Why are so many things broken?

Why are so many things broken? In this entertaining talk - one of the favorites of Gel 2006 - Seth Godin gives a tour of things poorly designed, the reasons why they are that way, and how to fix them

One of his examples is about parking your bicycle, which is so true! Also, who is designing those cycle paths here in Perth? I am pretty sure it's someone who never has cycled a day of his life! As you can't make 90 degree turns to go on or off a cycle path! And try to cycle in the maze of the city cycle paths, half of them block after a few hundred meters and you can't go any further, without any notice, so only thing left is to turn back and take another path... There are heaps of examples... unfortunately...

GREEN DRINKS online

An organic self organising network...online AND offline.

I've asked everyone on my mailing list to become a member of this new online community as the Global Green Drinks have asked the organisers of all Green Drinks world wide to set up a group on it. I wouldn't have done so otherwise... as I have already too many online communities to take care off... and of course this blog!

We'll see how it goes...

If you like to be part of the Perth Green Drinks community, please become a member!

Keeping slim is good for health, planet

Maintaining a healthy body weight is not only good for one's health, it benefits the environment as well, British researchers said.

Phil Edwards and Ian Roberts of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said because food production is a major contributor to global warming, a lean population, such as in Vietnam, will consume almost 20 percent less food and produce fewer greenhouse gases than a population in which close to 40 percent of people are obese as in the United States.
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The first Sisters on The Planet workshop will be held on Saturday the 2nd May 2009

This is for anyone who is interested in learning more about climate change and who thinks that they may like to show the Sisters On The Planet DVD to others to inspire people to act to reduce the effects of climate change.

The workshop will be in 3 parts:
a) an introduction to climate change, what is it, what causes it and what can we do about it
b) presentation tips and skills in different settings
c) how we can continue to work together and stay inspired!
When: 2 May at 11am

Jael Johnson and Veronique Largier
Sisters On The Planet Campaign
Oxfam Australia
Ph: 08 9262 8200
Fax: 08 9371 9405
5 King William Street
Bayswater
Western Australia 6053

CNN Going Green Coverage‏

CNN International Keeps the Focus on Global Environmental Issues Special coverage kicks off on Earth Day and continues throughout the year with thematic programming and quarterly specials.

On Saturday April 25 at 10 p.m., and Sunday 26 at 10 a.m., and Monday 27 at 4 a.m. AEST, CNN International will air ‘Your Green World’, a half-hour special devoted to today’s current state of green initiatives around the planet.

Correspondents from different parts of the world will report on how the current concern over the state of the environment touches the lives of global citizens. For more information click here.

Kimberley gas hub plan deadline extended

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has extended his deadline for traditional owners to agree to plans for a Kimberley gas hub and backed away from threats to resume land for the project.

James Price Point, 60km north of Broome, has been chosen as the preferred site for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub to serve producers tapping gas 300km to 400km offshore in the Browse Basin.

Mr Barnett last December set a deadline of March 31 for negotiations with the Kimberley Land Council and traditional owners on the plans for the gas precinct.

He dropped that deadline on Wednesday to allow further discussions on April 14 and 15 between the Kimberley Land Council, traditional owners and the commonwealth government.

Mr Barnett has repeatedly threatened to compulsorily acquire the land for the site if no agreement was reached.
Read article or this one

The future?

Smokes, sun and drought top WA air of concern

Passive smoking, sun exposure and a lack of water top the list of environmental risk factors that most worry West Australians, according to a community survey which also shows women are much more concerned than men.

A Health Department survey of more than 1700 people over the age of 18 has also rated nuclear waste, ozone depletion and air pollution from cars high on the list of 23 potential health hazards.

Asked about environmental factors most likely to harm their family rather than just them, people cited the top hazards as misuse of chemicals and poisons in the home, food additives and germs in food.

People without a tertiary education, those over 55 and those in poor health were most likely to fear environmental hazards.

Those under 30 were less concerned than older people by high voltage power lines, uranium mining, genetically modified foods and mobile phone towers.

The department said almost two-thirds of people surveyed rated the top three hazards of passive smoking, the sun and water scarcity as a “high” risk to health. Asked about risks facing them and their families, the issue of main overall concern was food additives.

The least concerning risks were mobile phone towers and re-use of treated wastewater as drinking water or on market gardens.

CATHY O’LEARY
TheWest.com.au