Wonacott.com

newsletter April 2009

EASTBAY TIMEBANK is launching soon!!

Coordinator Kristy Robinson can be contacted on kristyandelijah@hotmail.com.  TIMEBANKING explained simply - "For every hour you spend doing something for someone in your community, you earn one Time Credit. Then you have a Time Credit to spend on having someone do something for you...." more info on http://www.wonacott.com/time_bank.html where you can find instructions on how to join.

GREEN SCREENING Tuesday 5th May at Vendor Cafe http://www.wonacott.com/green_screening.html 

ALTERNATIVE CURRENCIES   Feedback from Keynote Speaker Tom Greco on http://www.wonacott.com/time_bank.html.  Local Greens will be showing the film "The Two Faces of Money" about alternative currencies on Friday 1st May.  More info from pip@wonacott.com . Film review and trailer on http://mareauxcanards.ouvaton.org/films.php?choix_film=31&&affiche=synopsis 

PERMACULTURE NEW ZEALAND is having their annual hui on Queens Birthday (29th - 31st May) weekend in Te Teko. Check out the PINZ website for more information as speakers and workshops are conformed. http://www.permaculture.org.nz/

APANUI SALTMARSH Clean-up Meet at the bottom of McAlister Street by the river. Wear gumboots, cancelled if wet. Next dates: 2nd May, 13th June, 18th July.  Contact: Rosemary Tully rosemarytully@clear.net.nz 

GREENDRINKS - Wednesday 13th May The Sustainable Business Network - BOP and the Eastern Bay Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to bring GreenDrinks to Whakatane. Eastern Bay GreenDrinks is open to anyone to attend, so come along and bring a friend! The purpose of GreenDrinks is to bring likeminded people together to share ideas, discuss and debate sustainability issues and topics. Wednesday 13th May,  Global, Whakatane, 5pm – 7pm  (nibbles provided)  RSVP:  andrea@sustainable.org.nz by Thursday 30th April.

ECO VILLAGE A group of people in Transition Town Opotiki & TT Whakatane are holding a meeting on Sunday May 10th at 2pm to explore the options of establishing a EcoVillage or Community Land Trust in the area. Kazel Cass has written an article about this, due to go into the Opotiki News just before the meeting - for a full draft go to  http://www.transitiontowns.org.nz/node/1615.   If you are interested, please do a bit of background reading before attending the meeting (see below) and contact kazel@slingshot.co.nz for further details:

NEW WIKI for EcoVillage developments and discussions http://ecoliving.wikispaces.com/.

FAITRADE FORTNIGHT 2nd - 17th May - INFORMATION:

Support the work of OXFAM at our local COFFEE BREAKS being held in WHAKATANE this year:

  • Ohope Beach School
  • Rangitaiki Independent School
  • Coastlands Pre-School
  • Whakatane High School
  • Trident High School
  • SDA School
  • EnvBOP

If you would like some local support to hold one at your place of work, school or Community Group, or would like more information, contact Pip  pip@wonacott.com

ORGANIC EXPLORER - New Zealand’s first green travel guide-  is facilitating an American TV company to make a seven episode tour of this country’s gourmet organic delights. The hit TV show "The Hippy Gourmet" has already filmed gourmet excursions in over 40 countries and the programmes reach over 34 million homes each week through Google and  YouTube. For the PRESS RELEASE on this successful Whakatane-based project,  go to  http://www.organicexplorer.co.nz/Info/Press+release.html.  Ka pai Leonie and Tony!

OPOTIKI COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE  The marketplace is designed to be an outlet for local home-gardeners, craftspeople and farmers... more information at  http://www.transitiontowns.org.nz/node/1437

OPOTIKI TRANSITION TOWN FOOD CO-OP Find out more.  http://www.transitiontowns.org.nz/node/451

KOANGA INSTITUTE Workshops, Events and Permaculture Design Courses: Information on http://www.koanga.org.nz/events_workshops_PDC.html

SUSTAINABLE LIVING Register now for newsletter and info on courses and be in to win a copy of the book 'LIVING GREEN'. http://www.sustainableliving.org.nz/

SUBMISSIONS ON COUNCILS' LTCCPS AND RLTPs Let the Regional Council (Environment Bay of Plenty) know what you value - here’s the link to the ten year plan survey. Please fill it in it only takes 2 minutes  http://survey.envbop.govt.nz/Lists/Online%20Submissions/NewForm3.aspx?Source=Thanks.aspx Help us keep education and Enviroschools to the forefront of the Council’s mind!  Kerry Gosling | Education Team Leader |  Extn: 9154 | Mobile: 021 190 9148

WALKING & CYCLING STTRATEGY submissions It is important to have your say on these documents as they will help shape the walking environment in your area for the next few years. There are three resources to help you write your submissions on the Living Streets (the national organization promoting walking-friendly communities) website:
http://www.livingstreets.org.nz/MakingSubmissionJune2008.htm
http://www.livingstreets.org.nz/LTCCPs_RLTPs.htm
http://www.livingstreets.org.nz/pdf/Toolkit_submissions_health_09.pdf

PUTTING AN ECONOMIC VALUE ON THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WALKING NZTA has published a new research report on the health benefits of walking and cycling. The Land Transport New Zealand Economic Evaluation Manual currently estimates health benefits at $2.60 per km for walking, but this new research puts the figure at around $4 for walking - a figure quoted by Annette King at last year’s walking conference.  http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/research/reports/359.pdf  The Journal of Public Health Policy has several articles relating active transport and the built environment to health. http://www.trafinz.org.nz/Conferences/Conference2009/

PLASTIC BAGS slide show  www.slideshare.net/priyanhere/the-dangers-of-plastic-bags-498834 Excellent and scary. 

EARTH CLOCK http://www.sustainabledesign.co.nz/earthclock.php  Even scarier than plastic bags.

DevZone JOBS in Development/Social Justice here and overseas http://www.dev-zone.org/jobs/.  DevZone also great source of FILMS to borrow FREE.

GREEN SCREENING EMAIL ADDRESS LIST:  Eastbay REAP now holds the Green Screening email address list.  Eastbay REAP will soon be communicating via monthly e-newsletter which will include information on a variety of topics.  Contact http://www.eastbayreap.org.nz/ to be added to their e-mail list.