Save our trees petition

Unfortunately, our parliament doesn't recognize e-petitions so you have to print it and get as many people as possible to sign.

This petition calls for the protection of urban bushland, mature trees and the banning of dangerous poisons for the control of weeds on public land.

I've invited Alex Jones to the first Green Drinks of 2010 to give a short introduction of Save our Trees and hope there are lots of people who want to sign the petition as she has an appointment in February with the Health and Environment Ministers and it would be good to provide her with enough back up!

Click on the picture to enlarge and copy and print it and get your friends and family to sign it. You can bring the petitions to the Green Drinks in February or return them to: PO Box 474 Nedlands.
What is better in Perths hot summer than walk under the dappled shade of the big trees lining the road?

Clothing industry to wear ethical hearts on sleeves

A GREEN kangaroo or koala could be the symbol of a new campaign by Australia's textile, clothing and footwear industry to sell itself to ethical consumers.

It is exploring the development of an ''ethical quality'' marque to denote that a garment has been made without the use of sweatshop labour, is free of chemicals harmful to humans or the environment, and has taken animal welfare into consideration.

The idea of promoting a clean, green fashion industry is one of a number of recommendations made by a Government-backed inquiry into how Australia's $4.4 billion clothing and footwear industry can remain competitive in the face of cheap imports from India and China.

If developed, the marque would be the first of its kind in the world.
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Living in the future, with under-harbour views

IT IS an architect's vision of 2070: rising sea levels rapidly swallowing up swathes of Australia's eastern seaboard.

As the price of land that can be developed soars to astronomical levels, the city witnesses a mass migration to the underwater city of ''Siph'' - a metropolis of floating pods powered by ocean currents.

Such visions once existed only in the realm of science fiction, but they are closer than we think, according to some of the country's best and brightest urban architects.

The Australian Institute of Architects has released the shortlisted Australian entries for the 2010 Venice Architecture Biennale, based on the theme Ideas for Australian cities 2050+.
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The growing problem of excess packaging

You don't have to be an environmentalist to notice the ridiculous amounts of packaging that come with many products these days.

Elaborate and colourful combinations of plastic and cardboard adorn most goods, whether they need it or not.

Some supermarkets are now even putting fresh fruit in plastic wrapping.

In this day and age of environmental awareness, and global climate change talks, you'd think packaging would be trimmed down rather than beefed up.
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Please shop packaging aware, don't buy when it's over packed! I've saved so much plastic and paper waste since I am an aware shopper!
You can do this too!

Ban to hit inefficient air-conditioners

The sale of inefficient air-conditioners will be banned from next July in South Australia.

Premier Mike Rann says it will not affect air-conditioners already installed.

"The inefficient air-conditioners we are talking about are costly for consumers and for the environment," Mr Rann said from Copenhagen, where he chaired a meeting during the climate summit.

"They impose a cost burden on the whole community. That's because the extra energy needed to power them means bigger power stations, bigger transmission boosters and bigger distribution lines, the cost of which is passed on to all consumers via bigger electricity bills."

Mr Rann says SA will be first to have a ban and other states are expected to follow.
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It's a shame that they still can be produced!

Reality beckons for geothermal energy dream

EVERY time Resources Minister Martin Ferguson makes an announcement regarding geothermal energy he likes to quote the statistic that just 1 per cent of Australia's geothermal resources could power Australia for 26,000 years.
But does he really believe it can even power Australia one time over? The pace and quantum of the government funding for geothermal suggests he is not entirely convinced. He wouldn't be the only one.

But a report in the latest issue of Scientific American by Mark Jacobsen, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, and Mark Delucchi, a research scientist at the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, outline how wind, water (which includes geothermal) and solar technologies could power the world by 2030. No more need for fossil fuels.

According to US Energy Information Administration estimates, the current global demand for energy is 12.5 terawatts (12.5 trillion watts).

By 2030, this is expected to be 16.9TW, although efficiency measures such as switching vehicles to electric power from fuel combustion could save more than 5TW of demand.
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Climate change protest outside Muja power plant in Collie

COAL power station workers this morning tried to run down protesters picketing against climate change in Collie, a demonstrator says.
Anti-coal demonstrators waving placards, banners and a blow-up dinosaur at the Muja power station were targeted by some staff arriving at work.

A 100-strong crowd of protesters have been camping in Collie since Thursday to make a stand against climate change as part of Camp for Climate Action WA.

Protesters are urging the government to find renewable energy alternatives.
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Wacky ideas the hottest notions to make us a really cool planet

YOU'LL have freaked at all the reports warning that if we don't cut our gases, our cities will drown, our farms will turn to dust and giant hurricanes will suck up every last polar bear.
But don't despair. I've scoured the papers to find this year's top tips to cut your gases and help save this planet from global warming catastrophe.

And, swear to God, every one of these news items is genuine:
- Take off your socks
- Rent your clothes
- Warm your baby with pancakes
- Eat your dog
- Pee in your car
- Pee before you fly
- Crash into people
- Cuddle babies
- Pedal to a hooker
- Reuse your toilet wipes
- Poison Chinese workers
- Poison everyone
- Get poor
- Ban second children
- Stop eating
- Become Catholic
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Sixth sense

It's already an older talk on TED from earlier this year but I couldn't find it back and suddenly I came across it again and like to share it with you. How close are we to such thing in the future?

Hi-tech, eco-friendly dream home takes shape in Japan

On Tokyo Bay, at the edge of the largest urban sprawl on Earth, sits what may be an environmentalist's dream home.

Solar panels on the roof and a fuel-cell in the backyard power the family house, a lithium-ion battery stores the surplus electricity, hot water pipes double as floor heating, and good insulation saves energy all round.

But it's the little high-tech touches that give this eco-house a cutting edge when it comes to futuristic low-carbon housing.

Its maker, Panasonic, has fitted the "Eco idea house" with super-efficient and intelligent appliances that promise to save power at every turn while ensuring a comfortable lifestyle for its residents.
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The Green Network

There is a new network in Perth, run by Liberty Resources:

The Green Network is a group of professionals that come together for lunch and enjoy an active and beneficial business networking environment which does not require any membership fees. Their aims are to build support for a cleaner greener safer Australia and provide opportunity for corporate community to support the green community. This networking lunch is an opportunity for green corporate to showcase their products or service and to keep up to date with the latest information in the green community.

The killers within: how our homes are making us sick

AUSTRALIAN homes are a hotbed of toxic chemicals, full of products and furnishings that have been linked to cancer, reproductive damage and learning disabilities.

Experts have called for tighter regulations in the industry relating to chemicals that are allowed into homes and more transparency so consumers can become aware of the dangers.

Environmental scientist and National Toxics Network co-ordinator Jo Immig said everything from our carpets to our computers contained toxic chemicals that could cause a raft of illnesses and behavioural disorders, particularly among children.

Among the most harmful toxins she identified are: perfluorochemicals (found in stain resistant chemicals in carpets, upholstery and some clothing) that have been found to be potentially carcinogenic and risky for pregnant women; brominated flame retardants (found in electrical goods such as computers and televisions) that have been linked to cancer and reproductive damage; and lead (found in old paint in many homes and in some imported products, such as toys) that has been linked to learning disabilities and behavioural disorders.

Then there is triclosan (found in products labelled 'antibacterial', including wipes, shower curtains, even toothpaste) that has been linked to hormonal abnormalities and a weakening of the immune system; and formaldehyde (found in building materials such as chipboard) that is a known carcinogen.

'We need to tighten up our national standard,' Ms Immig said. 'Currently, the regulator is a toothless tiger. It does not have the power to do anything. The Government is taking the approach where they are leaving it up to the market to self-regulate and we are the guinea pigs. It is outrageous that people need a PhD in chemistry before they can buy a product.'
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New baby dolphin for Monkey Mia

MONKEY Mia has welcomed a new dolphin calf after baby Samu was born near Shark Bay early Saturday morning.
The calf has been named in honour of research scientist Dr Amy Samuels, whose findings provided a valuable insight into dolphin behaviour.
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Interview with Muhammad Yunus

Recommended by Tim Kenworthy Youth Tree Sort-of-Managing-Director-Person:

I can't possibly recommend this Denton interview with Muhammad Yunus (the dude who invented microcredit and won the 2006 Nobel Peace) highly enough. If you watch nothing else this year, just watch this:) I can guarantee you wont find a better use of 40 minutes..... except maybe cartwheels with Rhinos. Heck yes!

Micro-credits
From one of the world's poorest countries, comes a man with one of the world's richest imaginations, so limitless, that, for him, the idea of consigning poverty to history doesn't seem far-fetched. In Bangladesh, 35 years ago, during a terrible famine, he had a simple idea: lend money to the poorest of the poor then watch as they transform their lives. He founded the world's first "micro-credit" bank - the Grameen Bank, and, in 2006, won the Nobel Peace Prize. He has, literally, changed the world; Muhammad Yunus.

I love trees!

Men Of The Trees Western Australia

The Men Of The Trees is an international society with locations in many countries throughout the world. Check out their website and have a look at their program!

In Western Australia they have a number of locations from which the society operates.
Headquarters is at St Barbe Grove Nursery Hazelmere, City Farm East Perth, Peel Region and Rockingham Nursery.

The West Australian branch of this international volunteer organization was established in 1979 after a visit to Perth by the society's founder Richard St. Barbe Baker. They have planted in excess of 7 million trees since then and are currently planting close to 800,000 each season through various programs.

Perth man living in a tree

A Perth man has been living in a eucalyptus tree in his front yard for the past three days in an effort to stop the giant tree being cut down by the local council.

Thornlie resident Richard Pennicuik said he felt like he had no choice but to protest against a decision by the City of Gosnells to remove more than 20 native trees from his street over the next week. He said he would not be leaving until the tree was saved.
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If I had known the trees in our street would be cut I would have done the same!
At the same time these guys are demonstrating in Copenhagen!