Growth Forum
This week BE Net headed off to the Growth Forum presented by Ballarat Environment Network. Some interesting bits and things to do:
- There is a Central Highlands Growth Plan being developed by the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD), if you want to have some input then send your contact details to CentralHighlands.RGP@dpcd.vic.gov.au
- This is a great video to share: http://youtu.be/RDiRUiLay30 about the Story of Stuff, and they have more on their website about bottled water, cosmetics etc head here http://www.storyofstuff.org/
- Next year is the last year of a four year cycle so the Ballarat Planning Scheme will be reviewed, keep your eye out for that one…
- There is an Entrance to Ballarat Strategy Plan and talk is a rivers factory is one possibility, this is the East entrance…
- There will be a Community Forum later this year to share findings from the four workshops run by BEN, we’ll let you know details or you can join up at BEN’s facebook for more info https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ballarat-Environment-Network/232704020110145
Here are some more interesting facts from the other workshops:
NATURE & HEALTH CONNECTIONS
Healthy Parks Healthy People http://www.hphpcentral.com/
Healthy Parks Healthy People International Congress (Melbourne 2010) http://www.healthyparkshealthypeoplecongress.org/
Research report ‘Healthy Parks, Healthy People – The health benefits of contact with nature in a park context’ from Congress website:
Home g Congress Proceedings g Health Benefits Research (near the bottom of the page)
For a quick reference to some of the benefits, look at the Summary table (pp 56-58)
People and Parks Foundation http://www.peopleandparks.org/home.html
Home | Programs | Feel Blue Touch Green
You can access the Feel Blue Touch Green report (Deakin Uni, 2006) by clicking on the first ‘Feel Blue Touch Green’ link in the drop down menu under ‘Programs’. Or go to: Feel Blue Touch Green report http://www.peopleandparks.org/resource-centre/50-reports/69-feel-blue-report.html
WILD
The Wellbeing through Integrated Learning and Development (WILD) project is an outdoor-based, youth-friendly program designed to promote emotional wellbeing and improved mental-health outcomes for young people.
Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy http://www.aabat.org.au/
Doctors for the Environment Australia http://dea.org.au/
National Toxics Network http://www.ntn.org.au Campaigns include Healthy Children, Clean Food, Toxic Free Living
Last Child in the Woods – Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder – Richard Louv (2005) Aust Ed. http://richardlouv.com/
“we’re genetically wired to need nature”; nature is a source of wonder g we’re in danger of cutting children off from this source of spiritual growth
CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH
Climate and Health Alliance http://caha.org.au/
Climate Change and Rural Health – the challenge of climate change for health in rural and regional Victoria
Menzies Foundation CD-ROM (August 2007)
Climate Change and Human Health Conference (Melbourne 2007) http://www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/climate/conference_07.htm
Conference program and presentations are available for download.
Documents:
Climate change and health: An exploration of the challenges for public health in Victoria
Articles:
Food security, climate change and health promotion: helping out the streams not just helping out downstream (Oxford Journals, Health Promotion International) – http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/content/23/2/105.full
FOOD AND HEALTH
Biodiversity & Sustainable Diets – United Against Hunger (International Scientific Symposium) (Rome, 2010) http://www.bioversityinternational.org/announcements/biodiversity_sustainable_diets_symposium.html
Download final Report: Biodiversity and sustainable diets – Final Symposium Report (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, August 2011)
Download Technical Workshop: Biodiversity in sustainable diets (May-June 2010) http://www.fao.org/ag/humannutrition/biodiversity/meetings/en/
Download Recommendations (Symposium) http://www.fao.org/ag/humannutrition/25397-0b15c3e7126c922c68ee18e4ff4d7dd5e.pdf
SUSTAINABLE DIETS are those diets with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security and to healthy life for present and future generations. Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy; while optimizing natural and human resources.
SUSTAINABILITY IN BALLARAT
National Centre for Sustainability www.ncsustainability.com.au
Through the NCS, University of Ballarat provides educational leadership and works in partnership with industry, government and community to support the development of sustainable practices regionally, state-wide and nationally. Our capabilities in these areas are:
Industry and Community
n Sustainability advisory and consultative expertise for Government and community programs
n Development and implementation of industry specific sustainability training
n Community sustainability information, including workshops
n Five Star Energy Rating Training
Research
n Action research on sustainability behavioural change
n Research to support the development of sustainability/environmental strategic goals within an organisation
Learning and Teaching
n Diploma of Sustainability
n Introduction to teaching sustainability
n Staff professional development training in sustainability
n Development of active research projects to integrate sustainability values across all disciplines
Consultancy
The NCS provides strategic advice to business and communities on issues relating to sustainability:
n environmental strategies
n corporate environmental reporting
n developing and implementing Environmental Management Systems
n whole-farm planning
n biodiversity surveys
n program evaluation
n environmental auditing
n behaviour change programs for sustainability
n Green Office Programs.
Contact Details
Telephone: (03) 5327 8425
Facsimile: (03) 5327 8488
Email: sustainability@ballarat.edu.au
Mail: PO Box 668 Ballarat VIC 3352
Website: www.ballarat.edu.au/ncs
Source: http://www.ncsustainability.com.au/brochure.pdf
SUSTAINABILITY IN BALLARAT
Ballarat Environment Network (BEN) benvn.wordpress.com
Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions (BREAZE) breaze.org.au
Ballarat Community Garden ballaratcommunitygarden.org.au
Ballarat Permaculture Guild ballaratpermacultureguild.org
Go Local (based on Transition Towns) smartlivingballarat.org.au/GoLocal
Regional Sustainability Alliance Ballarat (RSA) www.rsaballarat.net.au
To access the Strategic Foresight Report for the Ballarat Region, click on the link at the bottom of the Home page:
Home g Strategic Foresight Report for the Ballarat Region (near the bottom of the Home page)
Home g RSA Ballarat Direction Statement 2010-2012 (near the bottom of the Home page)
Sustainable Living Centre smartlivingballarat.org.au
Lots of sustainable living information relating to Home, Food, Transport, Water, Environment
Visit 14 Lydiard Street North (Mining Exchange)
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Endorse the Melbourne Communique on Healthy Parks Healthy People
Follow the link on the Congress website http://www.healthyparkshealthypeoplecongress.org/
Your endorsement will represent an adoption of the HPHP philosophy and help forge greater global understanding and strengthening of the connection between nature and people.
Policy Paper on Research for climate change and health underway (Climate and Health Alliance)
CAHA is developing a Position Paper on Research – looking at the research agenda for climate and health in Australia. This paper will consider Australia’s research needs gaps in terms of climate and health – what do we need to know to assist Australia in prepare and manage the effects of climate change and work to prevent further climate change?
If you would like to be contribute to this, please email: convenor@caha.org.au