PEN Melbourne

Environment Collective news from Dan Musil, environment officer at the Student Union. Thanks Dan!

1. Environment Collective Meetings & Report Back
2. Climate Action Working Group Meetings & Report Back
3. Veggie Garden Meetings Report Back
4. Bike Co-op Fixing & Maintaining Bikes Workshop
5. Play With Your Food - free vegetarian dinner!
6. LEAP - Leadership in Environmental Action Program
7. Uni Melb Enviro Network Report Back

1.Environment Collective Meeting report back
Another good turn-out in Enviro Collective this week. Working groups finalised plans for a CLOTHES SWAP next week (see details below), worked closer towards organisng the LEAP high school project (details below), and some CAWG folk honed plans for an on-campus Climate debate between Melbourne's candidates in the federal election.

Get Involved!! Come along to collective on Mondays, 1pm in Graham Cornish Room A, 2nd Floor Union House

2. Climate Action Working Group (CAWG) Meeting report back
It's an especially important time for the climate movement - no serious climate change policy is being put forward by the major parties, and carbon emissions are rising by the day.
CAWG met on Tuesday and has been helping to build tomorrow's 'Rally for Renewable Energy' all week, hanging out with the Greens at their stalls around campus and talking to people about the rally and climate change.

Get involved with CAWG and build a strong presence for Action on climate change on campus! Come to meetings on Tuesdays, 1pm in Joe Nap Room A, 2nd Floor Union House

3. Veggie Garden Meetings/Working bees - AT 12PM INSTEAD OF 1PM
After some discussions with University grounds people, it looks possible to get a better spot for growing food on campus than the current tree-invested sliver of dirt. On wednesday a small (but super bunch) begun working on a solid written proposal for this. Come along on wednesdays to get your hands dirty growing food, raising seedlings to hand out and planning a permaculture paradise for Uni of Melb!
When: Wednesdays, 1pm. Where: Student Veggie Garden, North Court

4. Bike Co-op Fixing & Maintaining Bikes Skill-Share Workshops
The Melbourne Uni Bike Co-op is gaining momentum! We've decided to run regular (weekly) bike skillshare workshops this semester - come along to learn how to fix and maintain your bike: learn as you go, then teach new people!
For more info, or to be in the loop, search for 'Melbourne University Bike Co-op' in facebook, or email us to be added to the email list.
Come along to learn, teach, and help build a community of skilled-up, skill-sharing world-friendly bike people!
Workshops will be on TUESDAYs, 5pm - 7pm, North Court. If it's too cold, we'll find somewhere inside (check the environment office door, 1st floor union house, for location updates if you can't find us)

5. Play With Your Food - free vegetarian dinner!
Come along to cook, clean (and eat!) a delicious vegetarian dinner in North Court, Union House. Meet people, learn new recipies and GET FED!
A revolutionary tradition, Play With Your Food is about meeting basic needs in a communal and self organised way. PWYF offers nourishment for more than just the belly - social connection, FUN, responsibility, links to other community projects and a space to create. Sometimes live music, sometimes movies, always great grub, warm company and stimulating conversation.
When: EVERY MONDAY DURING SEMESTER - Cooking starts 5:30pm, North Court, Uni of Melbourne

6. LEAP - Leadership in Environmental Action Program
This fantastic (and award winning) conference for High School students begun at Melbourne University 3 years ago, organised by students in the Environment Collective. We're planning to run it again this year (in september) - email Dan or Eve (environment@union.unimelb.edu.au) if you're keen to be involved! Help empower and inspire young people to become the next generation of activists & people working towards and just and sustainable world!

7. Uni Melb Enviro Network Report Back
An exciting work in progress! At the meeting last wednesday, reps from different groups shared their plans and got up to speed with the new google calendar and Wikidot webpage - both designed to facilitate better communication and collaboration between enviro-focused groups at Melbourne Uni. The webspace needs some work, but it will soon be all looking good at www.unimelbenviro.wikidot.com.
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday 25th August, 5:15pm Where: Room MUVT, 3rd Floor Union House ALL WELCOME