This is an invitation to help build a movement--to take one day day and use it to stop the climate crisis.

On October 24, we will stand together as one planet and call for a fair global climate treaty. United by a common call to action, we'll make it clear: the world needs an international plan that meets the latest science and gets us back to safety.

This movement has just begun, and it needs your help.

Here's the plan: we're asking you, and people in every country on earth, to organize an action in your community on October 24.

http://www.350.org/oct24

There are no limits here--imagine bike rides, rallies, concerts, hikes, festivals, tree-plantings, protests, and more. Imagine your action linking up with thousands of others around the globe. Imagine the world waking up.

If we can pull it off, we'll send a powerful message on October 24: the world needs the climate solutions that science and justice demand.

It's often said that the only thing preventing us from tackling the climate crisis quickly and equitably is a lack of political will. Well, the only thing that can create that political will is a unified global movement--and no one is going to build that movement for us. It's up to regular people all over the world. That's you.

So register an event in your community for October 24, and then enlist the help of your friends. Get together with your co-workers or your local environmental group or human rights campaign, your church or synagogue or mosque or temple; enlist bike riders and local farmers and young people. All over the planet we'll start to organize ourselves.

With your help, there will be an event at every iconic place on the planet on October 24-from America's Great Lakes to Australia's Great Barrier Reef--and also in all the places that matter to you in your daily lives: a beach or park or village green or town hall.

If there was ever a time for you to get involved, it's right now.

There are two reasons this year is so crucial.

The first reason is that the science of climate change is getting darker by the day. The Arctic is melting away with astonishing speed, decades ahead of schedule. Everything on the planet seems to be melting or burning, rising or parched.

And we now now have a number to express our peril: 350.

NASA's James Hansen and a team of other scientists recently published a series of papers showing that we need to cut the amount of carbon in the atmosphere from its current 387 parts per million to below 350 if we wish to "maintain a planet similar to that on which civilization developed."

No one knew that number a year ago-but now it's clear that 350 might well be the most important number for the future of the planet, a north star to guide our efforts as we remake the world. If we can swiftly get the planet on track to get back below 350, we can still avert the worst effects of climate change.

The second reason 2009 is so important is that the political opportunity to influence our governments has never been greater. The world's leaders will meet in Copenhagen this December to craft a new global treaty on cutting carbon emissions.

If that meeting were held now, it would produce a treaty would be woefully inadequate. In fact, it would lock us into a future where we'd never get back to 350 parts per million-where the rise of the sea would accelerate, where rainfall patterns would start to shift and deserts to grow. A future where first the poorest people, and then all of us, and then all the people that come after us, would find the only planet we have damaged and degraded.

October 24 comes six weeks before those crucial UN meetings in Copenhagen. If we all do our job, every nation will know the question they'll be asked when they put forth a plan: will this get the planet back on the path below 350?

This will only work with the help of a global movement-and it's starting to bubble up everywhere. Farmers in Cameroon, students in China, even World Cup skiers have already helped spread the word about 350. Churches have rung their bells 350 times; Buddhist monks have formed a huge 350 with their bodies against the backdrop of Himalayas. 350 translates across every boundary of language and culture. It's clear and direct, cutting through the static and it lays down a firm scientific line.

On October 24, we'll all stand behind 350--a universal symbol of climate safety and of the world we need to create. And at the end of the day, we'll all upload photos from our events to the 350.org website and send these pictures around the world. This cascade of images will drive climate change into the public debate--and hold our leaders accountable to a unified global citizenry.

We need your help-the world is a big place and our team is small. Our crew at 350.org will do everything we can to support you, providing templates for banners and press releases, resources to spread the word, and tools to help you build a strong local climate action group. And our core team is always just a phone call or e-mail away if you need some support.

This is like a final exam for human beings. Can we muster the courage, the commitment, and the creativity to set this earth on a steady course before it's too late? October 24 will be the joyful, powerful day when we prove it's possible.

Please join us and register your local event today.

Onwards,

Bill McKibben - Author and Activist- USA
Vandana Shiva - Physicist, Activist, Author - India
David Suzuki - Scientist, Author, Activist - Canada
Bianca Jagger - Chair of the World Future Council - UK
Tim Flannery - Scientist, Author, Explorer -Australia
Bittu Sahgal - Co-convener, Climate Challenge India - India
Andrew Simmons - Environmental Advocate, St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Christine Loh - Environmental Advocate and Legislator - Hong Kong

In this edition:

1. The Breakfast show is coming to town this Thursday! Showcasing Wanaka’s sustainable transport options. Spread the word and come on down!
2. WanaRide Share – drivers looking for passengers, Cooreea rides
3. Wanaka Green Waste competition – in return for your ideas
4. Sustainable Wanaka Green Drinks this Thurs – marketing your sustainable products and ideas
5. Keep recycling, nothings changed at Wastebusters
6. Events listing – contact me to list your sustainable event


1. The Breakfast show is coming to town! Tamati’s Transport Tiki Tour is visting Wanaka this Thursday 12th March


Yes you heard it first here. The TVNZ national breakfast show called me last week and said are sending Tamati, the roving weatherman, to Wanaka to come and talk to Wanaka people about sustainable transport options in our town. He’ll be doing LIVE interviews with Tim, the guy on the trike, the Wastebusters bike and trailer folk, Gwilyn and Merle from Cooreea and will also be talking to Sustainable Wanaka, talking about WanaRide share and carpooling. The walking school bus will also be making an appearance.

So if you get to work or into town by carpooling, on a bike, a skateboard, a segue, on foot or even on a horse stop by the WanaRide Share meeting point up the hill from Red Star burgers and meet Tamati. Let’s show New Zealand how much we love sustainable transport!


Tamati will be at the WanaRide Share meeting point up the road from Red Star Burgers from 6:40 am till 8:40 pm. Spot prizes to give away and the more options we can show Tamati the better chance we’ll have to win the Top One Less Car on the Road Town.


Please forward this on to anyone you know that rides, walks or rolls into town in the mornings


2. WanaRide Share – drivers looking for passengers

RideShares are available from Luggate and Albert Town – all you need to do is go to meeting point at the designated time and you will get a ride. They’ll be looking out for you. We are still looking for more drivers willing to commit to regular pick ups – I have had quite a few people saying they are looking out for people waiting all the time but aren’t always that regular with times.


Luggate: “Tuesday to Friday at 7.15am returning between 3.30- 3.45pm” Esther

Albert Town: “Monday to Friday 0655hrs. Always have room for two to three others depending if i have my son or not.” Tim


Cooreea Rides

Rides offering space

Monday 10th March – Wanaka – Queenstown

Tuesday 11th March – Wanaka – Queenstown – space for

Looking for ride

Wednesday 13th March – Wanaka – Alex – need to be there for 3:30pm


3. Wanaka Green Waste Competition


Wanaka Wastebusters has just taken over the running of the Green Waste. We're in the process of 'Wastebusterising' it - to encourage more people to use it and to make it a center for recycled garden resources. The cost for a green waste drop-off is now $12 per cubic metre, so a small to medium trailer-load would cost from $4 to $12.


We've got lots of ideas about how to improve Green Waste – but we want to know what you would like to see improved. Put a suggestion in the suggestion box at the front gate during the next month, and you could be the lucky winner of a trailer-load of your choice of the Green Waste goods: bark, mulch, compost or fire-wood. Competition closes Friday 13th March.



Wanaka Wastebusters need more jars (with lids) for preserving. Reuse is more sustainable than recycling, please bring your unwanted empty
jars and lids into the Wastebusters shop so someone else can use them again (and again, and again).



4. Sustainable Wanaka Green Drinks, Thursday 12th March, 5:30pm – marketing sustainable products and ideas



This month we have a guest speaker, Eric Billoud who is coming to facilitate a discussion on marketing sustainable products. It will be very informal. If you have a product or idea that you’d like to get out there please come along. All Welcome!


5.Wanaka Wastebusters says “keep recycling”


The good hardworking folk at Wanaka Wastebusters want to let you know that, despite all the tales of doom and gloom, and recycling being dumped offshore, being stockpiled or going to landfill, everything is business as usual at the recycle centre. Thanks to the Wanaka community who do such a great job of presenting their recycling clean and separated, the team at WWB are able to hand sort and separate down to such a low level that the product that comes out the other end is top class. What this means is that WWB is not experiencing the same problems as other places are and that your recycling continues on its journey to become something else.


6. Events Listing – contact me to list your sustainable event here


Regular Events:


· Wanaka Farmers and Gardeners Market, every Sunday 8:00am to 1:00pm, Pembroke Park, near the big car park

· Te Kakano volunteer sessions: 9:00am – 12:00pm Tuesday and Wednesdays, 7:00pm – 9:00pm Wednesdays. For more information contact Andrew Penniket on 021 342 187

· Sustainable Wanaka Green Drinks – 2nd Thursday of every month, 5:30pm, Finchys on Dunmore Street


March

.

· TODAY - 5.30, Green meeting at Finchy's (anyone interested in being part of a Green network in the Wanaka area is invited to come along and meet other like-minded green thinker and doers) For more info call Frankie Dean 03 443 8656

· Thurs 12th – Wanaka on Breakfast TV – riders and walkers - come and meet Tamati the rover weather man. Loads of spot prizes, WanaRide Share meeting point, Ardmore Street (outside Mackenzie Willis)

· Thurs 19th– Walk for the Planet arrives Timaru

· Thus 19th 6-9pm - Harakeke (flax)weaving) for Beginners with Pip O'Connell, $30pp, enquiries to Jo (jo@coreap.org.nz, 0800COREAP or 443 1706)

· Sat 28th 10am – 2pm Sustainable cooking class: home made spaghetti and tomato soup, $55pp+$22 for ingredients enquiries to Jo (jo@coreap.org.nz, 0800COREAP or 443 1706)

· Sat 28th 9:00am-12:00pm: Dr Compost workshop - City Impact Church, Frankton

· Sat 28th 8:30pm: Earth Hour, stay tuned for details of Wanaka earth hour events


April

· Fri 3rd 3-5pm Networking event for Sustainable Product and Service Practitioners/Organisations, Molyneux Restaurant, Cromwell, Please bring display material. RSVP to Steve Henry (steveh@tekotagoac.nz or 021 705 873)

· Sat 4th 10am – 2pm Sustainable cooking class: preserving with Judi Mewhinney, $55pp+$22 for ingredients enquiries to Jo (jo@coreap.org.nz, 0800COREAP or 443 1706)

· Thur 9th – Walk for the Planet arrives in Picton

· Sun 19th - Wanaka Veggie Garden Tour – details to come, mark it in your diary


May

· Sun 3rd: Sustainable House Day in Queenstown – details to come, mark it in your diary


Sophie Ward

Sustainable Wanaka

PO Box 102, Wanaka 9343


03-443 5057 mobile: 0210 239 5498

www.sustainablewanaka.co.nz



Sophie Ward

Sustainable Wanaka

PO Box 102, Wanaka 9343


03-443 5057 mobile: 0210 239 5498

www.sustainablewanaka.co.nz

Kia ora,
The first newsletter for 2009! Please see below for upcoming environmental events, courses, conferences, etc. If you know anyone who would like to receive this monthly newsletter, or if you no longer wish to receive it, please let me know. Email events, courses, celebrations etc so that I can include them in future newsletters. If you wish to have your organisation's email address placed on the "Contributors'" list, please let me know.

COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE LIVING CLASSES: Enrol now for courses at Macandrew Bay, Ravensbourne, Kaikorai Valley or Mosgiel. This interactive eight-week course will assist you to learn and share practical tips that make a difference and can save you money, enable you to meet others in your community who are interested in living more sustainably, and gain support for introducing lifestyle changes you want to make. Facilitated by Dr Maureen Howard, c/o Water and Waste Services, Dunedin City Council.

COURSE CONTENT: Introduction - Sustainability in the home - making changes; Energy - efficiency and conservation, renewables; Waste - reduce, reuse,recycle, composting; Shopping - making better choices, making your own cleaners; Gardening - attracting wildlife, growing your own veggies; Water - conservation, collection, reuse and keeping waterways clean; Transport - travelling more sustainably; Final - Community Focus

UPCOMING COURSES: RAVENSBOURNE community, daytime, starting Tues 10 February, 10.30am-12.30pm, at Renaissance Gallery. MACANDREW BAY community, evening, starting Tues 10 February, 7-9pm at Macandrew Bay Primary School. MOSGIEL community, daytime, starting Wed 11 February, 10.15am-12.15pm, at Mosgiel Library. DUNEDIN WIDE, starting Wed 11 February, 7-9pm

at Kaikorai Valley College (register with school).
All courses are free but a Koha/Donation is requested ($25-35 recommended). Courses are restricted to a maximum of 14 people. Registration is essential - Phone Maureen, 4739967, or Email mhoward@slingshot.co.nz. Priority registration given to those living in the community specified.

The Sustainable Living Programme is brought to you locally by the Dunedin City Council.

FEET FIRST Walk n Wheel to School Week 2009: March 2 – 6th, Walk n Wheel Day Wednesday 4th March. Over 50 schools registered to take part. We are aiming to get as many as 6500 students to take part. Schools with over 80% of their students walking or wheeling on Walk n Wheel Day, or over 60% walking or wheeling for the entire week will go in a draw to win awesome prizes!

FEET FIRST Walk n Wheel to School Week is an initiative run by Sport Otago and the Dunedin City Council to promote and encourage school aged children to walk or wheel (cycle, scooter, skateboard or roller-skate) to school. Walking n wheeling to school is a great initiative for the following reasons: Children’s health and fitness is improved, children’s awareness and learning about road safety is increased, you save money on petrol and reduce pollution, congestion and chaos at the school gate is reduced, children have fun with friends and make new ones, children learn more about, and take pride in, their community, children arrive at school invigorated and ready to learn!

It takes a community effort to help get children more active and to make roads safer. It is not too late to get your school registered. For more information please contact Angela Spears at Sport Otago, ph 474 6355.

2009 BIKEWISE BATTLE: It's time to pump up the tyres and take a whirl around the neighbourhood in preparation for this year's event - set to be the biggest yet! This year the Battle takes place for the whole month of February. The Bike Wise Battle is a fun, national competition that encourages people to give biking a go. The DCC competes against others to see who can get the highest percentage of staff to ride a bike to work, or recreationally. People can ride wherever they feel comfortable for a minimum of 2km or 10 minutes. It's all about having fun while creating a healthier, happier workplace! To register, go to www.bikewise.co.nz.

Bike Wise events - Mayoral Challenge, Sunday, 10.30am, 15 February, meet at the rowing clubs at the start of the cycle lane. Open to everyone, bring the family & go in for the prize draw and family activities that follow at the Otago Settlers' Museum! Go By Bike Day, Wednesday, 18 February. Bikewise Breakfast, February 18, commuters are encouraged to cycle in and share a free breakfast in the Octagon. Please contact Charlotte Flaherty in Transportation Operations, DCC if you have any questions.

ENVIROSCHOOLS: Mark these dates in now - Otago Regional Hui, 17 March (enviroschools only); 24 March, all-day Exploring Education for Sustainability (EfS) workshop, details to follow (all Otago primary & high schools). And check out the Enviroschools website - www.enviroschools.org.nz

SEAWEEK 2009: More Than Meets the Eye: Kotahi moana - ka timata mai i ahau; One ocean – it starts with me. "2009 is the year to get as many masks and goggles on as many faces as possible and show people the magic under the waves. It's time for us to know more about this environment - its creatures, its plant life, the quality of the water and what affects it". There will be a number of events and activities organised locally, including a Coastal Cleanup, and if you are organising something yourselves, please send the details to Liz Sherwood or John Gordon, Department of Conservation, Otago, as soon as they are available, and these events will be promoted along with others, and included on the Seaweek and DOC websites. Liz Sherwood ph. 474 7094, lsherwood@doc.govt.nz and John Gordon ph. 474 6905 jgordon@doc.govt.nz . Go to http://www.seaweek.org.nz for ideas, and soon, for events/activities organised in and around Dunedin & Otago.

TRANSITION VALLEY GROUP MEETING: 7 pm, Thursday, 12th February, North East Valley Baptist Church Hall. Is Our Community Resilent Enough to Stand Up to Energy, Climate and Economic Shocks? First in a series of talks, films & discussions that will lead on to practical projects. Transition Valley is a group of locals who are keen to build skills within the communities of North East Valley, Opoho, Dalmore, Pine Hill, Normanby and Mt Mera in response to the challenges of the future. Dugald MacTavish , an environmental scientist from the Hampden-Moeraki community will describe how the community members informed themselves of the challenges of Peak Oil & Climate Change, and how they have decided to respond. Come, bring your neighbours and be part of the solution. Check out the NZ Transition Town website: http://www.transitiontowns.org.nz/

GREENDRINKS: Thursday 29 January from 5.30pm, St Lees on Dundas St. The theme for this month is BRING A PRACTICAL SUSTAINBLE SOLUTION TO SHARE! (E.g. a homemade alternative to bought product, an energy efficient device, your favourite compost recipe etc)

Environmental Education Officer (Fixed Term position) – Environment Southland: To co-ordinate, and contribute to the delivery of, Environment Southland's environmental education programmes. Primarily focussed on providing schools' education support, you will also play a vital role in other educational/ communication programmes within council to assist staff to engage the Southland community to implement behaviours that protect and enhance the environment. Key projects include facilitation of the Enviroschools programme; delivery of education programmes such as Stream Connections; coordination of Bruce C Gull's environmental kids' club - Brucie's Buddies; and development of an environmentally focussed youth led programme. Further information can be found in the vacancies section of Environment Southland’s website www.es.govt.nz

NEW WASTE EXCHANGE SERVICES – WATCH THIS SPACE: Please be advised that supported waste exchange services to Dunedin’s industry and community organisations will no longer be delivered by No Throw. Electing a return to Terranova will enable a more personalised approach via Jim Forsman, waste exchange facilitator. Material listings for Dunedin are being gathered NOW in anticipation of launching our region’s page on Terranova’s website. If you have materials you feel would be ideal for the waste exchange programme, please contact Cath Broad via e-mail: cbroad@dcc.govt.nz including a description and photo were possible. Terranova can be viewed on www.terranova.org.nz (Dunedin’s listings yet to be uploaded). Another notice will be sent out once we go live!

MAKE DUNEDIN FAIR: Can you help Dunedin become the 1st Fair Trade City in New Zealand? We now have lots of fair trade schools, workplaces and faith groups, but need more. We're also working with the university to become fair trade certified, so please contact Dave Butler-Peck on david_a_peck@hotmail.com if you can offer any help or would like more information on the campaign to beat Auckland and ChCh to the title!
Fair Trade Fortnight! Would you like to get more involved in Fair Trade Fortnight - Saturday 2nd to Saturday 16th May? We're planning a mini-fairtrade and environmental film festival, coffee making and roasting night, fun and games on World Fair Trade Day and lots more besides. Watch this space for more info or email dunedin@tradeaid.org.nz to be added to the database.

OTAGO HERB SOCIETY: First meeting of the year, 7.30 pm, Thursday, March 26, Education Centre, Dunedin Botanical Gardens, Lovelock Ave. Our speaker is Fiona Eadie, Head Gardener at Larnach Castle, talking about trees and shrubs with the emphasis on their medicinal aspect. We welcome new members and our subscription is $30 per year, due at our March meeting. We meet the fourth Thursday of each month and have an interesting and varied programme as well as a fully stocked herb library from which members can borrow herb related books and magazines. For further information, please phone 4774-910 or email - liz.petrie@xtra.co.nz



NZAEE 2010 Biennial Conference: The NZAEE conference planning team, headed by Emily Rockwell from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, is already planning the 2010 NZAEE biennial conference, to be held at Lindisfarne College, Napier, 21 - 23 January 2010. Mark it in your diary now. Conference updates will be provided in later newsletters and on the NZAEE website.

SUSTAINABILITY CALENDAR - IMPORTANT DATES FOR SCHOOLS: Download a copy and pin in a prominent place on the staff room noticeboard: http://www.teachingonline.org/november08pdfs/enviro.pdf

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY 2009: Great website at www.astronomy2009.org . To find out more about their Teacher Training programme, go to http://www.astronomy2009.org/globalprojects/cornerstones/galileoteachertraning/

Jenny Neilson
Education Promotion Officer, Water and Waste Services
Dunedin City Council

50 The Octagon, Dunedin; PO Box 5045, Moray Place, Dunedin 9058, New Zealand
Telephone: 03 477 4000; Fax: 03 474 3468
Email: jenny.neilson@dcc.govt.nz; www.dunedin.govt.nz
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

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Orokonui Ecosanctuary is now open for guided tours - Come and see the forest restoration project in progress, learn about the changes that have already been made and support the development of the Ecosanctuary.Tours for all ages and abilities, 1 ½ hours long, $20 per adult, $10 per child. 50% discount for ONHT members. Bookings are essential. Phone (03) 482 1755 or email info@orokonui.org.nz. www.orokonui.org.nz

OROKONUI'S WONDERFUL NEWS: Thanks to our volunteers who have collected huhu grubs this season, our kaka has just laid an egg! On the 8th of December this egg and possibly others will hatch. Then the mother will be frantically feeding them. The more huhu grubs the better. If you’re able to gather huhu grubs please give Chris a call on 482 1755 or email info@orokonui.org.nz. Thanks so much for your help.

We invite applications for our Practical Gardening course which begins after Labour Weekend in Dunedin. Our course will run on Mondays from 10.00am till 2.30pm for 24 sessions, with a break over Christmas.

This course is suitable for the home gardener or someone who wishes to seek employment in Horticulture and includes sessions on maintenance of hand tools, compost making, caring for trees, shrubs and climbing plants, plant propagation and more.

Cost for this course if $190.00 which includes all student resources. On completion of this course, many of our students continue study towards a qualification in Organic Horticulture - a local Agriculture New Zealand course also tutored by Michelle Ritchie.

Please contact local Course Manager Carol Adams on 4700326 for further information.