You Can Make a Difference

Diary of a Desperate Housewife....

June '07 - Rain glorious rain

My tanks are full today, and it pains me to say - are overflowing into the stormwater drain.  I've been day-dreaming about how many tanks I could actually fit on our property, but of course there are always more bills.  We installed insulation this week, and I'd love to get Solar Power or at least Solar Hotwater. 

And, while I'm on positive steps - I'm happy to say we have made a considerable reduction in our household waste.  Our wheely bins are lucky to even get to half way, and as there is little or no food scraps, it's no biggy if one of us forgets to put the bin out for collection. This has been achieved through food scraps going to 1) The Dog, or 2) The Worm Farm or 3) The compost.  We have reduced packaging by growing some vegies; swapping fruit and veg with relatives (people just love giving you lemons, grapefruit etc from their gardens - anyone for eggplant?); ordering organic home delivery (boxes are swapped each week); and I guess just being more mindful of what we're buying, and if you could get a 2nd hand one.  Suddenly, those school fete Trash & Treasure things have more appeal.

While, I was doing my research on Eco-Insulation I found companies making the newpaper "cellulose fibre" products here in Brisbane (more eco-friendly than the mob importing theirs from the US!).  And a company on the northside who make a type of batt from recycled fabrics.  They had a whole description of what happens in the 'rag trade' - made me think of the old days where the scrap metal man drove 'round collecting your junk.  There are lots of people making a living from recycling products.

We're always being told our consumerism is one of our biggest personal powers (and vices) - so just think about it more before you buy.  For too long, we've been uninterested in what happens to stuff we throw out.  Those marketing companies telling us " what we buy says something about us", are right - but remember what we throw out says something too.  So, Reduce, re-use, recycle - revive! (our planet).

April '07 - Action Agenda

The website www.Getup.org.au has lauched the 1st version of it's Action Agenda for the next term of Parliment (whoever wins).  So far they've come up with: A Super fund option contributing to solar projects; Consulting with Indigenous people on environmental management; tax rebates for household energy saving; multi-language water saving posters in hotels; improved infrastructure for cyclists, with lanes, lockers & tax-breaks; calls for more affordable hybrid or electric cars. 

I'm quite impressed with this  organisation, I think? they're starting to become a social force in politics.  It's good to see people prepared to put themselves out there and stand up for what they believe in, and have some organisation and planning in place.  I like the quote by one of their members that " A culture of apathy and cynicism won't change (politicians minds)... it's time for Australians to Get Up and make poitive changes happen".

I recently read an Uni paper on the way many people now turn to therapists and look inward to solve problems, which while often needed, also seems to result in people taking less interest in participating in wider social change.  I know myself, I get uncomfortable about getting involved in groups - were we once more social animals?  Many of us are retreating into ourselves and just hoping everything will be OK.  I've recently read alot lately (in local free magazines, books) about an epidemic of Depression, and how during World War 1 levels were very low.  It's reported that people with more social ties like family nearby, and members of churches and other community groups seem to be more protected from developing severe depression. 

Sometimes it's uncomfortable to start, but by taking positive actions and getting involved we do get a sense of achievement, and this will help motivate and inspire us & others to solve some of the problems we encounter with Climate Change.

March '07 - Change is in the air

This week Channel 10 held it's Cool Aid program, which just shows how mainstream the Global Warming issue is now becoming.  I recently read a CSIRO article on the "Gore Factor" and how Australia's perception has shifted since the release of his movie.  They discuss how often it is now discussed in parliment, the media etc.  All very promising and I feel more hopeful than I did around xmas time, while argueing with those that still believe it's all 'just a theory', so no need to take on any responsibilty or change.

I think the hardest thing I struggle with is how slow I find even my own changes take - but then I've always been pretty hard on myself.  And, it does seem to be getting 'cooler' (or do the kids say 'kewl' now) to be more enviromentally concerned lately.

January '07 - Money talks

Well the cooler weather this summar (not counting this week of 32 degrees) and  our steps toward decreasing our power usage (energy efficient lightbulbs & turning of the TV etc at the wall when not in use) have contributed to a $150 saving on our power bill this quarter.  Even with the increase incurred from the Earth's choice/green power contribution, that's a great saving, and one my husband was impressed with.  He is now more concienscious about remembering to turn things off - so even my seemingly small efforts have a roll on effect.  This is how we start to turn the tide and convert more aussies to contributing to a healthier planet.

Fantastic cloth nappies - yes they exist, I've recently been using Fuzzibunz fitted cloth nappies.  They have clips so you can adjust to your childs size, they don't leak and are really easy to clean, cute, comfy, great colours.   I was happily surprised that they actually did everything they'd claimed and I'm really happy to have made the change.  Check out Brisbane based website Nappychoice.com.au they also have a new (coming soon - 100% biodegradable, Aussie made disposable). 

Week ?  how'bout Month 3 - Post Christmas

Christmas is such an emotional time, the rain and cooler weather was a blessing.  My son commented that "the vegies will be so excited about the rain".  I avoided too much blowout by giving my parents a painting by moi, and for my husband's family I adopted an endangered Tiger from WWF (see gift ideas page for links).  We enjoyed a yummy turkey dinner (totally organic from the lovely people at Quality Organic Foods).

Week 8 - Dec 15 - The Eco Centre at Griffith Uni

Attending this weeks climate change seminar at Griffith Uni brought back some old memories of my time studying there, although back then the Eco Centre didn't exist.  While, waiting for the seminar to begin (and since my recent entry on my own home reno ideas) I couldn't help sussing out their use of ambient ventilation & lighting, use of rainwater, greywater etc.  They advise on all this too, so their site is also quite useful for those of us working on that - see www.griffith.edu.au/centre/ecocentre.  There's also another sustainable house at Seventeen Mile Rocks that you can visit on certain days for ideas on eco-renos, see www.sustainablehomebrisbane.com.au/news.htm.

The seminar was very interesting and I felt, also quite positive and reassuring, for what can be a scary concept to get your head around.  They had an unexpected (for me anyway) range of speakers, from really different areas of expertise which, hightlighted how far reaching climate change is and will be in the future.  They will be providing transcripts of the seminar, so when they email that I can organise a link for anyone who couldn't make it - I don't feel I could do any justice with a summary myself.

On the homefront: we ordered some new guttering this week.  Our very old house's guttering had to be replaced, and as our long awaited rainwater tanks should be here soon, we needed a product that also has gutter guards.  I found a new product called Smartflo, which requires no maintenance (yah! I hate heights) and the gutter guards are built in.  For more info see: www.smartflo.com.au

Week 7 - Dec 7 - Gardening and Home Design

I have been feeling guilty this week as have not done alot on the site, however, I have been making steps on our personal sustainability.  The vegie patch is starting to take shape, and I've been so emersed in gardening books today - that I'm quite keen to get mushroom kits, rasberry bushes and maybe even chooks down the track once my confidence in gardening improves.

We've also been working on our long-term renovation plans to include solar power, passive ventilation etc.  We're meeting with an eco-design drafts person on Saturday to get a little more guidence here.

Upon reading this month's 'Living Now' free mag, I've been exploring an interesting website called www.thetithingtree.org.au, which offers an alternative to shelling out for gifts that are not always appreciated or needed in our affluent society.  Through their site you can make a donation to a charity that you identify with, like buying 2 cows for a poor village - which will improve the quality of life for many.

Griffith Uni's Climate Change Seminar (see Events) is next Wed 13th  from 6-8pm, if anyone wants to meet up - I'll be wearing my EcoMum T-shirt (which we hope to be able to offer to all very soon!) or you can email me at ecomumsite@gmail.com.

Week 6 - Nov 29th - Networking, Kyoto & Solar Energy

Last Saturday I attended the QLD Nuclear Free Alliance Workshop in West End.  With a young family, I wasn't able to go to all the workshops, but I was really impressed with the ones I could stay for.  The Clean Energy Today Forum featured Jeff & Jerry from Brisbane's own sustainable house.    It was interesting to hear Jerry speak about a drought in London during the 70's where people had to queue for a bucket of water.  His experience of that drought has obviously had a lasting effect on the way he lives.  Visit their home on-line to find out how they did it, costs involved, and other motivational thoughts at www.bellis.info. During lunch, I spoke with Jeff, who has been kind enough to mention this site, along with two others on his 'random rants' page - about heroic women fighting climate change in our own ways.  One of the sites mentioned was about a 22 year old girl who'll be walking from Brisbane to Sydney in early 2007 (height of summer) to deliver a petition to say yes to kyoto - see www.globaldawning.org.

Wendy Miller, manager of Queensland Sustainable Energy Industry Development Group (and works at QUT) gave a highly detailed, informative talk about the actual capabilities of our sustainable energy resourses.  She disspelled some of the myths and propaganda about Solar power shortfalls, and showed an inpirational community in Frieburg, Germany who've gone solar.  She discussed politicians' lack of scientific knowledge and how renewables don't seem to fit with our current economic model (whereas mining uranium does) and this is part of the problem.  The thing I noticed was that the potential of using renewables is very positive as (apart from obvious green & clean issues) it requires smaller power stations closer to communities - which puts the power back in their hands.  As opposed to multinationals controlling say 25 Nuclear stations - which according to Sunday night's news - we could have within 10 years!  Arrrghh!

At grassroots level I have to thank a new ecomum, Tiffany.  She was so inspired by a book 'Living the Good Life' see her review in Rec Reading, and the Ecomum site that she's been busily promoting us to all her friends and networks.  She requested a jpeg of our logo to wear on her t-shirt, and has asked her school principal and another website she's involved in to promote us in their newsletters.  You go girl!