Current Campaigns

Save the Kimberley whale coast

The government is planning to build a gas plant 50km north of Broome. The Wilderness society is currently campaigning to stop this plant from being built. For further information visit their website at:

http://www.wilderness.org.au/kimberley

Chester Block

The native forest in Chester Block is a high conservation value forest in the margaret river region. With 800 species per square km, it is one of the highest biodiversity regions on the planet. The forest comission is due to log it during 2009, thus threatening the biodiversity of the region. A small community action group is arranging a protest. For more information call the camp contact on 0422-535 328.

Aqua Biofilter is an Australian innovation designed around the concepts taught at Politechnico di Torino/ZERI. It has proven feasable for treating sewage, wetlands and storm water systems without the use of chemicals. Enjoy!

http://www.aquabiofilter.com/

These are links to organisations and companies that focus on clean fuel, power, etc.

Sustainable Fuel

Australian Institute of Energy's Hydrogen Division works to promote the responsible development of hydrogen as a fuel source. The Institute also has a branch in Perth. Despite their focus on conventional fuel, they are arranging a conference that will also consider sustainable fuels. This is well worth attending!

http://aie.org.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Hydrogen_Division

Shell HydrogenThe major corporation Shell has understood the value of sustainable fuel and has already set up hydrogen filling stations in USA, Europe and Asia. Currently, Shell is working to expand the availability of hydrogen as viable alternative to fossil fuels and hydrocarbons.

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=hydrogen-en

Sustainable power

International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy is an international organisation that works to accelerate the transition to a hydrogen economy. Australia is one of their parner countries.

http://www.iphe.net/

For portable power to charge your laptop or mobile check out the HY mini. For those of you who love sleek gadgets, it is the definite way to go!

http://www.hymini.com/

Sustainable vehicles

Aptera Motors have produced a car that is a small, but highly efficient (and fast!) electric/hybrid car. At the moment they only operate in the US, but we may see them expand in the future as they are surviving the economic crisis better than their silicon valley competitors Tesla Motors.

http://www.aptera.com/index.php

Hydrogen vehicles worldwide will identify and provide information on any hydrogen-fuelled vehicle available in the world, be it a motorcycle, aircraft, spacecraft (let's keep in mind NASA has used hydrogen for decades) , tractor or car. If it exists you will find it and it's producer here. It also has information about hydrogen fuel stations all over the world.

http://www.netinform.net/h2/H2Mobility/Default.aspx

Gunter Pauli is a postgraduate lecturer at Politechnico di Turino in Turin, Italy. He speaks 6 languages and has been an advisor to the UN Environment Programme. His institute - The Zero Emissions Research Institute - has been key to Sustainability projects throughout the world. It can be found at http://www.zeri.org.

Paolo Lugari is a colombian professor who founded the Gaviotas project in La Vichida, Colombia in 1967. This project developed several low-cost and reliable sustainability innovations including the sustainable community Las Gaviotas, a variety of solar heating systems, wind-generators and water pumps. Today Las Gaviotas and the Gaviotas Institute both thrive as living proof that we truly can create a sustainable world. This video was produced in 2007 by Miguel Rojas-Sotelo and Gioconda Perez Snyder during Lugari's visit to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA. Enjoy! For more information about Las Gaviotas, visit http://www.friendsofgaviotas.org.

1. WA Student Environment Network (WASEN)

This is the WA branch of ASEN. There is not a website, only an email address.

wasen@yahoogroups.com

2. Australian Student Environment Network (ASEN)

http://asen.org.au/

ASEN is the Australian Student Environment Network It is made up of campus environment collectives all over the country. We work for a safe and just future for this dear world and all that live upon it. ASEN creates a space where we can share and multiply our knowledge, passion and experience. ASEN aims to provide resources and support to collectives across the country, and facilitate the cross-fertilisation of skills, resources, ideas and campaigns.

3. Students of Sustainability (SOS)

http://www.studentsofsustainability.org/

The Students of Sustainability conference is a five day conference for anyone interested in creating a more ecologically and socially sustainable world.

SoS '08 will be held at the University of Newcastle from the 5th to the 9th of July, with camping on campus or billeting if required. Students, community and Indigenous activists, academics, public intellectuals, environmental educators, social change agents of all stripes and from all over Australia will come and participate in a range of educational, practical and participatory forums and workshops. SoS is about imparting the inspiration, tools, motivation and education required for participants to inspire and educate others when they return to their own communities.

4. Conservation Council

http://www.conservationwa.asn.au/

The Conservation Council of WA is the State’s peak non-government environment organisation — a voice for the environment since 1967.

5. Australian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS)

http://acts.asn.au/

ACTS is the primary forum for sustainability in the Australian and New Zealand tertiary sectors. Its mission is to promote the integration of the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) within the curricula and operations of these sectors.

6. Greenpeace

http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/

Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that uses non-violent direct action to expose global environmental problems and to force solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future.

Greenpeace's goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity.

Greenpeace believes that violence in any form is morally wrong and accomplishes nothing. No one gets hurt during a Greenpeace non violent direct action because activists are fully trained prior to any direct action involvement.

7. The Wilderness Society

http://www.wilderness.org.au/regions/western-australia

The largest state in Australia also has the most wild country. From the fantastic landscapes of the Kimberley, to one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots in the south west botanical province, WA contains some of the best of planet Earth. Australia’s biggest woodland is the incredibly diverse Great Western Woodlands, stretching from the rabbit-proof fence to the Nullarbor. Our Perth office is working to protect this global treasure. We helped protect the old growth forests of the south coast, and now we want to help connect them, across a thousand kilometres, to the Great Western Woodlands through the ambitious, multi-group effort of Gondwana Link.

8. Environment House

http://www.environmenthouse.org.au/index.php

Late in 2000, three friends decided a shopfront community environment centre was needed in Perth. The vision was for a campaign centre and eco-products store to support the community to live in a way that respects our environment and future generations.

We gathered others to form a community association for this purpose. With help from the Australian Conservation Foundation we leased a former fish & chip shop plus house and backyard, in the heart of Maylands, only 150m from the train station, and 8 minutes from the city.

In March 2001 the shop was packed for its launch, with special guests Judy Jackson - a Nyoongar elder who has since passed away; Dr Judy Edwards - Maylands MP and (then) Environment Minister; and Peter Garrett - then ACF President Generous well-wishers helped with the private commercial rent, and the first furnishings and office equipment.

From 2002-mid 2004, funding from WA's SEDO & the AGO (Australian Greenhouse Office's) Cool Communities program paid for a retrofit of the old house with solar power & hot water, insulation and energy-saving devices - to show what can be done with an old house - and for a series of workshops (and rebates on energy efficient purchases) for the public to learn about energy efficiency.

Since then, we have operated on an entirely voluntary basis running the shop; growing rushes, she-oak and paperbark trees from seed we collect and planting them out on the eroded Maylands foreshore; running compost systems, a big worm farm and compost workshops; hosting teaching students; and giving talks to community groups on sustainable living.

Our aim is to both 'walk the talk' and 'talk the walk' on climate protection, river care and other sustainability issues. With a roster of 15 volunteers over any one fortnight, we keep our doors open Mon-Sat 49 hours a week, and run a stall at City Farm Organic markets every Sat. morning. Our tent is often found at fairs, fetes and festivals as well. Our volunteers will try to help you with your queries or give you other useful contacts.

9. Department of Environment and Conservation WA (DEC)

http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/

The Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) was established on 1 July 2006, bringing together the Department of Environment and the Department of Conservation and Land Management.

DEC is in the portfolio of the Minister for Environment. The department is also part of the greater environmental community and has distinct Government responsibilities for implementing Government policy within that community. Protection and conservation of the environment is a collective role.

10. Fremantle Environment Resource Network

http://www.fern.org.au/

FERN is a non-profit community organisation dedicated to knowledge-sharing about living sustainably. FERN is based at the community garden space on the corner of High street and Montreal Street in Fremantle, Western Australia.

11. City Farm

http://www.cityfarmperth.org.au/

City Farm is an organic community garden, education and network centre that operates on permaculture principles. We promote healthy urban environments that are productive and diverse.
The East Perth City Farm was founded in 1994 as an initiative of the Planetary Action Network (PAN), the youth branch of Men of the Trees in Western Australia.

12. Sustainable Energy Now (SEN)

http://www.sen.asn.au/

Sustainable Energy Now Inc. (SEN) is a grass roots organization with a vision to demonstrate scenarios for Western Australia to reduce CO₂ emissions and pollution in fixed electricity generation, by maximising our use of sustainable energy.

13. Sustainable Energy Development Office (SEDO)

http://www1.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/

The Sustainable Energy Development Office was established in November 2001 by the State Government to implement the Government of Western Australia’s sustainable energy policy.

The Sustainable Energy Development Office plays a vital role in accelerating the adoption of renewable energy and energy-efficient strategies across all sectors of the community - from business and industry to government and the general public.

By implementing programs that promote and highlight the importance of renewable energy and energy efficiency, the Sustainable Energy Development Office is fostering a sustainable energy industry that contributes to the Western Australian economy and the environment.

14. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

http://www.seashepherd.org/

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.

15. Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)

http://www.acfonline.org.au/

The Australian Conservation Foundation is committed to inspiring people to achieve a healthy environment for all Australians. For over 40 years we have been a strong voice for the environment, promoting solutions through research, consultation, education and partnerships. We work with the community, business and government to protect, restore and sustain our environment.

16. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

http://www.wwf.org.au/

WWF works to conserve Australia's plants and animals by ending land clearing and degradation, addressing climate change, and preserving and protecting fresh water, marine and land environments.

WWF-Australia's Woodland Watch Project Officer, Mick Davis, with Wheatbelt farmer David Graham
© WWF-Australia/Darren JEW

Our work spans the full spectrum of conservation activities - from on-ground field projects through to long-term, large-scale programs and policy formulation through to public campaigns.

17. Anti-Nuclear Alliance of WA (ANAWA)

http://www.anawa.org.au/

This website is produced by the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia. This group came into being in 1997 (then known as the Anti-Uranium Coalition, AUCWA), to act as an umbrella group for organisations campaigning against the nuclearisation of Australia. Our role is mainly in research, political lobbying and publication of information that we believe the community needs in order to make informed decisions about uranium mining, nuclear power, weapons and waste. We are not a 'special interest group.' We are the tip of the iceberg, representing the 70-80% of Western Australians who oppose uranium mining and waste dumping in Australia, particularly in our home state.

ANAWA is dependent on the generosity of the community to continue this work - peace movements, like wars, cost money.

18. Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE)

http://www.aaeewa.org.au/

Our Association is unique, involving a broad cross-section of environmental educators from diverse areas such as schools, government agencies, industry, universities, technical and further education centres, zoos, museums, parks and reserves, environmental education centres and community and conservation groups.

19. Environmental Defenders Office (EDO)

http://www.edowa.org.au/

MISSION STATEMENT:

Protection of WA’s environment by providing community groups and individuals with environmental legal services including advice, education, representation and opportunity to participate in reform of laws affecting the environment.

The EDO is a non-profit, non-government community legal centre specialising in public interest environmental law. Our services include:

• Providing community groups and individuals with legal advice and representation on environmental issues;

• Promoting environmental law reform; and

• Undertaking community legal education.

20. Stand Up for Burrup

http://www.standupfortheburrup.com/

Western Australia´s Burrup Peninsula is the world's largest outdoor rock engraving site, containing rock art of world importance possibly dating back to 30,000 years ago, including possibly the first ever representation of the human face in history. Woodside Petroleum and the Western Australian Government are planning to turn part of this site into a natural gas production facility against the wishes of some of the site`s Aboriginal custodians and the scientific community.

21. Chester Block

http://www.chester.org.au/chester_info.html

Chester Block is in the extreme south-western corner of WA’s public forests, about 20km North East of Augusta.
It is very low lying, drained by a system of interconnected streams and wetlands. In winter it could be described as a shallow lake, with islands of trees and shrubs.
It is an area of exceptional conservation value. The 1998 Comprehensive Regional Assessment (CRA) Species Richness map shows Chester to be of maximum floral diversity (700-800 species per sq. km).

22. Department of Water

http://portal.water.wa.gov.au/

Managing Western Australia's water needs and ensuring that they are met, both now and in the future, is critical.

The economic, environmental and social well-being of future generations depends on the responsible decisions we make about the State's water needs today.

We provide comprehensive information to industry, expert technical support and professional guidance to government on the status of water and the viability of new source development.

Blue Covenant: The global water crisis and the coming battle for the right to water - Maude Barlow

Ecohouse (3rd Edition) - Sue Roaf, Manuel Fuentes and Stephanie Thomas.

Environmental law in Australia (4th edition) - GM Bates

Greeniology: How to live well, be green and make a difference - Tanya Ha (Australia-relevant)

Green Power: The environment movement in Australia - Timothy Doyle

The Hydrogen Economy: The creation of the worldwide energy wave and the redistribution of power on Earth - Jeremy Rifkin

Upsizing: The road to zero emissions, more jobs, more income and no pollution - Gunter Pauli.

October is Think Outside the Box month and during week 13, we will be breaking the mould and doing things differently.

We have prepared 3 information kits as downloadable .zip files

The Staff kit can be downloaded here

The Student Clubs and Societies kit can be downloaded here

The Student kit can be downloaded here.

Feel free to contact project manager Sara Hjalmarsson if you have any queries at shjalmar@student.ecu.edu.au

The Think Outside the Box initiative is a project that aims to encourage out-of-the-box thinking and creative approaches to issues. In 2009, we trial a new model for Student Guild projects on a small scale and consequently, there will only be a small number of acitivites. Based on what we learn, we expect to develop the initiative further during 2010. Ultimately, we hope to conduct a large, well-planned and well-coordinated initiative in semester 2 of 2010 that spans several campuses.

This year, the Think Outside the Box Initiative will include an interactive exhibit and a short talk on the theme of sustainability and innovation. Both showcase outside-the-box approaches to issues, encourage creative thinking and offer a few techniques useful in both creative problem-solving and creating exceptional assignments. In the exhibit we will showcase student projects and research alongside university initiatives. We will also offer a small mini-zine publication containing submissions from both students and staff at ECU. The submissions must be 150-250 words and can concern innovation and/or sustainability in its broader sense. They may consist of your own personal thoughts regarding innovation or sustainability, a summary of a project you have worked on, or an idea for addressing a current issue or challenge. All submissions can be made via email to the project manager. A pickup time can also be arranged for showcase contributions and publication submissions. Please sent an email to the project manager or call 0450-450 512.

• Submissions to the publication are due October 20th, 2009.

• Contributions to the exhibit need to be at Joondalup Campus Student Guild by October 26th, 2009 for the exhibit on Wednesday, October 28th.

The Schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, October 28th
10am-1pm (Joondalup campus only) Think Outside the Box exhibit on the lawn outside building 32. This will be an interactive exhibit showcasing student work,
university projects and topics related to sustainability and innovation. Some topics of interest include innovative ways to address waste, recycling and waste-free
business models.

1pm-1:30pm (JO.4.210)
A short talk on innovation and university study hosted by Associate Professor David Clarke-Murphy. It will include examples of innovative approaches to social
sustainability, some of which are being researched here at ECU.

Our "Think Outside the Box" initiative is finally ready for launch. Come visit the site!

Friday March 20th, 2009

The website has now been updated with video clips and links to sustainability resources from Australia and Internationally. The books available at the Student Guild in Joondalup cover most of the topics in these links and videos. If you want to learn more visit the guild or come to one of our film screenings on either March 25th (Mt Lawley) or April 17th (Joondalup).

Our theme for April will be Innovation and Sustainability. Combating the challenges before us will require innovation, the ability to think outside the box and the will to act. What is going on in Australia today (and the world) and what can we do ourselves? The month of April will be a time to think different and be inspired! Seize the opportunity!

Activities

This is where we post information about all our activites and room details. Stay posted for updates. If you want to arrange an activity, send us an email.

Activities 2009 semester 1

Febuary

Date: Febuary 27

Time: 6pm

Event: Film Screening.

Campus: Joondalup campus

Venue: Building 7, room 104.

March

Date: March 27

Time: 2.30 pm

Event: Film Screening.

Campus: Mt Lawley

Venue: Building 17, room 103

April

Date: Cancelled

Time: Cancelled

Event: Film Screening.

Campus: Joondalup

Venue: Cancelled

email us at environment@ecuguild.org.au or envirojo@ecuguild.org.au.