climate change time capsule starts ticking

What better way to start Australia Day 2014 than to participate in a Climate Change Time Capsule event out at Birdsland.

Peter Cook and Cr Samantha Dunn, prepare to
'plant' the time capsule, this marked rock will make it
easier for the community to unearth the capsule in 2050.

Peter Cook, time capsule organiser and President of the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association, said “On Australia Day politicians across Australia will be attending citizenship ceremonies and talking about our great country. Not many, we suspect, will touch on what governments could or should be doing to restore a ‘safe climate’.”

The day was an opportunity to think about climate change and our vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. I continue to be concerned about the lack of action on climate change and the dismantling of the Climate Commission. Although on a positive note I am heartened by the crowdfunding of the new Climate Council.



I commend the groups who participated, who continue to
work to highlight the need for action to work to a safe climate,
 I was honoured to be able to turn the first sod.

Our current levels of Co2 emissions is 396ppm and we know that we are headed for  more extreme weather, the brunt of which is being felt in all corners of the earth. 2013 was the year of broken records, every single month climate heat records were broken in Australia.

The purpose of the time capsule was to answer for future generations what we knew about climate change and what we did to prevent it.

The time capsule intends to answer those questions. The time capsule included a plethora of information as well as seeds from local endangered acacia species and many community groups joined in the proceedings to bury the time capsule.

Local CFA brigades and emergency service volunteers and workers were especially recognised at the event as it is them who are in the frontline of dealing with the consequences of climate change and extreme weather.

So many groups contributed to the time capsule, on the day we were joined by representatives of the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association, the Southern Dandenongs Community Nursery, Selby CFA, Belgrave Heights and South CFA, the Shire of Yarra Ranges, The Victorian Greens - Dandenong Ranges branch, Emerald Community House, Southern Dandenongs Landcare, Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands, Friends of the Monbulk Creek (trestle bridge), Emerald for Sustainability and the Knox Environment Society.

upwey grassroots makes it mark

This weekend saw the second running of the Upwey Grassroots Market and it was a wonderful success.

People flocked to the market which focusses on locally grown, made and produced food and wares.

The community harvest group were there with all their home grown produce, the rhubarb took my fancy. Food Swap is a great idea and being facilitated by Transition Sherbrooke who have been set up by some committed community members in response to climate change and peak oil. It's focus is to create a sustainable and resilient community whilst transitioning to a low carbon future.

Peter Cook, president of the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association was there with DRREA solar oven and information aplenty about renewable energy. Peter also had some postcards promoting Container Deposit Legislation, a campaign he's been supporting for some time.

TVAG (Tecoma Village Action Group) were there too. TVAG have recently been contacted by a consultant working for McDonalds about the potential for a McDonalds on the site of Hippie Haven and Saffron Cottage in Tecoma. McDonalds met with me and shire officers earlier this month and I recommended they speak to community groups, particularly TVAG, about the proposal. I also emphasised to them the importance of broader community consultation on this proposal.

TVAG are gauging the community response to the expression of interest by McDonalds. If you'd like to give some feedback to TVAG you can find more details by clicking on this 'stop press'.

renewable energy forum coming to mooroolbark

The Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association is holding a Renewable Energy Forum in Mooroolbark.

The forum will include information on:
Shire of Yarra Ranges Solar Hot Water discount
Shire of Yarra Ranges Community Solar Farm
The Beyond Zero Emissions Stationary Energy Plan, 100% renewable energy by 2020.

Where: Mooroolbark Community Centre, Brice Avenue (Mel ref: 37 H12)
When: 7:30pm, Wednesday 17th November.