New Zealand is hugely reliant on the rest of the world for its fuels. Technological advancements such as battery operated cars provide us with the opportunity to be more self-reliant. However, the debate about what sort of alternative approaches to generating electricity has not yet
occurred. We need a debate about the appropriate mix of new forms of electricity generation (wind, solar). We also need a debate on whether nuclear energy is an acceptable source of energy for us. While controversial, the pressures of climate change and need for clean energy is forcing other economies to increase reliance on nuclear energy – this is a debate that New
Zealand is still to have. New Zealand also has a large reserve of low quality coal, and we rely on future sequestration technology to enable us to fully exploit these sources. We need to consider the future of such technologies, and to explore what can be done to speed the emergence of
cost-effective sequestration technologies.
Chair: Rhema Vaithianathan
Senior Lecturer in Economics, The University of Auckland Buisness School
Rhema is a core contributor to the MPP degree.

Associate Professor Basil Sharp
Director of the Energy Centre at The University of Auckland Business School
Peter Neilson
CEO of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development
and a former Cabinet Minister

Thursday 27 August
12.30 to 2pm
Women’s Federation Room, Old Government House
Cnr Princes Street & Waterloo Quadrant,
The University of Auckland

www.art.auckland.ac.nz/mpp

Biogas is the flammable gas given off during Anaerobic Digestion (fermentation).

Anaerobic Digestion is a useful process! Biogas is a useful product!

Biogas can be utilised as a free energy source in a domestic or farm situation!

Small scale Anaerobic Digestion for the House and Farm, is the topic of a Presentation at the Maharishi Vedic Center

295 Wainui Rd

7 pm

Thursday 30 April 2009

For more information:

www.transitiontowns.org.nz/localnews/

Me thinks this is a talk on Farting…Web Mistress

Saturday May 2nd

World Labyrinth Day.

The St Columba  labyrinth, in the garden at  92 Surrey Cres,  will be a site for those who wish to share in this meditative walk that is circling the world in a wave as  people walk at 1pm NZ local time.

Come and be part of this walk for peace and enlightenment.

Walking in a focused meditative way is a great to centre yourself and experience a deep sense of connectedness.

No experience necessary, guidance available on site if you would like it.

You are invited to visit our garden and enjoy the peace.

EcoMatters Environment Trust is pleased to announce we are setting up a bio-diesel co-operative and is now calling for expressions of interest.

We have secured a high quality bio-diesel derived from locally sourced waste oils. The oils have been put through a system in such a way that they are readily usable in almost all diesel engines without conversion. It burns so cleanly that you can’t see or smell a thing coming out of the tail pipe!

We are still in negotiations as to price but the worst case scenario would see it at 10c per litre above the price of normal diesel.

We will be selling the fuel at cost and will only charge a small joining fee to cover the cost of setup. Initially we will be supplying the diesel in 20 litre containers which can be taken away. You will be provided with a hose for refueling and will then have the pleasure to around away carbon free! Eventually we are looking like to have a pump on site but this will depend on the amount of support we receive.

So if you have a diesel vehicle, here is your chance to power it on a waste product and snub the fuel companies. Please let people you know who may be interested about this iniative.

Regards,

Aaryn Barlow
Sustainable Projects Manager
EcoMatters Environment Trust

6 Olympic Place    P 09 826 4276
New Lynn             M 021 308 837
Waitakere City     F 09 826 4278

Transition Pt Chevalier in collaboration with Pt Chevalier School is delighted to present a free public talk by:

Eion Scott: Eco Design Advisor,

Auckland City Council

Thursday, 21st May, 7.30pm, Resource Room, Pt Chevalier School, Te Ra Rd.

Keen to make your home more energy efficient, comfortable to live in, cheaper to run and easier on the environment? Eion’s talk will cover issues such as energy and water efficient appliances and systems, waste management, indoor environment quality, and selecting more sustainable materials. The event will appeal to anyone who has a concern about the quality of their living environment, regardless of whether they are cooking up a grand design, converting their dream home into a green home, or just making their wooden tent a little warmer before next winter.

As well as talking at such events, Eion offers up to two hours of free, independent, tailored advice on how to improve the sustainability of homes, including a visit to the home or building site. You can book a follow-up visit from him at his talk.

Transition Pt Chevalier will be offering a free eco light bulb to the first 30 people who arrive and running a free raffle for anyone who walks, cycles or takes public transport to the event

For further details please contact Eion Scott, Eion.Scott@aucklandcity.govt.nz or Niki Harré, nikiharre@xtra.co.nz

Biogas is the flammable gas given off during

Anaerobic Digestion (fermentation).

Anaerobic Digestion is a useful process!

Biogas is a useful product!

Biogas can be utilised as a free energy source in a domestic or farm situation!

Small scale Anaerobic Digestion for the House and Farm, is the topic of a Presentation at:

the Maharishi Vedic Center

295 Wainui Rd

7 pm

30 April 2009

$5 per person

Biogas.  This is the natural production of methane using organic wastes.  The two speakers are Jo Knight of the NZ Zero Waste Trust who has travelled extensively in Europe and studied large scale biogas plants and Helensville engineer Steve Rodda who has been experimenting with building biogas reactors locally.  Steve is keen to find a suburban community who wants to build a cooperative biogas plant.