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Check out Walk Against Warming's new look website and school initiatives
 The countdown to Walk Against Warming on 12th December has begun with the recent launch of our exciting new website at www.walkagainstwarming.org.You can register for the walk, sign the petition, buy your sky blue 'Walking for the Climate' laces, download posters or a logo for your blog and more all online.
The website is also where you'll find details of two new school initiatives - Blue Laces Day and the Climate Action Schools Song Competition. Entries are now open for songs that express student's feelings about climate change and their future. The winning school will perform their songs on the main stage in the Royal Botanical Gardens at the end of the walk.
Students, staff and parents can also show support for strong action on climate change by wearing sky blue laces to school on a day leading up to the walk. Your school can sell Walking for the Climate blue laces as a school fundraiser or students can bring their own. For more information on Walk Against Warming or the great ways schools can show their support, please contact Rachel Mimmo on 02 9279 2466 or email: rmimmo@nccnsw.org.au Read more ... NSW Government sees the light on gross solar feed-in tariff NSW will enjoy more green jobs, economic growth and fewer greenhouse emissions following the NSW Government’s decision to pay households for all the extra solar electricity they produce and increase the rebate for households to install solar panels.
The Nature Conservation Council was a strong advocate of a gross solar feed-in tariff, arguing that the only way NSW would see massive take-up is by householders seeing a return on their solar investment sooner rather than later. Hundreds of people supported the benefits of a gross feed-in scheme by signing our cyberaction to Premier Nathan Rees and Environment Minister Carmel Tebbutt. The increase in the rebate available for installing solar panels by $1500 and a ‘gross' rather than net solar feed in tariff is a welcome step toward cleaner energy alternatives. However, the Nature Conservation Council is calling on the Premier not to undo the positive decision on solar energy by going ahead with two new power station developments. So far, one power station will be gas-fired but it is important that the second is not coal-fired as this would lock the state into a coal powered future. Read more ... National Waste Policy brings new life to old televisions and computers Australia's environment ministers have endorsed a new National Waste Policy setting a 10-year framework for resource recovery and waste management. The policy includes an Australian-first scheme for recycling computers and televisions, with householders able to drop off used computers and TVs for recycling free of charge.As part of the Boomerang Alliance, the Nature Conservation Council has promoted waste avoidance and strategies for 'zero waste' in Australia, including calls for greater extended producer responsibilities and more investment in alternative waste technologies. The Alliance welcomes the Federal Government's announcement as a good first step towards better recycling but we need this scheme extended to cover other electonic goods. Download a fact sheet on the National Waste policy here . Read more ... Experience the unforgettable thrill of diving with sharks in southern Africa
 Join the Nature Conservation Council on a holiday of a lifetime where you'll interact with Great Whites and Whale sharks and explore the natural wonders of southern Africa.An extreme adventure, the Shark Swim Challenge includes snorkelling with Whale Sharks, cage diving with Great Whites and a special opportunity to witness one of the most awe-inspiring sights off the coast of southern Africa - the breaching of Great White Sharks. You'll also get involved in marine conservation work with world-renowned researcher Mike Rutzen. Don't miss this unique opportunity for the challenge of a lifetime while raising much needed funds for the Nature Conservation Council's Australian marine conservation work. See www.sharkswimchallenge.com.au for more details or to register. Our Marine Campaigner Ben makes a splash on Triple J's Hack TV The plight of the threatened Grey Nurse Shark was the lead story on Triple J's Hack TV last week.
Our Marine Campaigner Ben Birt has worked tirelessly on the conservation of this important shark species and he provided expert commentary on what is needed to ensure their survival. "I hope the report will attract attention to the plight of the threatened Grey Nurse Sharks off the NSW coast," Ben said. "There are still several critical habitat sites that remain unprotected from fishing. The NSW Government needs to address this urgently if the Grey Nurse Shark is to be given a better chance of survival."
Watch Hack TV's excellent report on the Grey Nurse shark here. Find out more about the Save our Last Sharks campaign and End of The Line charity film screening . Read more ... Tenterfield saddled with locking in coal power infrastructure
 The Nature Conservation Council's northern representatives have outlined concerns with a Transgrid proposal to spend $227 million constructing and upgrading high voltage powerlines from Bonshaw, west of Tenterfield to Lismore.The project will have negative impacts both directly and indirectly on the environment and the community, and contradicts the government’s climate change policies which will require significant reduction in the use of coal fired power to meet emission targets.
The line construction will impact on endangered ecological communities and nationally threatened species in Tenterfield Shire and compromise the repair of a fundamentally important fauna corridor along the Richmond Range. It locks NSW into greater coal dependence as more than 90% of the power carried by Transgrid is coal fired. Reduction in land values of properties along the route and uncertainty about the health effects of people living near the line are presently causing angst among those directly affected. Read more ...  SCRAP is a non-profit company that exists to help schools, other organisations and householders to become more environment-friendly. Starting in 1991 with the first mass-scale paper recycling program in NSW schools, this program today reaches more than 3500 schools and other organisations.
From that base they developed the first Sustainable Schools Program in 2000 and today offer a wide variety of goods and services ranging from worms, worm farm and compost systems to recycled paper and related products, environmental auditing in waste, etc, water conservation through enviroplumbing and alternative energy systems. Visit them at www.scrapltd.com.au or call (02) 9825 1062. Positions vacant
Program Officer: Humane Society International Closing date: COB, Friday November 20th, 2009 Community Greening Coordinator: Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water Closing date: Friday 20th November, 2009 Executive Officer Animal Ethics Committee, Parks and Wildlife Group: Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water Closing date: Friday, 20th November, 2009 Project Manager - Communities in Landscapes: Landcare NSW (part-time) Closing date: Wednesday, 25th November 2009 Community Woodlands Officers - Communities In Landscapes: Landcare NSW (3 part-time positions) Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Central West regions of NSW Closing date: Wednesday, 25th November 2009 Campaign Manager: The Wilderness Society Closing date: Monday 30 November, 2009 Upcoming events
End of the Line - first Sydney screening
6pm,Wednesday 25th November, 2009 Chauvel Cinema, Paddington All proceeds from tickets sales will go to the Nature Conservation Council and Sydney Aquarium Conservation Fund's marine conservation work. Tickets: $20 each Ocean Care Day Festival Sunday 6th December, 2009 Manly Beach Find out more about the Shark Swim Challenge and our other marine campaigns and projects at the Nature Conservation Council's stall. Walk Against Warming 1pm, Saturday 12th November, 2009 Martin Place, Sydney *** Natural Personal Care . Hosted by The Watershed. Reconnecting the community with the planning process . Hosted by the Department of Planning NSW and jointly facilitated by the EDO and Total Environment Centre . Latest Nature Conservation Council submissions Mt Piper and Bayswater power station - submission Friday, 13 November 2009 Submissions open Munmorah Power Station Rehabilitation The Nature Conservation Council of NSW does not endorse the products or services advertised in
this newsletter. |
 SCRAP is a non-profit company that exists to help schools, other organisations and householders to become more environment-friendly. Visit them at www.scrapltd.com.au or call (02) 9825 1062. **** Contact Nature Conservation Council's Jonathan Boys on (02) 9279 2466 to find out about advertsing your business here.
Do you dare take the Shark Swim Challenge?
 You can help save our last sharks by joining the shark swim challenge, an amazing awareness and fund raising adventure where you can swim with Whale Sharks and Great Whites in southern Africa. Face the mental challenge of a cage dive with Great White Sharks, swim with Whale Sharks and work on local marine conservation projects. Click here for details.  |
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