PTUA Public Forum

The Public Transport Users Association is organising a public forum on transport and climate change for 15 June Melbourne Town Hall, 2.30-4.30pm.

In addition to an update from David Spratt on the latest science about climate change, the forum will look at options for reducing transport emissions and consider whether Sir Rod Eddington’s report is appropriate for a carbon constrained world.  We extend a warm (but less than 2 degrees) invitation to members of climate action groups and others who care about our future.

More information (and an A4 flyer) is available at:
http://www.ptua.org.au/2008/05/19/speeding-towards-dangerous-climate-change

Reducing your heating bill

Well the last few mornings have been bitterly cold and with the forecast for more cold days and nights, now is the time to consider your heating and heating needs.

Heating and cooling your home or business can be very expensive.  But have you considered how well your home or business is insulated?

Insulating your house or business will save you a lot of money on heating and cooling bills.  And you will also help reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.  For those people that rent you are entitled to have your home insulated, which you can ask to be done at the expense of your landlord or you can suggest splitting the costs.

For some the initial expense of insulation may be too high, but there are other ways you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and your heating bills.  For example you can purchase door snakes (or rolled up towel) which blocks the gap between the bottom of your door and the door jam.  These very low cost items (you buy these at any discount store) stop cold air entering and warm leaving your house under door jams.

If you close your blinds or curtains at night time you can prevent a lot of heat being lost through your windows.  Glass windows are another way heat is lost as glass is a poor insulator and transfers heat and cold.

Here are some other ways you can reduce your heating bills:

• Insulate your home and business with properly labeled insulation bats.
• Find warmer clothing before heading to the heater.
• Make sure all windows and doors are closed when you have the heater on (this also applies to certain types of air conditioners).
• Close blinds/curtains at night time.
• Make sure gaps under doorways are plugged.

These are just a few ways of keeping your heating bills down, staying warm and reducing your greenhouse gas emissions.

Brimbank Climate Change Forum

The Brimbank Climate Action Network is putting together a Climate Change forum to share information about climate change; to provide practical solutions for households and local businesses; and to explore local activities and actions to address climate change.

When: Saturday, August 16

Time: 10am to 2pm

The forum’s venue is being finalized and this post will be updated with the latest information.  A registration form and leaflet will be posted by the end of May.

For more information contact:

Alex Schlotzer at alex.schlotzer@gmail.com or on 0434 856 429 (BH)

Brimbank CAN reduce emissions

Brimbank CAN reduce emissions
16/05/2008

Brimbank residents, ratepayers, and businesses will have a new resource to help them with easy and simple ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and save them money too, with the launch of the Brimbank Climate Action Network or known as BrimbankCAN.

Network coordinator, Alex Schlotzer, said today:

“There is no doubt that climate change is happening and the science overwhelmingly points to human activity as the major contributor.  The Network (BrimbankCAN) will attempt to raise greater awareness about climate change throughout Brimbank and to link like-minded individuals and community groups or businesses.”

“There are lots of ways we can all help combat climate change with simple things like switching to green energy, replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), turning off lights in rooms not being used and making sure their house or business is properly insulated.”

“The Network will work with local groups to lobby Council and local members of parliament to take action on climate change and organise local forums and workshops.”

“The Network is also a place for residents, ratepayers and businesses in Brimbank to make contributions on ways they’ve reduced emissions, and we hope people do contribute.”

“We hope the Network provides a positive contribution to helping Brimbank cut it’s greenhouse gas emissions,” concluded Mr Schlotzer.

Burma Cyclone Aid Appeal

Burma Cyclone Relief Appeal

This is a humanitarian disaster on an unimaginable scale and we are asking all Australians to donate through Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA to the disaster relief work already underway by Norwegian People’s Aid and grassroots organisations on the ground’ said Sharan Burrow of the ACTU.

Please encourage family/friends/colleagues and all unionists you talk to, to support Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s appeal on Burma.

Here’s a chance for all of us to support the Australian union movement’s aid agency and ensure support goes DIRECTLY to the people impacted.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has worked for a long time with the people of Burma. The projects are not inside Burma but with the refugee and migrant worker communities on the Thai-Burma Border. The decision not to work inside Burma is a policy decision in line with the ACTU’s policy. (Please contact Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA or Alison Tate at the ACTU if you would like more information on this). However Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), the humanitarian aid agency of Norwegian trade unions do have local and international staff based in Rangoon. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s appeal will deliver assistance directly and accountably to local people via NPA.

The situation current in Burma:
The situation is grim. Days after Cyclone Nargis devastated Rangoon, local residents are still fending for themselves with little or no help from local authorities. There are reports of tens of thousands of lives lost and we can only expect that number to grow as long as aid delivery is delayed by the military Junta.

People now are in desperate need for food, water, shelter and medical aid. The people responding to their needs have been the monks of Burma who are sheltering people in their monasteries and providing as much food aid and water as they can. ‘Most people are homeless, without water and without electricity. I believe that soon our people will be starving,’ said a resident from Shwepyithar Township. ‘Most people are drinking dirty water.’

Norwegian People’s Aid is currently assessing the damage and the needs of the people and it still finalising the details of its relief effort. However we are determined to get aid to the people in greatest need with your assistance.

Funds raised by Australian people through Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA:

These funds will go directly to Norwegian People’s Aid’s Rangoon office who will work with grassroots associations in Burma to get aid to people in need.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has a close relationship with both Norwegian People’s Aid and the National Council of Unions in Burma and are resolute that aid will go to the people in who most need it. Those people who were already made vulnerable by the military regime and who have been made desperate by this cyclone.

Top priorities for aid are of course clean water, food, shelter and medical assistance.
Please give generously to the people of Burma at this desperate time
_______________________________________________________________
How to make your donation to Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s Burma Cyclone Appeal
Telephone: 1800 888 674 Fax: (02) 9261 1118 or email: office@unionaidabroad.org.au for enquiries.

Cheques: can be made out to Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA and posted to:
Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA, Level 3, 377-383 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

Or

Online: Please follow the steps below. You may wish to print off this page of instructions.

To make an online donation with your credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) simply:
1.Click here to access the secure online donation form
2.Go to Section C ONE-OFF DONATIONS and select One-off donation – Burma refugees from the drop-down menu
3.Enter your donation amount in the $ box at right
4.Click Continue
5.Enter your credit card payment details (Visa and Mastercard only accepted)
6.Enter your contact details and please type “CYCLONE APPEAL” after your name in the name field to ensure that your donation is directed to our appeal.
7.Click Finalise Order to send your donation

Please call Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA on 1800 888 674 if you have any queries.