Food security is a topic that is increasingly in the public consciousness. Covering fast food, health food, institutional food, and more, ‘The No-Nonsense Guide to World Food’ shows how “real food” has become increasingly scarce, dominated as it is in the West by agri-business and supermarkets. In the no-nonsense tone for which these guides are known, Wayne Roberts covers nutrition, health, economics and more. He also gives examples of effective food-ways being developed by individuals, communities, and governments.
An essential guide to this important issue, ‘The No-Nonsense Guide to World Food’ will appeal to students, food professionals and activists, public health staff and concerned citizens – anyone who aims to understand the world food system and how it can be improved.
Vital Planet contains interviews with highly credible people whose work is contributing to a sustainable future – in the areas of Environment & Science, Wellbeing & Fullfillment, and Sustainable Business. With serious issues such as climate change and the ‘spin’ from special interests, the not for profit Vital Planet organisation believes that it is vital that these important voices can be heard by a greater number of people.
The USSA (Urban Sustainability Support Alliance) co-ordinated a unique poster presentation session for NSW sustainability practitioners at the Department of Environment and Climate Change/NSW Environmental Trust Integrating Sustainability in Local Government Symposium.
Ten local government presenters got on the USSA soapbox and shared their approach to a sustainability project or issue. Posters topics ranged from an Eco-fashion Show to converting a Pool to a Pond to Retro-fitting diesel engines.
The case study YouTube clips recorded on the day and copies of the posters can be accessed through the USSA website.
Greenhouse gases going up. Oil and gas depleting. House prices exploding. Overloading Australia explains why – and how to stop it. The press of numbers on this continent affects us all – those living, as well as those yet to be born. To talk of saving the environment or of climate change is meaningless if we won’t address population – a subject some think too hot for public debate. In a score of punchy chapters, authors Mark O’Connor and William Lines challenge the myths, expose the facts, and dent the denial industry. They blow the whistle on population-foolish policies that lead to clogged roads, water shortages, scarce food, and no place for refugees. They provide new ways to think about these issues and arguments covering a limit to Australia’s future population-size. This is a book that will revolutionise the green and political debates, on population and immigration, currently, one of the hottest political issues.
The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
Media release 10 December 2008
A further achievement in Australia’s comprehensive response to combat climate change was realised today with the sealing of Australia’s fifth Solar City agreement, Environment Minister Peter Garrett, said.
Supported by $14.9 million from the Australian Government, the Central Victoria Solar City is a $41 million project jointly driven by Bendigo Bank, Origin Energy, PowerCor, a number of local municipalities and the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and its commercial arm, ZCO2e.
“The agreement is the latest milestone in the Australian Government’s $94 million Solar Cities initiative which is integrating solar technologies, energy efficiency and large-scale community engagement to tackle climate change,” Mr Garrett said.
“The Central Victoria Solar City covers one fifth of Victoria and involves 14 municipalities, industry, businesses and local communities working together to rethink the way energy is produced and used…
Read the full media release here.
It takes a Living Donor to make a difference in this world. Someone willing to give everything they’ve got – their heart, brain, determination and all the rest – to change the world for the better. The Vodafone Australia Foundation is for looking for Living Donors to take part in the 2009 World of Difference Program. While you donate all of yourself to the charity or non-profit organisation of your choice for a year, we’ll pay you a salary of up to $50,000 and cover $25,000 in related expenses. Past World of Difference Graduates have included people who have donated to environmental non-profit organisations. Applications close Friday 6 February 2009.
Every two years, Global Footprint Network along with WWF and the Zoological Society of London issues the Living Planet Report, which uses complementary measures to explore the changing state of global biodiversity and of human consumption. The report documents the extent of human pressure on the planet, how that compares across nations, and how it is impacting the natural world. The Living Planet Report 2008, released October 29, 2008, shows that at the current rate humanity is using natural resources and producing waste, by the early 2030s we will require the resources of two planets to meet our needs.
The successful establishment of biodiversity corridors in urban areas requires the behavioural involvement of local residents in terms of their gardening practices, that is, gardening for habitat protection. This study by the Murdoch University School of Psychology investigates exactly how local residents perceive different kinds of gardens and whether such preferences might have an impact on their willingness to incorporate habitat-providing elements (e.g., native plants) into their own gardens. The study also aimed to investigate some of the attitudinal factors that might influence residents’ preferences for different kinds of gardens.