Al Jazeera is looking for the world's best talent!

An unrivalled opportunity for graduate students, post-graduate students and professionals to work with one of the world's most revered news and digital media organisations.

Al Jazeera English is partnering with X Media Lab to seek outstanding interns to be based for three months in Al Jazeera's headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

Internship Opportunities Available:

Interns will be contributing to one or more of the following disciplines within their selected category.
• Development & Design
• R&D, Research and Reporting
• Future mapping
• Creative Ideas

Simply fill out the application form on the X Media Lab website

Fruit beauty is only skin deep

She looked so beautiful. A gentle blush to her soft skin. Firm, round, pleasing to the eye. But when I got the apricot home from the supermarket, I was disappointed. Juicy and soft on the inside, she unfortunately lacked entirely for flavour.

The recent floods that have swamped (and are still swamping) much of eastern Australia have devastated our crops. Farmers who had taken a beating throughout the drought years were knocked down again with this latest hit from the weather.

In response, the major supermarket chains have said they'll sell fruit and veg that wouldn't normally be up to their rigorous standards. It's either that or import produce from overseas.

Some 80 per cent of Australians shop at Coles and Woollies. Forty-five per cent of our fruit and veg is bought at these two chains. This means that the two biggest supermarkets dictate a lot of what farmers grow in Australia.
Read article

That's why I buy at the markets as you can sample their fruit first before you buy and it and you often pay less for the same product, it might not look as good as the supermarket ones, but it taste far better!

You want the hole, not the drill!

Rachel Botsman Explains How Collaborative Consumerism Will Change Our World.

The rise of lending libraries, swapping sites, and product as a service systems over the last 5 years or so has been impressive. We've seen an upswing in everything from clothing swap parties to local rental communities, to big services like Zipcar for getting around without having to own a car and even AirBnB for renting spare bedrooms from locals rather than hotel rooms.

Access is better than ownership, sharing is cool, sharing is hip!

World food production must double, says UK chief scientist

A new British study has painted a bleak picture of the future of global food security.

By 2050 the world's population is predicted to rise to 9 billion people.

To feed all these extra mouths, the UK's chief scientist, Professor John Beddington, says food production needs to double over the next 40 years.
Read article

While we are fighting for healthy food the world population keeps on growing and to feed them all the growth hormones pumped into animals and farming with genetically manipulated seeds will increase.

This picture is from my 12 weeks old chick, one of four, she (I hope it's a she) is roaming the garden with her siblings and surrogate bantam mother who still shows them important details for life and protects them from the other chickens.

The chicken meat you buy in the supermarket comes from chicks half her age! They get slaughtered at six weeks old. They are pumped up, often unable to walk, heaps of feathers. But the meat is tender. Far more tender than the little bit of meat which would be coming from my little chick when I would slaughter her now. As she was always active in the garden hence the meat is tough.

Earth Hour - 8:30PM, Saturday 26 March 2011

WWF Earth Hour Awards

From its debut in one city in one country in 2007 – Sydney, Australia – when 2.2 million individuals turned their lights off to take a stand against climate change, Earth Hour has become a truly global movement, embracing 128 countries and territories in 2010.

In four short years, Earth Hour has grown into the largest campaign in history for the planet. If we can achieve this, imagine what else can be done.

In 2011 we want to unearth inspiring stories of Australian’s who are “Going Beyond the Hour”, who are leading by example and inspiring others to do the same. In 2011 we want to share these stories with the world.

Check for more info on these awards here

'Bug Mac' and lovely 'grub': food of the future

A Dutch student inspects the worm protruding from a half-eaten chocolate praline she's holding, steels herself with a shrug, then pops it into her mouth.

"Tasty ... kind of nutty!" the 20-year-old assures her companions clutching an array of creepy crawly pastries at a seminar, which forecast that larvae and locusts will invade Western menus as the price of steak and chops skyrocket.

This student and about 200 other tasters were guinea pigs for a group of Dutch scientists doing groundbreaking research into insects replacing animal meat as a healthier, more environmentally friendly source of protein.
Read article

Interested in the insect breeder in Deurne, The Netherlands, click here.
They mainly breed insect for zoo's and bird parks but also, still a small quantity, for human consumption.

2011 Perth Green Drinks

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Look how professional the new invites are since Julie has taken over the organisation of the Perth Green Drinks this year!

To view the email online so you can click the links click here.

Greenhouse Sydney is coming

WORK began yesterday on construction of Greenhouse Sydney, a pop-up version of the eco-friendly bar-restaurant that has taken Perth by storm and made a star of young chef Matt Stone (he who challenged Neil Perry on television's Iron Chef).

Greenhouse will have a 10-week season at Circular Quay as guest of the City of Sydney and Stone will head the kitchen for the first month before handing over to former Attica staffer Cameron Payne. The hay bale construction will be powered by a bio-diesel generator using recycled kitchen oils for fuel. It opens early next month.
Read article

Greenhouse partner Joost Bakker is planning a permanent Greenhouse for Melbourne later this year as well as touring the concept in Europe.
More about Greenhouse by Joost

Thanks to poor design, the rich stay warm, the poor freeze to death

If you’ve ever had the misfortune to stay or live in one of the two-storey McMansions that proliferated some years ago throughout new Australian housing estates, you’ll probably know what astronomical electricity bills the owners have to pay.

Cavernous rooms, big windows, high ceilings and poor insulation combine to provide a plasterboard palace that requires massive energy consumption to cope with the slightest temperature fluctuations.

It may be expensive, sometimes even uncomfortable, but thanks to our relatively mild winters it’s not yet likely to be a matter of life and death.

That’s not the case in some countries overseas, where harsher climatic conditions mean that poorly insulated homes play a key role in killing surprisingly large numbers of the most susceptible members of society – the elderly, very young, and the poor.
Read article

Apple targeted over China production standards

Chinese environmental groups on Thursday singled out Apple for failing to tackle concerns over pollution and the health of workers at plants making parts for trendy gadgets such as its iPhone.

In a new report, the groups said the US giant ranked last in a survey of how 29 multinational technology companies respond to inquiries about pollution and workplace health hazards at factories in their supply chain in China.

The study reflects over a year's work by more than 30 Chinese environmental NGOs to pressure multinational companies into being more accountable for their impact on the country's environment.

"Apple has broken its promise on three aspects of supply-chain social responsibilities," said the report, the main author of which is the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, an independent Beijing-based organisation.

"On Apple's supply chain, some workers were poisoned and disabled, neighbourhoods and communities were polluted while there were severe infringement of workers' rights, interest and dignity," the report said.
Read article

Job for sustainable designer

Product Designer – VIC

A creative Industrial Designer is required to join a dynamic team at Ideation Design in their Melbourne studio.

The successful applicant will have a minimum of 5 years experience in a varied range of product categories. (preferably in a consultancy environment)

They will have demonstrated exceptional design skills, the ability to organize and manage projects from concept to production. A sound skill base, good visualization skills, materials & their manufacturing constraints and be proficient in the operation of Pro-E software.

Permanent position with salary negotiable according to ability and experience.
Please email an introductory letter, resume and portfolio to info@ideationdesign.com.au

Human planet

Human Planet is an awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping landmark series that marvels at mankind's incredible relationship with nature in the world today.

WANTED: Top Designers for new TV program

Today I received an email I'd like to share with you and I invite any designer to compete for a place:

Hello Wilma

I am a casting director for Granada Media and we are currently looking for designers, artists, creatives and decorators for a new design based reality television show called TOP DESIGN. We are looking for people with a strong sense of aesthetics, which you clearly have from your philosophy and blog, who would like to translate their style into design and interiors challenges. There is a cash prize for the series winner.

If this sounds interesting to you, or someone you know, the application can be found at ninemsn.com.au/topdesign or feel free to email me with any queries. Or if you’d like to put something up on your blog let me know and I can send you a jpeg.

Regards
Ros Bellenger
Head of Formats & Casting
Granada Media Australia Pty Limited

The bicycle network needs more counters for Super Tuesday

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On Tuesday morning 1 March from 7-9am on a lot of places over Perth CBD, Subiaco, Fremantle, Stirling, Cambridge, Cockburn and Geraldton there are cyclists counting other cyclists.

They are still looking for more volunteers so if you have time please join us! I secured myself a spot along the river near UWA.

It's for a good cause, all over Australia in cities are cyclists counted for a better infrastructure and road safety.
More info and register here

TED in Perth: Ideas worth spreading - 18 February

My fellow Dutchie Eugenie Stockmann is one of the speakers and send me an invite:

TED is coming to Perth! The date to note in your diaries (or phones) is 18 February 2011. We love you all to come! Why? First of all because it will be a fantastic, inspiring event, an opportunity to find out about some great initiatives in our own city/state and second because we have been asked to speak about our idea worth spreading: The Green Swing project.

Other speakers include:
• Cedric Jacobs - Indigenous Elder and Chairperson of Perth Noongar Economic Foundation
• Simon Spencer- Yammer General Manager (Asia-Pacific)
• Dr. Owain Edwards - CSIRO Division of Ecosystem Sciences Principal Research Scientist
• Jasmin Dillon - Mack truck accident survivor
• Meredith Forder - Self Management Consultant
• Tanya Cook - Artist

The investment for the day is only $40 to cover the catering costs. For more information on the event and to register visit the website
We hope to see you on the 18th of Feb!

The 10 big global challenges facing Australia

AS WE enter the second decade of the 21st century, it's worth taking stock of the great global shifts and challenges facing Australia, and what Australia is doing in partnership with other countries to maintain peace, build prosperity and enhance sustainability for the future.

So here are 10 big ones that aren't going away any time soon:

First, the continuation of global financial instability.
Second, the challenge of nuclear proliferation.
Third is the cyber-revolution.

Challenge number seven embraces food security, energy security and climate change.
Read here

The Frontier Is Everywhere

NASA

Direct flood help

Click to enlarge

If you want to help direct for one of the flood victims in Queensland this is your chance. Like other woodworkers my good friend Pavel has taken action for his peer in Queensland:

Hi there

Please find attached action I'm taking UNTIL THIS FRIDAY to help my
friend furniture maker Richard Vaughan in Queensland
Use this opportunity to help somebody directly. Thank you

have a nice sunny day :-)

from Pavel Pajda Perina Perth

If you want to help please donate or contact Pavel on flood@perina.net

Would Perth cope with 100-year flood?

SCORES of suburbs line Perth's river system, but just how would the city hold up against a massive flood?

The earliest record of the Swan River flooding was in 1830 when the river rose by 6m and the largest occurred in 1862 when three weeks of relentless heavy rain over the Swan-Avon catchment covered Perth, including the Causeway in over 2m of flood waters for weeks. Four people were reportedly killed during the floods, properties and farms destroyed and the bridge over Canning River was washed away.

* In July 1872 storm surge caused severe flooding through Perth and into surrounding suburbs. The Helena River was 0.7 metres higher than the 1862 flood.

* In July 1926 severe and widespread flooding in the Avon, Swan and Helena River districts caused the Fremantle railway bridge and Upper Swan bridge to collapse.

* In March 1934, the Swan River rose 5.8m in less than eight hours at Guildford causing considerable damage to unharvested grapes.

*The most recent major flood Swan River flood was in 1983 when 100mm of rain fell in 48 hours on a 'very wet catchment' flooding the upper Swan Valley and threatening some properties in Bassendean and Guildford.

Could Perth be devastated by extreme flooding like parts of Queensland?
Perth is not usually associated with heavy rain or extreme flooding, but history shows the risk is real.

Is your suburb flood-prone?
According to the Bureau of Meteorology if a flood were to hit Perth the most seriously affected areas would be Bassendean, Bayswater, Belmont, Maylands, Guildford and Midland. Low lying areas, such as Riverside Drive, Langley Park and Fremantle would also be hit.
Read more

2x job for Senior Industrial Designers

Job Details
Company: Breville Group Location: Australia – Sydney
Job Level: Senior Staff
Field: Industrial Design
Job Functions: Design, Product Development

Description
Designers, are you a food thinker?

Do you like to challenge current thinking, find new ways, leave no stone unturned, re-think the obvious, push the bounds and solve complex problems? Do you want to design products that are sold around the world? Products that are ‘best of class’. Products with integrity. Products that people use everyday. Premium appliances for the home chef.
Read more about it here