On this page you can listen to the radio shows in full length and in excerpts. See the audioplayers below. You will also find links to more information about the topics and sites that have been mentioned during the hour.
| Social stream | Hour no 10 | No 9 | No 8 | No 7 | No 6 | No 5 | No 4 | No 3 | No 2 | No 1 |
Local food, clean water and green Christmas
In The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse on 18 December 2013 we gave a report from a public meeting about fracking, and we had two guests in the studio: Suzette Jackson from Innate Ecology and Vicki Perrett from Geelong Sustainability Group. We also featured the website Checking It Twice.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 8:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes
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» Read and listen: Report from the public meeting about fracking in Geelong
Mentioned in the programme
Dig It on 94.7 The Pulse
Saturday 21 December from 10am to 11am: “Its Christmas and at the DigIt Gardening and local foods show we are celebrating with some special guests. Don’t miss it! Join Geelong Organic Gardener’s President Mark Hoffman and Suzette Jackson from Innate Ecology for the pre-christmas show where they will be talking to:
Chris Evans from Encompass on their sensory garden, market garden hothouses and ambitions for 2014; Tammi Jonas from Jonais Farm, vegetarian turned free range pig and low line cattle farmer and more recently butcher-roast pork for christmas lunch?; and Peter Shaw of Ocean Road Landscaping, on what christmas might bring for our Surf Coast.
» Dig It on Facebook: facebook.com/DigIt947fm
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Sustainable Living Festival Events coordinated by Innate Ecology
Innate Ecology and Future Proofing Geelong have joined together to host the Sustainable Building Sustainable Living Forum Thursday 13th February and the Sustainable Local Food & Wine Forum Friday 14th February at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre.
Sustainable Building Makes For Sustainable Living – Thursday 13th February
Join us for a day of forums on creating sustainable multi-residential developments and future proofing your home with everything from healthy efficient homes to healthy lifestyles.
Design, build and create sustainable homes.
Brought to you by Future Proofing Geelong and Innate Ecology. Further information and Bookings via www.innateecology.com
SUSTAINABLE MULTI-RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
9.00-11.30am Creating sustainable multi-residential buildings for communities – One Planet Living
Presenter: Suzette Jackson, Ed Cotter
FUTURE PROOFING YOUR HOME
Renewable Energy, energy efficient homes, edible gardens and sustainable building design
12.30–1.30pm Designing or retrofitting your home with energy efficient fittings and appliances in mind.
Presenter: Sam Smith
1.30–2.30pm Layering thermal values through green roofs.
Presenter: Annette Warner
2.30–3.30pm Designing your homes energy source for low / no cost energy bills.
Presenter: Christian Pritchard
4.00–5.00pm Building Permaculture into sustainable homes.
Presenter: tbc
5.00–6.00pm The benefits of eight star homes and beyond?
Presenter: Tim Adams
Sustainable Local Food & Wine Forums – Friday 14th February
Including a morning on Entrepreneurial Farmers and Food Hubs & an afternoon on Local food & wine knowledge and quality produce
ENTREPRENEURIAL FARMERS AND FOOD HUBS
Join us for a morning on entrepreneurial farmers, local food production and distribution.
9.30–11.00am Small and flexible sustainable food production
A series of short sharp presentations for three different producers providing high quality food and wine direct to the market, followed by time to explore business innovations directly with the speakers.
Hear from Hayden Findlay, Raven Creek Farm, Tammi Jonas, Jonais Farm, The Holy Goat.
11.30 to 1.00pm Alternative markets – getting quality food to your market at a quality price – through farm dinners, food mapping and food hubs. Three short presentations followed by time to explore avenues directly with the speakers.
Hear from Richard Bolus, Farm Forage Dinners, Katy Barfield, Spade and Barrow and Suzette Jackson, Innate Ecology
LOCAL FOOD & WINE KNOWLEDGE AND QUALITY PRODUCE
Join us for an afternoon on local food and wines, highlighting and tasting some of the best of our local produce.
2.00-3.30pm Local produce, sustainable food production and emerging businesses in the region.
4.00–5.30pm Our native foods and local wines – history of our region, where to buy and how to use them? Plus some sampling ready for Valentines.
Presenters: Sorella Foods, Birregurra and Loretta, Brown Magpie, Moriac
Geelong North Better Block
Community event in Labuan Square Saturday 22 February created by local community
Do you want to create a great place in Labuan Square for families and local community to enjoy?
Labuan Square ‘Better Block’ focuses on community creating a space we want to shop, eat and socialise in. The focus is on access to fresh and healthy food, cycling and pedestrian areas, local shops, new pop up businesses and sustainable living.
Ideas you have may include street art and theatre, buskers, shared meals, supporting new businesses ideas, outdoor furniture and other activities you the local community want to explore.
Labuan Square Better Block is held as part of the Sustainable Living Festival 2014.
Come along and share your ideas for the Labuan Square Better Block and let us help build it on the day with you.
Join us at two local community workshops Wednesdays 5–7pm on January 22nd and February 5th 2014 at Urban Seed, 4 Spruhan Avenue, Norlane. Participants are welcome to stay on after and enjoy some food provided by Urban Seed.
For more information go to Geelong Better Block Facebook page, explore Better Block events worldwide or email suzette@innateecology.com.
The Geelong Better Block event in central Geelong in June 2013 was created by 100 volunteers with over 800 attendees. This event supported local community groups and individuals in working towards local projects, growing and sharing local foods.
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Christmas consumer: Browse for sustainable gift ideas
We’ve talked about the importance of young people growing up with an understanding of the choices they make as consumers – and in the context of the approaching Christmas holidays, we recommended Ethical Consumers Australia’s gift-finding website called Checking It Twice.
The site provides free personalised gift ideas that can help you make a positive difference for the environment, for humans and animals. The Sustainable Hour spoke to one of the team at Checking It Twice, Gordon Renouf, about the idea:
Gordon Renouf (Duration: 1:13 minute)
» Check the website: www.checkingittwice.com.au
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Music
These were the songs we played in The Sustainable Hour on 18 December 2013:
► Leo Sayer and The Aussies Against Fracking Allstars: ‘No Fracking Way’
Published on youtube.com on 16 December 2013.
► David Holmes, Andrew Bean and Niel Bekker: ‘The Fracking Song’
Published on youtube.com on 12 May 2011.
► Dr. Seus’ The Lorax: ‘How Bad Can I Be’
Published on youtube.com on 19 July 2013.
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Promote The Sustainable Hour
Print this A4-poster and put it on a wall or a board at your work place, a local café, shop or where ever you think there’d be people who’d find this information interesting.
Let the The Sustainable Hour’s listeners know about your green product. To become a business supporter or sponsor, contact: Liz Carr, Marketing & Business Development, 94.7 The Pulse
94.7 The Pulse
» 947thepulse.com – Geelong’s Premier Community Radio Station
The personal journey of carbon consciousness
Headlines in The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse on 11 December 2013: Clean technology, Innovation, Electric Vehicles, ‘Climate Champions’. Featuring Cr Andy Richards, Sustainanator Lennie, Anthony Mangelsdorf and Peter Reeves.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 7:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes
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Who are the ‘Climate Champions’ and ‘ZeroCarbon Pioneers’ of Geelong?
Who should receive the first Sustainable Award in Geelong – ‘The Green Gumboot’ – at the Sustainable Living Festival in February?
Send us a name of a person or a group you think should be nominated to recieve the first Green Gumboot, and describe in a few lines why you think so.
We will shortlist five candidates, and the senders of these nominations will each get a free copy of the book ‘Screw Light Bulbs – Smarter ways to save Australians time and money’.
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Cleantech Innovations Geelong: Launch of market analysis report
Through a market analysis and skills & capabilities audit conducted in 2013, Cleantech Innovations Geelong have identified a number of opportunities to develop markets for clean tech for business and industry in Greater Geelong.
Excerpt of Councillor Andy Richards’ speech at the forum on Friday 6 December 2013
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Duration: 5:20 minutes)
Cr Andy Richards spoke at the forum on 6 December 2013, where the Cleantech Innovations Geelong alliance members identified projects that they would be interested in delivering – such as product and service developments, or capability building programs that could fill the gaps in the supply and demand needs of the market, or gaps in the kind of skills which are needed. Through Cleantech Innovations Geelong, the intention is to help make these projects happen.
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Sustainable schools in Geelong region
► Sustainanators of Geelong East Primary School
Anthony Mangelsdorf, Project Manager, Barwon South West ResourceSmart Schools*, gives an overview of how schools and student action teams in Geelong region are dealing and educating in sustainability. “They acchieve things,” he says.
» More information: www.brwmg.vic.gov.au
* the full name is: ResourceSmart Australia Sustainability Schools Initiative Victoria, usually referred to as ResourceSmart AUSSI VIC
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The Geelong EV Branch
Peter Reeves, chairman of the Alternative Technology Association’s Geelong EV Branch
» Read more: Geelong’s sustainable motor enthusiasts
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MENTIONED IN THE SUSTAINABLE HOUR
• The Copenhagen Wheel – official product release
Invented and built at the MIT in Cambridge, MA, USA, now available for sale. Pre-order at www.superpedestrian.com
• Scandinavian researchers: Giant green ‘battery’ can ensure constant renewable energy supply
• SOLAR POWER is reshaping Australia’s electricity market as we hit another key milestone, with rooftop solar breaking through three gigawatt.
• WIND ENERGY: An anti-wind turbine lobby group is trying to stop an important wind turbine project on King Island
In what appears a rather desperate move of the fossil fuel industry, the ‘No TasWind Farm Group’ has called for an injuntion on a project on King Island which involves building 200 wind turbines to generate 600 megawatts of green power for Geelong region via an underwater cable. The facility will generate zero-carbon electricity for up to 250,000 houses. The ‘No TasWind Farm Group’ wants Federal Court to stop the Hydro Tasmania feasibility study which has recently been initiated on the island. A date has yet to be set for the court case.
» Petitioning The Board of Hydro Tasmania: Renew Geelong’s air, spirit and economy with renewable energy
• The Greens’ Surf Coast councillor Eve Fisher is on a study tour to the United States and Europe to look at options for community renewable energy generation. She left Australia on 4 November and will spend 12 weeks exploring community renewable options in the United States, Canada, Germany, Denmark and Spain. She plans to return to Australia armed with a tool box of ideas that can be implemented by councils and community organisations. The trip is sponsored by the Municipal Association of Victoria.
Eve Fisher keeps a blog while travelling. If you’d like to read what she’s up to, click the link below and choose ‘Follow’ to get the updates sent to your mailbox.
» Eve Fisher’s blog: energisedcommunities.wordpress.com
Scientists: Even 2˚C degrees warming means disaster
“2 degrees hotter not an acceptable climate target but a disaster,” say 18 leading scientists. Lead author James Hansen argues that governments have set the wrong target to limit climate change.
» Read more: climatecodered.org
“Some scientists are now suggesting you should be much more concerned than you are, because they think we may be seriously underestimating the problem.” The sensitivity of the Earth system to a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide may be twice as great as scientists had thought, new climate records from the distant past suggest.
» Read more: climatenewsnetwork.net
Line of thinking: “Do your bit!”
“Why should I care as long as the Chinese don’t?”
It is no longer true that the Chinese are just sitting on their ass, and burning more and more coal, “so what does it matter what we do as long as the Chinese are just polluting away…”
China currently burns 46 percent of all the world’s coal. But the Chinese have quickly understood that they need to change. China’s spending to free itself from fossil fuels and develop more renewable energy may total 323 billion dollars in the five years through 2015 as part of the nation’s efforts to counter climate change.
The International Renewable Energy Alliance (REN Alliance) has published this report which is full of examples of how the world is in the process of making the transition to renewable energy sources, and that China, for example – in contrast to the view most people have of the country – is one of the countries in the world that currently is taking the boldest steps to invest heavily in renewable energy.
The United States is also at the top of the statistics. Even India.
» Take a look at the graphs on page 45 and page 50: GSR2013_lowres.pdf
Lead by example
How did we end up becoming a bad neighbour?
“Your next-door neighbour is driving you crazy. Week in, week out, he leaves his overflowing rubbish bin sitting on the curb, with extra garbage bags piled up beside it. One day you pluck up the courage to politely ask him if he’d mind cleaning up a bit. He just shrugs his shoulders and points at your other neighbours’ overflowing bins up and down the street.
‘Mate, you can hardly say all this mess is down to me. I’ll tell you what: if you can persuade everyone else to clean up, then I’ll do it too. Until then, I can’t see how anything I do will make much difference.’
It’s a fair point. Even if he tidied up, your neighbour is not the worst in the street. Still, you think to yourself as you bend over to untangle a slimy plastic bag from around your letterbox, it wouldn’t hurt your neighbour to do his bit.
Most of us try not to trash our streets, regardless of how anyone else behaves. It’s not only a matter of trying to ‘do the right thing’, as the old anti-littering slogan goes. It’s also because you can’t expect other people to behave well if you’re not willing to lead by example. The same basic principle applies to climate change.”
Excerpt from the book ‘Screw Light Bulbs – Smarter ways to save Australians time and money’ by Donna Green and Liz Minchin
» Read more from the book: uwap.uwa.edu.au
Discussion: What is required to create real change?
We talked about an essay by Harald Welzer published in the German magazine Spiegel under the headline ‘Climate Summit Trap ’. Harald Welzer, 55, teaches social psychology at Flensburg and St. Gallen Universities in Germany, and his most recent book is ‘Think for yourself: A Handbook for Resistance’
He argues that protests are never going to create that kind of change we’d like to see in this world. ‘Earth Summits’ and climate conferences to save the planet take place incessantly, even though none of these have ever lead to real change, let alone to a reversal of the trend. Protest creates its own ‘concern industry’, with its own experts and industry professionalization, its own career paths and PR divisions. Neither climate research nor climate conferences reduce CO2 emissions, but rather blithely contribute to their annual increase, because they are part of the larger system.
He mentions a couple of other approaches which he has more faith in: One is that of 1,400 companies that have made a commitment to the concept of the ‘economy for the common good’ – an idea developed a few years ago by Christian Felber, the Austrian co-founder of Attac, and another instrument for creating change is the ‘Fossil Free’ divestment campaign launched in 2012 by the American environmental activist Bill McKibben.
Spiegel – 6 December 2013:
Climate Summit Trap: Capitalism’s March toward Global Collapse
The Warsaw conference demonstrated that the “climate summit” model is broken and, more importantly, that capitalism itself is driving us to the brink. Protests are not the solution — it’s time to fight the system using its own weapons.
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Music
This is the song we played in The Sustainable Hour on 11 December 2013:
► Rhythms, Rhyme, Results (feat. Tommy Boots & Jené): ‘Take AIM at Climate Change’
Published on youtube.com on 25 January 2009.
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Promote The Sustainable Hour
Print this A4-poster and put it on a wall or a board at your work place, a local café, shop or where ever you think there’d be people who’d find this information interesting.
Let the The Sustainable Hour’s listeners know about your green product. To become a business supporter or sponsor, contact: Liz Carr, Marketing & Business Development, 94.7 The Pulse
94.7 The Pulse
» 947thepulse.com – Geelong’s Premier Community Radio Station
Innovation and collaboration in Geelong
On 4 December 2013, Doug Rolfe from the Gordon Centre for Sustainable Innovation and the Alternative Technology Association was guest in The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse, along with Dave Campbell from Geelong Sustainability Group.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 6:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes
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In The Sustainable Hour, Doug Rolfe talks about the Gordon Centre for Sustainable Innovation and the courses he organises, Diploma of Sustainability, and Carbon Accounting and Management.
He also explains about his job with the Alternative Technology Association, the magazines Sanctuary and ReNew, and the Geelong ATA EV group, which has a meeting this Friday.
ReNew: technology for a sustainable future magazine
ReNew is Australia’s premier magazine on practical sustainable living, showing you how to have an environmentally-friendly home on a budget. ReNew regularly includes home energy audits, DIY electric car conversions, easy water saving projects, new uses for discarded materials and clever home retrofits. Each issue features affordable sustainable homes, DIY projects, buyers guides and Q&A with the ReNew experts. With 30 years experience, ReNew gives independent, expert advice for sustainable living.
» Home page:
www.renew.org.au
» Subscription: shop.ata.org.au
Sanctuary: modern green homes magazine
Sanctuary is Australia’s only dedicated sustainable house design magazine. Each quarter, Sanctuary magazine profiles the work of Australia’s leading environmental architects and designers, providing inspiration and practical solutions for a sustainable home, without compromising on design. Each Sanctuary home offers inspiration plus valuable technical detail including specific sustainability features and specs, house plans and the stories of those who have invested their time and money in the house.
» Home page: sanctuarymagazine.org.au
ATA
The Alternative Technology Association is Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation promoting sustainable technology and practice. The association provides services to members who are actively walking the talk in their own homes by using good building design, conserving water and using renewable energy.
The Alternative Technology Association advocates in government and industry arenas for easy access to green technologies as well as continual improvement of the technology, information and products needed to change the way we live.
The association also offers advice on conserving energy, building with natural materials, reusing, reducing the use of and recycling natural resources.
» Home page: ata.org.au
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Dave Campbell, Chairman, Geelong Sustainability Group, talks about the ‘Let’s Connect’ meeting which was held on Saturday, organised by Transition South Barwon
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Local food and community directory
As part of a grant provided in conjunction with the Geelong Sustainability Group’s ‘Sustainable Geelong’ printed directory, Transition South Barwon have comprehensively updated the Local Harvest online directory for the Geelong region.
localharvest.org.au is a completely free and easy to use platform for listing all sorts of local / sustainable related food related food businesses.
You may think… “There’s lots of directory websites out there for this kind of thing…” Eg: Green Pages, Community Finder, Local Food Map.net, ecodirectory, sharehood, dibble.com.au, Green Finder, Swapshuffleshare.com, and so on…
But have you gone onto any of these websites hoping to find some info on local businesses or groups, and been a little disappointed at the number of local and relevant listings?
What if someone was to map out everything that was happening in the Geelong region, and put them up!
Well, that’s exactly what Transition South Barwon have done! They’ve added over 60 new listings, making over 100 all up for the Geelong and Bellarine area. Hopefully with everything in one place, it’ll make a great one-stop-shop supporting local and sustainable food.
The Google map is easy to use, and it includes foodswaps, community gardens, buy direct from the farmer, farmers markets, organic shops, and a whole lot more. Please note that due to the size of the map data, the homepage takes a while to load; but then it’s easy to zoom, and navigate the map.
Also: Most of the community (not just food related) listings have also been updated with the City of Greater Geelong’s Community Directory. With 153 listings (in map or list form), it’s also a great comprehensive guide to environmental and sustainability related groups in the Geelong region.
» Check it out on: localharvest.org.au
– type in your postcode and search radius to see what’s there.
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Also mentioned in the programme
CO2-emissions must be cut 40 percent in seven years
Australia must drastically increase its emissions reduction target to 40 percent by 2020 to avoid “almost unimaginable social, economic and ecological consequences” from climate change, a new book penned by leading scientists and economists, including Ross Garnaut, has warned.
The book, ‘Four Degrees of Global Warming: Australia in a Hot World’, sets out a series of stark scenarios facing the country should global temperatures rise by 4°C above the pre-industrial average.
With temperatures rising by 3 to 5°C in coastal areas and 4 to 6°C in inland areas, Australia’s future will be a “disturbing and bleak vision of a continent under assault”, according to the book, which was compiled following two years of original research by its authors.
The Guardian on 3 December 2013: Australia must cut emissions 40% by 2020 to avoid ‘dramatic climatic shifts’
Cars emissions
Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions are continuing to rise, and the biggest contributor is cars, according to Victoria’s Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, professor Kate Auty.
» Editorial in The Age – 2 December 2013: theage.com.au
The spring of 2013 Australia’s warmest on record
Mean temperatures for the season were 1.57°C above the 1961-1990 average. The record warm spring leaves Australia on track to have its warmest calendar year on record. Mean temperatures for Australia for the 11 months ending in November were 1.23°C above average.
» Read more: theconversation.com
The book ‘Screw Light Bulbs’
This is a book which shows how everyone – from individuals to businesses and governments, in small towns and big cities – can make a difference.
» Read more: uwap.uwa.edu.au
Public meeting about fracking in Geelong
– organised by Frack Free Geelong
12 December 2013 at 7pm
» Read more: facebook.com/events/1458099204416507
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Music
– which we played in The Sustainable Hour on 4 December 2013:
► Sandel: ‘The Shadows’
Sandel is a singer and songwriter from Sydney, Australia, who is currently based in New York, USA. When Sandel was 21 years old, she wrote ‘The Shadows’ as her response to climate change – the greatest environmental threat of our age.
» More information on: www.sandelmusic.com | facebook.com/sandelmusic
Published on youtube.com on 21 September 2009.
► Leo Sayer and The Aussies Against Fracking Allstars: ‘No Fracking Way’
This is a sample of the single soon available on iTunes.
Published on youtube.com on 17 November 2013.
Waterfront City: Sustainable visions for Geelong
On 27 November 2013, Suzette Jackson from Innate Ecology was guest in The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse, along with Anthony Gleeson from Frack Free Geelong.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 5:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes
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Waterfront City
Does the Geelong community want to be a Waterfront City with a port at its front door, inhibiting city growth and liveability?
» Creating Liveable Cities – Regenerating Geelong’s Northern Waterfront
By Suzette Jackson, Innate Ecology
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“We are not listened to, and the stakes are pretty high. I want to be able to look my six-months-old grandson in the eyes and say: ‘I had a crack at this’.”
Anthony Gleeson
Public meeting about fracking in Geelong
» 12 December 2013 at 7pm – Read more
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Joint Statement on Renewable Energy in Geelong and the Surf Coast
Friends of the Earth Melbourne is currently collecting signatures for a ‘Joint Statement on Renewable Energy’ which will be sent to Premier Dr Denis Napthine. Excerpt:
“The Geelong region has the manufacturing prowess and the wind energy resources to benefit from wind energy. Amendments to the planning scheme made by your predecessor, former Premier Ted Baillieu, stand in the way of new wind farm projects in our region, and have already cost a community wind farm has been scrapped.
The laws and prevent us from replacing a polluting power plant in Anglesea with renewable energy sources.
We urge you to rewrite your government’s wind farm planning guidelines and take concrete steps to support renewable energy in our region and unlock jobs and investment.
The Geelong region is the birthplace of the state’s renewable energy sector. The region played pioneering role before, and with leadership from you and local MPs, it can again.
Signed,”
The letter is signed by organisations, associations and councils from Geelong region, with their logos included.
For more information, or when you are ready to sign and send the logo, contact info@climatesafety.info
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“If governments are unwilling to lead when leadership is required, people must. We need a global grass-roots movement that tacles climate change and its fall out.”
Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United States, in New York Times on 25 November 2013
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Music: ‘Change the Earth’
This is the music video we played in The Sustainable Hour on 27 November 2013 – created by Toronto-based singer, rapper, filmmaker and activist Gaiaisi:
The video for the song was uploaded and released on YouTube on 8 October 2013 and has received over 43,000 views.
» EcoWatch – 7 November 2013: New Music Video Raises Awareness on Climate Change
» Examiner – 6 November 2013: Toronto artist sounds musical alarm over global climate emergency
» Facebook page for the project: facebook.com/waterforthefire
» Gaiaisi’s Facebook page: facebook.com/Gaiaisi
Climate action and sustainanators
On 20 November 2013, Stacey Koole who organised a Geelong Climate Action Day on 17 November was guest in The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse, and we listened to a good climate speech by Lloyd Davies.
Also, we visited Geelong East Primary School to talk with principal Karen Chaston, teacher Kirra Dyer, and ‘sustainanators’ Bianca Grima and Jade Telfer about what a sustainable school looks like.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 4:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes
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» To open or download this audio recording in mp3-format, right-click here
Geelong East Primary School sustainability report Part 1: Teacher Kirra Dyer and the Sustainanators Bianca Grima and Jade Telfer
» To open or download this audio recording in mp3-format, right-click here
Geelong East Primary School sustainability report Part 2: Principal Karen Chaston and teacher Kirra Dyer
» Read and see more about schools and sustainability:
Calling all schools and ‘sustainanators’
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Lloyd Davies’ speech at the Geelong Climate Action Day, 17 November 2013.
Australia near bottom on climate change index
Australia’s ranking on the climate change performance index fell from 51 to 57 out of 61, right at the bottom. Highest ranked country on the list was… Denmark.
The index was made by think tank Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe, and it was released here at the start of the second week of the UN climate change negotiations in Warsaw.
The ranking combines five different areas covering: the types and levels of emissions, renewable energy supply, trends in energy efficiency and climate policy.
» Read more: econews.com.au
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Music
This is the song we played in The Sustainable Hour on 20 November 2013:
► Juice Media’s Rap News: ‘The War on Terra – Canada vs Australia’
Written and created by Giordano Nanni and Hugo Farrant in a suburban backyard home-studio in Melbourne, Australia, on Wurundjeri Land.
Published on youtube.com on 30 January 2013.
What Geelong’s mayor candidates think about sustainability
On 13 November 2013, two candidates for the position as Geelong’s new mayor, Stephanie Asher and Doug Mann, along with three spokespersons from Geelong Green Roofs, and Lloyd Davies from Frack Free Geelong, were guests in The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 3:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes
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Interview with Stephanie Asher – 15 minutes, mp3
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Interview with Doug Mann – 6 minutes, mp3
Full interview – 21 minutes, mp3
Excerpt of the interview – 2 minutes, mp3
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Links
The mayoral election
» For more information about and statements from the 16 mayor candidates, see: www.vec.vic.gov.au
» Stephanie Asher’s election Facebook-page: Stephanie Asher for Mayor
» To raise a discussion around cleantech in Geelong north, Stephanie Asher has posted this video
» Doug Mann’s election Facebook-page: Doug Mann for Geelong Mayor
» Download candidates’ statements (PDF, 0.5 MB).
Geelong Green Roofs
» More information about Geelong’s first seminar for green building infrastructure
» Geelong Green Roofs on Facebook: facebook.com/GreenRoofsGeelong
» Geelong Green Roofs Seminar Eventpage on Facebook: facebook.com/events
» At a Geelong Sustainability Drinks event in October, Louise Aughterson gave a presentation about Green Roofs in Geelong
How to future-proof Geelong
On 6 November 2013, Tina Perfrement from Future Proofing Geelong was guest in ‘The Sustainable Hour’ on 94.7 The Pulse. You can listen to the full programme here, while following the mentioned links.
“Sustainability isn’t about the power of one. It is about the power of many.”
Tina Perfrement, Future Proofing Geelong
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 2:
» To download this programme, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes
For some reason, the Geelong mayor candidates are not mentioning this with a single word in their campaigns, but Geelong City actually has already announced the vision that it intends to be become ranked among the world’s most sustainable cities.
As Tina Perfrement mentions in The Sustainable Hour, the vision for the city is that “in 2030 Geelong is internationally recognised as one of the world’s most sustainable cities.”
A Sustainable Covenant was signed on 12 May 2011, in which the partners of Future Proofing Geelong agreed “to work together to see Geelong become nationally recognized as a city demonstrating sustainability leadership.” (Read more).
The Low Carbon Growth Plan for Geelong is to provide a foundation for practical actions to reduce the Geelong region’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The plan will also identify opportunities to collaborate with state government, local industry and the community to build a low-carbon economy. “The aim is for Geelong to serve as a demonstration city showcasing how a community can make the transition to a low carbon future whilst retaining local business and industry, growing the economy and ensuring liveability.” Read more
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Other mentioned links
ABC report on fracking in Geelong region
The story about fracking in Geelong was in the news Friday evening under the headline “Massive gas exploration lease”
ABC’s Jeff Waters had obtained a map “that indicates one major resource company has laid claim to the exploration rights for a tract of land stretching the outskirts of Geelong to the Surf Coast.”
Source: 7pm TV News VIC | Video clip duration: 2min 13sec
Nations ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing
This week, fracking has been banned in Colorado, USA and in Newfoundland
Live online streaming of the conference ‘Crowds & Climate’
What can we actually do about climate change? How can ‘crowds’ and individuals shape policies? This is being discussed at the ‘Crowds & Climate’ conference over the next three days which you can attend from anywhere via the free livestream.
The conference was opened early this Thurday morning Australian time.
climatecolab.org/conference2013/virtually
Launch of ‘The Sustainable Hour’
On 30 October 2013 at 11am the first ‘Sustainable Hour’ was launched on 94.7 The Pulse in Geelong, Australia: a weekly radio show about clean, green and sustainable solutions in Geelong – and for Geelong.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 1:
» To download this programme, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes
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Hosts:
• Mike Lawrence and Mik Aidt
Guests in the first programme:
• Stephen Yewdall. Mayoral candidate. Former local government officer at City of Greater Geelong
• Anthony Gleeson. Climate activist, Frack Free Geelong, Surf Coast Energy Group and Parents for Climate Safety.
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Headlines in ‘The Sustainable Hour’ on 30 October 2013
• The mayoral election in Geelong
• National day of climate action on 17 November
• Renewable energy celebration in Breamlea on 30 November
• Frack Free Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast citizen meeting on 12 December
• Cycling in Geelong
• Sustainable building, sustainable houses
• LED streetlights
• A bit about the hosts’ backgrounds
» We mentioned Mike Lawrence’s presentation at Geelong Sustainability Drinks on 23 October 2013, where he gave a run down on Beyond Zero Emissions’ Zero Carbon Australia Buildings Plan which shows how Australian households could cut their energy bills in half. You can listen to it here.
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The Sustainable Calendar
12 November, Tuesday – at 6:30pm
Geelong Sustainability Group’s Annual General Meeting
+ ‘2014 Brainstorm’
Belmont Library, High Street, Belmont. More info
13 November, Wednesday – at 3:00pm:
Coal Seam Gas discussion at Victorian Parliament
“Meet at Parliament House in Melbourne at 3pm, discussion tobegin at 4pm. Greg Barber will be putting CSG on the agenda as part of putting forward the petition, more information to follow. But put this date in the diary, it would be great to have a strong presence and fill the gallery.”
17 November, Sunday – at 11:00am
National Day of Climate Action
Local climate action groups and other organisations like a AYCC along with Getup will be hosting a national day of climate action across Australia with over 140 events to let federal, state and local governments know we need to do everything we can to hold global warming to 2 degrees and to get climate concerns back on the agenda for the new parliament.
RSVP: If you are coming, let everyone know here:
facebook.com/events/218929008283189
(So far, more than 8,000 Australians are going)
Tip: Wear hot summer colours – red/orange – check the facebook event page for details on your nearest event, or go to www.getup.org.au/climate
► Geelong: 11am Eastern Beach, Geelong. BBQ/Picnic. Bring some food and drinks and enjoy a day at one of our local landmarks. Let the kids enjoy the pool and playground, or play some cricket, soccer or just lounge around on grass. Maybe go for a swim. Take some photos and make a stand against climate change.
► Torquay: 10am to 12 noon Torquay Foreshore Reserve, The Esplanade (at Anderson Street intersection) WEAR: Heatwave colours – red, orange, hot pink, yellow – sun hats, sunscreen or bright coloured zinc!! BRING: Beach paraphernalia ALSO: Family and friends and picnic rug, food, snacks, water, etc ACTIVITY: Banner painting 10am-11am – 11.15am group photo for GetUp. RSVP: TORQUAY COMMUNITY EVENT
► Apollo Bay: 1:30pm – Games for kids, media stunt, local music, yummy food
► Melbourne: 11am Treasury Place – individuals and groups (including Geelong Sustainability Group) are meeting at Geelong station to take the 9:35 am train to Melbourne.
There will be changed traffic conditions near the station due to “Run Geelong” so check the event to be sure of access and parking. Better still catch a train at Marshall
» More information about the action day here: getup.org.au/campaigns/climate-action-now
21 November, Thursday – at 5:00pm
Geelong’s first seminar for green building infrastructure
More info
30 November, Saturday, midday and afternoon
Renewable Energy Celebration in Breamlea
Family friendly outdoor event with picnic, music and speeches. Celebrating the 26th anniversary of Victoria’s first grid connected wind turbine this November, begs the question: “Why so long between drinks?”
12 December, Thursday, evening
Citizens’ meeting organised by Frack Free Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast
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About ‘The Sustainable Hour’
‘The Sustainable Hour’ is about how we can make our own houses and appartments, our gardens and streets, our own little city both greener, cleaner, more beautiful, nicer to live in, healthier, cheaper, and more fun on top of it.
Is that possible? Yes it is. It is all about setting a goal. Where do we want to get to? Why do we want to get there?
Part of that goal would be that within no more than a few decades we can renew our machinery and our energy infrastructure so that we can use renewable energy sources such as the sun and the wind to power our machines, vehicles, and homes, and heat our houses as well.
But it is not just about that. It is also about creating employment and manufaccturing – and a city which thrives economically.
Like…
What will it take to make Geelong into Australia’s cleantech capital?
Where are the sunshine examples that really work well in the field of clean technologies?
What are the obstacles and challenges in the transition to a 100 percent renewables society?
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» Connect with ‘The Sustainable Hour’ on Facebook
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Let’s start NOW
When will the city council and the citizens of Geelong make the commitment to create a carbon-free future? The question is not if they will do it, the question is only when. Do it in 30 years time, and the city will have missed the boat. Do it now, and the city will quickly be on the front edge of development, attracting young and brilliant people who’d like to be part of the solution to the global CO2-emissions problem, and at the same time can see Geelong’s great potential to become a cleantech hub for Australia.
Join the discussion on air
‘The Sustainble Hour’ opens the microphones to local entrepreneurs, pioneers, politicians and activists – visionary ‘dreamers’ as well as practical-minded ‘doers’ in local businesses, universities, organisations and councils.
In particular, ‘The Sustainable Hour’ invites the 16 Geelong mayor candidates to come and tell our listeners their vision for the city.
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» Contact ‘The Sustainable Hour’: thesustainablehour@climatesafety.info
» Web: climatesafety.info/thesustainablehour