At the front gate -- Geranium or Pelargonium?
Geranium or Pelargonium?
Local gardeners, when talking about “Geraniums”, are almost certainly referring to members of the genus Pelargonium. Long ago they were included in Geranium, but today the pelargoniums have their own genus. One of the distinguishing features is that all the petals of the Geranium flower are similar and are arranged evenly around the centre. On the other hand, the individual Pelargonium flower has an uneven distribution of petals, although this may be a little difficult to observe in some garden cutivars. http://www.calyx.com.au/pelargonium.html
Climate Change – Responses and Action
New South Wales responses are being coordinated by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. In summary:
DECC’s wide range of climate change programs include:
- strategies to reduce emissions, encourage efficient use of water and promote adaptation to climate change impacts
- research to better understand the effects of climate change on biodiversity and conservation planning
- development of a resilient system of protected areas to help minimise the effects of climate change on the environment
- the Sustainability Advantage Program, which assists business to improve environmental performance.
The broader whole-of-government approach to reducing the impacts of climate change is outlined in the NSW Greenhouse Plan, the NSW State Plan and the Climate Change Action Plan, which is currently under development. Key initiatives include:
- progressing a national emissions trading and a mandatory renewable energy through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
- providing financial support to households, schools, business and industry for water, energy and emission savings through the Climate Change Fund and establishing the NSW Energy Savings Scheme
- ensuring homes and units are designed to use less potable water and create fewer greenhouse gas emissions by setting energy and water reduction targets through the Building Sustainability online planning tool
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and use of electricity through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme and establishing new energy efficiency targets under the scheme
- implementing the $150-million NSW Energy Efficiency Strategy.
Find out more on the following topics on DECC’s climate change website
- An introduction to climate change, its causes and evidence
- Information on how climate change will impact NSW
- Reports and publications on climate change
- Local, national and international action to combat climate change
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/climatechange/index.htm
Moving from the ‘govspeak’ above is a series of 30 case-studies on greenhouse reduction action featured on the Local Government and Shires website, http://www.lgsa-plus.net.au/www/html/1917-nsw-regions.asp?intSiteID=2
These are encouragingly proactive; curbing emissions and waste and saving money.
In 2008, The Nature Conservation Council of NSW coordinated a series of training workshops for LGA council staff and residents to:
…deliver local forums in urban, rural, coastal and inland locations across NSW. The input of forum participants has informed local council about the views of a diverse mix of the community who have worked together with local experts and facilitators and considered the issue of climate change in detail.
Coming home to Marrickville Council, their ‘Environment’ page at http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/environment/climatechange.htm concentrates on energy (electricity) and oil reduction. This is not a thorough coverage for at the community and individual level, the Council:
- Has free trees for households suitable for this Cooks River catchment,
- Has free garden mulch
- Supports community gardens
- Operates the “Sustainable Water Planning with Local People” program that aims at reducing imported water and water leaving the catchment. Together with Sydney City, operates the shop front ‘Watershed’ in Newtown for advice on water conservation.
- In the ‘Business Program’, provides useful advice on reducing energy and waste.
- And in the “Sustainability in Your Home” page, provides much information on rebates and reducing our environmental footprint (http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/MARRICKVILLE/INTERNET/me.get?site.home&PAGE2237).
Local Government is making the practical advances in contrast with the embarrassing Commonwealth political squabbling and the Koala suited protestors blockading mines, chaining themselves to locomotives and climbing light poles. Since beginning this review on 16 January, I have learnt much and feel I need no longer bother with the media reporting on Climategate, Glaciergate, the IPCC, COP15, anthropogenic global warming, climate skeptics, et al; CO2 emission reduction, waste reduction, water harvesting and energy reduction is occurring.
Today’s Podcast
“A dinner date with the olympics (2010 version)”, Deconstructing Dinner, 14 January 2010, http://www.cjly.net/deconstructingdinner/011410.htm
On February 23, 2006, Deconstructing Dinner aired a one-hour feature titled “A Dinner Date With the Olympics”. The episode was produced alongside the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. The show focused its attention on two of the Games major sponsors (Coca-Cola and McDonald’s). When we think of the Olympic Games, the athletes, the events, we think of human beings at the peak of performance, in optimal physical and psychological states. Sports do after all evoke images of health and well-being. So when two of the Games major sponsors are Coca-Cola and McDonald’s (perhaps the two most targeted food companies in the world for their unhealthy food and their environmental, social and animal welfare practices), it sparked that 2006 episode which deconstructed this seeming hypocrisy. On this 2010 Version of that original broadcast, we revisit with the episode and add some much-needed 2010 updates.