a great reminder of the importance of the responsible disposal of rubbish. This year’s campaign will see the revival of “Do the Right Thing” which some of you might remember from years gone by. The main focus will be tackling cigarette butt litter. Cigarette butts might be small but they have a huge impact on our environment with millions littering our planet all over the world. Together with my local BeachPatrol a handful of volunteers have collected a staggering 20,000 cigarette butts over just 9 hourly sessions around the beach area at Mordialloc. It feels good to know that we have stopped at least some of this litter getting in the bay.

Source: Keep Australia Beautiful Week, http://kab.org.au/keep-australia-beautiful-week/

For more information about Keep Australia Beautiful Week, go to:

http://kab.org.au/keep-australia-beautiful-week/

To join a local BeachPatrol near you, go to:

http://www.beachpatrol.com.au/

Help to keep cigarette butt litter out of our beautiful environment by supporting this great campaign.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 10:36 am

It’s World Environment Day this Sunday!

 Activism, Climate Action, Events, Wildlife  Comments Off on It’s World Environment Day this Sunday!
Jun 032016
 

Hi everyone

It’s World Environment Day this Sunday!

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in 1972 and is celebrated on the 5 June each year.  The theme for this year’s World Environment Day is “Go Wild for Life” which encourages you to celebrate all those species under threat and take action of your own to help safeguard them for future generations.

The illegal trade of our wildlife is having a devastating impact on the future of so many of our planet’s precious animals and plants. There is a desperate need to change our habits and behaviours so that the demand for wildlife products falls. You can help by actively demonstrating zero-tolerance for the illegal trade in wildlife. Collectively we can push governments and internationals bodies to introduce tougher laws and penalise those willing to break them.

Sign the pledge at:

https://wildfor.life/act

For more information about World Environment Day, go to:

http://www.unep.org/wed/

Source: World Environment Day, United Nations Environment Programme, http://www.unep.org/wed/,

Let’s make World Environment Day a special day by taking action to help stamp out illegal trade in wildlife products!

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 11:10 am

Lila’s Mother’s day tips

 Events, Sustainable Gifts  Comments Off on Lila’s Mother’s day tips
Apr 292016
 

Hi everyone,

It’s Mother’s day next Sunday.  If you observe Mother’s Day, here’s some ideas to give it a bit of a green theme.

  • If you decide on flowers as a gift, choose locally grown or flowers that regenerate such as roses, tulip and lilies or even buy a flowering plant that will keep for heaps longer
  • For green thumbed Mums, packets of seeds and/or bulbs make great gifts or if outdoor space is limited how about an indoor herb garden or mushroom growing kit
  • If giving beauty products is a preference, avoid synthetic and chemically based and choose items with organic and natural ingredients
  • Candles are a popular gift choice, greener choices include those made from beeswax or soy and contain essential oils
  • Jewellery is another popular gift. You can opt for something pre-loved, from a socially responsible jeweller or items made from fair trade silver, glass or recycled materials
  • For book loving Mums, check out the many second hand book stores or op shops where you’ll find a great selection in perfect condition or consider supporting Earth Hour by purchasing their Planet to Plate: The Earth Hour Cookbook.
  • Make up your own goodies basket. You can pick up a cane basket at the op shop and then go to the local organic market to pick up some of her favourite treats
  • If clothing is on the list, look for organic cotton, bamboo or hemp items
  • Opt for a service instead of a gift such as a massage voucher or movie tickets
  • Consider a sponsorship or a donation to your favourite charity e.g. Oxfam Unwrapped, World Vision, Greenfleet, Habitat for Humanity
  • Grab a green gift certificate from the many online eco-stores available on the Internet
  • Homemade gifts are a good choice or offer to spend an afternoon doing something that your Mum chooses to do or even a disliked chore like cleaning out the cupboards
  • Make your own Mother’s Day card and include a favourite  photo of you and your Mum or write a poem/special note of thanks
  • Instead of going out to a restaurant, organise a picnic lunch. Pack a basket of goodies and find a nice spot to enjoy good food, company and nature
  • Serve local and/or organic food at your Mother’s day lunch and avoid disposable cups, plates etc

The best gift can also be simply hugs and kisses and spending quality time with your Mum and making her feel special and appreciated.

Source: Green living tips, Think green gifts this Mother’s Day, http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/green-mothers-day-gifts.html, Alive.com/au, Autumn 2011

Enjoy Mother’s Day and help to make it a green day too.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

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 Posted by at 11:07 am

Permaculture- East meeting at Barrett House – Tonight

 Community Gardens, Events  Comments Off on Permaculture- East meeting at Barrett House – Tonight
Jun 252012
 

• Monday 25th June Permaculture- East meeting at Barrett House, 6 Barrett Place, Randwick. Join at 6.30pm for seed-swapping and 7pm for the meeting

 

Hi all, another session at Barrett House tonight to contribute and consider options for activating both Permaculture East and Barrett House in 2012 and beyond.

 

Also a brief session from me on how to run a Swap Party in your neighbourhood, social or community group (It’s easy and fun!)

 

So arrive for a cuppa at 6.30pm and settle in for focused discussions from 7pm. Also bring plants. Seeds food or whatever you want to swap in our usual Permaculture fashion (“share the surplus”!). I’ve got plenty seeds and maybe even a jar of my exclusive Choko pickles!

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 Posted by at 12:23 pm

Concentrating Solar Power Research Showcase – ACT

 AuSES, Events, Renewable Energy  Comments Off on Concentrating Solar Power Research Showcase – ACT
Jun 202012
 

12.30pm – 4.30pm, Monday, 16 July 2012
Australian National University.

This is an event in the Australian Solar Institute’s Knowledge Sharing Series.  The event features the findings of an ASI commissioned report, Realising the Potential of Concentrating Solar Power in Australia, undertaken by IT Power.  Lead author Keith Lovegrove will present on the report’s aims, approach and findings as well as field questions from the audience.

Other speakers: Wes Stein (CSIRO), Daniel Macdonald (ANU), Andrew Want (Vast Solar)

Places are limited.  To register for this free event, RSVP by 6 July 2012 to events@australiansolarinstitute.com.ay

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 Posted by at 11:43 am

UPCOMING SUSTAINABILITY COURSES… Eastern Suburbs

 Events, Resources  Comments Off on UPCOMING SUSTAINABILITY COURSES… Eastern Suburbs
Jun 192012
 

Live better with less energy and more comfort

– two Wednesday afternoon sessions – Randwick Council.

Make your home more comfortable in both winter and summer while reducing your energy use and your spending on energy.

You will be able to borrow the ‘Save Power Kit’ from Randwick Libraries to help.

DATE : Wed 1, 8 August 2012

TIME: 1pm to 3pm

WHERE :
First session: Vonnie Young Auditorium at the Bowen Library, 669-673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra NSW 2035

Second session: Barrett House, 6 Barrett Place, Randwick

Bookings essential: Visit City East Community College for bookings http://www.cityeastcc.com.au/course/lessemc

———————-

Organic Gardening – runs over 5 Saturday afternoons – Randwick Council

 

This could be your great growing adventure of the year…growing in the organic garden, that is.

DATE :  5 sessions, Saturday’s 11,18, 25 August, 1 September 2012

TIME: 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm

WHERE : Randwick Community Centre, 27 Munda Street, Randwick (turn off Bundock Street into Hendy Avenue then right into Marida Street).

Bookings essential: Visit City East Community College for bookings http://www.cityeastcc.com.au

———————-

Participatory Skills for Sustainable Futures

– runs over 5 Saturday afternoons – Randwick Council

Learn those valuable participatory facilitation skills that will enable you to engage people in the growing conversation around our common future.

Particularly useful for those ‘Hub volunteers’ interested in developing the idea of once a month ‘Friday night at the Movies’ nights that will be starting in Spring.

DATE :  5 sessions, Saturday’s 11,18, 25 August, 1, 8 September 2012

TIME: 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm

WHERE : Randwick Community Centre, 27 Munda Street, Randwick (turn off Bundock Street into Hendy Avenue then right into Marida Street).

Bookings essential: Visit City East Community College for bookings http://www.cityeastcc.com.au/course/partsf/

———————-

Collaborative consumption  – runs over 2 Wednesday mornings

The do-it-yourself economy,  sharing, bartering, trading, renting and swapping to reduce personal cost and lower environmental impact.

DATE: 2 x Wednesday 5, 12 September 2012

TIME: 9.30am – 12.30pm

WHERE: Barrett House, 6 Barrett Place Randwick

Bookings essential: Visit City East Community College for bookings http://www.cityeastcc.com.au/course/lessemc

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 Posted by at 11:32 am

Beneath the Blue – the marine life of Sydney’s east

 Events, Wildlife  Comments Off on Beneath the Blue – the marine life of Sydney’s east
Jun 192012
 

Discover some of the amazing marine creatures that live around Sydney’s eastern suburbs. This visually stunning presentation will look at the common as well as some rarely seen and newly discovered animals. From sharks and rays to the tiny pygmy pipehorse, you might be surprised by just how diverse and unique our local marine life is. Presented by underwater cinematographer, George Evatt.

When: Thursday 21 June, 6.45–8.30pm
Where: Community Room at the Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre, Waverley Park

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 Posted by at 11:28 am