Latest LEC News & Newsletter
Here you can find our latest LEC news about what is happening, up and coming events, as well as what LEC is promoting.
You can also find our latest LEC newsletter that will inform you of LEC's latest happenings, or view our archived newsletters.
Latest Newsletter
Latest downloadable newsletter:• Summer 2007 - (pdf file 128Kb)
Archived newsletters:
• Winter 2006 - (pdf file 84Kb)
Latest News
February 21, 2007 - Bumper Week Promoting an Alternative Future for Tasmania:
On Thursday, February 22, from 9.20am, TAP are holding a community expression of opposition outside of the pulp mill RPDC directions hearings at the Albert Hall.
On Friday, February 23, 11am, Simeon Michaels will make shore on the Tassie mainland at Old Pier Beach, Bridport. Spare some time and welcome him ashore after
crossing Bass Strait in his kayak!
On Sunday, February 25 from 5pm an art auction will be held by the Investors for the Future of Tasmania at the Stillwater Cafe and Resturant.
February 7, 2007 - Round Table and Kayak Trip Gather Pace:
The LEC's initiative to establish a Tasmanian Round Table for Sustainable Industry is gathering pace. Fundraising efforts are progressing well and we are talking with
all sectors of the Tasmanian economy to encourage participation. This is a positive initiative examining what a sustainable economy will look like in Tasmania.
On the water, Simeon Michaels is nearing the major part of his journey - the crossing the Bass Strait! To stay in touch with Simeon and the supporting of his efforts
go to www.paddlewithsim.com
January 2, 2007 - Sydney to Hobart Kayak Trip Starts Today!
Simeon Michaels will today start his massive kayak trip from Sydney to Hobart. To stay in touch with his journey go to his web site at www.paddlewithsim.com
December 7, 2006 - Sydney to Hobart Kayak Trip to Promote Sustainable Development in Tasmania:
This summer, Simeon Michaels, will paddle from Sydney to Hobart in a Kayak to raise awareness about the proposed pulp mill near Launceston and to promote positive
economic alternatives to the development.
Download the route map Simeon will be taking on his maritime adventure.
A lawyer, Vice President of the Ethical Investment Association, a past advisor to UNEP (the United Nations Environment Program) and a co-founder of a company now
listed on the ASX, Simeon has spent his career working in business and financial markets promoting positive environmental outcomes.
He sees the proposed mill as a threat to both the environment and economy of Tasmania and will use the paddle from Sydney to Hobart to talk about those threats. More
importantly, he will focus on replacing the pulp mill idea with a truly sustainable economic base for the state.
To find out more and to follow Simeon in his maritime adventure from Sydney to Hobart, follow this
link >>>
February 7, 2007 - Round Table and Kayak Trip Gather Pace:
The LEC's initiative to establish a Tasmanian Round Table for Sustainable Industry is gathering pace. Fundraising efforts are progressing well and we are talking with
all sectors of the Tasmanian economy to encourage participation. This is a positive initiative examining what a sustainable economy will look like in Tasmania.
On the water, Simeon Michaels is nearing the major part of his journey - crossing the Bass Strait!
To stay in touch with Simeon and support his efforts go to www.paddlewithsim.com
If you'd like to help out through a donation, please follow this link >>>
January 2, 2007 - Sydney to Hobart Kayak Trip Starts Today!:
Simeon Michaels will today start his massive kayak trip from Sydney to Hobart.
To stay in touch with his journey go to his web site at www.paddlewithsim.com
December 7, 2006 - Sydney to Hobart Kayak Trip to Promote Sustainable
Development in Tasmania:
This summer, Simeon Michaels, will paddle from Sydney to Hobart in a Kayak to raise awareness about the proposed pulp mill near Launceston and to promote positive
economic alternatives to the development.
Click here to download the route map Simeon will be taking on his maritime adventure
A lawyer, Vice President of the Ethical Investment Association, a past advisor to UNEP (the United Nations Environment Program) and a co-founder of a company now
listed on the ASX, Simeon has spent his career working in business and financial markets promoting positive environmental outcomes.
He sees the proposed mill as a threat to both the environment and economy of Tasmania and will use the paddle from Sydney to Hobart to talk about those threats. More
importantly, he will focus on replacing the pulp mill idea with a truly sustainable economic base for the state.
Click here to find out more and to follow Simeon in his maritime adventure from Sydney to Hobart
December 7, 2006 - Tasmania Roundtable for Sustainable Industry:
In the LEC submission to the RPDC on the proposed pulp mill near Launceston, we focused heavily on the economic side of the debate. We identified significant faults
in the proponent’s claims of an economic bonanza for Tasmania should the mill be built.
Therefore, in conjunction with Simeon Michaels, a national leader on issues of sustainable industries, the LEC is establishing a Tasmanian Roundtable for Sustainable
Industry.
The Roundtable will be a mix of industry representatives and stakeholder groups that will identify what a sustainable economy will look like in Tasmania.
Click here to receive more information or click on the button below to make an online donation to help support the initiative.
Nov 27, 2006 - End of Suburbia and Cycle for Sustainability 2006:
As part of Cycle for Sustainability 2006, the Launceston Environment Centre is presenting "End of Suburbia", the documentary about peak oil, and giving you the
opportunity to meet with the participants who are cycling from Sydney to Hobart promoting and encouraging people to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.
The Cycle for Sustainability 2006 participants would like to meet with you to share their journey, personal achievements and stories of inspiration after presenting
grassroots education to 2000 students at 20 to schools after three months on the road.
When: Saturday, December 2
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: 34 Cameron St
For more information: You can contact Nick Towle or Michael Allen on 0428834748 or email them at
info@sustainia.org.au
Nov 1, 2006 - Climate Change Clarity:
In yesterdays 'LEC Latest News' (see below), we ran a story saying that Manuel Nunez from UTAS was not quoted accurately or in context in the Sunday Examiner. The
Examiner has contacted the LEC today, saying that they did quote Mr Nunez accurately and in context.
Therefore, to ensure we are not accused of bias, we have published this clarification from the Examiner here on our website.
Oct 31, 2006 - Weird Claims on Climate Change:
The LEC has checked claims put forward in the Sunday Examiner with Manuel Nunez at the UTAS School of Geography and Environment that climate change will give Tasmania
a South Australian climate which will be "good and give Tasmania a competitive edge".
We did so because the claims can best be described as weird.
In discussion with Mr. Nunez he said to the LEC that his view was that only a very small section of Northern Tasmania will be better for grapes, the eastern half of
Tasmania on the other hand will suffer significant precipitation deficiencies and agriculture and farming across the rest of the state is under threat.
Large parts of Tasmania are already in drought which is causing financial harm and hardship to the regions so claims that conditions drier than we are already
experiencing will benefit the state seemed very odd.
Suggestions that Tasmania will slip effortlessly into a South Australian type climate giving us a competitive edge over other Australian states misses the point that
South Australia has never been competitive, primarily because of climatic vulnerabilities.
The level of debate taking place in Tasmania over the last week or so is identical to that which took place in countries such as the UK 10 years ago, but as they are
finding over there the reality of a changing climate is more extreme weather events such as the 2003 heatwave which caused over 15000 deaths in France and 900 in the
UK; will that be good for Tasmania?
The release of a draft climate change strategy for Tasmania provides Tasmanians with the opportunity to let the State government know that even though we are a small
player in a global problem we all have to do our bit.
We recommend you read the draft strategy and attend the forum hosted by the LEC on Thursday November 9, from 6pm at 34 Cameron Street, outlining the document. This
will give you a chance to have your say on making sure the state government responds in a mature way that is up-to-date with latest developments.
The strategy can be obtained from the DPIW website or download it from this link - Climate Change Strategy Draft 2006 (as a pdf file)
Oct 4, 2006 - LEC and Institute of TAFE Tasmania form Partnership to Update the LEC Library:
Library and Museum Technology students from the Institute of TAFE Tasmania have teamed up with the LEC through a collaborative venture to professionalise our library,
make it accessible, easy to use and in a format that is compatible with other libraries.
The specialised environment catalogue at the LEC has the potential to be a superb community resource as it holds approximately 2000 titles that could be utilised by
school, TAFE and university students, the public and industry.
For TAFE students’, the LEC represents a ‘real’ client for the student group who will work as a small team to ascertain and meet the clients needs. The students will
also investigate the promotion and future continuance of the library service within the LEC.
The work with the Institute of TAFE Tasmania Library students is a great example of building community based partnerships that is helping to reinvigorate the LEC.
Oct 3, 2006 - River Rally Against the Pulp Mill:
A river rally against the proposed pulp mill in the Tamar Valley will take place at Long Reach, 11am on Saturday, October 28.
All water users concerned about our waterways are invited to participate with their craft. Join commercial and recreational fishers, yachties, power boaters, tinnie
owners, surfers, canoeists, kayakers and wind surfers in a big rally to show your concern.
To receive briefing notes and for safety purposes, please register your details (type of craft and where you’re sailing from, phone number and email or postal
address) with rally organisers Jim Collier or Michael Morris.