Term 1 Newsletter, February 2010
(Add this lively animated logo to your website or blog page: get it from here)

After Copenhagen's talkfest... let's get practical

It's time to think more about your carbon footprint. Why not try to trim 10% in 2010? Download free information on how to make a start on 10:10 actions here at the Sustainable Living NZ website, also on ACTIONS page.

The 10:10 idea is catching on fast in the UK, with backing from local government, media, businesses, schools, sports teams and the public. Picture above shows a launch event from Britain where most of those present made first pledges of action at home or work - on insulation, travel, waste reduction and food choices. You could do that!

Stepping Lightly

A new course on Sustainable Living offered at Hagley Community College, in central Christchurch, seeks a dozen participants this month to join those already booked, and make a viable number. Running across two school terms, each Tuesday evening at 6.30pm from 16 February, this zero-fee course includes home-based projects, internet research, library access, films and classroom discussion. It will feature new topics such as 'community resilience' and 'eco-building' alongside the sessions on gardening, food, shopping, waste reduction, travel and others that form the traditional evening class series. Book direct with the College enrolment centre on 03 364 5156 or email hy@hagley.school.nz The shorter one-term classes in Christchurch this term are at Avebury House on Mondays (book via Shirley Boys High School) and Papanui High School on Wednesdays. Risingholme Community Centre will offer a daytime course if there's demand. Christchurch City Council and ECan support the classes in Christchurch. For courses at many other locations around NZ see our what and where pages - use the COURSES button above.

Enviroschools and University links

Dr Maureen Howard (at the right of photo below) spoke with 18 school teachers at a Dunedin workshop last year about synergies between Enviroschools - which works within the childrens' learning curriculum - and Sustainable Living - designed for parents and proving useful to teachers. She demonstrated her point with a session on DIY household cleaners. Now sessions are planned which will link the two education programmes in some Dunedin schools. Similar Enviroschools links are under way in Marlborough, through Annie McDonald, Education Officer at Marlborough District Council.

Maureen Howard is also running a series for Otago students living in flats, this term, as you don't have to be a householder to get real value from the course.

In Christchurch a new round of Eco My Flat will soon be under way at Canterbury University, using material from our programme to help equip the student flats for their actions during the first Semester. Read about this at their competition webpage and see UC's new E-booklet for students which is a great starter. < http://www.sustain.canterbury.ac.nz/ecomyflat/Eco_My_Flat_booklet.pdf >

Our courses

Details of many of the Sustainable Living evening courses and single topic workshops around NZ are at our regional pages, so see the map
If you've spotted a course offered locally that's not listed, or you're a tutor who plans to run one - do let us know in advance and we'll list it! For South Island plus Wellington region: rhys (at) sustainableliving.org.nz and for the rest of the North Island: jennifer (at) sustainableliving.org.nz

They like us!

Unsolicited endorsements are always the nicest, so we are pleased to report that a recent survey by WasteMINZof waste minimisation practitioners in business and local government produced several quotable ones about Sustainable Living:

"Excellent resouce, successful programme"
"Sustainable Living, Enviroschools and CYOE have excellent messages - easy to access and understand - designed for the entire community rather than those who are already being sustainable."
"Recommended for its success, reach, cost-effectiveness and longevity."

The same survey showed that 53% of those respondents used internet searches as their first source of information and 42% started with their personal network of colleagues. We aim to offer information both ways.

Research is Hatched

Sustainable Living features as a case study (Chapter 16) in a new E-book from Landcare Research, along with chapters on education for sustainability in secondary schools, future scenarios for New Zealand and many other interesting topics covered by a five year programme supported by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology that looked at building capacity for sustainable development. National Coordinator Rhys Taylor was a research team member, part-time. Download book sections to view on screen or to print: www.hatched.net.nz

Would you prefer to write to us, or phone, rather than email?

You can contact Sustainable Living Education Trust by free surface mail: write to FreePost SUSTAINABLE, PO Box 13121, Armagh Street, Christchurch 8141. Phone enquiries to National Coordinator on 03 960 2656