Welcome

Hi & welcome to the webpage version of ecoNet Newsletter.

Final issues for 2008: We're taking a break after the 12 December issue - until the end of January 2009. We think there won't be so much to promote in the diary of events through this period. (Aw shucks? ...well, you'll still be able to browse our archived issues - catch up on all you've missed through being so busy the last 6 months).

For events &/or activities to advertise through the December - January period send details in very soon - ie, before 12 December.

Don't forget: to keep sending us info for promoting your environmental events and causes. Also to pass on news of ecoNet Newsletter and our subscription address: eventdiary@environment.org.nz to others you think may find it interesting/useful.

Here's a new selection of news and articles and bits and pieces of interest from around and about, and here and there, eg:

from here

Canterbury & South Island:

Report raises new fears for safety of Kate Valley landfill. (5 December, Stuff/The Press).

ECan says: watch out for Phormidium - black matted, toxic algal growths in rivers and ponds due to prolonged dry weather. Can make you sick, kill your dog, stock etc. (4 December, ECan).

Earlier than usual water restrictions on Banks Peninsula. (3 December, CCC).

Water use granted for Meridian's hydro proposal on Waitaki River. (2 December, ECan).
Also: Meridian's application attracted 400 submissions - only 27 were in support. (3 December, Dominion Post/Stuff).

Lincoln researchers get GE trials approval from ERMA. (28 November, The Press/Stuff).

South Canterbury: Farmer fined $3000 for illegally taking water for irrigation. (29 November, ECan).

Concern at re-located snail deaths in the wild. (28 November, Stuff/The Press).

Paua take from Pohatu Marine Reserve angers some. (28 November, The Press/Stuff).

Irishman's Creek: hydro canal leak closes scenic highway. (28 November, Stuff/Timaru Herald).

Marlborough: Aquaflow's biofuel project: rated 2008's 11th best world-wide invention - Time magazine. (3 December, Marlborough Express/Stuff).

Tasman: "Mark II" transport strategy: for 55% of submitters the top priority is more public transport, not more roads. (2 December, The Nelson Mail/Stuff).

Nelson: Waitangi Tribunal recommendation for crashed Tasman Bay scallop and oyster fisheries. (29 November, The Press).

Otago farmers: wilding pines the biggest threat to high country yet seen. (2 December, Otago Daily Times).

Dunedin: The future arrives? Trebled world bitumen prices - cause of "significant problem" of snowballing road maintenance costs. (29 November, Otago Daily Times).

Wakatipu to Te Anau monorail link: backers "would be delighted" to talk about government involvement. (2 December, Otago Daily Times).

Queenstown conference: looking at ways to pump CO2 underground instead of into the atmosphere. (3 December, Southland Times/Stuff).

North Island & national:

International climate change talks: NZ accused of holding back. (4 December, NZ Herald).
Greens call on Government not to drag chain on climate change talks . (1 December, National Business Review).

Lake Taupo vs dirty dairying: farmers quit fight. (5 December, NZ Herald).

E.g, should water be privatised? Post election such issues likely to re-surface. (4 December, NZ Herald).

MAF sees gloomy outlook for NZ farming. (2 December, The Press).

State-owned Kiwibank growing faster than ever: dorking the opposition. (2 December, NZ Herald).

Food poisoning: costs NZ $83 million a year. (29 November, NZ Herald).

Greens against cap on state housing. (4 December, National Business Review).

New study: Our homes are making us sick. A quarter of a million homes are so cold, damp and poorly built they are causing serious health problems. (1 December, NZ Herald).
Also:
EECA says 900,000 NZ homes in need of insulation. Ameliorating subsidy available. (1 December, NZ Herald).
Also:
Key fears Government becoming a 'slum landlord'. (1 December, The Otago Daily TImes).

Massey research: Regional councils not helping the environment - need to improve or be scrapped altogether. (2 December, Manawatu Standard).

Auckland: Review of Council's plans to lift demolition restrictions on thousands of heritage homes in nobby areas. (2 December, NZ Herald).

Auckland: The Meaning of Motherhood conference: call for mothers' equity. (29 November, NZ Herald).

Fight to retain leading scientists. (3 December, The Press/Stuff).

Incandescent light bulb phase out unlikely under Nats. (1 December, Otago Daily TImes).

Sustainable Habitat Challenge: Ten teams of students and professionals release first peak of their designs for sustainable homes - building to begin in January. (3 December, ecobob).

Wellington: the new weapon in Upper Hutt police's fight against crime: two bikes. (3 December, Dominion Post/Stuff).

DOC: Dolphin mutilations have trebled. (4 December, NZ Herald).

Taskforce to battle fungus threat to kauri. (28 November, The Northern Advocate).

Tuatara: dominant males getting too much so not doing much for the gene pool. (5 December, NZ Herald).

Wellington : Karori Sanctuary renamed Zealandia for $25,000 - from cool green to luke-warm(?) earthy orange. (3 December, Dominion Post).

Weka goes extra mile (upon mile) to find love. (4 December, Otago Daily Times).

South Canterbury: Rogue wallaby population feared deliberately released. (4 December, Otago Daily Times).

Otago Peninsula: Boulder Beach closure to assist yellow-eyed penguins. (29 November, Otago Daily TImes).

Coromandel: Kiwis benefit from hunting permit changes. (1 December, DOC).

Comment wanted: Estuary shoreline walkway proposal. "Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust has prepared this concept with the idea of working with CCC to provide access to the estuary when the adjacent roads are upgraded. Approximately three kilometres long, it would offer a continuous public walkway along the water edge between the eastern end of Linwood Ave and the Celia Street boat ramp at Redcliffs.
Free standing timber boardwalks could provide access over the Estuary surface in places. Viewing platforms and beach access at key locations would offer opportunities for observation and exploration of the estuarine environment. Though limited to walking the Trust is aware of the need to also consider commuting cycling, bus, car and heavy transport requirements in road upgrade plans. The competing requirements of all the different modes of transport and need for Estuary access will be an interesting debate." - Alex Drysdale, Trust chairman.
The Trust would like comments submitted by 31 March, 2009. Contact: www.estuary.org.nz or info@estuary.org.nz or c/- Mt Pleasant Community Centre, 3 McCormacks Bay Road, Mt Pleasant, Christchurch 8081.

Raising the profile of cycling and walking: a guide for decision makers. (PDF: 1.87 MB). (Ministry of Transport).

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• Forest and Bird's post election briefing. (24 November, Forest and Bird).
  

• New suburb-to-city cycling maps. (CCC).
  

• Cyclists have your say: Proposed Railway North cycleway extension: Tuckers to Northcote. Consultation closes 13 December. (20 November, CCC)
  

• February 2009 is Bike Wise Month. More info: here. (www.bikewise.co.nz).
  
  
• Wanted: for Bayer eco-minds youth forum 2009: three NZ students between the ages of 18 & 24, studying natural sciences, engineering & technology, social sciences or commerce/management to represent New Zealand at this international forum. Entries close 24 December 2008.
  
  
• Primary school teachers: a suggestion (from a reader) for next year's Seaweek (1 - 8 March, 2009): How To: Teach the Sea from the Land. Lessons that mix science, writing, and art to bring the ocean to the classroom. (www.edutopia.org).

• Wanted: submissions on the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. Until 23 January 2009. More info here.
  

• Now open: 2009-10 Sustainable Management Fund. (Ministry for the Environment). Till 22 January 2009.
  
  
• Interested in alternative energy generation or other energy issues? Lincoln Envirotown Trust (LET) wants to set up an energy sub group. LET also needs a new web manager (small remuneration possible). Contact Sue 329 5898. Have a look at their website: www.lincolnenvirotown.org.nz.
  
  

& from there

• UK: Financial crisis? That's nothing... the coming energy crisis will dwarf the financial crisis, says the head of Shell. If only he were wrong. (25 November, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: The fool's gold of carbon trading. (30 November, Times Online).
  
  
• World: stability hangs by a thread as economies continue to unravel. (1 December, The Telegraph).
  
  
• US: The many ways our future is a mess. (Comment on Global Analysis 2025, by National Intelligence Council - see ecoNet issue no 26). by Michael Klare. (2 December, AlterNet).
  
  
• US: GM, Ford & Chrysler: Saving the big 3 for you and me. A message from Michael Moore. (3 December, Common dreams).
  
  
• UK: Metal prices fall: further than during the great depression. (15 December, The Telegraph).
  
  
• UK: Ten big energy myths. (Bollocks to no. 7 - ed). (27 November, The Guardian).
  
  
• Spain's richest man: Billionaire fashion magnate (eg Zara chain) building a global alternative energy network. (1 December, Alternet).
  
  
• World: on cusp of clean tech revolution? History shows that technology revolutions occur every fifty years... (24 November, Canada.com).
  
  
• US scientists: Revolutionary device harnesses energy from slow-moving rivers and ocean currents - could provide enough power for the entire world. Prototype currently(!) deployed in Detroit river.
  
  
• US: New wind turbine design: good for both rural and urban settings. (2.01 min, Youtube, 13 June, VOA news.)
  
• Electric vehicles:
  Germany: wants 1 milllion electric cars on the road by 2020.
  also:
  Ireland: wants 10% of cars electric by 2020.
  also:
  Japan: Nissan on the road to EV world domination. (23 November, Gas2.0).
  also:
  US: Silicon could give Lithium ion car batteries ten times more capacity. (25 November, Gas2.0)
  
  
• Soil not oil: why we need to kick petroleum out of our farms. Vandana Shiva. (3 December, AlterNet).
  
  
• US: Major green groups offer plan to Obama. (1 December, AlterNet).
  
  
• UK: 25,000 gardens now nature havens. (28 November, BBC).
  
  
• UK: Recycling manure safely to avoid polluting rivers and streams. (28 November, Science Daily).
  
  
• California: Fruit, vegetables and animals can be 100% organic...what about people? For 3 years every bite organic. (1 December, New York Times).
  
  
• US: Think you're smarter after a caffeine hit? ...Sorry, the best pick-me-up is a lie down. (1 December, New York Times).
  
  
• US: Acorn watchers wonder: what happened to the crop? (30 November, Washington Post).
  
  
• Noisy oceans threaten sea life. (3 December, BBC).
  
  
• Antarctica: first comprehensive inventory shows Antarctica has more species than the Galapagos. (1 December, ScienceDaily).
  
  
• UK: New flying reptile species found. The wing span of a car. (3 December, BBC).
  
  
• UK: 10 things fungi have done for us. (28 November, BBC).
  

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

 

 

• Free advice to renovate your home:

  make it healthier, warmer, more sustainable.
  Have a look here: www.beaconpathway.co.nz. (Homesmart Renovations).
  It's research based: they come & do an assessment and leave you a report with suggestions and recommendations. Free.
  
  

• Visit: Windflow's Gebbies Pass wind turbine.

  When: 3.00, 3.30, 4.00, 4.30 pm Sunday, 7 December.
  Where: Meet at Wheatsheaf Tavern, Teddington, for short video & transportation to the site.
  Bring: Windproof gear, good shoes.
  More info & map: www.windflow.org.nz
  (Repeated Sunday, 1 February, 2009).
  
  

• Christchurch Transition Forum.

  When: 12.30 pm Tuesday, 9 December.
  (shared lunch at 12.00).
  Where: St Albans Community Centre, 1047 Colombo St.
  Christchurch Transition group: info here.
  Transition Towns NZ Aotearoa: here.
  
  

• Talk: Inaugural UC Rutherford Lecture:

  Where fundamental science can lead: bugs, drugs and candles.
  Speaker: Nobel Laureate Professor Robert H Grubbs, California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
  When: 6.00 pm Wednesday, 10 December.
  Where: Great Hall, Arts Centre, Worcester Boulevard.
  All welcome.
  (Sponsored by University of Canterbury).
  
  

• Illustrated talk: Finding the Wild:

  photography, nature & art.
  Speaker: Craig Potton, photographer.
  When: 6.30 pm Thursday, 11 December. Where: Great Hall, Christchurch Arts Centre. Free. (In conjunction with Salamander Gallery photographic exhibition, Arts Centre - till 14 December. Drinks & nibbles at Salamander 5.00 - 6.30 pm, prior to talk).
  
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 10 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week's interview: Kathy and Bill Christison, both ex-CIA: There's a humanitarian crisis in Gaza... and the West is looking the other way.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  

Coming up:

• Wellington conference: Renewables in the built environment

  When: 11 - 12 December.
  Where: Te Papa
  Info here: SEANZ08. (Sustainable Electricity Association NZ).
  
  

• Inaugural annual Fonds Pacifique lecture: France in the Pacific:

  the JM Tjibaou Cultural Centre in a Pacific perspective.
  Speaker: Emmanuel Kasarherou, Director, Tjibaou Cultural Centre, Noumea.
  When: 6.30 - 8.00 pm, 15 December.
  Where: Our City Otautahi, Worcester Boulevard, Oxford Tce corner.
  (Sponsored by French Embassy & Macmillan Brown centre for Pacific studies, University of Canterbury).
  
  

• Talk: Alexandra Shackleton talks about her grandfather, Ernest.

  When: 6.00 - 7.00 pm Wednesday, 17 Dec.
  Where: Bird Hall, Canterbury Museum.
  
  

• Sustainable Living: Christchurch evening courses, 2009.

  When: 7.00 pm  Mondays from 16 Feb. (8 sessions).
  Where: Cashmere High School.
  Also:
  7.00 pm Tuesdays from 10 February.
  Where: Papanui High School.
  Also:
  a series at Woolston; and daytime sessions in Darfield & Ashburton during Term One, 2009. 
  More info: Rhys 03 960 2656 or (from January): www.sustainableliving.org.nz
  
  

• 2009 Auckland conference: Property Rights and Sustainability.
  

  The evolution of property rights to meet ecological challenges.
  When: 16-18 April 2009.
  NZ Centre for Environmental Law (NZCEL).
  More info: see under News and Links: from here, Newsletter no 23: here (archive)
  or here: www.nzcel-conf.auckland.ac.nz
  

Reminders:

• Exhibition: Tchakat Moriori - heritage of the peaceful people of the Chatham Islands.

  Their distinctive artefacts, landscapes & homeland culture.
  Where: Canterbury Museum.
  
  

• History on a plate: five plant foods that have changed the world

  an exhibition at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Information Centre.
  More info: here. (CCC).
  
  

• Advertisement: Support Lincoln Envirotown Trust (LET):

  Buy:
  - the Lincoln native planting guide. (from Lincoln library).
  - mail box stickers: “No Junk Mail but Local Newspapers Please”. (from Lincoln Library).
  - the Lincoln calendar:  at outlets around Lincoln or from Sue: 329 5858.
  LET website: here
  
  

• Free Home Composting Workshops:

  (Bokashi, Hot Compost, and Worm Farms).
  Where:
  Opawa Community Gardens, 176 Opawa Rd (at Aynsley Terrace).
  When: 1.00 - 3.00 pm Saturday, 6 Dec.
  How: Just turn up.
  More info: Annmarie Banchy 021 190 4559, or 942 7190 (evening), abanchy@paradise.net.nz.
  NB: The next series of workshops (dates to be announced) will start in February 2009.
  Sponsored by CCC.
  
  

• Nelson District: create your own eden.

  times & venues for upcoming free composting workshops & other waste recycling info.
  Sponsored by Nelson City Council.
  
  

• Free trial: Bike trailer for a month.

  See how easy it is to carry loads without a car.
  Contact: Steven Muir 03 365 8238 or:
  thepope@cyclingchurch.org.nz.
  
  

• Opawa car sharing group:

  Interested in cutting the costs of personal transport?
  Contact: Caroline 980 9113 or Dave 366 0628 or tranportmatters@paradise.net.nz
  
  

• Oxfam Trailwalker 2009: Lake Taupo.

  Walk 100 km in under 36 hours to help overcome poverty and injustice.
  A team challenge that gives you a chance to do something extraordinary for yourself and good for others. Funds raised bring real change to real people.
  (Won Best Environmentally Sustainable Event in 2008's NZ Event Professionals Awards. Also praised for its minimal impact on the environment and for encouraging sustainability).
  When: 4 & 5 April, 2009.
  Contact: www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz
  info@oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz
  or 0800 OXFAM NZ.