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Moggill SS sustainability news 17 March

FROM THE GREEN CORNER

Year of Sustainability-Education Queensland

Carbon Footprints

The following article was written by Louise Orr.  Louise lives and works as a committed environmentalist.  Graduating from the University of Queensland with an honours degree in environmental science, she has spent 15 years working within the environment and related industries.   Louise spent a number of years consulting within the area of sustainable agriculture, and has also delivered natural resource management and land management programs at both local and state government level.   Louise currently works providing research and advice on sustainability issues for the Queensland Government.   She is passionate about food and the challenges and risks presented in feeding the earths people.  She is a committed local food advocate, who understands how cultural, ecological and economically healthy food systems create resilient, inclusive communities.

What is sustainable living and we should we practice it?

Sustainability is a term often used.   It has been talked about now for over 40 years; it is enshrined in many pieces of our legislation; it is promoted as a principle by many organisations and individuals.   But what does it really mean?   The original definition was that growth and prosperity should be available to all people of the world; that if everyone practiced living sustainably it would alleviate world poverty, whilst ensuring that the environment did not continue to degrade.    It would mean there would be equity between all people whatever country people lived in, whether they were from this generation or the next and that they should all be able to enjoy a healthy life.

Most importantly, it recognises that in order to achieve this we need to protect our natural environment, which is the source of all the resources essential for life on earth clean water, good soil, fresh air, plants and animals.

But what does this mean for people in their everyday lives and in their communities?   It means we have to recognise our environment limits and learn to live within them.   Water, soil, plants, fish, animals these are all finite resources.   We can only use so much of them before their quality degrades to the point they are unusable, or they simply run out.     This brings us to the next part of living sustainably:  making choices.    To live within our environmental limits, it means we have to make choices about how much of each resource we can safely use.  These can be difficult choices to make.     Our government is tasked with making these decisions regarding the community as a whole.  But you as an individual can make these choices in your everyday lives.   By using only the resources you need.  By thinking about the purchases you make remember, everything we buy and use came from natural resources at some point.    

Where to start?   One way of reducing the amount of resources you use is when choosing presents for other people.   Why not give them something they can do a service rather than a product.   What about that cool new haircut they have been talking about for weeks?    Or a ticket to the movies or to their favourite sporting event?     Even better buy two tickets and go together.   In this way, you are starting to use fewer resources.   You have both begun to start living more sustainably.   

Electricity Bill Question & Answer Forum

Sustainable Jamboree are putting on an excellent forum relating to questions about your electricity bill. 

Question & Answer Forum at Mt Ommaney Library Meeting Room, Dandenong Road,  2 4pm, Wed 24 Mar, & repeated 1 3pm, Sat 27 Mar, 2010

  Ask about

     Mysteries of your bill and your kWh / day usage

     Cheaper ways to run air-conditioning

     Booster switches

     Tariffs pros and cons getting the most from your electrician

     Earning cash on your electricity bill

     Smart grids and demand for large scale renewables

     Peak demand myths

     Energy saving products and replacing your hot water system

     Temperature settings for water and fridges health and safety

Panel includes Anne Armansin, Origin Retail Energy Adviser and Energy Institute guru as well as Ed Parker, local resident and net energy generator who is earning money from solar. Ed won the Lord Mayor's Australia Day Greenheart Award in 2009.  Register early. Limited seating - phone 3375 7268 or emailinfo@sustainablejamboree.org

From the Green Corner  

Frog Pond

Thank you to Evan from 2W for bringing along some frog tadpoles for our frog pond.  A few class members helped identify them as frog tadpoles rather than toads.  Well done!! 

Chook Pen

The chooks have now been relocated to Mrs Carniels huge chook pen.  They will undoubtedly be quite content there until our pen is built.  There is a delay in the building process due to the complicated procedure involved with Education Queensland and as yet we havent heard from the gentleman who plans on building the pen.                              

Steering Committee Meeting

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 8th April, 6.30pm in the staff room. Please feel free to join and have your say on how we should run with the vege garden and sustainability ideas.                                                                   

ClimateSmart Sustainability Award - $5,000

We are well on the way to submitting an application for this award.  The criteria is difficult to meet, as we need to measure our efforts made in reducing energy, reducing waste and saving/capturing water.  However, we will give it our best shot and hopefully win $5,000.00.

Vege Garden & Sustainability Team

ICO concert 28 March at 1.30pm Fw: Friends of the ICO

Dear Music lover, The Indooroopilly Chamber Orchestra is performing in the Customs House on Sunday next 28 March at 1.30pm, details below. I regret the late advice. Hope to see you there. Regards,             Rob Teakle.

Sunday 28 March 1.30pm

Customs House,  399 Queen Street, Brisbane

 Carolina Casaril conductor

Program

Mozart   Horn Concerto K. 417   Soloist: Andrew Kopittke

Brumby   Scena for cor anglais and strings   Soloist: Anton Rayner

Beethoven   Symphony No. 7

Admission

Adults:  $20

Students:  $10

Primary school students:  Free

Tickets: at door

Location Walk to Customs House down Queen Street or along the river boardwalk. Bus and train stations are located nearby while the City Cat stops at the Riverside Centre just a few minutes walk from the Customs House.

Movie in the Park 26th March - UP!

26 March 2010 - Booker Place, Bellbowrie (Near the Sports Club) - Food from
5:45pm by Scouts and movie from 6:30pm - UP!