Planeteers – you make the newsletter’s heart sing!
Welcome! It’s Week 8, the fabulous Climate Change Awareness Week is over but there is still SO MUCH GOING ON. Want to communicate with other cool enviro types from our UNSW enviro community and off-campus enviro networks? Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ! :D
Get involved and watch your life CHANGEEEE J
1. Enviro meetings - Mondays at 12pm
2. UNSW On-Campus Sustainability Working Group – Wednesday 6th of May 4-6pm
– TEASER--HOTTER THAN STAR TREK AND TERMINATOR 4! LESS F-BOMBS THAN CHRISTIAN BALE!
3. A Sydney Ideas lecture – Wednesday 6th May, 6.30pm
4. Solar Thermal Electricity Technical Talk – Engineers!! Thursday 7th of May, 5.30pm
5. FAIR TRADE FIESTA 2009 – Thurs 7 May Paddington Town Hall
6. Relaxed ride to Parramatta with the UNSW Bike Club! Sat 9th of May
7. Learning for social change workshop – Tuesday 12th of May – for your diaries
8. Your emails! :D
1. Meeting: Environment Collective!
When? 12pm Mondays
Where? Quad Lawn
What? Meeting interested enviro types, planning events, talking about environmental issues and more
2. UNSW On-Campus Sustainability Working Group (with flyer attached)
Day and time: Wednesday 6th May 4-6pm
Come join the on-campus working group get up to speed with UNSW's Environment Policy and Environment Management Plans.
Get the news on what ARC (our student organisation) is up to with implementing our very own environment policy!
Find out ways you can get involved and help out.
No knowledge or experience required, let's learn together.
Contact Alex on 0406725625 to RSVP or for any info
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-TEASER!-
STUDENTS OF SUSTAINABILITY (SOS) CONFERENCE, SOS IS ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!!
Are you ready for one of the hottest enviro events coming up in July?
------ STAY TUNED FOR MORE IN YOUR FAVOURITE ENVIRO NEWSLETTER---
3. A Sydney Ideas lecture
350: Why this is the most important number
Bill McKibben, US journalist, writer and environmental campaigner
Twenty years ago, Bill McKibben wrote The End of Nature, which has been hailed as the first book on climate change for a general audience. The book was a US bestseller and has been printed in more than 20 languages. A dozen books later, McKibben, the former staff writer for the New Yorker, has become the voice of American environmentalism, leading the campaign for action on climate change and alternative energy. Al Gore said McKibben’s work alerted him to the dangers of global warming. In 2007, McKibben founded Step It Up 1 and 2, which organised rallies in hundreds of American cities and towns to demand that Congress enact curbs on carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. In the wake of Step It Up’s achievements, a new campaign called 350. org was launched in March 2008. 350 draws its name from climate scientist James Hansen’s contention that any atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide above 350 parts per million was unsafe for human existence. In his exclusive lecture for Sydney Ideas, McKibben will talk about how climate science and climate politics are quickly evolving, as well as his role as an activist in the US.
Date: Wednesday 6 May 2009
Time: 6.30pm lecture start
Venue: Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Cost: $25 adult / $15 concession
Bookings: 02 9351 7940 or on-line www.usyd.edu.au/sydney_ideas
4. Solar Thermal Electricity Technical Talk – Engineers!!
Dear Young Engineer,
This is a hot topic! Australia has some of the best solar radiation in the world for generating solar thermal electricity. Hear how we may capitalise on this free and friendly resource at this jointly held YEAS and Engineers Without Borders technical talk.
Our guest speaker, Stewart Taggart is founder of DESERTEC-Australia (http://www.desertec-australia.org/) and a founding member of the German based global DESERTEC Foundation. His day job is director of South Australia-based Acquasol Infrastructure Ltd. an environmentally-friendly power and water project developer. Acquasol is building a hybrid gas-solar thermal electricity and water desalination plant South Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf.
Details
What: YEAS & EWB Solar Thermal Electricity Technical Talk
When: Thursday, 7th May 2009. 5:30pm refreshments for a 6pm start
Where: Harricks Auditorium, Engineers Australia. Ground Floor, 8 Thomas St, Chatswood.
Cost: Free
Register: by Monday 04 May 09 via email to Jon Lee at
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.
We hope to see you there!
Kind regards,
YEAS Committee
http://www.youngengineers.com.au/syd/
5. FAIR TRADE FIESTA 2009
Dear All
We are delighted to invite you to the 2009 Fair Trade Fiesta celebrating Fair Trade Fortnight in Sydney. Please see the attached invitation.
Savour delectable dishes made by Kylie Kwong using the finest organic & Fairtrade ingredients
Meet the leading Australian entrepreneurs behind Fairtrade food and Fairly Traded crafts that help communities in South America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
This year there is the addition of the Fairtrade Coffee Showcase and Fairtrade Theatrette! So don’t miss out, mark it in your diary and ***Please forward to all your friends and colleagues!!**
$15 entry includes all food, wine and entertainment
When: Thursday 7th May 2009 6pm – 9pm
Where: Paddington Town Hall, Sydney (Corner Oatley Road and Oxford Street, Paddington)
RSVP: Linda Gaden
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<mailto:
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We look forward to welcoming you to the Fair Trade Fiesta.
6. Relaxed ride to Parramatta with the UNSW Bike Club!
Date: | 09 May |
Time: | 10:00 - 16:00 |
Location: | Meet at UNSW Main Gate |
Street: | Anzac Pde |
Email: | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
Join us on a journey through the cycle-paths of Sydney, all the way to Parramatta!
You'll be surprised how far you can get on a bicycle, without even trying that hard. This ride will be for intermediate cyclists (you'll need to be ok riding on some roads).
Bring some lunch or some money for lunch, lots of water, sunscreen and sunglasses, and of course your bike and a helmet.
An approximation of our route can be found at http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/UWS-Parramatta-to-UNSW-Kensington.
8. Learning for social change workshop
LEARNING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
What have you learnt through your work for social change?
How has this learning informed your practice?
An interactive presentation by Jen Margaret from the Facilitating Learning in Action for Social Change (FLASC) initiative
When: Tuesday May 12th, 5pm – 7.30pm. Registration, networking and light refreshments at 5pm, workshop commences at 6pm
Where: University of Technology, Sydney – Room 570 in Building 6, 720 Harris Street, Ultimo – next to the ABC.
Cost: Salaried: $50; Part-time, unwaged, student: $20. If personal circumstances preclude payment, entry by donation will be accepted.
RSVP: By May 8th. Email http://au.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to= This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with ‘Jen Margaret Workshop’ in the subject line.
Co-presented by the Change Agency and ALARA
8. Your emails! :D
From: Alice Blackwood Date: Sun Apr 26 Subject: Fwd: 1 fantastic opportunity: the May 2009 Understanding Power, Privilege; Diversity weekend
Dear friends,
You all are most welcome to attend the May 16th & 17th 2009 Sydney Understanding Power, Privilege & Diversity (UPP & D) weekend.
This workshop is sponsored by the Mankind Project Sydney Council, a not-for-profit community group that is about supporting and challenging men to live lives of authenticity, integrity and purpose.
The facilitators, Alan Richardson and Errol Ameraskera are highly experienced and skilled Process/World Workers (not MKP facilitators), who hold a good safe space and, who work magnificently well as a team.
This weekend is generally about 20-30% theory and 70-80% experiential exercises and processes...One great thing about this workshop, is that the participants have some say in how it's run... So, if you need/want something, ask for it!
It will be held at The Centre, in Randwick (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unsw_collective/post?postID=ZG3nFufqpZJ-xE0iDWGEoKbb12ueA3t6Ziz1fSKfHWs2LzI9Rs9vNE7Ol-98EKmm_KID-MDFsbx0qCdRjiWl 9398 2211) and is a great value at 150 AUD per person for 2 full days. Accommodation is available at the Centre for out of town participants; contact them for more info. Or you can contact friends and ask them if they can put you up for a night or two, if you're from out of town.
There are various buses that go to the venue: from Bondi Junction or airport: #400 & 410; from Railway Sq: 372, 374 & 376; from Circular Quay: 374, 376, 373 & 377.
The Centre is on the corner of Cook and Frances Sts.
This workshop is by far one of the powerful, beautiful and transformative experiences I've done... These workshops have given me some deep understandings about how conflicts can arise in the world, how conflicts can be resolved, global, personal, organisational and group history, dynamics, etc.... amazing stuff...
Each workshop is similar yet also unique, because each group is similar and different.
Contact Matt Berger 04 23 02 08 38 to register. He also has info re: financial need scholarships and, the easy ways that one can make a secure payment.
Why might I want to do power, privilege & diversity work? What might I get from doing it?*
A greater, deeper and broader understanding of how my race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, age, etc. has an impact on other people, and how in our society this allows me to have privilege, power, greater access to things than some people, etc. and/or be marginalised, discriminated against, treated as less than, etc. and how that affects my/our sense of self, my beliefs & perceptions about people and the other, and how I in turn treat these people.
I get to see that yes I have things that some people don't have, which can lead to greater awareness, compassion and connection with all peoples, not to mention gratitude and sensitivity.
By taking responsibility for my power and privileges -- instead of denying that it even exists in society and/or in myself and continuing to be a victim -- I have the opportunity to choose to use it in a good way for the benefit of all beings.
From deeper and more ethical and inclusive socio-cultural understandings, awareness (at individual, interpersonal/social, cultural, institutional and structural/systems/global levels) and decision making I begin to create positive social change in my family, community and world... even if these are small changes they are positive changes still.
The opportunity to learn about my heritage and ancestry and to share and connect with people around this, appreciating and celebrating our differences and similarities!
The deep joy and satisfaction of connecting with people from different backgrounds and cultures in a more equal, loving and accepting way.
For our earth!
