Update. September 2010

Two articles ... our reflections

Reflections on S11 - 10 years ago
Almost 10 years ago, at the September 11 protests at the Crown Casino in the year 2000, Nick and Clint were both inspired by a T-shirt that changed the way they thought about their voice in the world. Here are some reflections on the event, the changing world since then and learnings of the past decade. Check it out here.

How we shop
We are often are asked how we do our regular shopping. What do we buy in our household, what are the choices we make? Here are some personal stories that hopefully gives some insights into the issues that come up and some possible alternatives. Check it out here.

s (you can post up your own experience and reflections too).

Upcoming Meal & Movie nights

Join us this coming Thursday for The End of Suburbia. We now have 'Meal & Movie' nights running in Melbourne on the 2nd Thursday of each month in the west, and also the 3rd Friday of each month in the east. Let us know if you'd like to host a regular night in your local area.

>> Dinner 6.30 - 7.30pm - byo 'food and thoughts' to share >> movie 8pm - 10.30pm.

Out West - Neesh & Shaun's place, Yarraville

Thursday 9th September - The End of Suburbia
 Suburbia promises space, affordability, family life and upward mobility, but as we enter the 21st century, how will it be affected by the reality of peak oil. Discussion will include what peak oil means for Australia, and what tangiible, posiitve action for moving beyond our oil dependence.

>> RSVP to Nick nick@ethical.org.au or 0417 114 492 .
Next month - 14th October - screening The Corportation, focus on corporate accounability.
Out East - Wendy's place, Blackburn 

Friday 17th September, King Corn
A road movie documenting two friends adventure in growing one acre of corn and attempting to follow it through America's food system.Corn is America's most-productive, most-subsidized grain crop. The film explores the industrialisation of corn and raises questions about how we eat and how we farm.

>> RSVP to Wendy - qblhome @ hotmail.com or ph: 9878 7897
Next month - 22nd October - screening The Real Dirt on Farmer John

>> Find out more about Meal & Movie nights

No Impact November

Each year we run a Household Action Challenge – last year we did a Zero Waste Week and in 2008 an 100 Mile Trial. This year we have a whole month of fun. No Impact November is a collaborative community experiment to explore alternative ways of living with an emphasis on consuming less, sharing more and moving to a life with less oil dependency.


Key dates to meet for meal, discussion and planning are:

  • Thursday October 14th - ECG movie night. Some general discussion.
  • Thursday November 4th – Inventory and goals and shared meal.
  • Thursday November 11th – No Impact week Communal dinner to mark the start of No Impact week. (also ECG movie night)
  • Thursday November 18th (or 17th) – End of No Impact week Celebration meal - discussion of outcomes and learnings
  • Saturday November 27th – Buy Nothing Day - stunts and fun!

Find out more about No Impact November. Contact Nick if you'd like to be involved. nick@ethical.org.au

News....

P&N Beverages
Japanese brewing giant Asahi Breweries says it will buy Australian fruit juice maker P&N Beverages for $364 million. Asahi plans to combine P&N with Schweppes Australia, which it bought from Cadbury in 2009. P&N is currently 87% owned by founder Robert Peter Brooks, previously an executive with the Coca-Cola Company. more 26 Aug 2010

Other Australian companies bought by Japanese companies in recent years include Dairy Farmers, National Foods and Lion Nathan bought by Kirin Holdings; Frucor Beverages bought by Suntory; and Australian Paper bought by Nippon Paper Group.
BPA in the spotlight
Consumer group 'Choice' has tested 38 popular canned foods, of which five contained more than 200 parts per billion of Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a chemical that has been used for many years to make polycarbonate plastic bottles and to line food cans to prevent corrosion. BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical which interferes with our body’s own hormones, and small amounts can migrate from the plastic into the food. See article in The Australian. See full report by 'Choice'. 1 Sept 2010
Take action on BPA - email Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Mr Mark Butler and tell him that you want all foods made for babies and toddlers to be BFA-free. more		  

Paper = Logging
Brown Mountain, near Orbost, home to endangered potoroo and glider species may be protected from futher logging after a landmark victory when the Supreme Court upheld a ban on logging of old-growth forest in this hotly disputed part of Victoria's East Gippsland. more 12 Aug 2010

Often we don't realise that Australia's native forests are still being logged with pulp going to paper manufacture. Native forests absorb carbon dioxide, act as water catchments and are home to animals and much biodiversity. You can reduce the demand for native forest logging by choosing products such as toilet paper and copy paper which has recycled content in it. more. Find a useful guide for purchasing copy paper here.

Volunteers wanted ....

Interested in helping out? We need people to:

  • staff stalls at upcoming events. There's a spring fair on this coming Saturday 11th that I'm looking for some help with. And others too...
  • represent us in other states in doing presentations and workshops. this would involve some training.
  • research celebrity heads. We're looking for someone to do research into celebrity brand endorsements. The famous folk doing the spin .. (why is George Clooney endorsing Nestle?)

Contact Nick to help. nick@ethical.org.au

 

 

Upcoming workshops ...

  • Friday 17th September, 7:30>> “Stop the Traffik” chocolate fondue party, Brunswick
  • Saturday October 30, 10.30 am-1.00 pm >> Flemington Library Supermarket tour
  • Thursday 28th October, 6pm >> Public workshop & Supermarket tour, Footscray
  • Tuesday 16th November, 6pm – 8.30pm >>'Greener Chirstmas' presentation, Balwyn
  • Saturday 20th November, 10am - 12.30pm >> Altona Library Supermarket tour
  • Saturday 27 November >> Buy Nothing Day - stunts & fun!

Find out more or register online here .

 

Did you know you can now post your own comments on our website for Company and Issue pages?

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To view this newsletter online go to www.ethical.org.au/newsletters/sep2010.htm