Anne Clarke's blog

Join Richard Denniss at the launch of Anna Rose's new book Madlands: A Journey to Change the Mind of a Climate Sceptic this Thursday!

Where: Paperchain Bookstore Manuka

Address: 34 Franklin St Manuka

When: 5.45 for 6pm, Thursday 10 May

Moderated by Simon Sheikh from GetUp

You may have seen Anna Rose taking on former Senator Nick Minchin recently in the ABC documentary 'I Can Change Your Mind about Climate' and the following special episode of Q&A with Tony Jones.

With the ACT Government pushing for sustainable energy provision, how do we plan more sustainably and what could be the near future? Speakers will cover the ACT Vision, power generation connection, sustainable planning and Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

Please join the Australian Institute of Energy on 22 May to hear a few thoughts on these issues from the Government, Infrastructure, Planning and Technology side during this exciting time.

Presentations will commence at 3.45 pm and conclude with Questions at 5.00 pm.

On the 25th of February SEE-Change members new and old met to discuss our progress so far and where we should be headed.  We also discussed the role of the executive officer, examined our funding models, and identified new activities that could improve SEE-Change's presence in the Canberra community.  It was an excellent opportunity to pull-back and take a look at the overall operation of the SEE-Change organisation.

A summary of that conversation is attached, and we'd love to get your feedback on the ideas we discussed, particularly the recommendations section.

Woden SEE-Change has two great short Australian movies available for hire.

WASTE NOT - 26 mins:  Waste Not is a film about where your garbage goes, who sorts it for you, and what it is worth if it isn't just tossed into landfill.

MAGIC HARVEST - 26 mins:  A backyard revolution: new food-growing gardens, one square metre at a time.  Tells the sort of a backyard revolution that is developing in South Australia.

For more information about hiring, please contact woden@see-change.org.au or call the office on 6162 2320.

Our friends at 100% Renewable Energy have put out the call for all supporters of community owned renewable energy to email the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).

They've provided an email form here to which you can add your personal message.  It only takes a few minutes but they do need us to act TODAY.  If they are successful, it will mean that funds from the CEFC will be able to be put towards inspiring community energy programs like our own Canberra Clean Energy Connection.

The annual WBGML has been delivered in Canberra since 1961. Over that time it has been given by a number of distinguished individuals from many fields of expertise, including Gough Whitlam, Professor Manning Clarke and Romaldo Giurgola.

On the 30th November economist, planner and urban strategist Sue Holliday will present the 2011 Walter Burley Griffin Memorial Lecture.

Please view the attached flyer for more details.

Although SEE-Change will always be primarily about practical action, we may called upon sometimes to justify the need for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. 

This article from The Conversation about the obfuscation and wilful ignorance in the debate surrounding the anthropogenic causes of climate change, gives a measured view on the tactics employed by skeptics.

In February this year our Legislative Assembly agreed to set a cap on the micro generator component of the ACT Feed-In Tariff Scheme.

Although predictions at the time were that it would take 18 months to reach the allocated cap of 15MW, the target was reached and the scheme closed for micro generators on the 31st of May.

The government has demonstrated its committment to protect those people who have proceeded to install a solar array in good faith, by allowing exceptions for anyone who has entered into a valid contract before the program termination, paid a deposit to the supplier, and can provide a Statutory Declaration to this effect.

I've received a request via a friend from AusAID, who are seeking people to fill contract positions working on climate change projects.  The positions are also being advertised for permanent placement (J141-143).  Experience in environment, climate change, international development or the public service would be an advantage.  Please contact admin@see-change.org.au for more details.

Canberrans have not one but two amazing opportunities in the next couple of weeks to participate in a forum with our legislators and policy makers.