Blog Archives

Upcoming Zoom meeting - Friday 17 July 10 am - and reading for early August

15/7/2020

Aren’t we all very glad we live in regional Victoria, a couple of hours from Melbourne!

Although things are a little more relaxed up here we all need to do the right thing and practice social distancing and hand hygiene.

I have attached a number of articles about hydrogen, energy efficiency, renewables and moving investments away from coal.

There are seven articles there and I have probably overwhelmed you with all these articles. But then, you have some extra time to read them as there is a three week break between this Friday and the first Friday in August.

Zoom session: Last time we only had a very small group taking part in the Zoom meeting but we had a lot of very good discussion.

I hope we might have a few more join us this Friday 17 July at 10am. The link to the meeting follows.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76806765144?pwd=YnpMczZzSjdxbW5YOS9YdlFrbnQyQT09

John Lloyd

Hydrogen didn't work for the Hindenburg, but can the gas be safely supplied to Australian homes?
By Cameron Slessor                 abc.net.au      July 10, 2020

Hydrogen power moves step closer
Peter Hannam            The Age           July 3, 2020

Chief scientist joins calls for Australia to dramatically boost energy efficiency
Adam Morton Environment editor        The Guardian     21 Jun 2020

Australia has failed miserably on energy efficiency – and government figures hide the truth The Conversation       June 23, 2020
Hugh Saddler, Honorary Associate Professor, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, ANU

Renewable energy zone for New England to challenge output of coal-fired power stations
ABC News       ABC New England      10 July 2020

Renewables-dominated South Australia delivering cheaper power than Vic, NSW
Sophie Vorrath           ReNew Economy        13 July 2020

Top super fund dumps coal miners as emissions cuts intensify
By Nick Toscano         The Age & The Sydney Morning Herald        July 9, 2020

Sustainability is now on Zoom!

9/7/2020

A Sustainability discussion group is now meeting via Zoom in the regular fortnightly time slot (first and third Fridays, 9.30 am.

John is distributing articles beforehand - here are the articles (click on links) sent out for sessions in July if you haven't received them:

Up to 11,000 renewable energy jobs could be lost under Morrison government policies
Adam Morton            Environment editor               The Guardian             25th June, 2020

Social housing with zero running costs: Is this WA's boldest COVID-19 jobs plan?
Emma Young              WAtoday        June 24, 2020

Steggall calls for conscience vote on zero carbon bill to kickstart Covid recovery
Michael Mazengarb               ReNew Economy        1 July 2020

The Green Recovery  Australia could create hundreds of thousands of jobs by accelerating shift to zero emissions
The Guardian             June 29,2020              Adam Morton             Environment editor

World has six months to avert climate crisis, says energy expert
Fiona Harvey     Environment correspondent The Guardian Thu 18 Jun 2020

For more information about the Zoom meetings - contact John Lloyd 5765 2476
[email protected]

Sustainability snippets ...

3/7/2020

Did you know that it’s Plastic Free July! The Plastic Free July campaign encourages us to reduce our use of plastic and to set an achievable goal or two which results in reduced consumption of Plastics. Find out more at https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/get-involved/what-you-can-do/

Thinking of going for a drive? Consider a trip to Glenrowan via Winton to check out the construction of the new solar farm near the Electricity Sub-station. It’s quite impressive.

"Roving Reporter" (name supplied!)

Stock & Land

Sustainability (& Stock and Land)

Full sustainability is only achieved when our society achieves this in three spheres of our activity: Social, Economic and Environmental. Sustainability in each of these three spheres is far from being achieved. This has become the concern of governments and ordinary people world-wide and has resulted in many questions about the sustainability of our present lifestyle.

This course aims to explore topics such as global warming and climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, clean energy options, the challenge associated with population change, sustainable agricultural practices, water use, natural resource use, energy efficient building design, improving the social condition of people, wealth distribution and various economic issues. No prior knowledge of these topics is required, just a general interest in the issues around sustainability.

Note: In 2026 the Sustainability Group will continue to be combined with the Stock and Land Group. Some sessions will be devoted to Stock and Land issues.

Convenors and contact details

John Lane
0474 936 460

Meeting Times

1st and 3rd Friday
10 am to 12 midday
U3A Meeting Room 1

Convenor 2008-2021

John Lloyd - Thank you John!

Local Links

Benalla Sustainable Future Group:

Renewable Energy Benalla - website