Urban Integration Working Group

Transform Austrlia

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"Transform Australia"

Transform Australia is committed to changing the direction of Australia so that as a nation we commit to becoming an ecologically sustainable and socially healthy society. We take creating a viable society as the great challenge of our generation.

Urban Integration Working Group

What are we going to do?
We are going to make some changes in our towns and cities and you can be part of it

Over the next couple of weeks Ian Cleland will be contacting as many organisation involved in creating our sustainable future.

Ultimately this is about building the future not just talk about it. This is also a response to what is happening right now the shit has hit the fan and we can not bury our heads in the sand and hope it will go away.

We all have to start demonstrating that we can all be involved in building a future that is sustainable.

This is not to say that it is not happening already or take away from what is already being done. It is about how those who are interested can bring their plans to reality.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

‪Marshall Hydrothermal Recovery System‬‏ - YouTube

New Sustainable Technology Delivers Low Cost Dis patchable, Renewable, Base Load Electricity for 1000 Megawatt Plus Power Generation.

Technology that could provide the world a reliable green energy supply. US patent granted and patent pending in several dozen other countries. Currently planning a 1 GW project in the Pacific NW US. Discussions underway in several countries with plans for 1 to 3 GW per project. 5 GW plus project possible. Open to government, investor or other stakeholder proposals from developing energy markets with demand.

‪Marshall Hydrothermal Recovery System‬‏ - YouTube

Carbon Price Deal to Supercharge Solar

Big Solar is a big winner in today’s Clean Energy Future announcement” said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES).

We will see solar on steroids”, said John Grimes.“We are finally penalising pollution and rewarding clean energy.That will deliver substantial investment in solar power and position Australia as a solar nation.

The $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) – half of which is quarantined for renewable energy - will provide the financial settings that Big Solar projects need to get off the ground.

AuSES has consistently argued for the establishment of an independent green investment bank, and we are very pleased that this is coming to fruition.”

Whilst the details are still being worked out, it is likely Big Solar companies will be able to access loan guarantees and equity investments. These initiatives have supercharged Big Solar in the United States and we will see the same thing happening in Australia. The Government should work closely with Big Solar companies in finalising the incentives to be adopted by the CEFC.

“Taxpayers will continue to benefit from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation through the reinvestment of capital earned through this funding.”

“The Australian Solar Energy Society strongly welcomes the establishment of the independent Australian Renewable Energy Agency, which will administer $3.2 billion in clean energy funds.”

“Australia needs an independent renewable energy agency which consolidates the vast array of clean energy funding programs. It is very pleasing to see ARENA’s funding will be topped up by dividends created by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.”

AuSES has also welcomed the $40 million Remote Indigenous Power Program, which will provide incentives for remote Indigenous communities to invest in solar power. It is important that similar incentives are provided for other rural and remote communities, which have lacked support since the axing of the Rural Remote Power Generation Program.

“AuSES looks forward to working with the Government in finalising the arrangements announced today. It will also continue to work with the Australian Government to improve the Renewable Energy Target to ensure it is driving investment in residential and large-scale solar.”

Carbon Farming Conference & Expo | Carbon Cocky Awards | Festival of Fertiliser - Contact

Carbon Farming Conference & Expo | Carbon Cocky Awards | Festival of Fertiliser - Contact

Transform Australia

Transform Australia is committed to changing the direction of Australia so that as a nation we commit to becoming an ecologically sustainable and socially healthy society. We take creating a viable society as the great challenge of our generation

The logo of the "Urban Integration Working Group. Creating sustainable urban environments in our cities and towns

Transform Australia - By Andrew Gains

Self-initiated action

There are important things you can do without necessarily being a member of Transform Australia or of any organisation.

We have common cause: changing the direction of Australia so that we become an ecologically sustainable and socially healthy society - a whole system change.

Such a change will come about through a process of

• Aspiration - a critical mass embracing the goal of healthy whole system change

• Understanding what is involved
• Some of us engaging others in understanding whole system change
• Real-world on the ground changes that support long-term viability

All of us can contribute, starting where we are. You can champion whole system change without anybody's approval. Here are some ideas.

Aspiration statements

The first level is simple, but profound. Some of us might find it emotionally challenging at first. We can intentionally mention 'whole system change’ at the beginning of every public presentation we give, and in ordinary conversation. One way is to make a statement along these lines:

We are in an ecological emergency. I am committed to contributing to the evolution of a socially healthy and ecologically sustainable society - a whole system change. I hope you will join me.

Such an aspiration statement is a sort of 'welcome to the future' - a reminder of what our generation is called to do.

Just a few of us doing this will not amount to much. But if people everywhere begin to hear 'whole system change', the concept will begin to penetrate our collective awareness. We should do it until our friends are bored with it - and then do it some more. We should do it until there is a cultural shift, and our whole culture is excited by a shared passion to become viable.

So we envision thousands of people throughout Australia starting to do this - sort of a guerrilla force with no commander. People in cities do it. Business leaders who get climate change do it. Farmers talk to their neighbours. Writers mention whole system change in opinion pieces in newspapers. Teachers bring up the need for whole system change in staff meetings… And so it goes - the unpredictable emergence of an idea whose time has come!

Self-education

Of course aspiration of itself is not enough. We must understand what 'whole system change' means. This is an enormous topic. However, there are two principles that make it intellectually manageable.

• A viable society will operate on goodwilled partnership/respect values rather than self-aggrandising domination/control values. This is obvious: we care for community and the environment.
• And a viable society will be ecologically sustainable.

Transform Australia has a simple way of mapping how the operation our whole society makes our environmental issues worse. Creating this map enables us to identify all the major elements that must be dealt with if we are to have a prospect of a bright future. These elements include economics, agriculture, personal psychology and industrial design.

Of course there is a great deal of secondary information to be explored, but we start with the big picture. One way of grasping these topics is to read the Transform Australia Framework for Understanding Whole System Change (22pds).

Engaging others in understanding whole system change

In Australia millions of us need to develop a thoughtful understanding of how and why we need to change. So an important next step is engaging friends and colleagues in conversations to think through whole system change.

We have developed a thought starter booklet that uses diagrams as talking points to help you do this. The wiki Communicating Whole System Change gives additional ideas.

Real-world on the ground changes that support long-term viability

A viable society will operate on positive core values that support community wellbeing in the context of ecological sustainability. We call these values partnership/respect values (in contrast with domination/control values).

Our high-level aspiration for healthy whole system change will show up as specific local changes. If we have influence, changing the internal operations of businesses and schools is a direct contribution to evolving a viable society. These human changes complement the technical changes are also a vital part of becoming a viable society.

Historical precedent

Personally, I believe that a multitude of conversations about partnership/dominator relating, what ecological sustainability really involves, and whole system change are essential for evolving a viable society.

The feminist movement achieved changes for women as a result of millions of self organised conversations, workshops and conferences. The movement was inspired, not directed. Women took their own initiative.

For many of these women, the ‘what's in it for me’ was evident. They felt that they were oppressed, and they wanted to find a way out.

Our situation around whole system change is a little bit different. Most of us are still oppressed, but we may not feel it. We tend to take economics and democracy for granted, even though they do not necessarily operate in our favour. And while environmental collapse will be disastrous for all of us, it does not necessarily appeal directly to our self-interest to try to do something about it.

Nevertheless the need is evident. We help ourselves by preserving the commons.

Possible reservations about being a change agent

Advocating whole system change can seem like proselytising. Properly done, it is not proselytising. There is no ideology: it is about helping people come to grips with the reality of our present circumstance.

Nevertheless, you might be shy at the prospect of inviting a friend to go through the thought starter booklet with you, or making a public commitment statement.

Perhaps the most direct way to deal with such shyness is to acknowledge it, but persevere anyway. Just do it. The shyness will disappear with experience, and you will feel stronger for having followed what your heart wants to do, or what your mind knows is necessary.

If you wanted a quick shift, you could use Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or similar energy psychology techniques to reduce your emotional reaction to thoughts that people might think you're weird or different, or concern is that you don't know enough.

It comes down to this. Given that we are in an ecological emergency, which will you give your allegiance to: your shyness or your willingness to contribute?

Our narrow window of opportunity

It appears that we have less than a decade to shift course. Great changes are under way, both positive and negative. Can we possibly succeed?

We Transform Australia folk are going for it - as are many others, including the Transition Decade Alliance. We invite you to join us in spirit by informing yourself and holding the aspiration to succeed. Join us practice by initiating thoughtful conversations with people you know.

You may want to join Transform Australia as a practitioner member (there is a process). You will be joining a community of brilliant committed people.

Ours is the generation that must turn things around through extraordinary innovation and commitment. If we do succeed future generations will thank us - profoundly.

Renewable energy now more than half of global energy investment

Many people often ask what the global trends in investment in electricity generation capacity are given the wave of renewable energy policies being adopted by countries around the world. Consider these facts:

- Investment in power generation in 2008 was around $US 250 billion globally.

- Investment in wind generation alone in the same year was $US 52 billion globally.

- Investment in all forms of renewable generation in the same year was $140 billion globally.

- In total, more than half (or 56%) of all new generation investment was renewable.

These statistics show the globe is shifting towards renewable energy. Australia’s policy directions are consistent with these investment trends.

Solar panels are safe

Solar panels are safe, says industry

The solar industry says NSW householders shouldn't panic after an audit found almost 20 per cent of panels in Sydney's northwest had major defects.

The Australian Solar Energy Society says the faults won't cause house fires or electrocutions and can hopefully be fixed for free in a few minutes.

Society chief executive John Grimes says most defects identified by the Fair Trading audit relate to DC breaker switches which have unclear markings.

They are used by electricians to isolate panels during maintenance.

"They're not something that a customer would ever be using," Mr Grimes told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

"These are not issues that are going to cause house fires or electrocutions today."

Mr Grimes said all of the faults, including the incorrect installation of DC breakers allowing water to enter the box, could be easily fixed.

"They are one, two, three minute fixes on the property," he said.

"Our intention is to provide that as a free service."
The audit found there were just two fuse-box fires reported across NSW. Mr Grimes said that compared with 35 house fires caused by halogen down-lights annually.

Nevertheless, the society chief admitted the audit results were "troubling" and proved better industry regulation was needed.

"It's time for us to transition the accreditation and policing of the industry to the electrical licensing authorities in each state and territory," Mr Grimes said, noting they had real "teeth".

He agreed with Premier Barry O'Farrell that the design of the NSW solar rebate scheme was to blame for the high rate of defects.

"There was a government-designed system that created haste," he said.

This is not exactly what the AFR reported on page 3 of todays by Marcuss Priest & Michaela Whitbourn. It is all in the way that it is reported. You have to ask the question when you read what the media reports the news.

Piggy bank not needed

AFR 28^th June 2011 – page 62 Opinion

Piggy bank not needed -

Andrew Leigh federal member for Frazer.

Sovereign wealth fund great idea. One of the simplest is to protect our environment and to have a focus on a sustainable society in all its aspects. One that is there for our children's children. It is not rocket science Andrew.

It is about having a society that is not lining the pockets of a few but has maximum benefit for the majority.

There is no I in team.

Today's Financial Review 27th June 2011:

“Holden warns of future" by Fleur Anderson

This story is on the front page.

We have been subsidising the car industry in Australia for how many years. You have to ask the question whether we should have one at all. It is a marginal industry and it is not really Australian. Yes, it does provide jobs directly and indirectly. If you take the emotional aspects out of it and look at the hard fact. The Federal government is subsidising a bunch of jobs which everyone has to pay for out of their pay packet. I mind that if it is directed toward industries that look to long term sustainability which also includes being environmentally friendly. The car industry is not in many ways!

My real beef is that they have always got there hand out asking for more subsidies. Now they want more for the green car assistance. I would not mind if they where manufacturing a low or no polluting vehicles. The car industry has resisted change for as long as I have been able to understand that we need to fix the pollution problems in our cities, Which by the way goes back to the the 70's.

The Australian government needs to support industries that are long term sustainable and environmental friendly. Notice I did not say low carbon. The car industry could be part of that if they would only stop being the wimps they are and have the balls to support a future sustainable industry. Bring on the car of the future.

Transform Australia

Transform Australia is committed to changing the direction of Australia so that as a nation we commit to becoming an ecologically sustainable and socially healthy society. We take creating a viable society as the great challenge of our generation.

Sustainable cities, sustainable future

Tony Arnel - World Green Building Council

Tony Arnel is the Chair of the World Green Building Council (WGBC), which is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The WGBC has 80 affiliated countries from around the globe and has experienced rapid growth in recent years.


Mr Arnel is also Chair of the Green Building Council of Australia and is Building and Plumbing Industry Commissioner for the state of Victoria, Australia, a role in which he is responsible for regulating the state’s building industry and advising government on building control and plumbing industry matters.


Over the past decade Mr Arnel has been a leader of the national and international sustainability debate, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, advocating sustainable building as a means of reducing greenhouse emissions without impacting economic growth. In Asia, he has played a leading role in developing and nurturing key regional green building councils such as Singapore and China.


Mr Arnel is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and in 2010 was awarded their national Leadership in Sustainability Prize. He is a Victorian Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and a past Chairman and Director of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Australia’s largest arts festival. In 2009 he received the Australian Financial Review’s ‘True Leadership’ Award.


Mr Arnel is the longest-serving member of the Australian Building Codes Board and has overseen the implementation of new energy-efficiency standards into the national building code. He continues to play a key role in the transformation of the Australian property market to sustainable practices.

DesignEX - Melbourne 13th-15th April

Australia’'s leading design and architecture event, designEX presents the best in contemporary and classic design. At designEX you’ll be informed and inspired as you discover the latest products and design trends from local and international studios and brands. Add the opportunity to attend seminars featuring established and emerging designers, networking events and more - and designEX becomes a must-attend occasion.

Whether you’re a designer, architect, interior designer, specifier, property developer, retailer or otherwise involved in the design or building industries, you’ll find essential information and innovation at designEX - plus CPD points if you are a member of a participating professional association.

Choosing a path to sustainability

I have been banging away at showing people how to create energy efficient and sustainable lifestyles for the last 35 years. This has only become easier during the first decade of the 21st century as the spectre of climate change has reared its ugly head. Whether you believe it or not is a matter of your point of view and your access to the facts at hand.
What I have recognised since returning to Sydney from the country in 1972 and seeing the air pollution from automobiles and industry, is that there has to be a better solution to what is still a major problem in all cities across the planet.
To that end this magazine is attempting to bring all the aspects of sustainability together through the stories and articles presented in a positive, uplifting and solution focused way.
As with any new publication that enters the market place, one has to find readers from that existing market. The magazine has to become sustainable within its own right and exist in a market that is in the trend of being web-based.
I believe that there are people like me who are looking for information to enable them to become an integral part the future sustainable economy. I see sustainability opening more doors then it will close.
I appreciate the fear that people have for change and of the unknown. This magazine will provide information to help people make those decisions to overcome their fears
I believe we look forward to a fantastic future. It all comes down to what individuals and society believe is possible and our ability to overcome the limitations that restrict our potential for dramatic change.
We all have expectations about the outcomes we desire as individuals and in different societies. What we need to do is find the areas that we all have in alignment so that we can leverage off that alignment.
We have to look for the positive and the opportunities that will make our collective futures possible. It has always been clear to me that entrepreneurs will play a major part in our future for they are the ones with a vision that includes wealth creation.
There are issues about our ability to maintain continuous growth with the finite resources that our planet provides without considerable development of technologies not even known to us yet.
Humans have become disconnected from the natural cycles of our planet. We are just another animal that shares this planet with many others but we have been given a brain which we have to use for the benefit of all species - we owe it to our children and their children’s children and for the many generations of humans to come.
Whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.
Will you make the right choice?