from here

Canterbury & South Island:

Budget cuts impact on Education for Sustainability. Over the past several years quiet, but effective, work has been undertaken by Education for Sustainability advisors around the country.
Teachers and students have benefited from their knowledge and skills as
they work to integrate learning for a sustainable future into their
programmes. In the last Budget funding for these advisors was cut (along
with other cuts) so their jobs will end in December.
For more information on these cuts visit the Ministry of Education website:
www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/Budget/Budget2009/EducationSavings.
I encourage you to think about what is going on here and the implications for
NZ's sustainability. If you feel strongly about these cuts please contact and/or write to your MP or the Minister of Education.
Jocelyn Papprill, Sustain-Ed., Christchurch, 11 June.

Feedback sought on Ellerslie Garden Show to discuss ideas or concerns for next year. (10 June, CCC).

Collaborative artwork for Matariki symbolises knowledge, working from darkness to light. (10 June, CCC).

Nga Hau E Wha marae inundated for matariki school shows. (10 June, CCC).

Open fires and solid fuel burners older than 15 years banned in Kaiapoi from May 2011. (5 June, ECan).

ECan welcomes Minister for the Environment's review of air quality standards. So far 14,000 Canterbury homes have switched to clean heat and better insulation - more wanted. (10 June, ECan).

North Canterbury: Company fined for burning tyres. (8 June, ECan).

Otekaieke, Waitaki: Plan to privatise 10 km water race divides community. (9 June, Otago Daily Times).

Waitaki River: Water allocation may be too low to meet farmers' needs. (9 June, Otago Daily Times).

Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park: Scientists camp on glaciers to recover climate records. (10 June, Yahoo.co.nz).

Invercargill: MP wants to create a marine energy park in Foveaux Strait to harness tidal energy. (10 June, Southland Times).

Southland: Farmers protest proposed rises in water and dairy rates. (11 June, Southland Times).

Tiwai Point: Rio Tinto ramps up production because it needs to use up power. (10 June, NBR).

North Island & national:

UN climate negotiations, Bonn: NZ gets Fossil of the Day award... again! (Geoff Keey, 11 June, Signon.org).

Education demolition: Adult Community Education (ACE), which has been an integral part of New Zealand culture for over 100 years, will be virtually demolished by an 80% funding cut to school providers, starting next year. (10 June, Stuff/Dominion Post).

Govt to control water reform. Thro Land and Water Forum. (9 June, Stuff/The Press).

Green Party: Rivers turning into 'privatised drains'. (10 June, Stuff/Dominion Post).

Greens concerned by review of air standards. (10 June, Otago Daily Times).

Ban on GE imports welcomed. "one of the most significant decisions relating to GE in the last decade." (8 June, NZ Herald).

Regional councils 'failing'. (9 June, Stuff/The Press).
Also:
Support voiced for regional councils. (10 June, Stuff/The Press).

NZ businesses wary of green practices that hurt profits. Ranked 34 out of 36 economies. (9 June, NZ Herald).

Health researchers granted $83 million. (10 June, NZ Herald).

Polytechs will be forced to turn away students as demand soars. (11 June, Stuff/The Press).

Consumer magazine: Eco-bulbs give as much light as old ones. (9 June, NZ Herald).

Hawkes Bay: Flooded farms in lake plan. 600 hectares. (10 June, Stuff).
Also:
Expert slams plans to dam for irrigation: "Man-made dams are very rarely successful. Farming should reflect the land and climate it's based in." (10 June, Hawkes Bay Today).

MAF pushes technology transfer at field days to urge farmers to remain sustainable, resilient and productive in the face of economic and environmental challenges. (10 June, Otago Daily Times).

Kiwirail: One more chance for Napier-Gisborne line. (10 June, Stuff/Dominion Post).

NZ archaeological sites to go online. (9 June, Yahoo! News).

Pupil's plan to inspire young students to speak out on the environment wins award. (8 June, NZ Herald).

Bay of Islands: Rat bait drop hits late snag. (8 June, NZ Herald).

Bay of Plenty/Waikato: Iwi co-operation to save kiwi. (29 May, DOC).

Former whalers join DOC survey of humpbacks through Cook Strait. (9 June, Stuff).

Securing a future for kiwi and kokako. (LandcareResearch/Manaaki Whenua).

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• Job Offer: Sustainable Practices Co-ordinator, University of Canterbury: Do you have a personal commitment to sustainability and an enthusiasm for encouraging others to live and work/study sustainably too? As Sustainable Practices Coordinator you will develop, implement, and coordinate sustainable best-practice initiatives for a wide range of University activities.
  You will possess a relevant tertiary qualification preferably to post-graduate level and at least 3-4 years’ experience in an area relevant to facilitating behavioural change, managing environmental projects or sustainability.
  To view the full description, and to apply, visit: http://vacancies.canterbury.ac.nz (reference number G149-09D).
   Applications close 14 June 2009.
  
  
• Sign On: help avoid catastrophic climate change. Sign on here. (www.signon.org.nz). Greenpeace climate change campaign - to
  get NZ to commit to target of 40% GHG reduction by 2020 at UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December.
  
  
• Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board calls for nominations for 2009 Conservation Awards. By 30 June.
  
  
• ECan's Environment Enhancement Fund open: 1 June - 31 August. Anyone can apply for up to $5000 for projects that benefit the health of ecosystems in the region. More information/applications: www.ecan.govt.nz/eef.
  
  
• Christchurch air rules awareness campaign: ECan wants everyone to know about the forthcoming ban on the winter use of open fires and older woodburners in Christchurch, effective from 2010. Home heating rules for Christchurch: Click on the heating situation on the map provided to find out the rules that apply in your area. (ECan).
  
  
• LEARNZ field trips:
  Trout - Freshwater Ecology - A trip to the Turangi Trout Centre to investigate management of fisheries and freshwater conservation. 10 - 12 June
  Geo Hazards - A trip to walk over the Auckland volcanoes, stay on Rangitoto Island and learn about impacts of volcanic events of the past, present and future. 24-26 June.
  More info: www.learnz.org.nz. or contact: charmaine@learnz.org.nz.
  
  
• Heat pump water heaters: New funding pilot programme for efficient water heating - same grant as for solar. (EECA).

& from there

• US: Obama may attend Copenhagen global climate negotiations. (5 June, e360 digest, Yale environment 360).
  
  
• UK: Nicholas Stern's heresy: Conceding the West's climate burden. When Stern throws a new proposal into the melting pot of negotiations on a new international climate change treaty, as he did just the other day, it is worth pausing to consider it. (2 June, Grist).
  
  
• China: Launches green power revolution to catch up on west. 20% by 2020. (10 June, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: From a failed growth economy to a steady state economy. Herman Daly. (''in the opinion of many it is past time for Herman to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics...''). (6 June, The Oil Drum).
  
  
• IAP statement on ocean acidification. eg, irreversible on timescales of at least tens of thousands of years; now more acidic than they have been for 800,000 years. (IAP: International Academies Panel -a global network of science academies, includes RSNZ).
  Also:
  US: 'Sea Change' documentary looks at ocean acidification. (7 June, Grist).
  
  
• UN: Nature better and cheaper at CCS. (CCS: Carbon capture & storage). (8 June, ecoGeek).
  
  
• Indonesia: Rainforest is worth more standing. (10 June, BBC News).
  
  
• UN: the first World Oceans Day, 8 June, 2009: Biggest menaces - CO2, plastics, over-fishing. (8 June, Reuters).
  
  
• US: Oil: The rise and fall ...and rise. (7 June, LA Times.com).
  
  
• US: Northwest's biofuel boom goes bust. (5 June, OregonLive.com).
  
  
• US: Renewing our dependence: this eerily quiet hole in the Mojave is the world's largest symbol of a brewing crisis, as the US and other developed countries risk trading their addiction to oil for a new form of energy dependence: Rare earths. (28 May, OnEarth).
  
  
• Holland: The Dutch strive to make their country more 'climate proof'. "Can we actually save the Netherlands? Or should we abandon part of the country?" (1 June, New York Times).
  
  
• UK: Is rural land use too important to be left to farmers? (9 June, Science Daily).
  
  
• Scotland: Tale of two herds at beef fair - one conventional the other organic. (6 June, pressandjournal.co.uk).
  
  
• UK: Pommy Lord to green campaigners: Don't play the guilt card. (4 June, Times Online).
  
  
• US: Polycarbonate bottles: After just one week of drinking all cold beverages from polycarbonate bottles, BPA concentrations in the participants' urine increased by an astounding 69 percent. If you heat them, as is the case with baby bottles, we would expect the levels to be considerably higher. (5 June, Treehugger).
  
  
• World's poor overwhelmed by rubbish. 17 pictures. (June, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: Government considering plans for customers to reuse as many containers as they can as often as possible. (10 June, Telegraph.co.uk).
  
  
• UK: Latest foodie fad - pop-up restaurants. (4 June, The Independent).
  
  
• Real life hobbit house. (6 June, simondale.net).
  
  Technology:
  
• Spain: Bilbao subway completely powered with renewable energy. (10 June, ecoGeek).
  
  
• US: Solar power plant will deliver day and night. (8 June ecoGeek).
  
  
• Slideshow: The world's 10 largest renewable energy projects. (4 June, Scientific American).
  
  
• Germany: Drinking water from air humidity. (8 June, Science Daily).
  
  
• US: Flexible solar power shingles transform roofs to energy source. (8 June, Science Daily).
  
  
• Australia: 600 turbine wind farm gets go-ahead. (9 June, BBC).
  
  
• Nokia developing phone that recharges itself without mains power. Prototype harvests radiowaves from TV, radio and other mobiles. (10 June, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: Revving up a solar racer: zero to 60mph in full sunlight. (9 June, ars Technica).
  
  More naturally:
  
• Welcome to the spider lab: especially interested in tarantulas, thanks to the incredible webs that they spin. Spider silk is stronger even than steel, lightweight and very, very stretchy. (9 June, BBC News).
  
  
• Out with the new, in with the old, Britain's native species return. (7 June, The Guardian).
  
  
• East Java: Australian researchers unearth giant pre-historic elephant. (9 June, The Australian).
  
  
• Study: Earth-Venus smash possible - in 3.5 billion years. Orbital chaos. (10 June, Yahoo! News).
  

Using ecoNet

Is easy. Just send in to the editor information about an event, activity or submission you want to share and it will go in ecoNet....as long as it's appropriate of course.

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How do I contribute?

Use the links below to:

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• contact us

• Online documentary: 'In Transition'.

  Your chance to see it, emerging plans for its release, as well as an appeal to help finish it. When: 48 hour period from 12.00 am Friday, 12 June, NZ time.
  Where: here (transitionculture.org).
  
  

• Recycled art exhibition:

  Art from recycled materials to mark World Environment Day.
  When: 8 - 20 June.
  Where: Linwood Community Centre, corner Worcester St & Stanmore Rd.
  Info/contact: Hoterene 389 2881.
  
  

• Matariki, 1 - 30 June:

  Matariki is Māori New Year.
  Events to mark Matariki: Here.
  Events calendar here. (www.bethere.co.nz).
  
  

• CCC planting days:

  1.Dry Bush: 1.00 - 3.00 pm Sat, 13 June.
  Meet at Huntsbury Track/Summit Road.
  2. Amberly Beach: 10.30 - 12.30 pm Sat, 13 June.
  Meet at carpark end of Amberly Beach Rd. (Planting is to the north of the carpark).
  3. Beacon Street: 10.00 - 2.00 pm Sun, 14 June.
  Meet at Seafield Park at the end of Beacon St.
  (BBQ after the planting).
  Details here: www.ccc.govt.nz.
  
  

• Guided Port Hills botanical tour: Meurky walk on Scott’s Valley Track.

  Guide: Colin Meurk, botanist, Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua.
  When: 9.00 am – 2-ish Saturday, 13 June.
  Where: Meet at lower gondola carpark.
  Bring: Sturdy footwear, all-weather clothing, lunch.
  Contact: Anna-Marie, reesey@xtra.co.nz.
  
  

• Event: An Inconvenient Truth Presented by Melissa Clark-Reynolds

  When: 7.00 pm Saturday, 13 June.
  Where: Mona Vale Homestead.
  Tickets $20. Complimentary glass of wine or fruit juice.
  Hosted by Ryder-Cheshire Foundation (Canterbury) Inc.
  Contact: Angela  3556 529
  
  

• Volunteer Awareness Week 14 - 21 June.

  VAW 2009 highlights young people as volunteers.
  Background/more info: here.
  News/blog: here.
  Homepage: www.volunteeringnz.org.nz
  
  

• Talk: Issues of the Day: Is NZ ready for voluntary euthanasia legislation and what you can do until it is.

  Speaker: David Chilvers, co-ordinator, Christchurch branch, Voluntary Euthanasia Society.
  When: 1.30 - 2.30 pm Wednesday, 17 June.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Contact: 366 0285, cwea.org.nz
  Cost: $4.00.
  (WEA Issues of the day series).
  
  

• Matariki at the Marae:

  When: 5.30 - 8.00 pm Tuesday 16, & Thursday 18, June.
  Where: Nga Hau E Wha Marae, 250 Pages Rd.
  Also:
  

  Matariki weekend workshops:

  When: 10.00 - 4.00 pm Saturday 20, & Sunday, 21 June.
  Where: Nga Hau E Wha Marae, 250 Pages Rd, Aranui.
  Info: here.
  
  

• Fundraising event: Out of the Blue. Women's world music choir.

  When: 7.30 pm Saturday, 20 June & 3.00 pm Sunday, 21 June.
  Where: Rose Historic Chapel, 886 Colombo St.
  Cost: $10.00 (children $5.00).
  More info/contact: Rosie 328 7783 or rosela@clear.net.nz.
  All proceeds to Christchurch City Mission.
  
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 9.00 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week: Murray Horton, CAFCA, on Free trade & privatisation - the old agenda all over again.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  NB: Listen again to Earthwise programmes on archive.
  
  

Coming up:

• Sustainable Otautahi Christchurch (SOC) AGM & Discussion:

  The Urban Development Strategy (UDS) and strong sustainability: Making the link.
  Speakers: James Caygill, UDS implementation committee, in discussion with John Peet, SOC, & Sustainable Aotearoa NZ (SANZ).
  When: AGM at 7.15 pm, discussion at 8.00 pm Monday, 22 June.
  Where: Waiau Theatre, ECan, 64 Kilmore St. (entry through eastern entrance, Kilmore St).
  Supper to follow. All welcome.
  
  

• 2009 Garden Bird Survey.

  When: 27 June - 5 July.
  More info: landcareresearch.co.nz
  Organised by LandcareResearch/Manaaki Whenua in collaboration with Forest & Bird, Ornithological Society, Ministry for the Environment.
  
  

• Opening soon: The Great Alpine Highway monthly market.

  When: 11.00 - 3.30 pm Sunday, 28 June.
  Where: Springfield Community Centre, Springfield.
  Info/contact: Lissa 03 317 9455.
  
  

• Canterbury Restoration Field-days, September 2009: Bringing Back Biodiversity - “Get Inspired, Get Involved, Get it Right!”

  Registrations requested & expressions of interest to exhibit/promote your activity or business.
  When: 10.00 - 5.00 pm, 19 September. (Field trips round central Canterbury 20 September).
  Where: DOC nursery, Motukarara.
  More info/registration forms/interested to exhibit: www.canterburybiodiversity.org.nz/
  Contact: wayne.mccallum@ecan.govt.nz
  Latest Canterbury Biodiversity Newsletter: here.
  
  

• Auckland event: Annual conference: Eco (Environment and Conservation Organisations of Aotearoa/NZ).

  Greening our way out of a recession.
  When: 10 - 12 July.
  Where: Karanga camp, 79 Te Henga Rd, Waitakere City (near Bethells Beach).
  More info/contact/registration: www.eco.org.nz/conference
  

Reminders:

• Free home composting workshops:

  Hot composting of kitchen scraps & garden waste, Bokashi and worm farms. All methods demonstrated.
  At two sites:
  1. Opawa Community Gardens, 176 Opawa Rd (at Aynsley Tce). 1.00 - 2.30 pm each Saturday.
  2. Okeover Community Garden - University of Canterbury, Engineering Road. (Map here). 12.00 - 1.30 pm each Wednesday.
  3. Lyttelton Community Garden, 54A Oxford Street, 10.30 – 12.00 pm each Saturday.
  More info/contact: Annmarie 021 190 4559 or 942 7190 (evenings).
  Supported by CCC.
  
  

• Theatre: NZ Premiere: My Name is Rachel Corrie.

  One-woman play based on e-mails and letters of a young American peace activist killed in the Gaza strip in 2003. Critically acclaimed abroad and cause of vigorous debate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  Director: Lara Macgregor.
  When: Season runs 29 May - 27 June.
  Where: The Forge, Court Theatre.
  More background info & bookings etc: Here (www.courttheatre.org.nz) or 0800 333 100.
  (Discounts for groups of ten or more).
  
  

• Art Exhibition: Nature's own voice:

  Watercolours & oils from the permanent collection by artists with an interest in recording nature directly through painting en plein-air.
  When: till 26 July.
  Where: Christchurch Art Gallery, Worcester Blvd.
  
  

• Last days! Exhibition: Miles: a life in architecture.

  Celebrating the achievements of leading architect, Sir Miles Warren.
  When: Finishes Sunday, June 14.
  Where: Christchurch Art Gallery, Worcester Blvrd.