Big Scrub Environment Centre e-journal - Edition 10
Hi there and welcome to this edition of the Big Scrub Environment Centre e-journal.
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This edition:
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR LAUNCH OF PALM OIL CONSUMER CAMPAIGN
HUMPBACK WHALE MIGRATION ICON PROJECT
GREY NURSE SHARK CAMPAIGN NEEDS YOUR HELP
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED FOR HUMPBACK WHALE STUDY
RISING SEA LEVELS AND DEVELOPMENT IN GREAT LAKES
RESIDENTIAL ECOVILLAGE INTERNSHIP
A HARD RAIN - ANTI-NUCLEAR FILM RELEASE
** RIC SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR LAUNCH OF PALM OIL CONSUMER CAMPAIGN
The Rainforest Information Centre has been working with the Palm Oil Action Group -- Australian Orangutan Project, Friends of the Earth, Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, Humane Society International and Australian Conservation Foundation - to launch a campaign to bring awareness to the hugely devastating impact that palm oil plantations are having in Indonesia and Malaysia and to encourage citizen action.
To put it briefly, peatland rainforests are clearfelled, burnt and drained causing large scale loss of habitat to orangutans and other endangered species, huge greenhouse gas emissions and hardship for local communities who lose their land and their traditional ways.
Unsuspecting consumers may well be unaware that palm oil can be found in ice cream, chocolate, biscuits, chips, margarine, crackers, cooking oil, toothpaste, soap, detergents, cosmetics and more.
The campaign will be officially launched in mid-May and we are looking for volunteers who would like to help organise activities such as film showings in various northern rivers towns and leafleting outside of Woolies, Coles and KFC.
Among other things, the campaign will ask consumers to write to food companies to urge them to transition to oils that are sourced through sustainable means. Food companies and government are also being asked to label products explicitly when palm oil is used rather than masking palm oil under the generic title of 'vegetable oil'.
For more information or to support this campaign, please call Ruth on 66897519
or email rainforestinfo@ozemail.com.au
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** HUMPBACK WHALE MIGRATION ICON PROJECT
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has initiated a project to encourage coastal councils and their communities along the eastern seaboard of Australia to celebrate the annual humpback whale migration by 'adopting' a known named whale as their local whale.
It would be simply fantastic if your town join also join this exciting project. You may be well aware, humpback whales and the whale watching communities they support in Australia are threatened by a new program of so-called 'scientific' whaling. The Humpback Whale Migration Icon Project aims to raise awareness of the threats facing our whales and to generate action to protect these whales. Just to note; adopting a whale does not cost anything.
This project will support the creation and unfurling of a large banner either across the main entry to towns and/or at key landmarks, announcing the local adopted whale and greeting the whole migration. We already have approximately 18 councils/communities that are involved in this project and have scheduled the unfurling of their banner and whale icon on our National Day of Action to Protect Whales on 12th May 2007.
For more information regarding the Humpback Whale Migration Icon Project,
contact Lydia Gibson (Campaigns Assistant, IFAW) on (02) 9288 4995
or email on lgibson@ifaw.org
For information regarding National Day of Action,
contact Rachel Kathriner (National Day of Action Co-ordinator IFAW) on; (02) 9288 4918
or email rkathriner@ifaw.org
For more information or publicity ideas, contact IFAW Communications, on 02) 9288 4993
or email eschrieber@ifaw.org
Look at the work we do; visit each organisation at;
www.surferforcetaceans.com
www.ifaw.org
www.oceania.org.au
** GREY NURSE SHARK CAMPAIGN NEEDS YOUR HELP
Tired of government inaction on increased protection for the Grey Nurse Shark, the Nature Conservation Council has lodged a legal appeal to try to force the government to create marine sanctuaries in key Grey Nurse Shark habitat areas.
There are fewer than 500 of these magnificent animals off the east coast of Australia and they are still being killed by fishing lines. If we win these legal proceedings, fishing could be banned in known Grey Nurse Shark habitats. Commercial fishers may also be required to change the fishing gear they use outside of key habitat areas to further minimise their impact on the sharks.
This legal challenge has been many months in development and the hearing is now in process. But we need your help! The legal challenge is completely funded by individual and conservation group contributions. Please consider making a donation to the Grey Nurse Shark Legal Appeal.
For more details contact:
NAME: Megan Kessler
EMAIL: mkessler@nccnsw.org.au
ORGANISATION: Nature Conservation Council
PHONE: 9279 2466
WEBSITE: www.nccnsw.org.au/greynurseshark
** VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED FOR HUMPBACK WHALE STUDY
DATES REQUIRED: May 24 - July 31 2007
Volunteers are required for a 10 week study on humpback whale behaviour from May 24 - July 31 this year. The study will be conducted at Cape Solander in Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell, Sydney. It forms a research masters conducted by Macquarie University Marine Mammal Research Group looking at the impacts of vessels on humpback whale behaviour. Whales are tracked using a theodolite, in association with a tracking software, Cyclopes. The land-based study will monitor whales during their northbound migration to identify whether or not the presence of vessels influences a change in behaviour.
We seek a dedicated group of volunteers to assist with the data collection. Volunteer hours are very flexible, however, they must be able to commit to most of the season, with a minimum of two shifts a week (two 5 hour shifts). Volunteers must organise and pay for their own way to the study site, but if required, accommodation is provided once there. Volunteers seeking accommodation must be able to work and live as part of a team, with shared cooking and cleaning duties. Meal costs are also shared.
Volunteers must also be able to work along side the Cape Solander Whale Migration Study volunteers conducting an independent research study for the national park.
Volunteers must be available for a training session at the beginning of May (date tba). The training session will be an introduction to the site, and study, and a hands-on experience with the gear that will be used to collect the data.
This project will suit recently graduated science students keen to gain experience in cetacean survey techniques and applicants with previous experience in operating a theodolite.
Although the site is sheltered, volunteers must be prepared to work through tough, cold conditions, therefore the appropriate cold/wet-weather gear is necessary.
CONTACT: Maryrose Gulesserian
EMAIL: mgulesserian@gse.mq.edu.au
ORGANISATION: Macquarie University
** RISING SEA LEVELS AND DEVELOPMENT IN GREAT LAKES
The Great Lakes Environment Association (GLEA) invites the community to attend a meeting to address Rising Sea Levels and Development in Great Lakes on May 2nd 7.15 pm Forster Memorial Club
Sea levels are rising and will continue to rise even if we cut greenhouse gas emissions by sixty per cent starting tomorrow. All low-lying coastal areas are vulnerable. Much of our infrastructure is at risk as are many homes and other buildings that face a future without insurance as sea level rise impacts become more defined.
'We need to plan for increased erosion and inundation along our coastline. We must minimise the cost and need for protection works', said Doug Lord, Manager, Coast & Estuaries, Department of Environment and Climate Change, who will be the guest speaker for Great Lakes Environment Association on Wednesday May 2nd at 7.15 pm, Wallis Room, Forster Memorial Club, Strand St, Forster.
'We are inviting the public to come along to this talk which will be very informative. Doug Lord is an excellent speaker and we look forward to his input into our community' said Jacqui Keats from Great Lakes Environment Association. 'This will help people understand what is happening along our coastline and the possible impacts now and in the future if sea level rise is not adequately addressed in all planning.'
'There are some impacts we can adapt to if we plan for this future. For example, we can avoid the situation on the Gold Coast where many underground car parks need to have huge pumps working many hours a day to keep the water out.We can ensure we do not build on land that will be inundated in years to come.'
Sea level rise will be exacerbated by spring tides and storm surges. The IPCC is warning us that the frequency and intensity of storms will increase and we have indications that we are witnessing that already.
Jacqui Keats
President
Great Lakes Environment Association
Contact: Mobile 0413 31 25 16
** RESIDENTIAL ECOVILLAGE INTERNSHIP
A new 4 month residential Ecovillage Internship will be held at Crystal Waters from March to July 2008. This unique programme, limited to just 8 participants to ensure personalised learning and mentoring, will offer the full Ecovillage Design Education Curriculum (as endorsed by GAIA Education), plus additional hands on, practical and life skills. If you are interested or have questions, please contact us for further details or visit our website at www.ecologicalsolutions.com.au/courses/crsdetail.php?crsid=29
The Ecovillage Design Course & Ecovillage Design Practicum earn credit points for students taking a Masters in the Practice of Sustainable Development (MPhil. Development Planning) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Don't miss your chance to learn from people with over 26 years hands on experience! Ecological Solutions was awarded Highly Commended for Education at the 2005 Sunshine Coast Environment Council Awards
DATES FOR FORTHCOMING COURSES
Ecovillage Design Course and Practicum: September 3rd - 14th 2007
3rd International Ecovillage Designers' Conference: September 15th - 17th 2007
Coming in 2008: A 4 month long Ecovillage internship at Crystal Waters! Expressions of interest now invited!
Robin Harpley - EcoLogical Solutions - Consultancy & Education Services
Tel: +61 (0)7 5494 4741
Email: info@ecologicalsolutions.com.au
** A HARD RAIN - ANTI-NUCLEAR FILM RELEASE
Well known Australia film-maker David Bradbury has released his new film 'A HARD RAIN' which explores the hidden agendas behind the latest push for Australia's to go nuclear.
For more information, visit the following website: www.frontlinefilms.com.au
DISCLAIMER: The Big Scrub Environment Centre and its officers accept no responsibility or liability for claims or statements made within articles published in this e-journal. The purpose of this e-journal is to provide a forum within which debate and discourse may occur. Articles published here represent the views and opinions of their authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The Big Scrub Environment Centre.
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The Big Scrub Environment Centre
www.bigscrub.org.au
email: info@bigscrub.org.au
Postal: PO Box 816
Lismore 2480