from here

Canterbury & South Island:

New curator appointed for Botanic Gardens. (24 July, CCC).

Council's plans for protecting biodiversity. (28 July, CCC).

Great Perimeter Walkway among winners in Living Streets 2009 Golden Foot Awards. (26 July, Scoop).

Coming your way... Climate Change. 24 October, 2009 is to be a Global Day of Action to pressure politicians around the world to act decisively at the Copenhagen Climate Change summit in December. Christchurch is planning a climate action festival – with one activity being a 350 strong massed choir.  You are invited to raise your voice in harmony with 349 others at 12.30 pm in the Square on Oct 24. We will sing a set of songs - all easy to learn - with an opportunity to practice before going 'live'. If you'd like to be part of this event contact Jocelyn jyc497@gmail.com so you can be kept informed of arrangements. Background info, see: www.350.org. & www.350.org.nz.

Have your say: Resource consent application for a private dwelling located in the Outstanding Natural Landscape area of the Rural Zone, and adjacent to the Bridle Path, Lyttelton. (The site can be viewed by looking for the resource consent sign about 300m down from the Summit Rd). Link to the application here. Submissions close Friday 14 August. CCC contact: Sharyn Brown, planner, Lyttelton Area Development Team, DD 941-5603. (28 July, sent in by a reader).

Bikes on Buses: All Northern Star buses to Waimakariri district towns now have bike racks fitted to them. Bus racks are already fitted on the 35 Lyttelton tunnel route. (ECan).

Nelson: Nelson botanist wins Loder Cup, premier conservation award. (29 July, DOC).

Marlborough: 'Don't cut our library funds.' (29 July, Marlborough Express/Stuff).

Lake Hawea: Power generation plans not on the back burner, says Contact Energy. (30 July, Otago Daily Times).

Waitaki River: North bank scheme feasability investigated. Meridian Energy's tunnel power scheme. (30 July, Otago Daily Times).

Central Otago: US watchdog kept in loop on dams. Contact Energy plans to review four proposals for dams along the Clutha River. (29 July, Southland Times/Stuff).

Queenstown: Cycle ways: work to do. 175km Walter Peak Station-to-Kingston cycleway proposed. (29 July, Otago Daily Times).

North Island & national:

Climate Change Minister: 40% by 2020 emissions target 'too expensive'. (27 July, NZ Herald).

Global warming and the future of NZ. 40% by 2020. To boldly go... Adopting a challenging target is simply the right thing to do, morally and ethically. Gareth Renowden. (20 July, Hot Topic).

New Zealand's fossil-fuel emissions have soared by 72 per cent since 1990, the biggest jump in the developed world. (29 July, Stuff/The Press).

Agricultural (livestock farming) emissions in NZ could be cut 13% - not just cost effectively, but at an overall profit to the farmer, Sustainability Council says. (2 April, Sustainability Council of NZ).

Academics urge tree planting to cope with emissions. (28 July, NBR).

Forestry group axes talk of new tree planting - private sector will not plant more trees under planned changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). (28 July, Otago Daily Times).

Govt backs Greens' biofuel bill. (29 July, Otago Daily Times).

Green Party's animal protection bill defeated. (29 July, Otago Daily Times).

Councils would operate more efficiently with less compulsory public consultation, says Local Government Minister, Rodney Hide . (29 July, The Press/Stuff).

Things that go whump in the night: Turbine critics. (29 July, Waikato Times/Stuff).

Farming's bright future is in feeding the new middle classes not the starving millions. (29 July, The Press/Stuff).

Waikato: Dairy effluent whistle blowers ruined. (28 July, Stuff/Waikato Times).

Looking down on the townies. The great divide between town and country is a myth only rural peole believe, poll shows. (29 July, Dominion Post/Stuff).

Researchers say dung beetle could revolutionise farm management. (8 July, Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua).

Stratford: Town has plan for free broadband internet for everyone . (29 July, The Press/Stuff).

Manawatu: More than a third of residents support Mighty River Power's plan to build a 121-turbine wind farm at Turitea, a survey shows. (30 July, Dominion Post/Stuff).

Hunua Ranges: Super city 'a threat' to birds. (29 July, Papakura Courier/Stuff).

They may look cute and cuddly but seals just want a bit of peace, says DOC. (29 July, Dominion Post/Stuff).

Whio on the Tongariro River. (29 July, DOC).

DOC wants feedback on St James Conservation Area discussion paper. By 14 September. Also on draft guidelines for aircraft access in the Canterbury Conservancy. (29 July, DOC).

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• LEARNZ: curriculum related online virtual field trips for all teachers (and their students) in New Zealand. Some trips for the new term:
  Tongariro Volcanoes 29-31 July - More
  Waikato Coal Mining 05-07 August - More
  Southern Wind and Water Power 12-14 August - More
  Waikato Dairy Farming 26-28 August - More
  Kakapo 16-18 September - More

• The Outlook for Someday: A challenge to young New Zealanders (up to age 24) to make a short film interpreting the term ‘sustainability’. For more, see: www.theoutlookforsomeday.net.

• Public comment wanted on new DOC Wild Animal Recovery Operation (WARO) concession permit. By 19 August. (21 July, DOC).

• Submissions wanted: Marine Protection West Coast, South Island. A series of seven ‘underwater national parks’ or marine reserves have been proposed. Your opportunity to protect some of the West Coast’s most prized marine areas and the threatened species that call it home, such as endangered hectors dolphin. More here. (Forest & Bird). (see also diary of events, Tuesday).

• Bush Telly's Ellerslie Flower Show conservation interviews online. (21 July, CCC).
  
  
• Save Our Art Centre (SOAC): Website to oppose the establishment of the university's school of music in a new building at the Arts Centre.
  
  
• Enviroschools/Good magazine offer: Good magazine will feature Enviroschools in August issue in its regular 8 page feature Good Cause. And publisher HB Media will donate 20% of all subscriptions sold between August and October to the Enviroschools Foundation. A 12 month subscription (6 copies) is $45 – ie $9 will go to Enviroschools.
  
  
• Public consultation on draft Christchurch surface water strategy: CCC's goals and objectives for surface water (including stormwater) and water quality management in ChCh rivers and tributaries. Until 14 August. More info and online submissions here. (Have your say, CCC).
  
  
• Metro service review of North East & South West Christhchurch bus routes. Feedback sought. By 14 August. (ECan).
  
  
• Southern Right Whale sightings. DOC wants the public to report sightings as they (whales) make their way south.
  
  
• Submissions invited: on draft Kahurangi National Park management proposals. Including, for e.g., proposals to trial mountain bikes on the Heaphy Track. By 1 September. More here including public meetings. (DOC).
  
  
• Call for Heritage Award nominations in Hagley/Ferrymead area. (CCC).
  
  
• Have your say on the Brooklands Lagoon area parks plans. Consultation closes 31 August.
  
  
• 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 info/applications: www.ecan.govt.nz/eef.
  
  
• Last chance! 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.
  

& from there

• US: Is Peak Oil real? A list of countries past peak. (18 July, The Oil Drum).
  
  
• US: Book review: "$20 per gallon". How the Inevitable Rise in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better. (26 July, Los Angeles Times).
  
  
• Australia: Book Review: "Resilient Cities. Responding to Peak Oil & Climate Change". This is exactly the sort of book Transition Initiative people and their fellow travelers, permaculturists, should take the time to read. (11 July, Pacific Edge).
  
  
• UK: Thinking the unthinkable. At what point does economic growth become uneconomic growth. Prof. Tim Jackson. (16 July, Adbusters, Journal of the mental environment)
  
  
• US: When debtors decide to default. (25 July, New York Times).


• UK: Jonathon Porrit: "I'm not going to run away and be a hippy." Steps down after nine years leading the Sustainable Development Commission. (25 July, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: 7 environmental lessons from living in Europe. (21 July, Sustainablog).
  
  
• UK: GM crops being grown in Britain. Plant trials secretly restarted. (27 July, The Telegraph).
  
  
• UK: The complexity of food miles: The belief that local is best when it comes to measuring the environmental impact of food is often wrong, says new research. (26 July, The Independent).
  
  
• US: Do grown-ups really need to drink milk? Dairy consumption is at the center of several interconnected social, economic, and health crises. (22 July, AlterNet).
  
  
• US: Roadkill: It's fresh, it's organic, it's free. Even some hardcore vegans have found solace in scavenging. Here's why. (28 July, AlterNet).
  
  
• UK: The Stealth of Starbucks - "rebranding", or de-branding, stores to give them different names and more local "community personality". (22 July, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: Despite the substantial success of farmers' markets, the majority of the country's estimated 3,000 traditional markets are in decline. (23 July, The Telegraph).
  
  
• Tree houses from around the world. (13 Photos). (28 July, chicagotribune.com).
  
  Technology:
  
• Holland: The Citadel: Europe's first floating apartment complex. (29 July, Inhabitat).
  
  
• Spain: Luxury solar powered blimp to fly from NYC to Paris. Rests on land or water. (28 July, Clean Technica).
  
  
• US: Hydrovolts and its flipwing turbine for small scale hydropower: Fishing for new energy in old canals. (27 July, CleanTechnica).
  
  
• Israel: Mini jet turbine could power new hybrid car able to run on a range of liquid fuels.
  
  
• UK: Biomimic Joule: uses bio-engineered micro-organisms to mimic photosynthesis and make ethanol fuel from carbon dioxide and sunlight. Prices would be competitive with fossil fuels at $50 a barrel. (27 July, Clean Technica).
  
  'Natural' world:
  
• Fresh water crabs feel the pinch. Two thirds of all species of freshwater crab maybe at risk of going extinct, with one in six species particularly vulnerable, according to a new survey. (27 July, EarthNews, BBC).
  
  
• Conventional wisdom has it that animal evolution began in the ocean, but research shows earliest animals lived in a lake environment. (27 July, Physorg.com).
  
  
• Hotter weather fed growth of Incan empire. (27 July, New Scientist).
  
  
• Cameroons: Hungry people steal meat from wild lions. (24 July, EarthNews, BBC).
  
  
• Cambodia: Crippled elephant walks again thanks to false foot. (24 July, The Telegraph).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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.

ecoNet is put out (Fridays) by Christchurch Branch of NZAEE (NZ Association for Environmental Education), a non-profit, national organisation of people working to promote and support environmental education, lifelong learning and sustainable behaviour throughout New Zealand/Aotearoa.

How do I contribute?

Use the links below to:

• forward ecoNet address to others you think may like to receive it - it's free
  
• become a subscriber
  
• send us information for the weekly diary.
• contact us

• 31 July - Last day!: Tell NZ Govt to target 40% GHG emissions reduction on 1990 levels by 2020.  

  Sign the Sign-on petition - go to http://www.signon.org.nz/ and sign on.
  Sign Oxfam's Feel the Heat petition: http://www.oxfam.org.nz/.
  Write to: Climate Change Minister at nick.smith@ministers.govt.nz.
  Write to John Key & your MP - addresses at:
  http://www.national.org.nz/.
  
  

• Celebrate Maori language week:

  Whakanuia Te Wiki o te Reo Maori. (27 July - 2 August). Homepage: www.koreromai.co.nz.
  
  

• Talk: Mid-winter dialogues, 2009: University of Otago, Christchurch.

  The Health workforce of the future. It may not be what we expect.
  Speaker: David Meates, CEO, Canterbury DHB.
  When: 12.30 - 1.30 pm Friday, 31 July.
  Where: Rolleston lecture theatre, ground floor,
  Christchurch Hospital.
  Contact: 364 1199.
  
  

• Celebrate: Refugee Day.

  Ethnic food stalls, singing, music, dance, sports, research summaries.
  When: 10.00 am - 3.00 pm Saturday, 1 August.
  Where: College of Education, Dovedale Ave.
  Contact: Anne Marie 366 0497 (leave a message); or Ahmed 021 110 2403.
  Organised by Refugee Services, Canterbury Ethnic Council, University of Canterbury.
  
  

• Community planting day: John Britten Reserve.

  150 plants to go in.
  When: 1.00 pm Saturday, 1 August.
  Where: John Britten Reserve, Mt Pleasant. (Meet at Longridge Drive entrance).
  Contact: linda.rutland@xtra.co.nz.
  The John Britten Trust.
  
  

• Workday: Revegetation planting at Orton Bradley.

  700 native plants.
  When: 10.30 am Sunday, 2 August.
  Where: Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay.
  Bring: spade, picnic lunch, family, friends.
  Info/contact: Steve (Trees for Canterbury) 982 1028 or 027 297 3829;
  or Ian (Orton Bradley) 329 4730 or 027 242 9300.
  
  

• Monthly working bee: Mahoe Reserve, Lincoln.

  Native restoration project.
  When: 2.00 pm Sunday, 2 August.
  Where: Mahoe Reserve, Boundary Rd, Lincoln.
  Bring: tools, eg, spade.
  Contact: Sue 329 5858.
  
  

• Film and discussion: "The Recession".

  Speakers: John Miller, Trade Unionist, on workers rights in the recession; &
  Rev Bob Henderson, Ambrosia Food Bank, on local poverty and deprivation.
  When: 1.00 - 4.30 pm Sunday, 2 August.
  Where: New Brighton Museum, cnr Hardy & Beresford Streets
  Cost: Koha.
  Contact: Don or Olive 3886882.
  New Brighton Cafe Conversations.
  
  

• Panel discussion: Buller and the Victorians

  The human impact on our native bird species and how our attitudes to conservation have changed over time, with particular reference to Buller & his nineteenth century actions. more here.
  Speakers: Sandy Bartle, curator of birds, Te Papa Tongarewa; & Ross Galbreath, author of Walter Buller - The Reluctant Conservationist (1989).
  When: 6.00 - 7.00 pm Tuesday, 4 August.
  Where: Bird Hall, Canterbury Museum.
  Organised by Continuing Education, University of Canterbury.
  
  

• Talk: Strong sustainability for NZ - a challenge for engineers?

  A challenge to the engineering profession to become involved with ethical issues as well as the technical ones in drastically reducing our use of non-renewable & polluting resources.
  Speaker: Dr John Peet, chemical engineer with experience in the petroleum industry and a strong interest in strong sustainability.
  When: 7.00 pm Tuesday, 4 August.
  Where: Lecture Room 1, School of Engineering, University of Canterbury. (The mushroom). Entry from the south - Creyke Rd entrance locked.
  Engineers for Social Responsibility (ESR), canterbury Branch.
  
  

• Special Forest & Bird meeting: Proposed Marine Reserves for South Island's West Coast.

  The best chance in a generation to get an excellent network of marine reserves on the South Island’s West Coast - but help needed.
  Public submissions due by Friday 21 August.
  Speakers: Eugenie Sage & Emily Arthur, members of the West Coast Marine Protection Forum; Dean Baigent-Mercer, F&B's West Coast/Canterbury Conservation Officer.
  When: 7.30 pm Tuesday, 4 August.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  More info: here. (www.forestandbird.org.nz).
  All welcome. Supper afterwards.
  
  

• Talk: Wednesday nights at the WEA - What about the workers?

  This week: Workers and personal grievances - looking at the vulnerable state of non-unionised workers and how the 90-day legislation makes the position of many workers even more difficult.
  Speaker: Fay Birch, cleaner and personal grievance worker.
  When: 5.30 pm Wednesday, 5 August for tea, coffee, soup. 6.00 pm for lecture and discussion.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  Cost: Gold coin.
  Register/contact/info: cwea@xtra.co.nz or 366 0285.
  
  

• Discussion evening: Updating GE issues:

  The botched GE brassica trial at Lincoln and its consequences, & the current status of NZ GE R&D.
  Speakers: Dr Elvira Dommisse, Steffan Browning, co-chairs, NZ Soil & Health.
  When: 7.00 pm Thursday, 6 August.
  Where: 14 Harrison St, Shirley.
  Cost: non-members a gold coin/koha.
  Organised by Canterbury Soil & Health.
  
  

• Talk: UC Climate Change series: Tourism
  & Climate Change.

  Speaker: Dr Michael Hall, Professor of Management, University of Canterbury.
  When: 7.00 - 8.30 pm Thursday, 6 August.
  Where: on registration. (University campus).
  Cost: $10.00, students free.
  More info: Here.
  Organisers: Continuing Education, University of Canterbury.
  
  

• Talk: University of Otago Christchurch's mid-winter dialogues series, 2009.

  Speaker: Tony Ryall, Minister of Health.
  Subject: ?
  When: 12.30 - 1.30 pm, Friday, 7 August.
  Where: Rolleston Lecture Theatre, Christchurch Hospital.
  Contact: 364 1199.
  
  

• Planting hour (or so): Little Hagley Park.

  Replacing species so they won't interfere with views to the river but will repair habitat and increase diversity to encourage a greater range of wildlife.
  When: 9.00 am Saturday, 8 August.
  Where: Meet at park bench downstream of Milbrook Reserve (off Helmores Lane).
  Bring: Gardening gloves, spade.
  Organiser: Colin Meurk, botanist, Landcare Research/Manaaki whenua.
  (NB: Sorry, I originally posted this with the wrong date - it's correct now. - ed).
  
  

• Planting day: Barnett Park.

  Native planting - to replace removed boneseed.
  When: 10.00 - 1.00 pm Saturday, 8 Aug.
  Where: Barnett Park. (Meet at end of Bayview Rd).
  Contact: Di 941 7572 or 027 234 1353.
  Organised by CCC (Regional Parks).
  Sponsored by Meridian Energy (funding for 5 years).
  
  

• Telethon: Big Night In: To raise money for Kiwi kids living in poverty.

  When: 7.00 pm Saturday, 8 August.
  Where: TV3 ?
  More info: www.bignightin.co.nz
  Organised by: Kids Can Stand Tall Charitable Trust & TV3.
  
  

• Workshop: on an Estuary Shoreline Walkway proposal.

  When: 1.30 - 4.30 pm Saturday, 8 August.
  Where: Mt Pleasant Yacht Club.
  Contact/RSVP: 3842 160, or coordinator@estuary.org.nz.
  All welcome.
  Organised by Avon-Heathcote Ihutai Trust.
  
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 9.00 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week: Rob Ritchie of Depleted Uranium Education Team (DUET). Belgium has banned Depleted Uranium. Why won't NZ?
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  NB: Listen again to Earthwise programmes on archive.

Coming up:

• Talk: Climate Change, Food Supply and Conservation.

  Climate change trends & why humanity is in extremely deep trouble if the world becomes 2˚C warmer for long - a look at some of the longer term scenarios.
  Speaker: Dave Kelly, Professor of Ecology in Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury.
  When: 7.30 pm Wednesday, 12 August.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester St.
  
  
  

• Workshop: Cultivating Sustainability - Psychology for Sustainability Advocates.

  A workshop to support those who seek to promote sustainable behaviour - and to provide skills & tools for facilitating behaviour change.
  Presenter: Tim Cotter, Awake, registered psychologist.
  When: 9.30am - 4.30 pm Monday, 17 August.
  Where: Travis Wetlands, Beach Rd.
  Registration & more info: www.awake.com.au.
  or timc@awake.com.au or ph. (+61 3) 9387 1181.
  (Dates for other NZ Awake workshops: Dunedin, Tue 18 August; Wellington, Wed 19 Aug; Hastings, Fri 21 Aug; Hamilton, Mon 24 Aug; Auckland, Tue 25 Aug).
  
  

• Two day course: Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

  LCA is an analytical tool for the systematic
  evaluation of the environmental impacts of a product or service system through all
  stages of its life. Full explanation & more info here. (Incl. venues, registration, cost etc).
  When: 13, 14 August, Auckland, & 17, 18 September, Christchurch.
  Organised by NZSSES. (NZ Society for Sustainability Engineering and Science).
  
  

Reminders:

• Volunteers wanted: 2009 NZ Garden Bird Survey returns.

  To help enter survey results onto the internet. Need to have an internet connection, preferably broadband, & able to work from home.
  Contact: Eric Spurr spurreb@slingshot.co.nz , scientist for Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua.
  

• Free home composting workshops:

  Hot composting of kitchen scraps & garden waste, Bokashi and worm farms. All methods demonstrated.
  At several sites:
  1. Seven Oaks Education Centre, 35 Hassals Lane. 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.
  
  

• Gardening courses: starting a garden, seed saving, composting, pickling & preserving, etc.

  Where: Strickland Street Community Garden, 188 Strickland Street, Spreydon. 
  When: for times & dates see their website www.sscommunitygarden.net.nz.
  Further info/contact: 942 6630.
  Supported by CCC.
  
  

• October Conference, Northland: National Marine and Freshwater Wananga.

  For all those involved or interested in freshwater & marine conservation, education and community engagement.
  Theme: Mountains to Sea - Engaging communities in marine and freshwater
  conservation.
  When: Wednesday 7th - Friday 9th October, 2009.
  Where: Whakapaumahara Marae, Whananaki, Northland.
  More info: www.emr.org.nz