Our first guest in The Sustainable Hour on 25 October 2017 is the Geelong-based author and columnist Trevor Pescott who presents his new book, ‘Birds and Botanists: A field naturalist’s history of Geelong’.
We play an excerpt of a speech Annie Raser-Rowland, author of ‘The Art of Frugal Hedonism’, gave at Beav’s Bar at a Geelong Sustainability Life Learning event on 15 March 2017, and we have an ‘eco-chat’ with English language students Sam, Sanam and Melissa from Deakin International. More info below.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 192 on 94.7 The Pulse:
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Trevor Pescott told me that the trio are Wattlebird fledglings, but Red Wattlebirds not Yellow which are a Tasmanian species. The other black and white bird with yellow in the wings is a New Holland Honeyeater.
As Trevor explains in the radio interview, wattlebirds and other honeyeaters make good use of a pond like this one for bathing. His current book ‘Birds and Botanists’ doesn’t have any bird descriptions as such, but he has published an earlier one, ‘A Guide to the Birds of Geelong’, which does. It sells at $20.
LISTENER SERVICE:
Content of this hour
Links, excerpts and more information about what we talked about in this Sustainable Hour
Trevor Pescott: Birds and botanists
In his new book ‘Birds and Botanists: A field naturalist’s history of Geelong’, Trevor Pescott explores many regional places of environmental significance and the wealth of wildlife to be found there. He portrays people who have made a significant contribution to our understanding of the local plants and animals, and he tells about the history of the two field-naturalists clubs of Geelong.
» Geelong Field Naturalists Club’s Facebook page
» The Conversation – 1 November 2017:
Citizen scientists count nearly 2 million birds and reveal a possible kookaburra decline
“The fourth Aussie Backyard Bird Count has just ended, with nearly 2 million birds from 635 species submitted to the BirdLife Australia app. The count, which is in its fourth year, has created a national database of birds found in our backyards.”
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Ellinor Campbell: How to maximise bird life in the garden
» Download audio podcast: Digit on 94.7 The Pulse on 18 November 2017
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Get the kids out exploring with Nature Passport
Nature Passport is a new international app designed to get kids and families playing, exploring, and learning outdoors.
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For the love of birds
“From the glorious crested guinea fowl to the adulterous African jacana to vultures that can pick a zebra carcass clean in 30 minutes, Washington Wachira wants us all to get to know the marvelous species of birds that share the planet with us. If you’re not already a fan of earth’s feathermakers — or concerned about their conservation — you will be after you watch this delightful talk.”
» TED.com – August 2017:
For the love of birds
13:07 minutes · TEDGlobal 2017
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SUSTAINABLE SAILING:
Ocean race sailors: eliminate single-use plastic
The Volvo Ocean Race has just started. It is often described as the longest and toughest professional sporting event in the world – “the ultimate test of a team and a human adventure like no other”. The 2017-18 edition will take the teams 45,000 nautical miles around the world, across four oceans, touching six continents and 12 landmark cities. One of these is Melbourne, where the teams will be arriving just after Christmas.
Why mention this in The Sustainable Hour? Well, take a look at the very good sustainable messages coming from the organisers. Volvo Ocean Race writes:
“If you had the power to impact the world in 1 minute, what would you do?
Last week, our CEO had 60 secs to explain how Volvo Ocean Race are onboard with sustainability at the Our Ocean conference, Malta. Our pledge? To eliminate single-use plastic.
“We’ve committed to use our powerful platform to back the UN’s Clean Seas, Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign – the fight against single-use plastics.”
“We have 4 pillars of action. Firstly, we’ll minimise our footprint – in this race by 80%, and then eliminate in future editions, all single-use plastics from our supply chains and Race Villages – visited by 3 million people during stopovers.
“Secondly, we’ll put this issue in front of several hundred million people all over the world via their screens, with all of the 7 race teams carrying the Clean Seas message.
“Thirdly we aim to leave a legacy in the cities we visit, through Ocean Summits to bring together scientists with 2000 business and government leaders. Through the 80,000 expected business owners & clients of sponsors involved in the race, we can influence even more people.
“We’ll also gather new scientific data on the presence of micro plastics in the remotest parts of the world’s oceans, as our boats race around the world over the coming months.”
» Source: www.linkedin.com
» 18 October 2017:
‘Our oceans are under attack – and we’re fighting back’
The Alicante Ocean Summit sees Spanish government make the Clean Seas pledge and Volvo announce a science programme for 2017-18
The Volvo Ocean Race has used the first of seven Ocean Summits it is hosting around the world in 2017-18 to launch a unique programme that will gather data from parts of the oceans that are otherwise inaccessible to scientists – while the Spanish government pledged its backing for UN Environment’s Clean Seas campaign.
» Read more on www.volvooceanrace.com
» More info about the Melbourne stopover
PLASTIC:
How plastic is damaging planet Earth
There are 500 times more pieces of microplastic in the sea than there are stars in our galaxy and by 2050 it is estimated there will be more plastic than fish.
» Read more on www.independent.co.uk
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BOOK:
Annie Raser-Rowland: Frugal hedonism
» Listen to The Sustainable Hour’s interview with author Annie Raser-Rowland, about ‘The Art of Frugal Hedonism’.
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PLANNING:
Point Henry
Re: Rusty’s community consultation question, see:
» Point Henry community engagement
ADDITIONALLY:
In other news
From our notes of this week: news stories and events we didn’t have time to mention but which we think you should know about
MEDIA RELEASE – 20 October 2017:
Victoria’s energy future secured as Andrews govt’s Renewable Energy Target becomes law
In a historic moment for Victoria’s energy future, the Victorian Renewable Energy Target today passed the upper house in state Parliament and will become law.
“This is a historic day for Victoria’s energy future, and a victory for the community who have long made the case for the Victorian Renewable Energy Target” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson.
“The success of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target is thanks to communities, businesses and workers from Portland, to Geelong, Yackandandah, Macedon and Melbourne”
Friends of the Earth congratulates Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, and the Labor government, branding its energy policy achievement an act of national leadership:
“The Andrews government is leading the nation with a vision for jobs and investment in renewable energy,” said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth spokersperson.
“While the divided Turnbull government only offers ill-considered thought bubbles on energy, the Andrews government has shown leadership on the Victorian Renewable Energy Target,” said Pat Simons.
“Victoria’s Andrews government has set the bar for smart energy policy in Australia.”
The passage of legislation was also welcomed by prospective wind farmers from Barunah Park, Kevin and Jenny Blake:
“Renewable energy is extremely important to us, as we have seen the effects of climate change personally on our farm. We are very excited to host turbines as this will help minimise the effects of climate change in the future.”
“This legislation will also help provide us with a means to dought-proof our future earnings and keep our farm sustainable for our children and grandchildren.”
The VRET passed with the support of upper house Greens MPs, Fiona Patten of the Reason Party, Local Jobs 1st MP James Purcell.
Friends of the Earth was critical of the Matthew Guy opposition, who stuck to their pledge to vote against the VRET even though renewable energy enjoys strong support among Liberal party voters.
“In 2017, it’s unacceptable for politicians to vote against policies to tackle climate change,” said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth’s climate change spokesperson.
“With unprecedented bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef and parts of Victoria experiencing a record dry June, now’s not the time to be blocking action on climate change.”
“Victorians will remember the opposition’s vote against renewable energy jobs and cheaper power when they go to the polls in 2018.”
ADDITIONAL INFO:
The Victorian Renewable Energy Target is expected to:
• Create 10,000 jobs in wind and solar across the state, from wind tower manufacturing in Portland to cable making in Tottenham, transformer manufacturing in Glen Waverley and Benalla, and warehousing/training in Lyndhurst.
• See Victorian households save an estimated $30 on their power bill each year. Small-medium businesses will save $2,500 and big businesses will save $140,000.
• Victoria’s renewable energy rollout of 5,400 MW will cut electricity sector emissions up to 16 percent, helping the state meet its legislated net-zero emissions target by 2050.
Friends of the Earth coordinated the community campaign for a Victorian Renewable Energy Target since 2014.
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Podcasts and posts about climate change
Acknowledgement
We at The Sustainable Hour would like to pay our respect to the traditional custodians of the land on which we are broadcasting, the Wathaurong People, and pay our respect to their elders, past, present and future.
The traditional owners lived in harmony with the environment and with the climate for hundreds of generations. It is not clear – yet – that as European settlers we have demonstrated that we can live in harmony for hundreds of generations, but it is clear that we can learn from the indigenous, traditional owners of this land.
When we talk about the future, it means extending our respect to those children not yet born, the generations of the future – remembering the old saying that…
The decisions currently being made around Australia to ignore climate change are being made by those who won’t be around by the time the worst effects hit home. How utterly disgusting, disrespectful and unfair is that?
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“Participation – that’s what’s gonna save the human race.”
Pete Seeger, American singer