WHAT’S ON
Frackman the Documentary Stop CSG group will be showing this acclaimed documentary about CSG mining on August 26 at 6.30pm at Resistance Centre, 22-36 Mountain St,Ultimo (near Broadway shops). Tickets $15 and $10. For more details go to https://stopcsgsydney.org.au
Open day at Field of Mars Ryde Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society is hosting an open day on Saturday 3 September 10am-3pm. Activities include guided bushwalks and barbecue lunch. For more details go to rhhffps@gmail.com
Black Hole the documentary There will be a community screening of this documentary about the Leard State forest and the plan to turn it into a coal mine. It is showing at Lane Cove library on September 5 September 6.30-8.30pm.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Environment ministers On August 19 the state energy ministers will meet with the federal energy minister to talk about renewables. Send an email and let our state energy minister, Anthony Roberts, know how important you think renewables are. http://ttps://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/climate-action-now/email-hpp-to-energy-minister/is-your-state-supporting-a-clean-energy-future
Broken Hill Solar Farm Watch this video about the 2nd biggest solar farm in Australia at Broken Hill and be inspired.https://www.facebook.com/climatecouncil/videos/vb.345960425540557/837064863096775/?type=2&theater
Next PV technology in Australia Read about Xiaojing Hao, a researcher at UNSW developing the next stage in PV cells. http://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2016/august/1469973600/ceridwen-dovey/eureka-factory
Sydney Council needs to divest Sydney City Council has done a lot to reduce its carbon emissions but it needs now to divest from fossil fuels and join the other 22 councils in Australia who have done so. Write a letter http://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-to-clover-moore-divest-from-fossil-fuels-now
LED lights Ditching those halogen down light globes and replacing them with LEDs will reduce emissions AND energy bills. LED replacement bulbs plug in directly in place of the halogen globes, using a quarter of the watts of halogens for the same light output.http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/households/energy-efficiency/at-home/lighting/lighting-running-costs
Move away from coal Australia’s new environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, sees Australia moving away from coal and more towards renewables which is good news except he sees gas as an important transition energy source. http://econews.com.au/51303/frydenberg-sees-less-coal-in-australias-future-energy-mix/
Innovate or die Energy firms need to innovate or die according the the World Energy Council to help tackle climate change http://econews.com.au/51333/world-energy-council-says-energy-firms-must-innovate-or-die/
Battery recycling Australia is lagging behind in national recycling of batteries despite 90% of the materials being recyclable. http://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/news/australia-lags-behind-in-battery-recycling-industry-experts-say
Mine rehabilitation When mining companies close mines, they walk away from the environmental mess they’ve made and do not contribute fully to rehabilitating the site. This is currently happening in Queensland and will affect NSW as mines close. Sign the petition organised by Lock the Gate. http://www.lockthegate.org.au/mine_rehab_petition
Green electricity Looking for a energy provider that sources renewable energy? Have a look at the Green Electricity Guide, http://greenelectricityguide.org.au which gives the only independent unbiased ranking of environmental performance of electricity retailers. You can also look at Green Power which is a voluntary accredited program that enables your electricity provider to purchase renewable energy on your household’s or business’ behalf. http://www.greenpower.gov.au
NEWS AND EVENTS
Recycling Did you know you can recycle domestic batteries in bins at most Aldi stores? That plastic packaging such as biscuit packets, bread bags and clean cling film can be recycled at dedicated bins at both Coles and most Woolworths supermarkets? That used bras and and swimwear can be donated to Uplift Project which onsends them to women for whom bras are unobtainable or unaffordable? Have a look at Planet Ark’s website to see what else you can recycle. http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/recycling-info/