Bamboo furniture systems

Bamboo furniture system is part of the selection of indian contemporary design production in
designboom's curated exhibition 'asia now', a show at dwell on design in los angeles, in june 25 - 27, 2010.

This article in Design Boom gives a good overview of what is possible with Bamboo.

Incentive to install solar energy panels

The State Government has announced a new $23 million scheme to encourage West Australian households to install solar energy panels.

The Energy Minister Peter Collier says under the scheme residents will be paid 40 cents for every kilowatt hour produced and fed into the electricity grid.
Read article

GM Food, our right to know!

Please sign the petition here

More consumers green on paper but not in practice: report

AS A NATION of shoppers, we are more likely to think green when we are on the loo than standing at the kitchen bench.

A survey by the Australian Food and Grocery Council found nearly a quarter of households have switched to using recycled toilet paper, but only a handful intentionally buy sustainable tuna and chicken. Dishwashing liquid, free-range eggs and laundry detergent were the three other most popular green grocery items.

However, the survey of 1000 shoppers in Sydney and Melbourne found the gap between green shopping intentions and actions is widening.
Read article

Pig poo comes up smelling of roses

A prominent Wongan Hills farmer who is working on converting pig waste into electricity has become the first WA woman to win a prestigious rural award.

Sue Middleton, who runs a diverse agricultural and horticultural operation, was named the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Australian Rural Woman of the Year in Canberra last night.

The award was for her work at the Medina Research Station, south of Perth, were she is co-developing a project to show that using piggery waste to generate electricity and reduce carbon emissions is a viable proposition for most piggeries.
Read article

New recycled bike path unveiled

Cyclists travelling to one of Central Australia's popular tourist spots will now be pedalling on a path made from recycled printer cartridges.

The Northern Territory Government has spent $130,000 upgrading the Simpsons Gap bike path.
Read article

Greenpeace praises Nokia, slams Nintendo in 'green' study

NOKIA and Sony Ericsson make some of the world's most environmentally sound electronics, while Nintendo and Toshiba are among the least eco-friendly, Greenpeace claims.
The group in its quarterly study rates 18 major companies for their progress on phasing out hazardous substances, recycling electronic waste and improving energy efficiency to avert global warming.

It targets the elimination of two toxic chemicals in particular - polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BRFs) - because they are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in human bodies.
Read article

Most liveable ... Vienna is ranked number one.

Sydney beats Melbourne in world's top cities league.

Sydney has retained its spot in the top ten of the world's most liveable cities - beating Melbourne by eight places.

Sydney remains stable in tenth place in the global survey, scoring 106.3 points and overshadowing Melbourne, which ranks 18th on 104.8 points.

Australia's other state capitals are out of the world's top 20, but still in the top 40, with Perth ranked 21st, Canberra 26th, Adelaide 32nd and Brisbane 36th.

The 2010 Mercer Quality of Living Survey is based on 39 criteria, including political, socio-economic, environmental, health, education, and transport.
Read article

Survey finds Adelaide most eco-friendly city in Australia
A survey has ranked Adelaide seventh among the world's most eco-friendly cities.
The Mercer survey finding means Adelaide ranks as the most eco-friendly city in Australia.

GM animal feed: one of 2010's biggest challenges

The use of GM animal feed is increasing in Australia. As people reject GM food crops, animal feed provides a less direct route for biotech companies to push GM into our food supply. So what does this mean for consumers?

While Greenpeace only publishes our True Food shopping guide once a year, negotiations with food companies continue pretty much all year round. This is particularly the case with the big supermarkets and food manufacturers, who have significant influence on market signals.
Read article

You can support this by emailing Coles and asking if they use GM stockfeed.
coles.customer.care@coles.com.au

Haitian Farmers Commit to Burning Monsanto Hybrid Seeds

"A new earthquake" is what peasant farmer leader Chavannes Jean-Baptiste of the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) called the news that Monsanto will be donating 60,000 seed sacks (475 tons) of hybrid corn seeds and vegetable seeds, some of them treated with highly toxic pesticides.

The MPP has committed to burning Monsanto's seeds, and has called for a march to protest the corporation's presence in Haiti on June 4, for World Environment Day.
Read article

It might look like just an old TV, but it contains all the ingredients for an environmental time bomb

ALONG with the ubiquitous broken armchairs and old mattresses, millions of unwanted televisions are now jostling for footpath space on hard-waste collection days.

But unlike most other discarded household goods, these televisions - many of which are still working but have been superseded by high-definition flat-screens - are loaded with toxic chemicals that, once dumped in landfill, become an environmental time bomb.

The federal government's waste management report, released this month, shows that almost 17 million televisions, computers and computer accessories were discarded in 2007-08 - 84 per cent of them into rubbish tips, despite most components being recyclable.
Read article

But despite the growing mountains of rubbish, a national 'e-waste' recycling scheme announced 12 months ago has yet to be implemented...

Consumer awareness crucial in solving e-waste problems

Computers and gadgets a major source of greenhouse gas

THE millions of computers and gadgets Australians use for business and entertainment are contributing heavily to the nation's greenhouse tally, a report shows.
The report, commissioned by the Australian Computer Society and said to be the first of its kind, finds that IT equipment last year consumed 7 per cent of the country's electricity output and contributed 2.7 per cent of its carbon emissions.

Producing about 14.4 megatonnes of carbon dioxide last year, IT equipment had an emissions footprint on the scale of the large greenhouse polluters.

IT equipment emissions were 18.2 per cent of the size of transport (79Mt) and 53.2 per cent of industrial production (27Mt).

"By any estimation, (the IT sector's) energy consumption and carbon emissions are significant proportion of Australia's total," the reports authors wrote.
Read article

Carbon dioxide affecting coral growth

Early results of a new study show that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions absorbed by the ocean are having an effect on coral growth.

Situated at the lower end of the Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island is surrounded by pristine waters and a spectacular array of coral and fish species endemic to the region.

And it is there that a team of scientists from the University of Queensland is conducting a world-first experiment assessing the effect of CO2 on a living coral reef.
Read article

Giant turtle sculptures crafted at Cottesloe beach

GIANT sand sculptures of flatback turtles have been crafted at Cottesloe and Cable beaches to urge the government to establish marine sanctuaries.

People gathered on World Turtle Day this Sunday to also make the sand turtles at beaches in Cairns and Darwin.

The event was organised by the Australian Marine Conservation Society and The Wilderness Society of WA.
Read article
and here

Greens say uranium too risky to transport through towns

The Greens say the Western Australian Government should prevent the transport of uranium through all Goldfields towns, as well as Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Mines Minister Norman Moore last week revealed he does not want BHP Billiton to move yellowcake from its planned Yeelirrie mine through Kalgoorlie.

The company has indicated it wants to temporarily store yellowcake in the town before it is transported to Adelaide or Darwin.

Greens' Senator Scott Ludlam says, if Mr Moore can stop uranium going through Kalgoorlie, he should also prevent it from passing through towns in the northern Goldfields.

"If this material is too dangerous to cart through the centre of Kalgoorlie, which of course we would suggest it is, then it's also too dangerous to cart through Leonora or Menzies," he said.
Read article

6500 cockys counted

ABOUT 6500 Carnaby’s black cockatoos were spotted around Perth during the Great Cocky Count 2010 early last month.

The Department of Environment and Conservation said these numbers were consistent with previous estimates that found between 8000 and 10,000 birds across the greater Perth area and 10,000 to 15,000 birds across the Swan Coastal Plain from Lancelin to Dunsborough.

With 250 volunteers visiting nearly 200 sites, the count helps ecologists map the habitat used by the species and protect key sites for the birds that are under threat from habitat loss.
Read article

Sustainable Materials to Inspire

If you are going to Furnitex in Melbourne in July you have to check out this talk by Els Zijlstra from Materia

When: Friday 16 July - 9.30am

Sustainability should be naturally integrated in every design where comfort, functionality, economics and beauty are all important. Ecology, people and intelligence are the main topics now with nature as a huge inspiration source. What are sustainable AND inspirational materials? Els will inspire you with materials and projects well beyond your imagination.

Book here

Sustainable studies go online – starts June

Challenger Institute of Technology’s 4 unit dual-Diploma of Sustainability

Upgrade your qualifications with just four units discovering principles and practices, behaviour change, organisational sustainability, production and consumption.

Enjoy learning from the comfort of your home while interacting with co-learners using simple VOIP based technology. Attend a one day face-to-face training workshop for each unit (or a virtual version for distance learners) with excellent guest presenters and optional field trips. Assignments range in style and are designed to deepen understanding about ecological, social and economic interrelationships and apply sound, practical and creative options in real work and life.

The first one day workshop is on Saturday 12th June with an introduction to the online Learning Management System in the preceding week. A current Diploma or higher qualification is required. The course finishes in November and enrolments are open now - Deborah Rice W:9229 8445.
Please contact Lecturer about content, delivery and assessment - Robyn Williams E: pov@iinet.net.au M: 0424 587 262.
More info

Levi contest - Care To Air Design Challenge

While much work has been done to educate consumers about fuel efficient cars, re-useable shopping bags and water bottles, few people think about the environmental impact of their laundry room.

Levis company research demonstrated that the most important thing consumers can do to reduce the climate change impact of their clothes is to return to old-fashioned air drying (almost 80 percent of the consumer care impact).

So Levis are hoping to change habits by changing the conversation. Levi Strauss & Co. is hosting a "Care to Air" design contest to find new innovative, covetable and sustainable ways that people can dry their clothes. Design winners will be eligible for $10,000 in prizes - and help change the way people think about line drying..

Full contest details

'contemporary ethical' online marketplace

Bluecaravan is an Australia based venue for buyers and sellers of all things independently designed and ethically made.

It’s about lovely, interesting and edgy products - beautifully finished, made with heart, and bought directly from the designer/maker.

It only recently opened it's virtual doors so check them out here.

For kids, video games top saving nature: survey

Ten times more children around the world rank watching television and playing video games as more important to them than saving the environment, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Earth's flora and fauna are disappearing 1,000 times faster than the natural extinction rate, but only nine percent of kids gave a top priority to protecting the planet's animal life.

Many did not even know what is meant by "endangered species," reported the survey, released by the UN Convention on Biodiversity.

"The survey confirms the alarming disconnect of our children with nature," the Convention's Executive Secretary, Ahmed Djoghlaf, said in a statement.

He called for "urgent action to close this growing gap between tomorrow's citizens and their natural heritage."

Sponsored by European aircraft giant Airbus, the survey was conducted among 10,000 five-to-18 year olds in 10 countries.

When asked which type of animal or plant they would most like to save, nine percent cited birds, 23 percent favoured reptiles, and 50 percent gave mammals top priority, with the snow leopard given as an example.

Only six percent chose plants and less than one percent opted for insects.

The participating countries were Australia, Britain, China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Spain and the United States.
Read article
WA article

Next Wednesday 26th May is Sorry Day.

The major event in Perth on that day, which is organised annually by the Bringing Them Home Committee (WA), will take place at Wellington Square in East Perth.

This year promises to be bigger and better than ever! Start at 10.30am with an exciting range of activities for schoolchildren and then the formalities commence at 12noon. There are some inspiring young Aboriginal people speaking this year and there is some wonderful local Aboriginal musical talent on show. There is also a sausage sizzle for those who are hungry!

If you have the time to assist as a volunteer on the day plase call Alan Carter on his mobile (0428 250 155) or talk to Yvonne Sargeant at WACOSS (ph: 9420 7222)

25 Jobs That Will Probably Kill You

Anna Miller has a blog with a lot of top 25's, 50's and more.

One of them is 25 Jobs That Will Probably Kill You

Here another one 50 Best Blogs for Creative Thinking

Or this one 100 Awesome Twitter Feeds for Architecture Students

Etc.

Zero Emission.

La nueva jornada de Nissan! What makes zero emissions mobility so much fun? Find out more about it at the website

Perth Green Drinks on 1 June

You are invited for the Perth Green Drinks on 1 June 2010

Green Drinks is for anyone involved in the environment and related fields. Green groups / NGOs, Freelancers and consultants, Companies, Students, Academics, Government departments, Local Authorities, Younger as well as older people so please forward this invitation to anyone you think might be interested in meeting other people related to sustainability.

When: Tuesday 1 June 6.00 – 8.00 pm

Where: Central (TAFE) East Perth Campus at 140 Royal Street, come by train, just 2 minutes from Claissebrook station. There plenty of free parking available at the back of the building off the Brown Street entrance. (Map on attachment)

How: Central Institute of Technology is providing one voucher per person for a choice of drink + nibbles on the table. Following drinks non alcoholic.

What: Network, interact, talk, laugh, debate, drink, have fun!

RSVP: Green Drinks is a free event but please rsvp before Thursday 26 May 5pm - rsvp@central.wa.edu.au

Topic of tonight: How do we get the next generation of designers, developers, engineers and architects ready to create sustainable products, production methods and buildings? Listen to three different views from three different disciplines; architecture and building, interior design and product design.

3 SPEAKERS: Ten minute talks in the theater by:
٠ David Plowright – Lecturer Architectural Technology & Building at Central Institute of Technology in Leederville
٠ John Frost – Lecturer Interior Design at Central Institute of Technology in Perth
٠ Wilma van Boxtel – Sessional Lecturer Product Design at Curtin University and Casual lecturer Design at Central Institute of Technology in Perth

After the talks we go downstairs for drinks where some students are showing work done in our sustainable design classes.

Hope to see you there!

Metro growth 'a threat' to coast

The Environmental Protection Authority has warned the State Government about growth of the southern metropolitan area, advising against further development of coastal land from Dawesville to Binningup.

In a report released yesterday by the environment watchdog, the South-West corridor, encompassing 28,600ha that is the logical development extension from Mandurah, was deemed of "national and international environmental significance" and "largely unsuitable" for development.
Read article

So sad

Today I cycled back home from the university when I reach the Narrows bridge to cross the river in South Perth. Entering the bridge broken pieces of Styrofoam where scattered along the path. Heaps of white pieces of foam, plastic and cardboard covered the cycling path along the freeway as if someone had lost his packaging rubbish. Coming down the other way and continuing along Mounts Bay road I discovered a lot of scattered Styrofoam in the river.

I am getting so sad of seeing this kind of rubbish ignorantly lost along the way, polluting not only the road but also the river. Who is responsible for something like this?

Days of Change

Days of Change is an amazing program developed by Julian Ilich. Jules and his crew have put an incredible effort into creating this program which is designed to encourage and support WA residents to make changes to their lifestyles to make them more sustainable.

You join as a household and make a series of small yet powerful pledges which will help us to create a more environmentally and socially sustainable society. Many of the pledges will help save you money, but most importantly they'll give you a kick from knowing you're doing something meaninful to help.

Make your pledge now!

It started here, in York...

My Big Fat Green Wedding

Green and glamourous go together in our guide to a planet-friendly, eco-fabulous celebration.

Did you know that the average 100-guest wedding creates 7.7 tonnes of greenhouse gas? That’s close to the amount created by one return flight from Sydney to Paris! And think of the figures when you multiply that by the estimated 116,000 weddings in Australia each year.

Thankfully, making your wedding eco-friendly doesn’t mean scrapping your princess-inspired dream for a D-list drama starring paper-bag brown invites, hessian-style dresses, dreary bouquets and an insipidly bland reception.
Check G-magazine online article for inspiration

Oil lease 'threatens WA tourism site'

Conservation groups have condemned a federal government decision to allow oil and gas exploration off the coast of one of Australia's best-known tourism and environmental regions.

Margaret River in Western Australia's southwest is internationally renowned for its surfing, tourism and wine industries.

The waters off the coast are home to unique marine life and half the world's whale and dolphin species, the WA Conservation Council says.
Watch news and read article

Oil exploration off Margaret River a long process
A petroleum engineering expert says oil drilling off the coast of Western Australia's south-west may never occur despite the Federal Government's approval for exploration in the area.

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson yesterday approved 31 new offshore oil exploration leases around Australia, including an area 85 kilometres off the coast of Margaret River.
Read article

DESIGN 21 - Social Design Network

FeaturesThe relevance of social design is gaining global momentum. Here’s a collection of thoughts and ideas from people both in and outside the network.

Share
The conversation starts here. Share information, ideas and resources or discuss what others are doing to further the practice of social design.

Act
This is where the action starts. Respond to a Non-Profit Need or take up a Challenge.


Competitions
Ready for some healthy competition? Use your talents for the greater good in our competition series, and show how thoughtful design can make a difference.
Visit website

FREE Electronic Waste Recycling Event

Sat 12 & Sun 13 June 2010 - 9am-4pm

Perth regional councils are again working with Apple Pty Ltd to coordinate a metro-wide free e-waste recycling event.

This year there are eight locations across Perth to dispose of your unwanted televisions, computers and other electrical items:
1. MIDDLE SWAN
City of Swan Operations Centre, Corner Bishop Road and Great Northern Highway
2. STIRLING
City of Stirling Administration Centre, Corner Civic Place and Cedric Street, Stirling
3. COTTESLOE
Town of Cottesloe, Corner Napier Street and Marine Parade, Cottesloe
4. CANNING VALE
SMRC Regional Resource Recovery Centre, 350 Bannister Road, Canning Vale
5. CRAIGIE
City of Joondalup Craigie Leisure Centre, Whitfords Avenue, Craigie
6. ROCKINGHAM
City of Rockingham, Corner Chalgrove Avenue and Civic Boulevard, Rockingham
7. SPEARWOOD
Sims Recycling, 174 Barrington Street, Spearwood
8. ARMADALE
City of Armadale Landfill and Recycling Facility, Hopkinson Road, Brookdale

What will be accepted:
• Computers
• Televisions
• Home office equipment
• Electronic games and consoles
• Entertainment equipment

Products that will not be accepted include white goods, overhead projectors and other kitchen household appliances, hazardous waste, contaminated equipment, broken glass or monitors, and batteries that are not an integral part of the system.

All items collected during the weekend will be manually dismantled and their components sent for recycling (plastic, metal, copper, silver, nickel, glass etc). Recycling costs are provided courtesy of Apple Pty Ltd.

For more information visit website

Plastic Qantas cutlery not so fantastic, reused up to 30 times

PLASTIC cutlery on Australia's largest international airline is being reused as many as 30 times before being thrown away.

Qantas admitted reusing plastic knives, forks and spoons multiple times, collecting them at the end of meals and sending them to a washing facility to be cleaned, before distributing them to a new set of passengers.
Read article

Pest munches up China fields after GM crop sprays halt

Here is more evidence that the GM treadmill is failing, and causing major agricultural damage.

HONG KONG - A once minor pest has ravaged fruit orchards and cotton fields in China after farmers stopped spraying insecticide in crops of a genetically-modified type of cotton resistant to bollworms, experts said.

China started growing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton in 1997 because it gave better yields and stood up to bollworms, but a key fallout has been a thriving population of mirid bugs, which were earlier just an insignificant pest.
Read article

Seeds of GM discontent

Derrinallum based John Sheehan is just one of many farmers who have lost their enthusiasm for GM canola, in just two years. Read the rest of his story in this article.

“Despite the claims of increased yields from GM proponents, Sheehan has recorded no such increase. What he has noticed is a much higher cost of using GM canola than using TT varieties. Roundup Ready canola costs $25 a kilogram, whereas TT costs about $4 - although this is modified by the amount needed to be planted. 'With TT you have to plant about five kilos to the hectare whereas with Roundup Ready and Clearfield , you only have to plant three.

'But the real problem with Roundup Ready is the very limited window allowed for weed spraying. You can only spray the plants when they have between two and six leaves … There are times when you might need to spray if weeds develop when the plants have 12 leaves, but if you do that you really knock them around. This [limitation] has really taken the gloss off GM.'
Read article

'Lunatic' farmer wages chemical war

More about Food inc.

JOEL Salatin is pulling on his braces. He’s just had his picture taken wearing a suit — our photographer wants to show that he’s not just a hands-on local farmer but also a new-era businessman — and now he’s getting back into his work gear: muddy jeans, straw hat, and a farmhand’s shirt that reads, in embroidered script, ‘‘Roy’’.
Read article in The Age
And in The Australian

Go see the movie Food inc. at The Luna

Banksia Environmental Foundation

CALLING FOR YOUR ENTRY FOR THE 2010 PRIME MINISTER’S ENVIRONMENTALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD

Free Award Entry Information Sessions
Banksia Award Entry Information Sessions give you the opportunity to hear in person some useful tips to assist you in putting together your award entry. In an informal atmosphere, information will be provided on entering all our Awards along with an opportunity to ask questions.

Where: Level 6, 172 St Georges Terrace, Perth
When: 19 May 6pm regist for 6.15 pm start
Sponsored by: ERM
Click here to register

Hazelmere Recycling Centre

Today I had a site visit organised for my students Sustainable Design at Curtin University to the Hazelmere Recycling Centre to see how timber and mattresses are recycled.

We saw how old timber is shredded into small parts and later divided into two heaps, one pile goes back into industry to create particle board and the other pile is sold for animal bedding and mulch.

More info on Hazelmere Recycling Centre

Eco heroes

Check Eco Heroes

Earth Carers Training Course - 25 May, 2010

The course runs for five sessions over three weeks and includes talks, practical demonstrations and interesting tours. Full details of the program are attached and highlights include:
• Presentations by new WMRC CEO and the City of Nedlands Waste Officer (Tuesday 25th May);
• Tour of the Shenton Park DiCOM facility (alternative waste treatment) and Red Hill Landfill (Saturday 29th May);
• A recycling session at Earthwise, including a tour by Peg Davies (Tuesday 1st June); and
• Practical worm farm and composting demonstrations at St Lukes Community Garden in Mosman Park by Environment House (Saturday 5th June.

Registration is essential for catering and insurance purposes so please call 9286 5032 or email for a registration form.

The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See

Home Appliance Energy Use

How much power does each appliance use in WATTS?
or
What does 1 KILOWATT hour yield for each appliance?
Check it out here

TEDxPerth - Monday 17 May

When: Monday May 17th,
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Where: The Theatre at SCITECH DISCOVERY CENTRE, City West (go through the main City West entrance and up to the second floor)
Bring: 1. Food to share (preferably wholesome, healthy food). Not too much. Just enough for one person, then we'll all share.
2. A cup to drink out of
3. A pen and notepad
4. Anyone else who you think would be interested in watching and discussing riveting talks from people sharing the world's most incredible ideas

Free entry

TEDxPerth May brings you a night full of inspiration and amazing ideas! We are also pleased to bring you a very special guest speaker: Alicia Curtis on empowering young leaders as change agents for the future.

Food inc.

I just saw the movie Food inc. and I am sure you want to see it too after watching the trailer!

Watch trailer here

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Meat claimed as invention by Monsanto

Multinational seed corporations are following a consequent strategy to gain control over basic resources for food production. As recent research shows not only genetically engineered plants, but more and more the conventional breeding of plants gets into the focus of patent monopolies: International patent applications in this sector are skyrocking, having doubled since 2007 till end of 2009.

Further on the multinationals expand their claims over the whole chain of food production from feed to animals and food products such as meat.

In a pending patent application from Monsanto even bacon and steaks are claimed: Patent application WO2009097403 is claiming meat stemming from pigs being fed with the patented genetically engineered plants of Monsanto. A similar patent is applied for fish from aquaculture in March 2010 (WO201027788).

Far reaching patents on food are even already granted: Monsanto received a European patent (EP 1356033) in 2009, which the chain of food production from seeds of genetically engineered plants up to food products such as meal and oil are covered.
Read article
STOP ‘MONSANTOSIZING’ FOOD, SEEDS AND ANIMALS!
Sign against! click here

Mutant cows die in GM trial

Genetically modified cows were born with ovaries that grew so large they caused ruptures and killed the animals.

The bungled experiment happened during a study by AgResearch scientists at Ruakura, Hamilton, to find human fertility treatments through GM cows' milk.

AgResearch is studying tissue from one of three dead calves to try to find out what made the ovaries grow up to the size of tennis balls rather than the usual thumbnail-size.

Details of the deaths - in veterinary reports released to the Weekend Herald under the Official Information Act - have reignited debate over the ethics of GM trials on animals.
Read article

Women in Climate Change Breakfast - Perth 1 June

Click on picture to enlarge

Where: Burswood Entertainment Complex, Astral ballroom 2&3, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, 6100
When: June 1st, Breakfast 7.15-9.30a.m. (Doors open 7am)
Cost: The ticket price for individual seats is $100 (plus GST), or $80 (plus GST) for members of the 1 Million Women campaign (joining via website is free).

More information on event here

Vote of no confidence

Please click on the following link and have your say.

We must demand action on climate change. We can not accept inaction; it will only lead to self-destruction.

Have your say against the government who has just shown itself to be at the top of the list of climate cowards.

Donors give hair off heads to save Gulf

People are giving the hair off their heads, the fur off their pets' backs and the tights off their legs.

The unlikely cause? The massive oil slick spreading across the Gulf of Mexico.

The donations are being used to make booms and mats to mop up the oily mess spewing out of the sunken BP-leased Deepwater Horizon oil platform, which is lying on the seabed.
Read article
Hair sausages to the rescue

50 Surprising Fashion and Beauty Products Made From Oil That You Probably Use Everyday (Even if You're Green)

Treehugger has a list of products which contains oil and lots of people use every day. I use 28 of the 50 items... quite a lot still...

How many do you use?

Walk on water

Liquid Mountaineering is a new sport which is attempting to achieve what man has tried to do for centuries: walk on water. Or to be more precise: running on water. We are developing the sport from scratch. By accident we found out that with the right water repellent equipment you can run across bodies of water, just like a stone skimming the surface.
Check fellow blogger