Cycle Instead Bikeweek 9-18 March

Cycling regularly not only improves your health, it is a great way to get around. At ECU campuses there are ample u-rails to lock your bike to as well as showers, undercover bike parking, lockers and cycle paths.

Travel surveys have found that 12% of trips made by students living within 10kms of the Mount Lawley campus consisted of cycling. ECU Joondalup also has great cycling access, with a safe bike path extending all the way from Perth! You can also take bikes on trains heading away from the City any time of day (even during peak hour).

For tips on cycling to and from university and for local maps showing cycle routes, click here.

Opportunities for students

Eco-Minds Youth Forum — Bangkok, Thailand
This national competition offers three Australian university students the opportunity to represent their country as environmental youth ambassadors and win an all expenses paid trip to attend the Eco-Minds Forum for Sustainable Development in Bangkok, Thailand, from 31 May – 3 June 2007. For more information on how to enter, click here.

Green Team wanted for Blue and Roots Festival 2007(31 March-1 April)
Sunset Events, the West Coast Blues 'n' Roots Festival organisers are looking for people to undertake paid and volunteer work during the festival this year. They are taking the festival green and are on the look out for students interested in becoming part of their 'Green Team'.

It takes a special someone to save the world, so if you think you've got what it takes to be a member of the Green Team whilst enjoying the unforgettable West Coast Blues 'n' Roots experience sign up here and now!

Earth Hour- Sunday 31 March

Earth Hour is a fabulous opportunity for you and your family to do something about climate change. It's a simple action that can make the world of difference if everyone takes part, and it sends a powerful message that we care about the future of our planet.

At 7.30pm on March 31st 2007, you are encouraged to turn off your lights for just one hour. If the objectives of the first Earth Hour are met, the savings in greenhouse gas emissions will be the equivalent of taking 75,000 medium sized cars off the road for one whole year!

For more information and to register, click here. Although this is a Sydney-based initiative, people from all states and territories are encouraged to sign up. We can follow the same tips here in Perth and take our own climate action!

Green your home, cool the globe

The science on human-induced global warming is in- with calculations suggesting that globally we need to curb our carbon dioxide emissions by 70% by the year 2050 if we are to begin to halt the warming trend.

Every individual has the power to make a difference to climate change by simply using less electricity. By adopting even one of these energy-saving tips for your home, you can help significantly reduce greenhouse emissions.

• If it doesn't need to be on, switch it off. Standby mode can use almost as much energy as an appliance uses when fully on, so switching off at the wall can reduce energy consumption significantly.
• Reduce your hot water consumption. Take shorter showers and buy an AAA rated shower head.
• Raise your air conditioning thermostat by 1-2 degrees. It won't make much difference to your comfort level but it will save a lot of energy!
• Change over to energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFL). A 20 watt compact fluorescent light (CFL) produces as much light as a 100 watt incandescent bulb and lasts about eight times longer!
• You can switch to 100% natural power (from renewable sources) by calling Synergy on 13 13 53.

Marine bycatch matters

Seaweek (March 4-10) is the Marine Education Society of Australasia’s (MESA) major national public awareness campaign. It is conducted annually to focus community awareness, provide information and encourage an appreciation of the sea. This year's theme is marine bycatch. Bycatch refers to the non-target species caught by accident as a result of fishing for a particular species. This might include seabirds, turtles, dolphins and sharks.

This Seaweek, think about the seafood you are buying; where it was from and how it was caught. The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has even produced a guide to help you when it comes to buying seafood. The Sustainable Seafood Guide highlights fisheries and fishing methods that are less environmentally damaging, so that you can make informed seafood choices.

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