I made this entry over fifteen months ago and my stance still remains the same: Give me a large cold glass of shit water anyday, mate.

A year has passed, and seems like the Government’s attempt to convince Melburnians to consume shit water has fallen shit short of their expectations.

Nothing seems to have changed. The Bracks Government were ridiculed back then, the Brumby Government ain’t faring any better. I think they really need to rethink their strategy if they wish to pursue this important matter. Whether it leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth (pun intended) is another thing altogether, but perhaps it’s time for Brumby and Co. to give the Victorian media another water cooler topic. They’re having so much airtime with their public transport debacle and terrorist bullshit, no thought is given to something that’s very close to all Australians.

Don’t get me wrong. I like to arrive on time in a non-crowded train and not be subjected to retinal checks when I’m at the airport. I don’t start doubting the Muslim’s intentions just because he prays seven times a day or his wife wears a hijab. Hell I’m sure terrorists exist in other religious denominations as well. The bottom line is, who needs a world class transport system and a terrorist-free country if there’s no water for consumption in the long run. We need to think long term. I’d rather be stuck in a hot, humid train, pressed against other sardines and am thirty minutes late. At least I have my delish cold bottle of shit water in my bag and not be worrying what my children will be drinking 30 years from now.

After a successful action day last year, Safeway is again running Woolworths Drought Action Day. All profits from Safeway and Woolworths across the country today will be donated to the Country Women’s Association. The Country Women’s Association is working to help farmers suffering from the drought. Even though we have heard little about the drought recently, it is still a serious and desperate situation. Water catchments are at 36.5% (the same amount as last year) and dipping.

All you have to do is shop at Safeway today. Can’t be any easier.

Woolworths Drought Action Day

Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Australia, Woolworths, Safeway, Drought

If you have some computer waste, consider taking a drive to Riversdale Road, in Camberwell. I did, and best of all, they’re even open on public holidays (I went on 26/01) Details:

City of Boroondara Waste Transfer Station,
648 Riversdale Road, Camberwell
Phone 1800-353-233

Tell them you’re there for the “Byteback” program, and go in and dump your computer related waste. CRT monitors, old PCs, and so on that seemingly no one else wants. Best of all, they take it off your hands, for free.

Naturally, don’t throw stuff thats useful away. Give it away to folk like ComputerBank. Their recycling site should also be a useful resource.

Ever heard of the Green Santa? No, not a jealous Santa, but an environmentally friendly Santa.

According to their website, the Green Santa was created to promote environmental concerns over climate change and to urge people to consider the environment when purchasing Christmas gifts. The Green Santa is in Federation Square this week to promote his environmental causes. There will be children singing Christmas Carols on stage for the entire week.

So, check them out!

A couple of weeks ago, I realised I was missing out on not seeing animals. To fix that, I went to the Werribee Open Range Zoo, and took a bunch of photos. I found the safari tour, really amazing, though now thanks to the equine flu, there are some bits of it that you won’t get to see. Seeing the animals in their natural habitats, roaming around, some coming so close to your safari vehicle, is just amazing.

I was a bit disappointed with the lions sleeping, but can assure you the next time I go, I’ll be checking out the Rip Roaring Feed. I also found out that you can spend the night at the zoo, in what they call a Slumber Safari. I’ve never been on safari before, so maybe this might be an initiation? Has anyone spent the night at the Werribee Open Range Zoo? Please leave a comment and tell us how it went.

If you’ve not paid a visit to the Open Range Zoo, I highly recommend it. The self-walking trails are simply fabulous, and you can discover a lot on the way. Entrance is a mere $23.00, and its probably worth noting the various presentation times, so you get the most out of your zoo visit. Transportation, without a car, is a little sparse, so pay close attention to the timetable for public transportation.

With the passing of the month of June, smokers mourn while non-smokers rejoice.

As an ex-smoker myself for 10 years, I can only say to smokers now, let’s hope the country-wide smoking ban makes you sit up and realize what smoking does to yourself, your loved ones and people around you.

adrock2xander quit smoking on January 5th, 2007 and has not touched a cigarette since. He doesn’t mind the odd weed though.

Over the weekend, I had a chance to view one of Victoria’s seven working wind farms. The Toora wind farm is located 170km south-east of Melbourne perched atop a very tall hill.

• 21 megawatts of generating capacity
• 12 wind turbines
• 6600 equivalent homes powered anually
• 67 metres tall
• Turbines can adjust for wind direction.

Two major reasons for opposition against wind farms are its “uglying” of the landscape and its noise. I can’t speak for all wind farms but Toora is perched on top of hill with a great view of the sea in the distance. Most people will be looking down rather then up. In this author’s opinion, wind turbines look quite funky and I wouldn’t mind living near them.

The noise from the turbines is very minute. Wind farms are generally located in windy areas, so its noise would have to be heard over the wind. I attempted to capture the noise from the turbine but all I heard when I played it back was the wind blowing into the camera’s microphone.

Looking up at the turbine incited flashbacks to the movie Contact where Jody Foster rides a turbine looking machine that is supposed to make contact with aliens. Even the sounds were very similar to the movie.

Currently, Australia gets 1% of its electricity from wind power. Victoria has 134 MW of wind generating capacity which when all proposed projects have been installed will reach 2,010 MW of wind generating capacity.

Toora Wind Farm

Wikipedia: Wind Power in Australia

Environment Victoria: Pros and Cons of Wind Power

Youtube: A funky Toora wind farm video with a guy dancing (not me)

Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Wind Farm, Toora, Toora Wind Farm, Wind Power

Part of the Melbourne Conversation, where the research was into the Transnational & Temporary, was the use of public space. Why is it that malls like Melbourne Central or QV were much more populated, as opposed to parks like Lincoln Square, the State Library (when there was grass), and so forth.

I think many doing the study, haven’t actually studied foreign geography closely enough. Where do the 37% (or 50% if looking at the northern fringes - does this include Melbourne Central/QV? Where exactly does this fringe end? - if Figure 1 was online, its safe to assume the area around RMIT (Latrobe) to UniMelb) of students from overseas come from? Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, mainly (going from memory, afaik - I’m sure there are more, but the major classification stated by the researchers seemed to be these).

Is there a park culture in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong or Vietnam? Having been to four out of the five countries in that list, I can assure you that nobody hangs out in parks. The idea of sitting down on the greens, in the humid sweltering heat, is just not fun. You hit up malls and shopping strips. Air-conditioning is good (same can be said for the heating, here, I guess).

Its only normal that if you’ve grown up spending time in malls, you’d do the same when you go overseas. The park is foreign, as a culture.

Is the solution having little seats below a shady tree? (suggested last night) I don’t think so. Will the use of open public space like parks make them more community members? Or should change be embraced, in where we head for a mall culture?

Years ago (and this was not long ago - 5 years is a good bet), Melbourne didn’t know of Starbucks, Gloria Jeans, or Coffee Bean. Coffee, was to be had at small corner cafes. Now, does anyone want to count the density of coffee joints on Swanston St., for example? Changing culture, has led to a new, more commercialized coffee culture.

Any guesses as to why we have such changing culture? You guessed right, it came from the mall culture that the overseas students brought with them. Businesses recognize this - change is the only constant, and we’re all in it to make a profit. However, some people are still holding on tightly to the past.

Melbourne is giving you the opportunity to save water and money. You can take in your old shower head for a water-saving one. All you have to bring is a water bill and your old shower head. They say you’ll save up to 20,000 liters of water per year and about $30 bucks off your water bill. Plus there’ll be additional savings on your gas/electric bill for heating all that water you’ve been pouring down the drain.

Couple of caveats:

• You have to bring your shower head and it won’t be returned
• The shower heads might not be compatible with all systems (especially old ones)
• If you’re a tenant you have to have a letter of approval from your landlord

The exchange is:

Saturday 28 April 2007
10.00am - 2.00pm
East Melbourne Library
122 George St, East Melbourne (Melways Ref: 2G D4)

You can check out this website or ring 9658 9658 for more info.

It’s good for the environment and you save money! Win, win, win, win, win, win….

While walking to the Docklands a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a ship that stood out among the expensive yachts usually docked at Victoria Harbour. The Robert Hunter which is part of Sea Shepherd’s fleet is docked in order to give tours and bring attention to Sea Shepherd’s mission.

If you remember a couple months ago, the Robert Hunter was physically trying to prevent Japanese whaling ships from performing “scientific research” (killing 508 whales) . This involved launching smoke canisters, chemicals, and nets to entangle propellers as well as the usual ramming of the boat. As you can tell by the picture, the gashes in the ship are quite big and according to a worker it needs to be put into a dry dock and repaired.

Agree or disagree with the tactics, historically, it seems like an interesting ship to check out.

Robert Hunter
Berth 15, Victoria Harbor, Melbourne Docklands
Berth 15 is located on Latrobe St, by the Channel 7 Building,
across from the Telstra Dome.
Visiting hours: Wednesday - Sunday from 9:00am to 6:00p

Sea Shepherd
Herald Sun: Japanese home with 500 whales

Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Australia, Robert Hunter, Sea Shepherd