News from Darwin re Transition to Sustainability
18/01/09 17:39 Filed in: Transition Towns
Hello
Here's a bit of an update on the sustainability/climate change things that have happened to me so far this month. Its ended up a bit long, but I thought I'd just give you a whole picture of what I know by way of introduction.
Transition Towns
Well for the last two weeks I've been floating the Transition Town idea around the place and letting people mull it all over. So far I have been pretty impressed by the response from people. This seems to be the sort of thing that many people have been looking for. So far my purpose is just to find out who and what is out there and get a few people talking. I'm hopeful that through this process 1 to 3 other people will eventually present themselves to help lead this project through the next couple of stages.
I've only just started contacting the people/orgs that I plan chat to and so far I'm in really positive conversations with the following:
• Food Care NT who run the permabliz;
• Environment Centre NT who have been very helpful and very very encouraging;
• Transition Town group in Alice Springs run through the Arid Land Environment Centre (early days for them too);
• A couple of other like minded people who are already doing some things in this area; and of course
• the Brisbane Transition Initiative people who encouraged me to look at the opportunities in my own city.
(you lot are fantastic - thanks a whole bunch for being so open minded and encouraging!)
Thursday morning ABC local radio called me for an interview that arvo. (Already - can you believe it?) I was interviewed by Annie Gaston on Drive but while I was on hold I spoke to Mick Murdoch who does Sat mornings. After their request for an interview I emailed them a few links below. Mike told me that they had browsed around on the web and reckon that they would like regular updates, there looks like there would be lots of scope for regular coverage and that if there is anything they can do to get the word out about this or that, then just ask! Someone just told me last night that the local ABC am presenter Julia Christiansen was talking about Transition Towns again the next morning.
After the interview I received one enquiry from the public and one encouraging comment in the lift at work. Both are senior public servants with great strategic planning and project management experience, whom I would feel very comfortable at least going to for advice.
On Saturday (today) I am meeting with two women. One of them has been very actively encouraging people to lobby the Federal Government to act on climate change. Apparently, the other woman is particularly interested in linking people already active in practical activities. I'm super keen to hear her ideas and the activities/groups she knows about.
I'm compiling a list of people or organisations who maybe knowledgeable or interested in each theme area, ie food, water, waste etc to make sure we make at least all the obvious connections. I'll ask people like yourselves to help me populate the table with people or organisations you know, or have heard rumours about, who may be active or knowledgeable in those themes.
I'm hoping I'll be able to organise an informal chat with Graeme Sawyer the Lord Mayor in the next couple of weeks, just to see where his head is at. I've heard that he is right into sustainability - turning buildings green and breeding frogs (gotta love this town). I know him a bit through my work on the board of Happy Yess. He's personally been trying to find us a permanent music venue. He might have some ideas and it can't hurt to start building a relationship with him for the future
He also has a couple of really community minded aldermen that it would be worth chatting to in the coming months such as Greg Jarvis who I know through his work as a school principal in Palmerston. He campaigned in my area on cycle paths.
Climate Change Campaigning
On Friday morning my mate Deb Hudson and I met Stuart Blanch who is the incoming coordinator of the Environment Centre NT. He doesn't actually start in his new job until next week so that's pretty good of him. We shared our particular angles and ideas, had a quick brainstorm and thanked our lucky stars for each other.
Deb and I have been doing a lot of talking in the last couple of weeks, soul searching and really trying to articulate what we are inspired to do. We have learnt that the approaches that we want to take to engage people to address climate change are SO different. We have come to the conclusion that this is a hugely positive thing, because it means that we will be working with very different groups of people - since these issues face us all, that is essential! We are weighing up whether to go to Canberra for the Climate Change Summit on 31 Jan. Jury is still out but most people seem pretty supportive so we probably will somehow. Max at the Environment centre is keen to publish stories we bring back and circulate information to members.
This week I'll forward around to my new mates, all of the Climate Emergency story and links that I have. So Philip and Richard if there is anything new on that front let me know. I'm keen for some people I've met in Darwin to be directly in touch with you two.
I am keen to hassle in writing every politician and organisation that purports to be green, to ask them to get on board the call for an emergency response to climate change and aim for zero emissions in ten years. Elly at the environment centre has put together a list of contact details for me - so good.
The Austrian Youth Climate Coalition is hosting Power Shift 2009, "Australia's first national youth climate summit, will be a key moment where our generation demonstrates our power, asserts our power and directs our energy to force political change for a POWER SHIFT to a clean energy future." I've learnt that there are 3 NT recruiters to get young territorians to attend powershift in april and my mate is one of them! (http://www.aycc.org.au/?page_id=388)
I've been making a point of talking to all of my friends about climate change. I've found that like myself a coupla weeks ago, many people do not know what all the different targets translate to in terms of carbon concentration, temperature rise and environmental effects.I see this an an opportunity and I'm keen to see information presented in this way. I've got a draft but its a bit sketchy. If you are interested in researching a few more facts or know someone who has stats closer to their fingertips, let me know.
I've sent this email to you and a bunch of people who have been very helpful and encouraging of me and I love your work. I promise not to clog your email accounts over the coming months!
Cheers
Karen Cieri
Some of you have requested some links about Transition Towns. They might also be handy to pass on sometime.
http://www.transitiontowns.org/
http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/12Steps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_Towns
Here's the fancy Sunshine Coast website - they were the first in Australia and their plan has just been ratified by the regional council:
http://www.seac.net.au/
Here's a bit of an update on the sustainability/climate change things that have happened to me so far this month. Its ended up a bit long, but I thought I'd just give you a whole picture of what I know by way of introduction.
Transition Towns
Well for the last two weeks I've been floating the Transition Town idea around the place and letting people mull it all over. So far I have been pretty impressed by the response from people. This seems to be the sort of thing that many people have been looking for. So far my purpose is just to find out who and what is out there and get a few people talking. I'm hopeful that through this process 1 to 3 other people will eventually present themselves to help lead this project through the next couple of stages.
I've only just started contacting the people/orgs that I plan chat to and so far I'm in really positive conversations with the following:
• Food Care NT who run the permabliz;
• Environment Centre NT who have been very helpful and very very encouraging;
• Transition Town group in Alice Springs run through the Arid Land Environment Centre (early days for them too);
• A couple of other like minded people who are already doing some things in this area; and of course
• the Brisbane Transition Initiative people who encouraged me to look at the opportunities in my own city.
(you lot are fantastic - thanks a whole bunch for being so open minded and encouraging!)
Thursday morning ABC local radio called me for an interview that arvo. (Already - can you believe it?) I was interviewed by Annie Gaston on Drive but while I was on hold I spoke to Mick Murdoch who does Sat mornings. After their request for an interview I emailed them a few links below. Mike told me that they had browsed around on the web and reckon that they would like regular updates, there looks like there would be lots of scope for regular coverage and that if there is anything they can do to get the word out about this or that, then just ask! Someone just told me last night that the local ABC am presenter Julia Christiansen was talking about Transition Towns again the next morning.
After the interview I received one enquiry from the public and one encouraging comment in the lift at work. Both are senior public servants with great strategic planning and project management experience, whom I would feel very comfortable at least going to for advice.
On Saturday (today) I am meeting with two women. One of them has been very actively encouraging people to lobby the Federal Government to act on climate change. Apparently, the other woman is particularly interested in linking people already active in practical activities. I'm super keen to hear her ideas and the activities/groups she knows about.
I'm compiling a list of people or organisations who maybe knowledgeable or interested in each theme area, ie food, water, waste etc to make sure we make at least all the obvious connections. I'll ask people like yourselves to help me populate the table with people or organisations you know, or have heard rumours about, who may be active or knowledgeable in those themes.
I'm hoping I'll be able to organise an informal chat with Graeme Sawyer the Lord Mayor in the next couple of weeks, just to see where his head is at. I've heard that he is right into sustainability - turning buildings green and breeding frogs (gotta love this town). I know him a bit through my work on the board of Happy Yess. He's personally been trying to find us a permanent music venue. He might have some ideas and it can't hurt to start building a relationship with him for the future
He also has a couple of really community minded aldermen that it would be worth chatting to in the coming months such as Greg Jarvis who I know through his work as a school principal in Palmerston. He campaigned in my area on cycle paths.Climate Change Campaigning
On Friday morning my mate Deb Hudson and I met Stuart Blanch who is the incoming coordinator of the Environment Centre NT. He doesn't actually start in his new job until next week so that's pretty good of him. We shared our particular angles and ideas, had a quick brainstorm and thanked our lucky stars for each other.
Deb and I have been doing a lot of talking in the last couple of weeks, soul searching and really trying to articulate what we are inspired to do. We have learnt that the approaches that we want to take to engage people to address climate change are SO different. We have come to the conclusion that this is a hugely positive thing, because it means that we will be working with very different groups of people - since these issues face us all, that is essential! We are weighing up whether to go to Canberra for the Climate Change Summit on 31 Jan. Jury is still out but most people seem pretty supportive so we probably will somehow. Max at the Environment centre is keen to publish stories we bring back and circulate information to members.
This week I'll forward around to my new mates, all of the Climate Emergency story and links that I have. So Philip and Richard if there is anything new on that front let me know. I'm keen for some people I've met in Darwin to be directly in touch with you two.
I am keen to hassle in writing every politician and organisation that purports to be green, to ask them to get on board the call for an emergency response to climate change and aim for zero emissions in ten years. Elly at the environment centre has put together a list of contact details for me - so good.
The Austrian Youth Climate Coalition is hosting Power Shift 2009, "Australia's first national youth climate summit, will be a key moment where our generation demonstrates our power, asserts our power and directs our energy to force political change for a POWER SHIFT to a clean energy future." I've learnt that there are 3 NT recruiters to get young territorians to attend powershift in april and my mate is one of them! (http://www.aycc.org.au/?page_id=388)
I've been making a point of talking to all of my friends about climate change. I've found that like myself a coupla weeks ago, many people do not know what all the different targets translate to in terms of carbon concentration, temperature rise and environmental effects.I see this an an opportunity and I'm keen to see information presented in this way. I've got a draft but its a bit sketchy. If you are interested in researching a few more facts or know someone who has stats closer to their fingertips, let me know.
I've sent this email to you and a bunch of people who have been very helpful and encouraging of me and I love your work. I promise not to clog your email accounts over the coming months!
Cheers
Karen Cieri
Some of you have requested some links about Transition Towns. They might also be handy to pass on sometime.
http://www.transitiontowns.org/
http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/12Steps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_Towns
Here's the fancy Sunshine Coast website - they were the first in Australia and their plan has just been ratified by the regional council:
http://www.seac.net.au/
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