Recycling Ewaste - Australia sets a new Guinness World Record

From the Creative Commons - Photo by Curtis Palmer 

I just got a great email that captured my attention.  I have an old keyboard that doesn't work sitting near my door waiting to go to recycling and an old Mac that was donated to us that does work.  I knew that was some form of e-waste collection, but have now found out that it will be really easy to do.    

Ewaste collection is a much better solution that just throwing the old tv, computers, printers on the landfill pile especially as we use and rely on more and more techonolgy.

The email I recieved was telling me the great news that we Australians have helped set a new Guinness World Record for the most e-waste collected for recycling in one week.  

Australians participated in the campaign that saw over 474 tonnes of old TVs, computers and printers collected for recycling by the not-for-profit recycler TechCollect. The amount collected equates to over 4 blue whales in weight.

Up to 90% of old TVs, printers and computers can be recycled and made into new items--that's GREAT news!

TechCollect are a nation-wide group who have taken the role of recycling our computer, TV and printer waste. They are funded by over 60 of Australia’s leading technology companies who are committed to recycling responsibly, these companies fund the recycling which is why it is a free recycling service for households and small businesses.  


By going into the Planet Ark Recycling Near You website, I was able to find the closest drop off point to my home.  It is not very far at all, so all I have to do is put that cranky old keyboard and the old Mac that was donated to us (but doesn't work) into my car.  Next time I am passing by one of these places, I will just pop them in there.  A much better environmental choice than trying to fit them into the bin and adding to the ever rising landill.

Wildflower Walks Out West 2012

Isn't it grand when someone else comes up with a beautiful walk to go on in a beautiful place...and then they do it over and over again, for free.  Well these groups of people have and the walks are through fields of wildflowers.  What could be more wonderful?  Having experts tell you about the plants, insects, and photography!  Can you believe it!

Meg

Propagating is not as hard as you think it is

The secret of propagating is to keep the soil moist at all times. I have my summer seeds all on the go: basil, zucchini, cucumber, watermelon, leek, squash, fennel and pumpkin. What I don't use I will take to either the high school or primary school garden.

Get your hands dirty lending a hand

There's a City of Melbourne spring planting day coming up on Sunday 28 October 11am to 3.00pm and it will be a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and meet people.


You will have the chance to get your hands dirty and help turn Melbourne green by joining the team from City of Melbourne Urban Forest at our Spring Planting Day in Royal Park.

Bring your friends and family and join in the fun activities on this fantastic family day out organised by the City of Melbourne.

It’s FREE and registration is on the day
Plants and tools will be provided.


Where?
Royal Park
Park Street, next to western oval

The new chick and coop

Well out of 6 eggs we got one chick. Not good odds really and it may well be a rooster still. Three were eaten by what we now think was a rat (they were stolen from the nest in the middle of the night) and 2 were not viable.

On the day the chick hatched it was mayhem in our yard. The other 2 chooks wanted to eat it so we need to separate them and quickly build another coop for mum and chick. Our new dog decided to get in on the action on the day and started to bark at the chooks the two who had been separated were going at each other.

Hubby and mr 11 couldn't build that coop fast enough!!

Mum is very protective

It is made from an old ladder cut in half (that was my contribution) and the box was made of scraps of timber (barge boards from the house) we had lying around. The top has bitumen lined paper stapled on top to keep it water proof. They are happy for now - until the chick grows too big. Then we will sort out plan b which will involve returning chooks to their owner (we are only looking after them for 5 months).

Carbon Price and Your Electricity Bill

One of my followers has passed this YouTube on me and it is a great initiative to help make the changes to our electricity bills more understandable.  It's a great little video.

The email came to me at a really good time as my hubby & I were just talking about the increases in power bills and whether those smart meters really are smart for the consumer or just smart for the power companies.  Everyone I know who has one seems to have had their power bill go up.

Have you got one?

Have you noticed any changes?

I would love to hear from you.

Give your money away???

I have always like to live with the motto, “Waste not, want not” and also am a great believer in the theory that there is enough food and money to go around in the world – if only we cared enough to share.  So, when this press release came across my desk the other day, it really spoke to me – Give your money away!  What a crazy concept – but maybe there is something in it.

On Saturday, 15 September at 138 worldwide locations, an event called Free Money Day took place.  It was timed to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman
Brothers. For the day, members of the public handed out their own money to complete strangers, asking recipients to pass half on to someone else. In its second year, ‘Free Money Day’ started conversations about the benefits of alternative economies based on sharing and captured the attention of hundreds of thousands of people, from all walks of life.

This is the Press Release that they sent me:

FREE MONEY DAY A HUGE GLOBAL SUCCESS

138 Sites Worldwide Participated in ‘Free Money Day’ on September 15

Promoting Global Prosperity through Economies of Sharing

On Saturday, September 15, at 138 locations worldwide, members of the public handed out their own money to complete strangers, asking recipients to pass half on to someone else. In its second year, ‘Free Money Day’ started conversations about the benefits of alternative economies based on sharing and captured the attention of hundreds of thousands of people, from all walks of life.

“‘Free Money Day’ was a wonderfully rich experience. Across twenty-four countries, people were reminded of the mutual value associated with sharing and the ‘gift’ economy” said Australian Dr. Donnie Maclurcan, co-founder of the Post Growth Institute, the group behind the worldwide event.

‘Free Money Day’ was timed to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, now seen as a turning point in the development of the 2008 financial crisis. “With world debt at over US $190 trillion, and debt connected to growth economics by necessity, now is the time to explore how we might thrive in futures beyond economic growth,” said Dr. Maclurcan.

One hundred and thirty-eight ‘Free Money Day’ events occurred across 6 continents and 24 countries, from India to Nigeria, Kenya, Colombia, Australia and the U.S. More than US $3,600 was given away as well as land estimated to be worth $30,000. Dr. Maclurcan gave away $500 of his own money at Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.

For more information, videos, a map of worldwide participation, testimonials and photos from Free Money Day 2012, visit: www.freemoneyday.org/media.

# # #

The Post Growth Institute is an international group exploring and inspiring paths to global prosperity that don’t rely on economic growth

Additional enquiries: media@freemoneyday.org; Dr. Donnie Maclurcan (spokesperson), +1 540 556 4857 Washington, D.C., USA (UTC/GMT -5 hours)

Twitter: @freemoneyday Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/freemoneyday

Ref: $190 trillion debt figure - Kyle Bass: http://www.scribd.com/doc/74335711/Hayman-Nov2011

There you go…

Meg

Eco World Travel

Aquila Eco Lodges - The Loft House

I, like most people, love travelling, however, I do prefer to go places that don’t leave me feeling like I have cost the earth with carbon miles, or that I have learnt something or seen something wonderful.  This is where Eco travelling comes in as the people have set up the accommodation have thought through these issues for you and are happy to share their knowledge with you.  One beautiful place that we took the family to is the Aquila Eco Lodge just out of Dunkeld in Victoria.  They have a fantastic loft house that works brilliantly for families and it is wonderfully peaceful to stay there.   The hosts were very happy to share their knowledge about how it was built and the sustainable features of the lodges. 

Gyreum Eco Lodge - Most Eco-Friendly Hotel

If you are wishing to have an eco travel experience further afield, then TripBase have set up a website that has some of the most eco friendly places in the world.  On this website they look at the people and organisations striving to make the world a more sustainable place (from the most eco-friendly country and city right down the most green home).   Some of these may surprise you and hopefully fill you with hope in a world where rainforests are being torn down, oil is being spilt and people are losing their land.  One of these featured is the Masdar City which was the ultimate exercise in zero emission in urban planning.   There is also a little hideaway in Ireland that was created almost entirely from the renewable materials surrounding it.  There are still many places, and this site I think is just the tip of the iceberg, that are places of sanctuary for the soul.

Bear Creak Dome - Most Eco-Friendly Home

If your feet are itching and you feel inspired, then pop on over to TripBase to see what is happening at the most eco-friendly country, the most eco-friendly city, the most eco-friendly development, the most eco-friendly hotel and the most eco-friendly home.  

Spring into Nature

I love spring.  I think that it is my favourite season.  The time of new growth, flowers and babies.  Trust For Nature have organised some precious private properties that have been nurtured back to something wonderful.  If you live in Victoria and would like to have a drive and wander through one of these delightful properties, then now is the time!

The walks are guided walks and you will get to talk with landowner and Trust for Nature staff about private land conservation.  It is a great opportunity to see wild flowers and threatened wildlife in their natural habitat.

Head to their website for more information: Trust for Nature

Kangaroo and Brown Rice Paella

Well, this is not paella in the traditional way, yet it certainly worked for us.  It was absolutely delicious and I just used what I had in the fridge and kitchen (no running to the shops at the last minute).  I used kangaroo steak as this is one of the main meats that we eat now really for environmental reasons and also because we love it.  There are huge benefits to be had by eating kangaroo.  It is really high in iron, they are free range (not fed on anything that you would rather not be ingesting yourself), there is barely any fat in the meat and the roos themselves have so little impact on the environment.  Living in Australia, I do think that we should eat more kangaroo, so we do.  

That being said, here is how I made dinner last night:

Kangaroo and Brown Rice Paella, Serves 6

2 brown onions, diced

2 tabs olive oil

2 cloves garlic

600g kangaroo steak, sliced

2 tsp turmeric

2 cups brown rice

2 tins of diced tomato

4 cups of chicken stock

1 capsicum, sliced

2 large carrots, julienne

1 cup of peas

1 tin of cannellini beans, drained

Heat your heavy based pan and pour the oil in.  Add the steak.  Remove the steak when brown. 

Add the onion and garlic and saute the onion and garlic until clear.  Add the turmeric, rice, tins of tomato, and stock.  Bring to the boil and turn down to medium.  Add the carrots and peas.  Stir occasionally ensuring that you don't burn the bottom.  Cook until the rice is nearly cooked (about 20 mins).  Add the steak back in, and the capsicum and cannellini beans and serve once the rice is cooked.  

Add a dash of chilli flakes for those who love the heat! 

If you have any coriander, sprinkle that on at the end. 

YUM!  

x Meg