Thursday, May 21, 2009

ALEC Update May 21, 2009

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ALEC Update
Thursday May 21, 2009
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G’day all,
I hope this finds you fit and healthy and in the swing of it.
This update reflects the busyness of many people’s lives within the community who are organising events and community get-togethers.
Please take the time to find out what is going on around town and support community action by turning up.
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Just to let you know, ALEC has lodged a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Mining and Energy in relation to the approval of the Mining Management Plan and the processes involved. Community monitoring is continuing, apparently a second drilling rig has been set up on site, which is located 14.6km from the start of the gravel on the old South rd. If you’re interested in keeping an eye on what’s going on down there, email me info@alec.org.au and I can put you in contact with the drivers of that.
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If you’re interested in collective food growing, we’re in the process of applying for a grant to organise a Gardens for Food program where networks of households share time, labour, skills and produce. It will feed into the momentum towards a community garden and our own community’s resilience.
If interested, stay tuned, or call me 8952 2497.
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Keep well
See you soon

Jimmy
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‘I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy.... If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago. ~Sir George Porter, quoted in The Observer, 26 August 1973
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Key dates:
Grab your diaries:

Fri May 22 Closing date for U-Art our Voice exhibition – call Unanyntji (details below)

Sat May 23 Solar Open Day – Desert Knowledge Precinct 9-11am (Community Notices)

Sun May 24 Biodiesel-making workshop (details Community News)
Fri May 29 Ecology and conservation of the White Stork. CSIRO 3.30pm (details below)

Fri May 29 Critical MASSive – Council Lawns – 5.15pm – cycle
against uranium exploration (details below)

Fri May 29 More than my skin – opening Watch This Space 6pm (see WTS at the end of this email)


Sat May 30 Steiner Fair (details in Community News)

Tue Jun 2 Living Rivers Community Forum (more details next week)

Thu Jun 4 BHP-B Public Meeting RE: Roxby EIS (more details next week)

Fri June 5 U-Art our voice, exhibition opening, 6-8pm ASTC Library (details below)

Fri June 5 World Environment Night @ the Lane Upstairs 8pm-1am (details below)
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U-Art our Voice
Alice Springs Artists response to the uranium threat
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Calling all poets, song writers, artists etc to create works responding to the uranium mining-dumping threats to our town.
We are hoping to create an exhibition to be displayed in the ASTC Library June 5
Queries please call Unanyntji ;0488266478,unanyntji@hotmail.com Deadline May 22
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World Environment Day/Night
Friday June 5

The Lane Upstairs from 8pm
Come and join in the fun.
Films
Chris Aronston, Super Raelian brothers and friends
and a RAFFLE!

ALEC will be presenting Uranium: Is it a country?
An upbeat German documentary looking into the nuclear industry in both Europe and Australia. This film is on its world tour, with screenings in Berlin, Melbourne, Alice Springs and others.

A premiere for the Territory!

A fundraiser for ALEC’s anti-U mining campaigns
$10 concession
$15 full
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Room available
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We have a lovely self contained granny flat in Braitling becoming available on June 5th – its spacious and bright with a private outlook and its own outdoor entertaining area. Ideally we are looking for someone child friendly (we have 2 kids 10 months and 3 1/2) willing to possibly baby sit in exchange for part of the rent or a single parent looking to share the load around. Failing this – we would consider short term rentals whilst we find the right person. Call us Flis and Andy 8952 3572 for more details

COOL news from DKACOOLmob

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COOL news from DKA COOLmob www.dkacoolmob.org =====================================================================
Robbie is currently in Fiji for Live and Learn work. He’ll be back next week.
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desertSMART Gardens Challenge – brief round-up
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Last week, 15 people got together and put in a vege garden bed at Frances’ house. It was a no-dig garden which required us to fill a walled garden bed with manure and dirt, however that wasn’t just it. The bed was prepared with a lining of corrugated iron and black plastic, to allow drainage. This was then covered with shade cloth and pebbles and rubble was wrapped in shade cloth. Then started the layering, mixing, watering and general soil making with the original dirt, straw and cow manure. It was a fun day and all participants had a great time with people whose name they didn’t even know. It was a fantastic example of people just getting on with the job. We’re looking to do this again and make it a regular thing.
If you’re interested in finding out more, join COOLmob and stay tuned to the ALEC wire.
Have you had your Desert Knowledge Australia COOLmob water audit?
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Desert Knowledge Australia COOLmob offers home water audits for only $10. A trained auditor will provide cheap and easy solutions to save water and money in your house and garden. Contact Robbie on 89520299 or dk.coolmob@coolmob.com to make a booking

Beyond Nuclear News

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Beyond Nuclear News
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Nat’s in South Australia on the Radioactive Exposure Tour around Roxby, Beverley and Honeymoon. More from BNI when Nat’s back.
Check the link below re: Ranger expansion
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Uranium mine 'expanding by stealth': greens
The operators of Kakadu's Ranger Uranium Mine have been accused of trying to expand the mine by stealth after the approval of a three-kilometre exploration tunnel.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/uranium-mine-expanding-by-stealth-greens-20090519-be9e.html

Climate News

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Climate News
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Polluters to get $12.5bn in carbon hand-outs
Australia's six biggest polluting industries will get an extra $1.1 billion compensation over five years under changes to the Government's emissions trading scheme.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/polluters-to-get-125bn-in-carbon-handouts-20090519-bec1.html
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Gas guzzlers under the pump
Australia's car makers could face a new mandatory fuel-efficiency standard following a United States decision to declare war on polluting gas guzzlers. http://www.theage.com.au/environment/global-warming/gas-guzzlers-under-the-pump-20090520-bfpa.html

Critical MASSive May 29 5.15pm Council Lawns

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CRITICAL MASSIVE MAY 29 Council Lawns 5.15pm
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Be part of the colourful crowd bicycling around town to show your opposition to uranium exploration at Angela and Pamela sites. Add this date to your diary - and yes you can skate or roller blade too :)

Date: Fri May 29
Place: - Meet at Council Lawns
Time: - 5.15pm
- cycle against uranium exploration

email: criticalmassivealice@gmail.com

Families for a Nuclear Free Future (FFANFF)

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Families for a Nuclear-Free Future (FFANFF) =====================================================================
MEDIA RELEASE 20/5/09
Families for a Nuclear Free Future (FFANFF)
Alice Springs citizens send Minister Vatskalis 400 clear messages:
Stop uranium exploration at Angela Pamela
Photo opportunity: Alice Springs Post Office, 2pm, Wed. 20.05.09
Residents of Alice Springs have delivered a strong show of community opposition to the uranium exploration currently underway at the Angela Pamela site. Today over 400 letters will be posted to the NT Mines Minister, Kon Vatskalis, demanding that exploration be halted immediately.
Families for a Nuclear Free Future spokesperson Isabelle Kirkbride says: “Exploratory drilling at the proposed mine site has commenced and this is the first step towards a possible uranium mine over our water catchment.
We have collected over 400 letters of opposition within the last week, which shows that the people of Alice Springs are becoming increasingly concerned about this issue.
This campaign against the proposal is growing and will continue to grow. Today over 400 people are telling the government and the company that there will be no uranium mining at the Angela Pamela site.”
The letter states:
“As you know, drilling commenced at the Angela site earlier this week. And how did the local community find out about it? Just by chance through local news reports.
This is another occasion amongst many, where the NT Government and Cameco have failed to uphold their responsibility to consult with the community. It is the community who will experience the harmful environmental, social, economic and health effects of any exploration or mining of the Angela and Pamela deposits. ”
Alice Springs residents have enthusiastically responded to requests to sign the letter to the Minister and it has been a successful awareness raising exercise. Most people are unaware of the site’s proximity to town, and that both the Finke Desert Race track and the historic Ghan siding run alongside the proposed uranium mine site.
Families for a Nuclear Free Future joins with the people of Alice Springs in the call to NT Minister for Mines, Kon Vatskalis, to revoke the exploration license granted to Cameco to look for uranium at the Angela site.
For comment: Isabelle Kirkbride (mob) 0428 504 232
email: ffanff@aapt.net.au

Rangeland Biology and Ecology Seminars

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Rangeland Biology and Ecology Seminars
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May 29, Friday, 3.30 at CSIRO Conference Room, Alice Springs.

Holger Woyt, MSc (Aquatic Tropical Ecology), University of Bremen, Germany

Ecology and conservation of the White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, in Germany
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The White Stork faces many problems during its annual migration as well as during its breeding season in Europe. Even though it is a well known charismatic bird species, it had almost disappeared from Germany in the 1980’s. Wide ranging community conservation efforts were able to stop the decline and stabilize the German breeding population. NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Union) has coordinated these efforts including recreating wetland habitats, protecting amphibian populations and modifying power pylons to reduce mortality by electrocution.
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Coming Seminars
June 5 or 12 ( to be confirmed) : Boyd Wright. Fire ecology in the southern Tanami

SPEAKERS and participants NEEDED:
Volunteer speakers, requests or cancellation of email notification: contact Bill Low, Coordinator, P.O.Box 3130, Alice Springs; Phone/Fax 89 555 222, Fax 89 555 722; Email: LowEcol@LowEcol.com.au
Organisational and distributional assistance from CSIRO, NRETA, DPIFM, CAT, CLC.
Seminar notices are available on: http://www.cse.csiro.au/news/alicespringsseminars.pdf

Rangeland Biology and Ecology Seminars (formerly Rangelands Coordinating Committee) have been useful in facilitating communication between environmental researchers, managers and the interested public in Alice Springs since 1974. The seminars provide an opportunity for the diverse Government, Institutional, Council, Company and private technical community and interested public to discuss current research and projects, impacts on or opportunities in arid Australia. Presenters may provide information on research and management of biological, landscape, cultural and physical aspects of central Australia or pertinent topics from around the World. The seminars also provide a training arena to practice talks for conferences or to float ideas or to help develop a project. Sometimes they present technical travelogues of distant lands. Appropriate professional society or interest group notices can also be included. The venue is the one most appropriate for the speaker and audience but for consistency is usually the CSIRO Conference Room. Come along for a natter, a catch up or to meet new people and new ideas.

Solar Open Day

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SOLAR OPEN DAY Saturday May 23 9-11am
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Bring the family, explore the Solar Centre and learn about solar and sustainable innovations you can use at home.
Displays by Alice Solar City, Desert Knowledge Australia, DKACOOLmob and PowerWater Solar Model Cars by Sunchase Giveaways Free Sausage sizzle and guided tours

Biodiesel Workshop

Make Your Own Biodiesel for 25 c / litre

When: Sunday 24th May 2009, 9 am to 2 pm
Location: Andy McNeill Room, Alice Springs Town Council, 93 Todd St, NT
Cost: $70 + $7 gst food not included
Speaker: Jonathon Thwaites, University of WA and the Alternative Technology Association WA

Contact: Jonathon Thwaites 0419 924 355

Greening Australia Nursery Sale

Greening Australia Nursery
PLANT SALE
8am-12pm THIS SATURDAY
23rd MAY
Nursery is located at Charles Darwin University.
Entrance 2, off Grevillea Dve, Primary Industries Nursery
Lots of Lovely Plants Ready to Grow
Desert Peas, Eremophilas, Eucalypts, Acacias & Bushfoods .
We will reuse your old tubes and 150mm pots, so bring them with you.
OPEN EVERY THURSDAY FOR SALES 9AM _ 4PM
Enquiries. Contact Frances on 0427 775027

Alice Springs Steiner School - Annual Autumn Fair

The Alice Springs Steiner School
Annual Autumn Fair
Saturday 30th of May
8am - 2pm
Lot 9523 Ragonesi Rd.

This is a fabulous community event with delicious food, handmade
crafts, a giant lawn sale, our famous cakes, children's games and activities, candle dipping, archery (make your own bow and arrow).
Visitors will be entertained all day long with performances
from Christopher Brocklebank; Drum Atweme; Classical violinists Jane and Caroline; the Steiner School Strings Ensembles; blues from Ross, Chris and Herman; folk from M'lis and Jayne; songs from Ever. Relax with a massage or commission your own caricature!
For more info 8953 4578.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Rally this Saturday against Uranium Exploration

Cameco has started exploratory drilling for uranium at Angela Pamela....

Gather on the Alice Springs Town Council lawns at 10am this Saturday the 9th May to show your support for a NUKE-FREE Alice Springs!

We must get the unusual suspects involved! Please invite 3 other people from
your workplace, kids' school or sports club to come along to get
informed and involved in the campaign.

MORE THAN A RALLY..
On Saturday the community will voice its opposition to uranium exploration. Not just to the town, but to government and national press through some strategic mass letter writing. Bring your pens, clipboards and ideas. Saturday is also an opportunity to meet other people with similar campaign interests- eg. lobbying, media, fundraising, engaging with tourism industry, etc etc etc.

A BRIEF UPDATE
The snap action on Wednesday afternoon was well attended by around 100 people. People expressed their disappointment that drilling had started through an open mike. Cars passing beeped in support. The Cameco Project and Regional Managers were invited to come down and talk to the crowd but they refused.
The rally was covered by ABC TV, CAAMA, and 3CR (Melbourne). Reps from local newspapers were present.

The NT government approved Cameco's Mine Management Plan (ie., a document which outlines the way exploration will be managed) last Friday. Gorey& Cole employees and drill rigs are now on site and drilling has started. Drilling will go for aprox 7 months.. Mine Management Plan should be available from the govt soon.
Cameco has not yet completed its Environmental Management Plan. Although there is no government requirement for them to do so, and there are some environmental management aspects to the Mine Management Plan, it does make you wonder.... Why are they allowed to start drilling without a thorough Environmental Management Plan completed and in place????

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Drilling started at Angela Pamela

-SNAP ACTION TODAY MAY 6TH, CAMECO OFFICE 5PM-
Exploratory drilling has started at the Angela Pamela site today.
Protest this afternoon!
Wednesday May6th
5pm
Cameco Office (Corner of Hartley St and Gregory Terrace)

Could a few people please swing past ALEC at 4:30pm to grab banners.
Also, if you have time to do some preparation this afternoon ( banners, fliers) drop past ALEC after 1pm.