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"Entries are now open for the ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2013! Sustainability Victoria's ResourceSmart Schools Awards recognise and reward the sustainability efforts of Victorian primary and secondary schools, and celebrate the work of teachers and students who are leading the way for future generations. With prize money and resource support up for grabs, the awards are a great opportunity to boost your school profile, network with other Victorian schools that are excelling in sustainability and celebrate with your whole community. Entries close 5pm, Thursday 1 August 2013. See details below about awards categories, how to enter and support information."

Social Traders is a small nonprofit organisation established in 2008 to support and encourage the establishment of commercially viable social enterprises throughout Australia. Working with government, community, business and research partners, we aim to: * Raise awareness about social enterprise and demonstrate its benefits * Open up markets for social enterprise products and services * Increase finance available to start and develop social enterprises * Build capacity of social enterprises to trade successfully * Support the coordination of social enterprise development in Australia.

"Building Sustainable Communities The Natural Strategies Group inspires and supports people to live sustainably, reduce their contribution to climate change and build sustainable communities. We do this by providing online strategy, web development services and content to help our clients engage and support their residents, staff and customers."

"How do we achieve food security in the face of climate change? Answering this question means weaving together many strands of evidence about our complex food and climate systems to produce a clear image. In response to this challenge, the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), with support from the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development, convened the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change, thirteen senior scientists working on agriculture, climate, nutrition, economics and natural resources in governmental, academic and civil society institutions around the world."

"ARIES is a research, consultancy and education centre at Macquarie University that supports change for sustainable development within government, business and the community."

"The Schools Water Efficiency Program aims to provide data loggers to all Victorian schools to continue the education and demonstration of water efficiency in practice. SWEP is managed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment and supported by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development."

"Join the challenge at whattodowithpoo.com/ and come up with a solution for human waste in Nairoba, Kenya. The winning idea will be announced on the International Water Association Development conference in Nairobi and gets 3 months of business development support to develop their idea to a solid business plan! enviu.org."

"Last night's ABC Q&A program didn't spend much time discussing the issue of climate change, but it nonetheless represented an excellent microcosm of the broader political debate on the issue. On one side you had Bill McKibben, who has dedicated his life to the cause of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He is trying to put the fear of God into investors that money in fossil fuels is like investing in the horse and buggy industry at the dawn of the motor vehicle. In the other corner was Cory Bernardi, one of the ring leaders behind the toppling of Malcolm Turnbull because of his support for an emissions trading scheme, who believes global warming is a fraud."

"Unfortunately, the Australian media has failed to ask politicians who support inadequate climate change policies to justify their position on scientific and ethical grounds. Here is what journalists - and you - should be asking them."

"The world's biggest wind turbine manufacturer is joining forces with environmental groups in a global campaign to rouse the "silent majority" of people who support renewable energy to fight back against what it claims is "misinformation" spread by some anti-wind activists that is threatening the industry."

"In Spring 2013, we conducted our latest national survey on Americans' climate change and energy beliefs, attitudes, policy support, and behavior. The first report focuses on Americans' beliefs about extreme weather and climate change. We found that about six in ten Americans (58%) say "global warming is affecting weather in the United States." Many Americans believe global warming made recent extreme weather and climatic events "more severe," specifically: 2012 as the warmest year on record in the United States (50%); the ongoing drought in the Midwest and the Great Plains (49%); Superstorm Sandy (46%); and Superstorm Nemo (42%). We also found that about two out of three Americans say weather in the U.S. has been worse over the past several years, up 12 percentage points since Spring 2012. The report can be downloaded here: Extreme Weather and Climate Change in the American Mind, April 2013."

Welcome to eFuture, where you can explore Australia's electricity future through to 2050. eFuture is a snapshot of the complex modelling CSIRO carries out every day to support government and industry as they make decisions about energy investment and policy. Based on CSIRO's energy sector model, you can select options and instantly view charts showing changes to Australia's future electricity sources, greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of electricity. With the release of the Australian Government's Energy White Paper (2012), CSIRO is excited to launch eFuture, a way for those interested in energy to explore the future energy scenarios similar to those presented in the Energy White Paper.

"Los Angeles became the biggest city in the country to ban free plastic bags in grocery stores following a city council vote Tuesday. The 9-1 vote supports a ban that will take effect Jan. 1 for large stores, City News Service reported. Under the law, shoppers will have to tote their own bags, or pay 10 cents each for paper bags."

"Australia's natural resources are reaching a crisis point as they struggle to support and sustain our lifestyles. But while degradation of these systems continues, research suggests the level of concern for the environment is falling. So could encouraging some national pride in our natural resources help improve the environment's outlook?"

"The United States has seen quite the bike boom over the last decade or so, and it doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon. According to the Christian Science Monitor, bike commuting grew by 47% nationwide between 2000 and 2011. Unsurprisingly, it was Portland, Oregon that took the lead with 250% growth, followed by Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, and New York City. Still, only 1% of Americans are biking on the regular, compared to 26% of people in the Netherlands, 10% of Germans, and 19% of the Danish population. The growth in the United States is of course still positive, and a great indication that there will be widespread public support as more cities begin to integrate cycling into the transportation grid."

"While the Coalition didn't release a 2013 election policy document explaining how they'd reduce emissions, they did release a document outlining how they'd axe the tax. The document is entitled The Coalition's Policy to Deliver Lower Prices by Scrapping the Carbon Tax. Within it is an excellent idea well worth supporting, in that it will highlight just how 'brilliant' the Abbott government's cost of living 'relief' will be when it axes the carbon tax. "

"Hawkesdale P12 College is a small, rural school of about 230 students from prep to year 12, located about 15 kilometres north west of the Macarthur Wind Farm, in SW Victoria. We have a history of excellent results at VCE level, award-winning teachers and an innovative ICT program. This letter is seeking support for our education for sustainability programs, specifically to allow the VCE Environmental Science class of 2014 to attend the Actions for Earth Global Youth Summit in January."

"A national survey on energy affordability carried out by CHOICE, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Energy Efficiency Council revealed 84 per cent of Australian households are concerned or very concerned about energy costs. The same percentage felt it was important or very important for their State Government to help rein in these costs.     However, instead of screaming for renewable energy support to be hit to cut the cost of power - a default choice it seems for many politicians - this was the least popular action in the survey. In fact, knee-capping renewables had a negative net approval rating in every state. "

Right now Australia faces a choice: we can continue our dependence on fossil fuels, keep mining and burning coal, keep polluting our air and water. We can keep damaging our farmland and heath, be left behind the rest of the world on investment and face an uncertain future with an unstable climate. Or we can make the switch to 100% clean renewable energy, creating a safer, healthier happier future for all.  Join us to ensure Australia makes this choice to help the turn the vision of a 100% Renewable future into a reality.

Renew Geelong's air, spirit and economy with renewable energy - Sign this petition! 48-hour petition - until Tuesday. Share on Facebook and Twitter. Forward this e-mail.  ________________________________________________________   We're hoping the citizens of Geelong will speak up and take a stand in this wind farm drama about community backing.  Let Hydro Tasmania know that there are community groups who object to these secretly funded anti-wind campaigners who allegedly have no worries about climate change. Support Hydro Tasmania in their $2 billion plan to combat carbon emissions and global warming - and to boost sustainability in Victoria.  The petition started today and closes on Tuesday 25 June. (Sign the petition and send a personal comment to the board of Hydro Tasmania:  https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/board-of-hydro-tasmania-renew-geelong-s-air-spirit-and-economy-with-renewable-energy ________________________________________________________ Comments to Hydro Tasmania from the first signatories: "Geelong has relied to long on out dated technology and fossil fuels, renewables energy is our future."(~ Katharine Drummond-Gillett   "Renewable energy projects would revitalise Geelong's economy." (~ Vicki Perrett   "The Geelong and broader regional community are committed to moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle, evident through community actions, changes in manufacturing sectors, the Cleantech Innovations Geelong supported by Geelong Manufacturing, the City of Greater Geelong and community to transition to a renewable energy economy."(~ Suzette Jackson ________________________________________________________ This petition is organised by Parents for Climate Safety More information about the petition: www.climatesafety.info/?p=2970 ________________________________________________________

The LivingGreener website provides a starting point for information about living more sustainably and reducing your environmental impact. It includes information on programs and financial support available from the Australian Government as well as state and territory governments.