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Hi & welcome to the webpage version of ecoNet.

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

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

from here

Canterbury & water: "I urge everyone to take this opportunity to be involved and have their say on the future direction of Canterbury's water use management." - Bede O'Malley, Chair of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy steering group. A canterbury wide series of meetings starts this month. (See diary of events).
For further information and/or to register your community group to take part: http://www.canterburywater.org.nz/

Maori Language Week 21 - 27 July: hei whakanuia te wiki o te reo maori 2008, haere mai ki konei: http://www.korero.maori.nz/news/mlw. (Maori language week homepage).
Map of Aotearoa-New Zealand with maori & pakeha place names. (22 July, Beehive).
Also: first Maori language prize at book awards. See here. (22 July, Infonews).

Seminar: Living with carbon - can we pay with Visa?: Presentations and Discussion. 2.00 - 5.00 pm Thursday, 31 July. Our City Otautahi, corner of Worcester Boulevard and Oxford Terrace.
Chair: Councillor Chrissie Williams,
Speakers: Justin Ford-Robertson, Catalyst R & D, Rotorua, advisor to the IPCC (International panel on climate change), Clayton Wallwork, Greenco ChCh, forestry consultant & carbon credtis advisor, Michael Singleton, Goodman Stepehn Tavendale Reid, Christchurch, lawyer, Craig Palmer,Solid Energy Christchurch, Carbon Manager of industry group on carbon emissions trading scheme. The AGM of the NZ chapter of EIANZ (Environment Institue of Australia and New Zealand) to follow the seminar. More info here

International Parks and Recreation Congress: Making Connections - Make a Difference!   15 - 18 September 2008 at the Christchurch Convention Centre. Register online now. Early bird registrations close 31 July. Full title: 2008 Asia Pacific Congress for the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration (IFPRA) and the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA). (Phew). Hosts: New Zealand Recreation Association & CCC. Programme and Registration & info at http://www.ifpra2008.com/.  Contact: Diana Sexton, Programme Chair: 941 6628 or diana.saxton@ccc.govt.nz

Green Drinks this month (see events diary) includes a show of NZ and Antarctic environmental film footage from (ex-TVNZ’s Dunedin Natural History Unit’s) Peter Young’s (Fisheye Films) library. Fisheye Film’s most recent gong was the Air NZ Screen Awards Best Factual Series for 2007 for its Hunger for the Wild series on TV & DVD. Peter will be there to chat and to talk about his work.

Take Action: CCC has a new site called Sustainable Christchurch.
Take a look - & take action.

Renewable energy to power new Civic Building: Christchurch’s new Civic Building will generate its own electricity and provide its own heating and cooling from a renewable energy source. (24 July, CCC).

Council adopts Biodiversity Strategy - Christchurch City Council yesterday adopted the Ōtautahi/Christchurch and Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula Biodiversity Strategy. (25 July, CCC).

Clean Heat spreads – ECan is expanding its Clean Heat Project to Ashburton, Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Timaru beginning this week. (21 July, ECan).

War on waste; less is best - Tip the Balance: an interactive educational resource aimed at schools and their communities developed by ECan on behalf of the Canterbury Waste Joint Committee.

Rivers clean enough to swim in within a generation? Broken promise on water safety. (23 July, Green MP Dr Russel Norman).

Ban highly persistent pesticide from our food. More on endosulfan. ERMA wants public submissions before 8 August. see here. (10 July, OrganicNZ).

Greens call for independent review of light bulb claims. In response to a story in Investigate magazine: see TV3 reference to it here. (Don't bother with the audio its 5 secs of nothing). (21 July, MP Jeannette Fitsimmons, and 22 July, 3 News).

CAFCA releases figures suppressed by Overseas Investment Office. (22 July, Infonews).

Reason for health benefits of organic milk. UK finding. (Organicpathways).

New Zealand’s founding organic certifier celebrates 25 years (July, Organic Pathways).

Pied shags at Thames Coast colony die of starvation. (11 July, DOC)

Oh no! Percy hit the wall. (ecoNet last week). Let's wish Koro better luck. Little blue penguins - little Wellington battlers. (21 July, Forest & Bird).

Winter: Season for seals and whale watching. Request for public help. (21 July, DOC).

Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick to deerhunters: Hunters contributing to conservation. (19 July, DOC).

The most visited attraction in Golden Bay? Te Waikoropupu Springs. (Draft management plan released). Article includes background information on the natural, cultural and historic values of the springs. (It's interesting - worth a gander). (18 July, DOC).

Open now: Online entries for The Vodafone New Zealand Foundation's World of Difference 2009 programme. Closes 15 August 2008. The programme pays the salary and expenses of selected New Zealanders each year, so they can work for the youth-related cause of their choice for 12 months.
Begun in 2002, the programme helps organisations start/complete new projects, extend and improve services, upskill staff and volunteers, etc. For more information click here

Reminder: Eco films at this years' film festival. They may not all show in Christchurch though - check here for the local programme. (from EcoBob).

Job offer : Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme - South Island Co-ordinator and Trainer (Primary/ Secondary/Parents programme). Permanent Part-time (20 hours) based in Christchurch. The suitable applicant will be passionate about peace education.
Download a copy of the job description at The Peace Foundation website: http://www.peace.net.nz/ Applications close Monday, 4 August.
Applications to: The Peace Foundation, coolschools@peacefoundation.org.nz.
Enquiries: Margot 09 373-2379.

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• Blueprints and footprints: NZ national secondary students design competition August 2008. Register by Friday, 1 August. (University of Otago).
  
  
• Gemini Cycle Friendly Awards 2008: nominations till 8 August. info here.
  
  
• Outdoor recreation: discussion document launched (Beehive, 2 July)
  
  
• LAST DAYS! Submissions on Mt Cass windfarm proposal due before 1 August.
  MainPower has applied for consent to build a windfarm along the ridge of Mt Cass (seaward side of Waipara) - Canterbury's premium limestone landscape. Information, pictures and help with submissions at aridgetoofar.org (Mt Cass Ridge Protection Society).
  
  
• Canterbury Resource Management Awards 2008: info here
  

• Last Call! for submissions: four proposed Marine Mammal Sanctuaries see here Till July 27. Part of the Hector’s and Maui’s Dolphin Threat Management Plan, designed by DOC and the Ministry of Fisheries to achieve the best possible outcome for the endangered dolphins.
  

• open now: ECan tree planting, fencing, biodiversity fund  
  Landowners or groups working to protect and enhance native biodiversity in Canterbury have until the end of August to apply for contestable grants of up to $5,000 through Environment Canterbury’s Environment Enhancement Fund: more here (Applications close end of August).
  

• DOC Canterbury: Conservation Management Strategy review
  The Department of Conservation’s Canterbury Conservancy wants your help to develop the direction of its conservation work over the next 10 years. To find out more and to contribute: click here (Closes end of July).

& from there

• Antarctic: ice shelf collapse 'imminent'. (12 July, The Independent).
  
  
• Antarctica: Fossils date dry valleys' origin: "This also helps us understand the whole evolution of Earth's climate system because you've got this huge climate jump...". (23 July, BBC News).
  
  
• Australia: Code red: Climate skating on thin ice, authors say. (18 July, the age.com)
  
  
• US: Peak Moment: Calm Before the Storm (transcript). Analysis from Richard Heinberg, author of Power Down, Peak Everything ,etc. (July, Global Public Media).
  
  
• Australia: Coal generated CO2 captured in Australia - a Southern Hemisphere first. (9 July, CSIRO).
  
  
• UK: Commercial fishermen reverting to wind power - set sail for bygone era. (20 July, Telegraph).
  
  
• China's Wind Power Set to Hit 100 Gigawatts. (18 July, ecogeek).
  
  
  
• UK: The Full Monty writer: the oil man is telling me the opposite of everything he should say. Over the tinkle of teacups, he is predicting the end of civilisation. Even oil men believe our planet is burning up. (19 July, The Daily Mail/mailonline).
  
  
• US: Economist Paul Krugman: a very short 'moderately wonkish' oil outlook: "there’s a reasonable case for believing that oil prices will fall for a while". (25 July, New York Times).
  
  
• The Green Revolution - transformed farming and fed millions in developing countries. But its methods over the long run are proving to be stunningly destructive. A tough row to hoe. (19 July, Globe and Mail)
  
  
• Bolivia: Food price rises have Bolivia's coca farmers planting rice instead of cocaine (c.20 July, The Canadian Press).
  
  
• from Tufts University, US: The Problems and Perils of Agricultural Trade Liberalisation: Lessons from the Americas. (July, 2008, ase.tufts.edu).
  
  
• OECD: Biofuel support offers few benefits - governments would do better pronmoting lower energy consumption. (22 July, wbcsd/Reuters).
  
  
• Australia: Move over 4WDs, SUVs - smaller cars are cheaper to run and are now often safer as well. (22 July, the age.com).
  
  
• Cars: Research chief says 10% market share for EVs will take 20 - 25 years.(25 July, Green Car Congress).
  
  
• UK: First tidal power turbine plugged in. (17 July, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: Solar powered real estate boom in the desert. (11 July, Fortune Magazine).
  
  
• Imagine what comes after green. (14 July, Worldchanging).
  
  
• UK: an interview with Starhawk. - from Transition Culture, website of Rob Hopkins, permaculture teacher and initiator of the Transition Towns concept and movement. Starhawk? - Don't know. (23 July, Transition Culture).
  
  
• UK (on Germany): Cavemen and their relatives in the same village after 3000 years. (15 July, Times online).
  
  
• UK: Not immediately sure what connection this has for things environmental but what the hell... ready for a big surprise??... (Thank god for research): Male lust is blind, research suggests (20 July, the Telegraph).

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Disclaimer: whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of details, NZAEE - Christchurch Branch accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. Opinions printed herein are not those of NZAEE - Christchurch Branch.

 

• Event: Bikes: Otautahi Critical Mass returns!

  When: 5.30 pm today, 25 July.
  Where: meet in the Square, then (briefly) reclaim the streets for bikes!
  After that: new short films on bike culture.
  When: 7.00 pm.
  Where:  Otautahi Social Centre, 206 Barbadoes St, near Tuam St.
  
  

• Yoga Qigong School for cyclists:

  Workshop 2: dynamic flow, key areas for cyclists - strength and flexibility.
  When: 2.00-4.30 pm Saturday, 26 July.
  Venue: 42 Nayland St, Sumner
  Cost: $75.00
  Tutor: Mark Bouckoms Ph 326 5255 or markb@cyberxpress.co.nz

• Planting day: Charlesworth Wetland Reserve

  When:10.00 am – 12.00 pm Sunday, 27 July.
  Where: meet at Charlesworth Reserve, (just off Humphries Drive).
  Contact: Andrew Crossland 027 434 1155

• Free Bokashi composting workshop:

  When: 10:00 - 11:00 am Monday, 28 July.
  Where: Beckenham Service Centre/library
  Come & learn to turn foodscraps into amazing fertiliser.
  
  

• Course: The basics of garden landscape design: 4 (weekly) evening classes.

  Planning, drawing to scale, implementation.
  When: starts Tuesday, 29 July.
  Enquiries to: Canterbury Horticultural Society: ph 366 6937,  fax: 365 2759.
  

• Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) seminar: Living with carbon - can we pay with Visa?

  When: 2.00 - 5.00 pm Thursday, 31 July
  Where: Our City Otautahi, corner Worcester Boulevard and Oxford Terrace.
  Cost: $20, members, students and community group members $10.
  Registration: Nicole 366 8891, or:
  reception-chc@3boffamiskall.co.nz. (see also News and Links).
  
  

• Talk: Plants & their origin:

  Some of the world's oldest plants and the effects of climate change, using the Himalayas as example.
  Speaker: Barry Slight, horticulturalist, plant collector, traveller.
  When: 2.00 pm Thursday, 31 July.
  Where: Canterbury Horticultural Society, South Hagley Park.
  Cost: $5.00, members $3.00. (I think).
  
  

• Green Drinks: (with NZ & Antarctic environmental film footage).

  When: 5.30 pm Thursday, 31 July.
  Where: Upstairs lounge Dux de Luxe, the Arts Centre.
  (more: see under News and Links).
  
  

• Sustainable Living: Learn and discuss practical eco-actions you can take at home.

  Two Christchurch courses for Term 3: Book places now:
  
• Nth New Brighton sustainable living course:
  starts: 7.00 pm, Wed 30 July, 5 weekly sessions.
  Fee $30. 
  Bookings to: Adrienne Lomax, Mairehau High School Community Education, 440 Hills Rd, Christchurch. Ph 385 3145 ext 3,   or: lomaxa@mairehau.school.nz
  
• Hagley College sustainable living course (early evening series)
  starts: 5.30 pm Mon, 4 August. 7 sessions, Fee $30.
  Bookings to: June Harvey, enrolment office, Hagley Community College, Hagley Avenue, Christchurch. Ph.3645156    or: hy@hagley.school.nz
  
  

• Canterbury Water Management Strategy:

  Locality-based Stakeholder Meetings on the Uses and Benefits of Water.
  When: 30 July – 13 August. See below…
  Akaroa: Wednesday, 30 July. 
  Rangiora & Waimate: Thursday, 31 July,.
  Methven-Rakaia: Tuesday, 5 August;
  Hurunui &Timaru: Wednesday, 6 August.   
  Ashburton-Hinds & Omarama: Thursday, 7 August.
  Darfield Fairlie: Tuesday, 12 August.
  Christchurch: Wednesday, 13 August.
  Registration required.
  Venue: notified on registration.
  All meetings: 5.30 pm – 8.00 pm.
  Coffee, tea, orange juice, finger food at 5.30pm
  More info: here
  (also see News and Links).
  
  

• Symposium: "Awakening the dreamer, changing the Dream".  For the integration of environment, society and economics.

  When: 1.00 – 4.30 pm Friday, 1 August.
  Where: Te Wharenui, Te Puna Wanaka, Coventry Street, Christchurch Polytechnic.
  Facilitator: Glen Lauder
  To register: Carl Chenery carl@carlchenery.net or ph 021 470 642.  
  Requested koha: $20 for waged.
  More info: Rex Verity  940 8301 or VerityR@cpit.ac.nz
  Info also at awakeningthedreamer or parent body  The Pachamama Alliance.
  
  

• Forest & Bird: Meurky Walk: Kennedy’s Bush track to the Sign of the Kiwi

  When: 9.00am Saturday, 2 August.
  Meet: top of Kennedy’s Bush Road, Halswell (thro the new subdivision).
  Bring: your lunch and $5.00 (for return by shuttle).
  Contact: jmhayman@ihug.co.nz
  
  

• Public Meeting: Canterbury’s water issues.

  Principal speaker: Dr Russel Norman, Green Party environment spokesperson .
  When: 7.30 pm Monday, 4 August.
  Where: Knox Centre, 28 Bealey Ave, Christchurch
  More Info: www.waterrightstrust.org.nz
  
  

• Talk: Sustainability: what’s it all about?

  When: 7.30 – 9.00 pm Wed, 6 August.
  Presenters: Dr David Penman & Dr Kate Hewson
  All welcome. Cost: $10.00.
  More info & to enrol: Community Education,
  UC Opportunity: Phone 364 2470 or click here.
  
  

• AGM: NZ Association for Environmental Education (NZAEE) Christchurch Branch

  When: 4.00 -6.00 pm Wednesday, 6 Aug.
  Where: WEA, 59 Gloucester Street (opposite Art Gallery)
  Highlights: Mike O'Connell (ECan) - The possible impact of climate change in Canterbury
  Resources for environmental educators from CCC, ECan and DOC.
  All welcome.
  
  
  

• Meeting: Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board

  When: starts: 9.30 am. (Public forum: 1.30 – 2.00 pm)  Friday, 8 August 2008.
  Where: Hotel Ashburton, Racecourse Rd., Ashburton
  (note: these meetings are open to the public).
  
  

• Organic gardening workshop:

  Hands on tree planting, fruit tree and berry bush pruning, making and using biodynamic tree
  paste.
  Tutors: Holger Kahl,  Mareile Stoppel.
  When: 10 am – 4.00 pm Saturday, 9 Aug. (Sunday if wet).
  Where: Purau, Lyttelton Harbour.
  Bring: lunch and afternoon tea to share.
  Info, cost & registration: Holger 03 329 3299, Mareile 03 329 4798 or kahl.stoppel@xtra.co.nz.
  
  

• Pruning demonstration: climbers, trees, shrubs.

  When: 9.30 am Saturday, 9 August.
  Where: Mona Vale Gardens, Fendalton Road.
  Organised by: Canterbury Horticultural Society.
  All welcome. Free.
  
  

• Lantern Ceremony:

  to commemorate Nagasaki & Hiroshima.
  When: 5.30 pm  Saturday, 9 August.
  Where: Victoria Square.
  
  
  
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 10 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week's interview: American  Military Bases in the Asia/Pacific Region
  Cora Fabros, Asia/Pacific Coordinator of the International Network for the Abolition of  Foreign Military Bases.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  
  

• NZ Walking Conference 2008:

  When: 4 - 5 August
  Where: Waipuna Conference Centre, Auckland
  More Info: here (Livingstreets).
  

Coming up:

• Public meeting: Eels.

  Speakers: MP Metiria Turei, Clem Smith, Lake Fisherman, Don Jellyman, NIWA Scientist.
  Also showing: the short film “Longfin”.
  When: 7.30 pm Monday, 18 August.
  Where: Prebbleton Hall, 617 Springs Rd.
  Sponsor: Waihora Ellesmere Trust.
  

Reminder:

• Otamahua/Quail Island Ecological Restoration Trust Tree Planting:

  each weekend of August.
  New volunteers welcome but need to book in well ahead. To register: Bev or Ian MacDonald at ihmacd@paradise.net.nz or ph 3325322.
  Further info: http://www.quailisland.org.nz/
  
  

• Free Course: Introduction to Te Waipounamu Culture and Practice

  When: Saturdays: August 2, 9, 23 & field trip 30, 31 (Sunday).
  Time: Starts at 9 am each Saturday
  Venue: Te Puna Wanaka, CPIT, Coventry Street, Otautahi / Christchurch