[Oz-envirolink] [greenleap] July 9-13: STUDENTS OF SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE (SOS): Rego Open: Perth

Sat May 19 09:51:39 EST 2007

Dear all

Having attended one of these in the past (ironicaally talking on climate
change etc) - I think they are wonderful

BUT

our mindset has to do some serious gear shifting...

How, exactly, is most everybody (say 500) going to get to Perth??

BY PLANE, OF COURSE!!!

...............

(I am delighted that the organisers have put some thought into alternatives
to this form of travel - but the realities of our present culture
(time-stressed, plane-oriented) is that most will head for the Internet and
Flight Centre and go from there...

So this is some added information to convince the wavering
'proto-sustainable- ists' amongst us.

..............

However wonderful the week will be - is it sufficient to justify 500 x (nom
East coast attendees) travelling 3700 Km x 2 (return flight) of air
miles???!!!

= 3.7 million AIR Km!!!!!

Using the relationship in Monbiot's book 'Heat' (Chapter 9 - 'Love Miles')
this comes out (roughly) to

790 Kilotons of CO2  for just the travel part of the 'Sustainability'
conference!!!!

An alternative  - other than packing 12 people into WickedVans (which
probably wouldn't make the distance).

TRAIN - there is a perfectly good train service from the East Coast to Perth.

Using the same figures..  I get 2.4 Kt for the same journey.  (based on the
realtionship that CO2 emissions per passenger for a 300 Km distance are as
follows:

Plane (70% full)  64 kg/passenger
Car (1.56 passenger)  36.6 kg/passenger
Train (70% full)    5.2 kg/passenger
Coach (40 passengers)  4.3 kg per passenger   ('Heat' p 180)

so someone can check my figures.

And a BLOCK BOOKING on the TRAIN - could save everybody lots of money too -
even in these flush times- most students are not exactly rich.   But, for
once, we'd all have to co-operate.  And yes - it would take longer - but
things could be organised on the train trip - it's a marvellous mobile
classroom/theater/ conference venue (whereas a bus trip would be no fun  at
all).  And think of the publicity angle - you want to get 'Sustainability'
into the public mindset

"500 Students go to Environmental Conference by Train"

and so on

so I strongly suggest you all get your heads around the new concepts!

Cheers

Hugh Spencer

> (Please distribute widely)
>You are invited to...
> 
>Students of Sustainability Conference 2007
>
> Hello,
> 
>Concerned about climate change, the expansion of the nuclear industry,
>forests, water, the fate of our planet and the people on it?
> 
>Want to find out more, meet people creating change, living sustainably and
>creatively, get active not radio-active?
> 
>Well, the Students of Sustainability Conference is the thing for you!
>
>What is it?
>It's the most exciting and inspirational thing you could do over your
>winter break.
> 
>The Students of Sustainability Conference (SoS) is the largest meeting of
>the environment movement in the country.
> 
>Attracting between 600 and 800 participants, it is now in its 16th year.
> 
>SoS is a convergence of communities, students, academics, and environment
>and Indigenous groups and autonomous activists from around Australia. 
>From those who are new and want to find out more, to those who have
>dedicated their lives to the protection of the environment, SoS has
>something for all.  It features inspiring speakers, practical workshops,
>community nights, bands, films, field trips, actions, reflection,
>dialogue, celebration.
> 
>It's one of the best weeks of the year.
> 
>For more information, check out www.studentsofsustainability.org
>
>Aims of SoS 2007
>
>* to inspire ecologically sustainable practices as an alternative to
>current societal values;
>* to empower individuals and groups to bring about positive social and
>political change through open space, skill sharing opportunities;
>* to create national and international networks of environmentally-minded
>people;
>* to integrate environmentalism with other progressive movements such as
>human rights, anti-war and cultural awareness movements;
> * and to create a conference that is accessible to as many people as
>possible.
>
>When is it?
>9 ñ 13 July
>(Rock up on Sunday 8th and Leave Saturday 14th, but the conference content
>runs Monday ñ Friday)
>
>Where is it?
>Murdoch University, Perth
>
>Registering for SoS
>Go to the SoS website  www.studentsofsustainability.org under register  
>Cost of the Conference
> 
>Standard, Waged $200
>
>Standard, Student/Unwaged $175
>
>Discounts (Standard Registration only - tick all that apply):
> 
>Early Bird(before June 1st, 2007) $-15
>
>Lunch Only (i.e. will source own breakfast & dinner) $-15
> 
>No Camping (i.e. own accommodation) $-30
>
>More Sustainable Transport (from the East Coast)* $-45
> 
>*  Those eligible for the sustainable transport discount are people who
>catch the train, coach or drive with 3+ people.  To make this as easy as
>possible for as many people as possible state networks of ASEN are doing
>co-ordinated sustainable transport.  If you are interested in being part
>of this please contact one of the ASEN state convenors:
>
>Queensland & Northern Territory
>E-mail: tarquindaisy at yahoo.com
>Mobile: 0423 117 257
>
>New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory
>Diana Popic
>E-mail: the00mcbuckle at yahoo.com,
>Mobile: 0402 434 990
>
>Victoria & Tasmania
>Tara
>E-mail: tarazen99 at hotmail.com
>Mobile: 0419 181 781
>
>South Australia
>E-mail: keef0006 at flinders.edu.au
>
>
>Accommodation is camping and food is vegan and the tastiest, most
>nutritious you've ever had!  If you need camping gear, don't worry we can
>help - just let us know!
>
>~~~ So if you can come, GREAT!!  ~~~ 
> 
>I look forward to seeing you there.
>
>"Everybody is a student of sustainability"
>
>
>--
>Nicky Ison
>National Convenor
>Australian Student Environment Network
>
>Mobile: 0423 717 567
>Email: nicky at asen.org.au
>Skype: nickyison
>Website:   www.asen.org.au

end

In science, beating a dead horse is not a bad thing. If it is truly
dead, it won't mind. And if it isn't, then it needs beating.
--Arthur Cronquist, Botanist (paraphrased)

____________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Hugh Spencer    Director of Research  |
Cape Tribulation Tropical Research Station |   Phone/Fax (61)07 4098 0063

Australian Tropical Research Foundation    | http://www.austrop.org.au/

"The Bat-House", Environment Centre.       |
PMB 5 Cape Tribulation via Mossman         |     Hugh at austrop.org.au

Queensland 4873 Australia                  |
___________________________________________|________________________________  @h

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