Earth Hour Breathing Life into our Community

As part of World Earth Hour, a new environmental network is being launched in Newcastle. Transition Town Newcastle is part of a world-wide movement responding to the twin pressures of Global Warming and Peak Oil in an inclusive and integrated way.

A spokesperson for the group, William Vorobioff said, “We need to start planning for a community that is less reliant on oil. We can’t wait for governments to legislate the change. For our children and for our planet, we need to start breathing life into our own communities now. We need to build resilient, sustainable ways of living together.”

To celebrate Earth Hour, Transition Town Newcastle is being launched with a forum “Breathing Life into Communities”. The forum begins at 5 pm just before Earth Hour on Saturday 28 March 2009 at Hamilton Baptist Church, Lindsay Street, Hamilton. While the adults are being engaged in the community forum, children can take part in “Earth Ticklers”, a creative drama workshop about caring for our planet. The group will also launch the new Australian edition of The Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins, the co-founder of the Transition Initiative.

After the forum and workshop everyone will move across the road for a picnic in Gregson Park at 7pm followed by the Earth Ticklers performance, wandering minstrels, a lantern parade and observing Earth Hour at 8.30pm.


http://www.transitionnewcastle.org.au/

Bright ideas feature on NBN TV

The relatively simple act of changing lightbulbs will save a Newcastle business more $1,400 a year in electricity costs. In another of NBN's Together Today segments, we take a look at how the restaurant is saving money while at the same time doing something good for the environment.

Visit http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2009/03/24/bright-idea/to find out how an audit carried out by EnergyAustralia has helped Bacchus can save money during Earth Hour and beyond.

Earth champion shapes board for competition

To celebrate Earth Hour 2009, The Herald is giving readers the chance to win an exclusive Mark Richards surfboard.

The world surfing champion and Earth Hour ambassador will personally shape the 198-centimetre fish board, which will feature artwork by DigiArt Imaging. The surfboard will be ready to ride at the end of April.

To enter, collect three of the four coupons published in The Herald.
Put the coupons in an envelope and post it to: Earth Hour Surfboard, PO Box 510, Newcastle 2300. Entries can also be delivered to The Herald office at 28-30 Bolton Street, Newcastle.
On the back of the envelope put your name, address and daytime telephone number.

Only original coupons will be accepted for the competition. Photocopies will not be allowed.
Entries need to be received by close of business Friday, March 27 and the winner will be announced in The Herald on Monday, March 30. For further details visit http://www.theherald.com.au/

Local Earth Hour news in the Herald

Turning off your lights for just one hour can make a difference. Show you care for the environment on March 28, and read how others in the Hunter are making small changes and reaping large environmental rewards.

Visit the www.theherald.com.au for the latest local news.

Earth Hour poster design winner

Lord Mayor of Newcastle Cr John Tate has announced Clare Hodgins winner of the Earth Hour poster design competition. The competition was open to students enrolled in the Diploma of Graphic Design and Communication at Hunter TAFE.

Sustainable living doesn’t need to cost the earth...

Newcastle City Council's autumn Sustainable Living program is out now with FREE workshops to help residents lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

Residents can learn about keeping chooks in the backyard, how to start a vegie garden, effective composting and renewable energy alternatives.

Environmental Education Officer, Frances Beilby says last year the chooks in the suburbs workshops were so popular that many people missed out.

“This year we have scheduled five workshops over the next months to make sure we can keep up with demand. Although given the popularity of all the workshops over the past few years, it is best to book early to avoid disappointment.”

Another popular workshop, green energy and renewable alternatives, looks at solar hot water systems, photovoltaic cells (solar electricity) and rebates available. Participants can learn from the presenter’s own experience of having both solar hot water and photovoltaic cells installed on his home.

“At the moment the environment is at the top of everyone’s agenda and everyone needs to understand that sustainable living can also equate to bill reductions at the end of the month.“

Find out more at the autumn sustainable living workshops, the full program includes:

Chooks in the Suburbs
Saturday 14 March from 10am to 12noon, Wednesday 18 March from 10am to 12noon, Saturday 4 April from 10am to 12noon, Saturday 23 May from 1pm to 3pm

Chooks in the Suburbs – Advanced
Saturday 20 June from 1pm to 3pm

Garden Gate to Dinner Plate
Wednesday 1 April from 10am to 12 noon

Composting and Wormfarming
Wednesday 6 May from 10am to 12noon

Green Energy and Renewable Alternatives
Saturday 20 June from 1pm to 3pm

Places are limited and BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL, call 4974 2543 or email ewasson@ncc.nsw.gov.au

Earth Hour in the Hunter is proudly supported by:

Newcastle City Council and Together Today

Together Today members include

NBN www.nbntv.com.au
The Newcastle Herald www.theherald.com.au
TAFE NSW Hunter-Institute www.hunter.tafensw.edu.au
Coal & Allied managed by Rio Tinto Coal Australia www.coalandallied.com.au
Macquarie Generation www.macgen.com.au
EnergyAustralia www.energy.com.au
CSIRO www.csiro.au
Hunter Water www.hunterwater.com
Port Waratah Coal Services www.pwcs.com.au
University of Newcastle www.newcastle.edu.au
NSW Department of Education and Training www.det.nsw.edu.au
Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle www.mn.catholic.edu.au
Newcastle Permanent Building Society www.newcastlepermanent.com.au
Port Stephens Council www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au
Lake Macquarie Council www.lakemac.nsw.gov.au
Maitland City Council www.maitland.nsw.gov.au