Just to let everyone know, the Transition Towns Steering Group have changed the name of the project to "Bellingen Shire Transition Initiative (BSTI)". We feel that this better reflects who we are. We are slowly "transitioning" from the Bellingen Climate Action Group into BSTI, and are hoping that this transition will be complete in the next 6-8 months....(posted 22/7/08)

NPWS is sponsoring a Climate Change Forum at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre on Friday, August 1, from 5:30-7:30 pm, entry by donation. WHAT are the implications of climate change for Australia? HOW will climate change affect local and regional biodiversity? WHAT is the carbon emission trading scheme? If you are looking for answers to these questions, then come along to the Climate Change forum. Speakers on the panel are: Ian Judd- Science teacher and Al Gore trainee, Andrew Turbill- NPWS Discovery Co-ordinator, and Tim Cadman- NPWS Discovery Ranger. Come along beforehand for a meal at the Canopy Cafe (from 4:30-5:20 pm). Forum special: $12, King Prawns in Spicy Tomato Sauce on Fettuccine (Bookings required for meal). Bookings and inquiries: 6657 2309. (posted 22/7/08)

BeSTT (Bellingen Shire Transition Town) is sponsoring a "Transition Town Cafe" next Wednesday, July 2, at the BellaBookafe. Come along for an informal evening of sharing and creating stories of resilience. This is a chance to gather to continue our Transition Town work in Bellingen. Who knows what will come up?!? Door open at 6:00 pm for supper/hot drinks, group conversation starts at 7:00. Entry by gold coin donation. Contact steeringcommittee@ecobello.org.au for more information or ring 0423 362 844. (posted 26/6/08)

Congratulations to the energetic and enthusiastic youth of Bellingen EYE [Environmental Youth Experience]. They have received a grant of $10,000 from the Foundation for Young Australians to continue their work. Well done and watch out for these young people - their motto is "EYE can change the world!" (posted 25/6/08)

HOORAY FOR US! Bellingen has been officially accepted as a Transition Towns Initiative! Check out the Transition Towns site at www.transitiontowns.org to find out more, and contact us at steeringcommittee@ecobello.org.au if you would like to be part of this exciting and lively project! (posted 3/6/08)

Bellingen Shire Council has their 5 year Draft Management Plan on display and are accepting submissions about it until this FRIDAY, JUNE 6. There are two items which we of the Bellingen Climate Action Group would like to particularly support: (1) the allocation of $55,000 to follow through on Council's committment to the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Program, and (2) the allocation of $10,000 per year to a "Revolving Energy Fund". WE NEED AS MANY SUBMISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF THESE TWO ITEMS AS POSSIBLE. Council needs to know that this community cares about environmental/sustainability issues, and numbers count!! PLEASE SEND YOUR SUBMISSION TO THE GENERAL MANAGER MIKE COLREAVY AT council@bellingen.nsw.gov.au BY FRIDAY JUNE 6. Your submission does not need to be as detailed, but should include something along the lines of: "I write to support the allocation of two particular sums of money in Bellingen Shire Council’s Five Year Forward Financial Plan, namely: 1. CCP Program - The allocation of $55,000 over the next 2 years to follow through on Council’s stated commitment to the Cities for Climate Protection Program. If this money is used to employ a suitably qualified person part time to carry out the remaining Milestones 2-5, in particular the Action Plan, then Bellingen Shire stands to gain some real benefit from the resulting planned action on carbon emission reduction. 2. Revolving Energy Fund - The allocation of $10,000 per annum in a ‘Revolving Energy Fund’ using the proceeds of energy savings made by the Shire. Although it does not say so in the Draft Management Plan, appropriate community representation should be included on any panel deciding the expenditure of this fund, and a system of recording energy savings should be set up right away. It is essential that Council retains these budgeted items in the final 2008-2013 Management Plan if its up front goal of “sustainable growth, conservation of environmental resources, enhanced quality of life, reduced greenhouse emissions and a positive contribution to reversing the trend towards climate change” is to have some credibility. Yours sincerely, etc." (posted 2/6/08)

Come along next Monday night (June 2) and learn about the important work that the Australian Wildlife Conservancy is doing. Kombu Wholefoods is hosting a talk by Katrina Macphillamy from the AWC about "Saving Rainforest and More". The AWC, an independent non-profit organization, was formed in response to Australia’s growing biodiversity crisis by a group of leading Australian businessmen and scientists. Their mission is the effective conservation of every native Australian animal species and their habitats. In less than a month customers at Kombu Wholefoods have donated completed Kombu cards in sufficient numbers to save nearly 40 acres of endangered rainforest in Queensland and Northern Territory. Come along at 7:00 pm to the space above Kombu to hear more. (posted 27/5/08)

An excerpt of a message from GetUp: "Budgets like these will not prevent the climate crisis. We need to go much further, and we need to get there much, much faster. Billions of dollars could have been allocated last night to create Australia's first 'climate budget'. Instead, they were allocated directly into our pockets. If you earn $50,000 you've just been allocated $1000 a year that could have been spent on renewable technology, public transport or wind farms. Really, you've been given the freedom to choose exactly where you want it spent. Our Climate Action Fund will work to ensure Kevin Rudd sets an emissions reduction target of 50% by 2020 to avoid dangerous climate change, and delivers an emissions trading scheme that does not reward polluters - so we've devised an ambitious public campaign, beginning with this billboard, to push him to implement the solutions this Budget overlooked. How do you want your tax cuts spent? If the Government won't do it for you, click here to fund your own climate solutions: www.getup.org.au/campaign/ClimateActionFund Thanks for being part of the solution, The GetUp team (posted 20/5/08)

The Environment Centre has had a lot of work done to it - now it needs some more comfy furniture for all the various gatherings and meetings that take place there! If you have a sofa, rug, armchair, small table, or lamp to donate, please contact us at steeringcommittee@ecobello.org.au. With thanks! (posted 13/5/08)

The Bellingen Climate Action Group held a very successful "Transition Town Information Night" last Wednesday. A crowd of 50 learned about Peak Oil, heard about what "change" and "transition" could mean for us personally and as a community, and found out what the Transition Town model is all about. There were great group discussions and a lot of positive energy was generated. The next big event will be on June 6 and 7 -stay tuned!! (posted 12/5/08)

An invitation for women from Bellingen Urban Landcare: "BUSH TUCKER WALK - WOMEN’S DAY: Bellingen Urban Landcare Group Inc. (BULC) is establishing a Bush Tucker Walk in the Bellingen township. The Walk will include the planting of a large range of local native bush foods and other useful plants that have been utilised for 1000’s of years. A walking track will be established through the plantings and will provide opportunities for education and increased awareness of the plants and their use by local Aboriginal people. Your input and involvement in the project is important to help make the project a success. On Friday 9th May 2008 BULC will be hosting a community Women’s Day to share stories and assist in the planning of the Bush Tucker Walk, and would like to invite all interested women to attend - we’d love to see you there! The day, with morning tea and lunch provided, will begin at 10am at Connell Park (turn left into Prince Street at the Yellow Shed) at the picnic facilities next to the swimming pool. Parking is available off Prince Street. Please RSVP to BULC project manager Carmen Muldoon on 6655 0661 or 0438 060 576 by Wednesday 7th May 2008 to assist us with catering. (posted 2/5/08)

This is a flyer received via email today!! "RESCUE RAIL FORUM - Sydney to Brisbane Line. The Blue Room, Coffs Ex-Services Club, Vernon Street, Coffs Harbour. 6:00-9:00 pm ON TUESDAY 20th MAY 2008. PRESENTED BY PACIFIC HIGHWAY ALLIANCE & COFFS HARBOUR GREENS. The world is running out of crude oil and in NSW we are still transporting more than 88% of our non bulk freight by road transport between Sydney and Brisbane, despite the fact that trains use a third of the diesel that road transport does for line haul freight. In some years, more than one in three fatalities, resulting from Pacific Highway road crashes, involves articulated trucks. In moving freight, rail is some 20 times safer than road freight. Motorways condemn us to expanding road freight corridors running through the heart of our communities, threatening our biodiversity, carrying more and more trucks and cars with increasing levels of noise and air pollution and Greenhouse gas emissions. They discourage public transport and disadvantage competition from rail freight. FORUM SPEAKERS: Dr. Philip Laird, Lee Rhiannon MLC, Cr James Ryan and Ecologist Mark Graham. ADMISSION $10 INCLUDES SUPPER & TEA AND COFFEE. Tickets available from Coffs Ex-Services (02) 6652 3888. (posted 1/5/08)

The next steering meeting of the Bellingen Local Food Network is scheduled for Wednesday 30th April, 7pm, at the BEC Loft. Come along to discuss our plans for a Community Garden and a CSA for Bellingen. We will also be talking about a program of meetings and meals around the medicinal uses of food.

The Climate Action Group will be taking its first steps towards helping Bellingen become a Transition Town, ready to meet the challenges of climate change and Peak Oil, with the hosting of an information evening on the TT model on Wednesday, 7 May.

The 119th Bellingen Agricultural Show is coming up on May 3 and 4, and did you know that there are now competitions for Certified Organic and Biodynamic fruit and veg? The Bellingen Environment Centre, Kombu, and Gecoz are sponsoring prizes for the best Certified Organic or Bio-dynamically grown vegetables and fruit in the Farm Produce and Fruit sections, as well as in the children's Farm Produce and Fruit section. Entries are due in on May 1. Enquiries to the Show Secretary on 6655 1430. (posted 29/3/08)

The first annual Bellingen Local Food Film Festival finished off with a bang last night! 110 people sat down to eat a sumptuous feast of local and organic food, donated by local growers and prepared by Amy of Guru Food. The crowd swelled to 150 to watch the inspiring film "The Real Dirt on Farmer John", which was then followed by a fascinating panel discussion on the merits of local food production. Thank you to our sponsor Kev of Kombu for the incredible dedication and hard work - and thank you to all the amazing volunteers - couldn't have done it without you! Read a more in-depth report soon on the Local Food Network page of this website. If you are interested in taking a leadership role in the Local Food Network, a steering committee meeting is planned for Wednesday, March 26 at 7:00 at the Bellingen Environment Centre. (posted 17/3/08)

You can read about the Garnault Review (about recommendations for climate change action in Australia) at this website: http://www.garnautreview.org.au/CA25734E0016A131/pages/reports-and-papers. (posted 17/3/08)

Read an interesting article about Carpooling at http://www.theage.com.au/text/articles/2008/03/02/1204402272871.html. Now...will our governments pay attention to this or not?? (posted 6/3/08)

The Bellingen Climate Action Group is excited to take on a new project - the "TRANSITION TOWNS MODEL" for creating a sustainable Bellingen. At our meeting on March 5, we were interested to hear of the experiences of someone who has recently worked with the Transition Towns in the UK. We looked at the "12 Steps to Transition" and noted how many of them are already well underway here in our community. Finally, we started planning our next big "Awareness Raising Event". Contact Lisa at steeringcommittee@ecobello.org.au if you want to get involved. Also - check out the website at www.transitiontowns.org! (post updated on6/3/08)

ADD TO YOUR READING LIST! Mark Diesendorf's "Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy". This book is at the Bellingen Library. Please let us know if you have other titles you think would be interesting for others to know about!(4/3/08)