from here

Canterbury & South Island:

Climate Change: NZ's 2020 Emissions target. Have your say!....NZ Govt will hold public meetings next week to take into account public's views, ideas & opinion on climate change before setting NZ's 2020 emissions target policy (for December's Copenhagen UN conference).
Christchurch meeting: 7.30 - 9.00 pm Wednesday, 8 July, Convention Centre, Kilmore St. To help gauge numbers register online here.
More information & for other ways to contribute, see: NZ's 2020 emissions target. (www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate).

CCC adopts its long term plan for the city. Average rates increase of 3.9%. (1 July, CCC).

Call for Heritage Award nominations in Hagley/Ferrymead area. (30 June, CCC).

Have your say on the Brooklands Lagoon area parks plans. (26 June, CCC).

Combined ECan & CCC public awareness campaign to improve Christchurch waterways. (30 June. Ecan).

ECan gives contract for new electronic bus ticketing to German company. (27 June, Timaru Herald/Stuff).

ECan's rates up 6% overall, and its long term community plan adopted. (26 June, ECan).

Government's insulation scheme a boon to ECan's Clean Heat programme. (29 June, Stuff/The Press).
Also:
Councils sign up to insulation initiative. (1 July, NBR).

Picton: Kaipupu Point mainland island sanctuary making progress. (26 June, Marlborough Express/Stuff).

Farewell Spit: Gets rare (now dead) marine visitor. Sunfish. (27 June, Stuff/The Nelson Mail).

Nelson: Plans for a marine eco-village at Port Nelson. A Green Port for Black Boats. Hundreds of jobs, etc. (27 June, Stuff/The Nelson Mail).
Also:
Funding approved for in-depth study. (1 July, Stuff/The Nelson Mail).

Mid-Canterbury : Rural funding for irrigation scheme (Barrhill-Chertsey) dries up. (2 July, NBR).

South Canterbury: Ex Meridian boss keen to develop wind farms in South Canterbury. (29 June, Stuff/Timaru Herald).

Waitaki Plains: Battle over Welcome Creek minimum flow. (29 June, Otago Daily Times).

Central Otago: Uncertainty over continuation of water race licences leads council to court for clarification. (2 July, Otago Daily Times).

Southland: Landfill plan may harm lake - DOC. (27 June, Southland TImes/Stuff).

Fiordland: Blue cod fishing closures extended. (30 June, Otago Daily Times).

Murihiku: Getting along with the neighbours (sea lions). (26 June, DOC).

North Island & national:

NZers urged to pressure Govt to act on climate change. (29 June, Stuff/The Press).

Emissions scheme needs beef. So far it's looking light and easy. If so, it will fail. (Rod Oram, 28 June, Stuff/Sunday Star Times).

Farmers told to adapt to new emissions law. Federated Farmers still wants farm animals "out of the mix". (2 July, Dominion Post/Stuff).

Green Party bill wants to ensure sustainability of biofuels. (29 June, NZ Herald).

Foreshore and Seabed Act: set to be repealed. (1 July, TVNZ).

Green Party's Green New Deal: the best way to bring the economy out of recession. Gary Taylor. (29 June, NZ Herald).

SOEs told to 'think like a business' and act as if they will be part-privatised in 2-5 years. (29 June, Dominion Post/Stuff).

Smart electricity sets a complex regulatory challenge. Smart meters have to be genuinely smart and not just revenue tools for the retailers. (Colin James, 29 June, Dominion Post/Stuff).

NZ efficiently over-producing the wrong foods, says visiting Prof. (29 June, Otago Daily Times).

Treasury advised against more money for private schools. (26 June, Otago Daily Times).

NCEA: Ditch unit standards - survey. (1 July, Stuff/The Press).

Waikato: Enviroschools' staff lobbying government to save their jobs. (27 June, Stuff/Waikato Times).
Also:
Waitakere city: Council cash gives their Enviroschools programme another two years. (26 June, Western Leader/Stuff).

Schools are hiring debt collectors to chase 'voluntary' fees from parents. (29 June, Dominion Post/Stuff).

Whangarei: Council favours sewers over cyclists. (26 June, Northern Advocate).

Central North Island: Treelords deal leads to $2bn power plants plan. (29 June, Dominion Post/Stuff).

Rotorua chosen to be cycle city of NZ. (1 July, Rotorua Daily Post).

Bee product potentially 'bigger' than manuka honey. (1 July, NBR).

How do we pay to save our ecological treasures? Perhaps it is time once again to consider asking in-bound tourists to contribute. (Simon Upton, 30 June, Stuff).

Congratulations due: DOC gets it act together on Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands. Brian Rudman, (29 June, NZ Herald).

Renowned 'Dinosaur Lady' dies. (2 July, NZ Herald).

Cameras catch more wonders off Fiordland. (30 June, Southland Times/Stuff).

Mt Bruce a victim of its own success. DOC considering whether it has reached a turning point as a national breeding centre. (1 July, Dominion Post/Stuff).

Southern Right Whale sightings. DOC asks the public to report sightings. (25 June, DOC).

Submissions invited: on draft Kahurangi National Park management proposals. (1 July, DOC).

Re-linked awards, submissions, consultations etc:

• Character housing maintenance grants open on 1 July. Close 14 September. (22 June, CCC).
  
  
• School Food petition - please sign. MP Sue Kedgley is circulating a petition calling for the reinstatement of nutrition guidelines in schools, which the government repealed earlier this year. With guidelines gone, schools are free to sell as much junk food as they like. Find (& print) a copy of the petition here.
  
  
• Nominations open for 2009 Roger Award. CAFCA (Campaign against foreign control of Aotearoa).
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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: The Arctic thaw. The Arctic is releasing vast quantities of methane. How big is this greenhouse threat? What can be done? (June, Scientific American).
  
  
• UK: Why do we allow the US to act like a failed state on climate change? (George Monbiot, 26 June, The Guardian).
  
  
• US: Time to take the gloves off with Obama. The clock is ticking, and we are not building life boats. (Jan Lundberg & Jeff Gerritsen, 18 June, Culture Change).
  
  
• US: Betraying the planet. The House passed the climate-change bill ...(but) as I watched the deniers make their arguments, I couldn’t help thinking I was watching a form of treason — against the planet. (Paul Krugman, 28 June, New York Times).
  
  
• UK: Britain's green shame. When it comes to environmental sustainability, Britain is "winning battles, but still losing the war". Jonathon Porritt steps down. (27 June, The Independent).
  
  
• UK: Rainforests more fragile than estimated. (29 June, Discovery News).
  
  
• Italy: Deserts crossing Mediterranean. (27 June, Environmental News Network).
  
  
• Australian scientists: Study shows crops face toxic timebomb in warmer world. (29 June, Reuters).
  
  
• Water should be a human right. Six percent of all deaths could be prevented by universal access to safe drinking water and better sanitation. (30 June, Wired Science).
  
  
• US study: US oil and gas industry's costs of finding resources rose 35% last year. (19 June, RigZone.com).
  
  
• US: Recession generation? Young adults brace for simpler lifestyle. (23 June, USA Today).
  
  
• Australia: Human health endangered by drought. One of the now dried up lakes is gradually turning into Sulphuric Acid.
  (19 June, ecoWorldly).
  
  
• UK: Organic farming has much to offer - could be "mainstream agriculture in waiting". Report says switching to organic would mean major reductions in output - but not as big as some might think. (25 June, Farm Business).
  
  
• UK: Vegetarians less likely to develop cancer than meat eaters. (1 July, The Guardian).
  
  
• UK: The Rollling Stones' Ronnie Wood's ex-, Jo Wood, hosts a restaurant in her own home. (27 June, Times Online).
  
  
• Slovenia: Bike Heaven in an empty hydro storage power plant. "While the pics are awesome, the power station itself is interesting." (1 July, Treehugger).
  
  
  Technology:
  
• Graphene - emerging as miracle material of the new millenium. (26 June, Clean Technica).
  
  
• One solution to water pollution, and more sustainable than chemical dosing, could be ultrasound. (29 June, Clean Technica).
  
  
• Switzerland: Round the world solar plane debut. (26 June, BBC).
  
  
• US: Chicken feathers could store hydrogen. (25 June, EcoGeek).
  
  
• UK: The toaster project: Art student builds toaster from scratch. Step 1: Acquiring iron ore. (1 July, Treehugger).
  
  
  Natural world:
  
• Ant mega-colony - taking over the world? (1 July, Earth News, BBC).
  
  
• US: Biological 'fountain of youth' found in New World bats. (1 July, Science Daily).
  
  
• Myanmar: New fossil primate suggests the common ancestor of humans, monkeys and apes evolved from primates in Asia, not Africa. (1 July, Science Daily).
  
  
• Ancient DNA from feathers used to map colours of extinct birds in NZ.
  
  
• Like a dolphin - or a bat - you too can (probably) learn echolocation. (30 June, Wired Science).
  
  
  
  
  

Using ecoNet

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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.

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• Now Showing: NZ documentary film -
  Earth Whisperers/Papatuanuku.

  Director: Kathleen Gallagher, Christhchurch.
  Camera: Alun Bollinger, Blacks Point.
  When: 4.45 pm daily, till Wed, 8 July.
  Where: Metro Gold cinema, 105 Worcester St. (behind the cathedral).
  For reviews, background info & to watch the trailer, see: www.wickcandle.co.nz
  
  

• 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.
  
  

• Talk: Te Matariki, Puanga, Puaka: the revitalisation of Tatai Arorangi, Maori astronomy & the Maori New Year.

  The importance of Matariki around the globe and a look at some of the commonalities of astronomy from around the pacific.
  Speaker: Dr Pauline Harris.
  When: 11.00 - 12.00 pm Friday, 3 July.
  Where: Room 701, Rutherford building, University of Canterbury.
  More: here.
  
  

• Gardening short course: Vegetable growing in pots and containers.

  Pros & cons of various containers, working with compost, potting mixes, feeding plants, raised gardens, more. Four weekly morning classes.
  Tutor: Dave Rawson.
  When: Starts 9.00 - 11.00 am Saturday, 4 July.
  Where: Canterbury Horticultural Centre, South Hagley Park.
  Cost: $70.
  Contact: 366 6937 or chsi@xtra.co.nz,
  Canterbury Horticultural Society.
  
  

• Volunteer day: Ashley River/Rakahuri annual weed control.

  To provide weed-free shingle on the breeding sites of rare wrybill, black fronted terns and black-billed gulls.
  Where: Meet at the Ashley Picnic Area (south side of the Ashley Bridge, Rangiora). 
  When: 9.00 am - 12.00 Saturday, 4 July.
  Bring: Food, loppers if you have them, enthusiasm, appropriate clothing.
  To be held whatever the weather.
  Organisers: Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group. (ARGO).
  Contact/info: Sarah 03 313 0837 or sensor@doc.govt.nz
  
  

• Workshop: Money & community resilience.

  An exploration of money, alternatives to the current financial monoculture, & the design of complementary currencies.
  Facilitator: Christoph Hensch.
  When: 9.30 am - 4.00 pm Saturday, 4 July.
  Where: St Albans Community Centre, 1047 Colombo St.
  Cost: gold coin.
  Contact/info/registration: 379 6305 or communitycentre@stalbans.gen.nz
  
  

• Book launch: "Passing Bells: Wars, Non-Violence and Common Morality", W.J. Foote, published by The Glen Press.

  When: 2.30 pm Sunday, 5 July.
  Where: Knox Presbytarian Church, corner Bealey Ave & Victoria St.
  
  

• RNZ Talk: The Reith Lectures 2009: A New Citizenship: The prospect for a new politics of the common good.

  Part 3 of 4: Genetics and Morality: How we should use our ever increasing scientific knowledge.
  Speaker: Professor Michael Sandel.
  When: 4.06 pm Sunday, 4 July.
  Where: National Radio.
  Background and archived episodes: here. (www.bbc.co.uk).
  Produced by BBC.
  
  

• Film Soc movies: Two short films about Palestine: Arus el Jaleel (Bride of Galilee); Watani Habibi (My Beloved Homeland).

  Background info here.
  When: 6.30 pm Monday, 6 July.
  Where: Rialto Cinema, Moorhouse Ave.
  Cost: $5.00 (non-film society members).
  Part of Canterbury Film Society's regular programme.
  
  

• Public Meeting on Climate Change: Goverment presentation/public consultation on 2020 Greenhouse gas emissions targets.

  When: 7.30 - 9.00 pm Wednesday, 8 July.
  Where: Christchurch Convention Centre, Kilmore St.
  Beehive info here.
  Also: see under from here. Climate change.
  
  

• Meeting: Christchurch launch of Amnesty International's global campaign: Demand Dignity.

  To combat denial of access to food, water, housing, health, education… all acknowledged as basic necessities under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  Speaker: Margaret Taylor, AIANZ's campaign manager.
  When: 7.00 - 9.00 pm Wednesday, 8 July.
  Where: Room 202, Level 2, 141 Hereford St.
  
  

• Talk: Teaching the 60's: Is it history?

  How far back do we have to go for something to be history?
  Speaker: Dr Philip Ferguson.
  When: 4.10 pm Friday, 10 July.
  Where: Room 321 Rutherford Building, University of Canterbury. (map here).
  All welcome.
  (University of Canterbury bridging programmes seminar).
  
  

• EARTHWISE, Plains FM 96.9

  Each Monday & Wednesday at 9.00 pm.
  Conservation, environment and peace with justice.
  This week: Geoff Keey, representing Greenpeace NZ, has recently returned from the climate conference in Bonn, (pre-cursor to the Copenhagen conference). He reports that so far NZ is not taking a responsible stand to reduce emissions. Public pressure needs to be put on the government.
  Presenters: Martin and Lois Griffiths.
  NB: Listen again to Earthwise programmes on archive.
  
  

Coming up:

• Otago symposium: What is the future of Public Conservation Lands and Waters?

  With one-third of Aotearoa New Zealand in public conservation, what visions and challenges are there for its future development and management? 
  Key speakers: Tim Groser, Conservation Minister; Al Morrison, Director General of DOC.
  When: 8.30 - 1.30 pm Friday, 10 July.
  Where: Hutton Theatre, Otago museum.
  Free. All welcome.
  Poster advt: www.otago.ac.nz/law
  Programme/contact etc: here
  
  

• Wellington: Two day Education for Sustainability workshop: WWF's Re-thinking Resources.

  Review of current practices in response to the new curriculum. Collaborate on and help devise a set of principles to apply to the development and production of Education for Sustainability resources in schools.
  When: 8.30 - 4.00 pm, Monday & Tuesday 27, 28 July. (Registrations close 14 July).
  Where: WWF-NZ Head Office, The Treehouse, Wellington Botanic Garden, Kelburn.
  Cost: $50.00 + GST.
  Contact &/or for registration form: Wendy Barry 04 499 2930 or wbarry@wwf.org.nz.
  
  

• National one day workshop, Auckland:

  Incentives for historic heritage: Strategies that protect and reward.
  When: 9.00 - 4.45 pm monday, 10 August.
  Where: Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd, Parnell, Auckland.
  More info/contact/registration: here. And more here.
  Organised by Auckland Regional Council and NZ Historic Places Trust.
  
  

• 2009 International film festival.

  Christchurch showings: 30 July - 16 August.
  Programme: see here.
  

Reminders:

• Short courses and public lectures: July - September.

  University of Canterbury's learning for life programme: courses on social issues, adult education, environment, community development, anthropology, cultural studies, climate change, etc.
  For info/to contact/& registration, see here: www.cbe.canterbury.ac.nz/community-education/courses.
  
  

• Free home composting workshops:

  Hot composting of kitchen scraps & garden waste, Bokashi and worm farms. All methods demonstrated.
  At several 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).
  Also:
  4. Strickland Street Community Garden, 188 Strickland Street, Spreydon. Details and contact information: www.sscommunitygarden.net.nz/Get-Involved/Home-Composting-Workshop.
  All supported by CCC.
  
  

• Wanted: Used milk cartons for use as tree planting pots.

  Info & very simple instructions here: www.treesforcanterbury.org.nz.
  (600,000 trees grown for Canterbury so far).