Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community

Did you see this story on the Grey Lynn community gardens?  It was in the Viva section of the NZ Herald.

It’s an intesting story  with the history of the garden and how it work.

Great photo of Andrea and her friends!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/viva-magazine/news/article.cfm?c_id=533&objectid=10574634

For those of you who don’t know the garden, it is in the grounds of St Columba Church (where Richmond Rd intersects with Surrey Cres)

A Movie about Climate Change, Power, and Free Market Environmentalism
Produced by Focus on the Global South;The Gr8 Climate Sale tells the story of how the governments of the countries responsible for causing Climate Change have avoided taking action to solve it while at the same time, helping their corporations with the help of the World Trade Organisation and the World Bank to profit from this catastrophe. If you’ve been wondering why after 20 years of international negotiations on Climate Change virtually nothing whatsoever has come out of it except for the privatisation of the world’s atmosphere [via emissions trading] and a raft of other big business designed non-solutions then this movie is for you.

A discussion on ways for people to confront the root causes of the Climate Crisis here in Aotearoa will follow
For more information Contact Gary Cranston 0212099641

Thursday 4th June

6pm – 8pm

Basement Room B10

Auckland Uni Library

Alfred Street

Admission: Koha

The Gr8 climate Sale
The issue of climate change has come to the forefront and people both in the North and the South have been feeling the devastating effects of global warming. However, the links between the neo-liberal system and the model of over consumption to the climate crisis are not clearly stated. And now that governments are discussing an agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol,institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Bank have come in and are pushing for solutions that do not impede the market. The G8 have also joined in the fray and proposed their own solutions to global warming.

This video talks about what has happened from Kyoto till now, and how the neo-liberal system has contributed to global warming. It emphasizes the intimate connection between increasing trade liberalization and rising greenhouse gas emissions, how trade rules prevent effective action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and how institutions like the WTO and other trade regimes are trying to control what governments can and cannot do about global warming. It also talks about the Group of 8 and the role of these developed nations in pushing for market-based solutions where corporations will make the most out of the climate crisis. It shows how trade liberalization is being promoted as one of the solutions to global warming and emphasizes the need to link the anti-globalization and environmental movements in this struggle.

The Gr8 Climate Sale is a play on words, the “Gr8” is short hand for “great” in popular language used in the internet and phone instant messaging. But it can also mean the Group of 8 to emphasize the role of these developed nations in contributing to the climate crisis.

Mahi Whenua – a Garden of Eden for organics

This award-winning hortecology sanctuary is a flourishing centre of learning, practice and research into organic systems and sustainable land management. The sanctuary is certified by Organic Farm NZ and has been recognised regionally and nationally as a showcase for sustainability. There’s no better place in the country to learn about organics; it provides a live demonstration that conservation, biodiversity and successful production can co-exist, even in an urban environment.

You can participate in growing and caring for a wide range of organic plants and vegetables at Mahi Whenua, including some rare and endangered species. But you will learn a lot more than organic production. You will also learn about the implications of sustainability for the local and global community, and be involved in leading edge research into the use of integrated food systems.

The sanctuary is the brainchild of Brendan Hoare, former Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Design and Hortecology at Unitec, Founding Trustee and Executive Director of econation2020, Convenor of the Organic Federation of Aotearoa New Zealand; and Richard Main, former tutor and manager of the sanctuary. Brendan and Richard are passionate about the vision of New Zealand as an organic econation by 2020, a passion shared by all staff and students involved in developing Mahi Whenua. The sanctuary provides a perfect model of the planning, implementation and monitoring of productive landscape ecosystems.

But things change….

Unitec decided to discontinue its horticulture programme, and the world-renowned learning center for organics needed a new lease on life.  Working along the Sanctuary’s founders, organics experts Brendan Hoare and Richard Main, Forward helped coordinate 20 stakeholder groups, create a management plan and proposal for Unitec, and support a new operator for the site.  The result: Workforce Auckland championed as the new lease holder, community groups are setting up a trust to help operate the site going forward, and the general public will benefit from having this centre of excellence remain well into the future.

There has been steady progress in the development of the Unitec Hortecology Sanctuary since a new team started managing the site in late March. The Sanctuary is now managed and operated by Workforce Auckland, www.workforceauckland.org.nz an organisation which works with people with disabilities. Our mission is “To assist disabled Aucklanders to work in jobs of their choice.” The Sanctuary provides both direct employment for our employees and skill development.

There now is  an advisory board consisting of:

Finn Mackesy – Permaculture and education interests
Wendy John  -  Oakley Creek
Karen Mann –  Buchanen Trust and Oakley Creek
Logan O’Callahan – Community and Transition Town – Pt Chev
Brendan Hoare –  Retained as an advisor

Most exciting is the physical transformation of the site. The new site manager Ken Bremner and his team have been undertaking steady progress over the last 6 weeks.

You are invited to an open day on 6 June for all interested parties. The practical focus of the day will be the planting of garlic. This will be followed by an update and some time for an open discussion and a shared
lunch. So bring yourselves and your family, some work clothes and a picnic lunch.

Date: Saturday 6 June
Time: 10-12.30pm
Where: Untic Hortecology Sanctuary

Hot water, tea and milk will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you all there.

The Whitespace Art Gallery has designated their next public showing as a fundraiser for Auckland Forest & Bird in an exhibition called Chorus. Details are:

When: opening night 2 June, 5:30 to 7:30; exhibition runs till 27 June. Their hours are 11.00-6.00 Tues-Fri and Sat 11.00-4.00.

Where: Whitespace Art Gallery, 12 Crummer Road, Ponsonby

Who: Nic Moon, one of the displayed artists, visited Fiordland to hear the bird chorus, and, hearing none, realised the devastation which pests like rats and stoats have had on the birdlife in our forests.

She returned to Auckland and with other artists, including Don Binney and Greer Twiss, has organised this exhibition to praise New Zealand’s native birds and to support Forest & Bird for its work in restoring the Dawn Chorus.

While there’s no entry fee, there will be a box asking for donations to Forest & Bird.

Cheers! You are invited to attend Auckland Green Drinks on Tuesday 2nd June from 5.30pm (straight after the long weekend).

Yes, we know it’s only a week since the last one, but we have a special World Environment Day exhibition to celebrate!

This event is hosted by Auckland Zoo and is a preview of Eyes on Whangateau Harbour, a photographic exhibition featuring exquisite images one of Auckland’s most pristine harbours. Come an enjoy the historic setting of the Auckland Zoo’s Old Elephant House.

Eyes on Whangateau Harbour’ will be on display from 2 – 7 June at the zoo’s Old Elephant House (10am – 3pm daily) and features 30 photographs celebrating the outstanding natural values of this stunning mainland estuary northeast of Warkworth.

Works by local and internationally renowned photographers Darryl Torckler, Dr Roger Grace, Ian Macdonald, Iain Anderson and Karen Williamson have been reproduced in large banner format, with design of these by world-famous New Zealand artist Billy Apple and fellow artist Robert Thompson.

Please RSVP to auckland@nzaee.org.nz

What: Green Drinks, hosted by Auckland Zoo
Where: Old Elephant House, Auckland Zoo, Motions Road, Point Chevalier – enter through main entrance
When: Tuesday 2nd June 5.30pm
Bring: Your own name badge
Costs: Nil, beer and wine have been sponsored, but numbers are limited so RSVPs are required!
RSVP: by Friday 29th May to auckland@nzaee.org.nz
Queries: Kate Jackson auckland@nzaee.org.nz

Sustainable Transport Options:

• Check out www.maxx.co.nz

A BIG thank you to the sponsors of this event:

• Hallertau Brewery
• Pukeko Grove Fruit Wines
• Constellation NZ
• PureFresh Organics

What is Green Drinks? It is a simple concept that has generated an international movement that is now active in over 450 cities around the world. The international website www.greendrinks.org highlights everywhere you can go and join like-minded people in regular, fun, social networking.

Upcoming Green Drinks….if you can’t make this event, then don’t fret…there are more Green Drinks planned! The next event will be in July …invites will be sent out 2 weeks before the event.

To join the database just email us at auckland@nzaee.org.nz

Hope to see you soon.
Cheers!
NZAEE Auckland Branch – Green Drinks Coordinators

GET CREATIVE FOR YOUR CAUSE TO WIN $25,000.00

On 28 May 2009, Canon will launch Creative for a Cause – a national awareness campaign encouraging New Zealanders to get creative for the causes they are passionate about. We would like to invite you and your organisation to get involved.

Canon Creative for a Cause is a campaign designed to generate exposure for causes and organisations such as yours.

In addition to fundraising opportunities arising from the awareness campaign itself, the active involvement of your members and support community could earn your organisation $NZD25,000 as well as a chance to become a Canon preferred charity in 2009.

We’re calling upon all New Zealanders to get creative by taking a photograph that depicts a cause that they are passionate about and uploading it, along with a 25 word description of what their photo represents and who their selected charity is, to www.canon.co.nz/creativeforacause.

We will be listing your organisation on the Creative for a Cause website at launch to generate awareness and encourage people to upload images depictive of your cause.

An extensive PR campaign and online image sharing through various social networks will encourage people to actively vote and encourage voting on the images that appeal most to them.

New Zealanders are renowned for their passion for causes and for taking photographs. The campaign will link these two passions and provide a platform to raise awareness of causes people are passionate about. Through Creative for a Cause and the power of creative imagery, Canon hopes to make a difference to the many important charities in New Zealand.

We’ve included  information on the campaign below. If you have any queries, please contact the Canon Creative for a Cause team at creativeforacause@hillandknowlton.com.au or call us on (09) 379-2121

Traffic Focus Group (new)

Have you almost be run over on the pedestrian crossing at West Lynn? Is the commuter traffic using your street as a rat run? Do you have any ideas for traffic calming measures ? Do you think it would be great to have a 30km speed limit on our residential streets?

If so you might like to get involved with the Grey Lynn 2030 traffic focus group so we can take some practical steps to making our community more safe and friendly for walkers and cyclists.Please email Pippa pippacoom@gmail.com or introduce yourself at the meeting on Monday 8th June.

Once we have interested members we will meet to discuss:
- a name for the group
- objectives
- priorities and a first project to take on
- initiatives already underway (for example the proposal to lower the speed limit on Ponsonby Rd to 40km ) and how we can best offer support.

Grey Lynn 2030 have been given the opportunity to give a verbal presentation to the Auckland City Council on 10 year plan for 2009 – 2019. (This certainly makes you see why calling ourselves Grey Lynn 2030 is not that far away as far as the council works)

Hearings are on from 2 – 5 June (We have not been given a specific time yet)

We are planning to make an appearance as it is another opportunity to ensure the council is aware of community initiatives and Grey Lynn 2030.

Pippa Cooom is happy to talk at a high level to each of the headings in the submission but who else like to get involved with this?