Sustainability Convergence Open Space Presentation Proposals
> Water & climate change. Mary Crooks
> Solutions to our obstacles and challenges workshop. Glenn Todd
Converting creative responses into an action plan. Recommended action
for different Climate Change sectors (eg, community, government and
business) that are most appropriate to tackle specific challenges.
> Animal Products contribution to Climate Change. Bruce Poon
Presentation of research, analysis and review. Discussion of strategies to communicate findings.
> Helping people change – essential skills for saving the planet. Susie Burke
Human beings, their motivations and their behavior are important causes
of environmental problems. Profound changes in human behavior are
therefore required to bring about improvements in every area of concern
where the national and global environment is threatened.
Changing human behavior, however, is much harder than people think.
This workshop will provide an overview of current psychological
research into understanding human motivations, perceptions, attitudes,
and behaviours about the environment.
> Anti coal campaign [Greenpeace]
what is planned for 2008, how you can get involved
> Forests and climate [forests for climate]
Losing our forests means losing the battle against climate change.
Native forests around the world are the greatest land-based carbon
sinks, containing three to four times more carbon than is now in the
atmosphere. Deforestation is globally the second greatest contributor
to climate change, affecting every human being. The mature, tall, wet
forests of Victoria are some of the greatest carbon sinks in the world.
One hectare of such forest can store the equivalent of 5,500 tonnes of
carbon dioxide. Logging in Victoria and Australia is close to 10% of our total greenhouse gas emissions.
> Working in and with unions. [Ben Courtice]
This workshop will briefly look at what unions have done, can do and
are doing; and then focus on how environmentalists can work with
unions, whether as a member, or as community campaigners.
> Local government elections in November. [Angela Munro]
The many separate campaigns, such as to oppose the Port Phillip Bay
dredging, the East West Freeway and the Gippsland desalination plant
highlight the need to mobilise adequate influence within government
where citizens' views are currently seriously under-represented. The
November local government elections are a great opportunity to mount a
concerted statewide campaign to make climate change the main issue, to
look at ways climate change activists might be supported to stand for
their local council or to support those willing to stand. Come and
discuss whether this is worthwhile and if so, what needs to happen in
the next 9 months?
> Declaring the climate emergency [Yarra climate action network]
> Food Production and Agriculture – Eating Away At Climate Change
Food production and agriculture contribute over 17% of global
greenhouse gas emissions. Any solution to mitigate climate change is
going to need a serious rethink about how we farm, what we farm and
what we eat. You’ll learn how food production and agriculture are
contributing towards climate change.
If you would like to propose a workshop please send a brief description to Cam: