green lane diary 2011
DESCRIPTION
Green Cross Australia's Green Lane Diary is a curriculum linked education program helps 8-13 yr olds to become aware of the stresses our planet confronts & how sustainable living can make a difference. Learning about the environment & what part our actions play is important so that we can make wise choices & take positive action! Run annually in Term 3 in Australia.TRANSCRIPT
Green Lane Diary 2011THINK + ACT + SHARE . CHANGE.
WeLCO
Me nOTe
WeLCO
Me nOTe
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Our planet is so precious, we only have one! You are our future leaders and with so many adventures and challenges ahead of you, it’s important to know that each of us can make a difference. Get involved in the diary at school, home and in your community to change the way you live your life. All great things start from small steps. I can’t wait to meet the 2011 Green Lane Diary winners at the awards celebration later this year and hear about all the inspiring things you are learning about and doing to help our earth. So get stuck in!
Hon Peter GarrettMinister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth
IT’S DIARY TIME!! ConTEnTSInSIDE YoUR 2011 DIARY
Page 2 Your World Today
Page 4 Getting Started
Page 6 Think Big
Page 11 Running A Project
Page 12 Power It
Page 16 our Backyard
Page 19 Living Green
Page 24 Water World
Page 29 Harden Up
Page 34 The Six Rs
Page 38 Biodiversity
Page 44 Cool Citizens
Page 48 Destination Clean & Green
Page 52 The Characters
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Your World TodaY
HoW do THese problems affecT us?
We live in on an incredible planet but there are environmental problems that
we have to face. It’s up to each of us to do something about these
problems – you can start today! step 1 – learn about the issues.
Unless someone like you cares a whole
awful lot, nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.”— Dr. Seuss, from The LoraxWISE WORDS
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SURF THE NET
Power it! Energy
Different energy sources affect our planet in different ways.
Two Forms oF EnErgyRenewable – the energy sources can be replaced like solar, hydro, wind and geothermal power; Non-renewable – energy is gone once it is used. (burning fossil fuels – oil, coal and gas). We are energy guzzlers. Can you think of the things we use that your grandparents didn’t?
FuEl From planTs and animals – rEally!!It’s true, fossil fuels are formed from plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Most of the energy we use now comes from fossil fuels. Once it is used, it is gone. It takes millions of years for the fuel to form. Renewable, green energy doesn’t release as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.pEak oil? whaT is ThaT?No it’s not a strange mountain. It is the peak in
our planet’s supply of oil. After that we use more than there is left and eventually, we could run out. That’s one of the reasons we need to develop new technologies that are renewable energy sources.
kEyword sEarChEnergy KidsWind power kidsRenewable energy
how muCh EnErgy do you usE EVEryday?
living without energy would be very difficult. we use it to cook and grow our
food, transport materials, make goods, light our homes and power technology.
Wave generators: waves reaching the shore push air through a turbine to generate electricity
Graphene: Very thin sheets of carbon that are used to make electrical devices run more efficiently.
ThE Big swiTCh look around you, are there lights and appliances on that aren’t in use? Turn them off and make reminder stickers for your family and friends. did you know ThaT EnErgy Can BE sTorEd in siX Forms? 1. radiant energy: Energy that travels in waves such as light, radio waves and x-rays.2. Thermal energy: Heat energy is a type of kinetic energy, the energy of moving and vibrating molecules.3. Chemical energy: The energy that bonds molecules together.
4. mechanical energy: The energy of motion (kinetic) and the energy of position (potential).5. nuclear energy: The energy locked in the nuclei of atoms.6. Electrical energy: A kind of kinetic energy the energy of moving electrons.
do an Energy audit of your school – count everything that uses electricity.
LANE
CHALLENGE
FanTasTiC FaCT
Extra load in the car increases fuel consumption. Empty out anything you don’t need to cart around.
whaT is...wind power: used by boats for thousands of years. Windmills generate electricity through rotation. 50% of Denmark’s electricity will be supplied by wind power by 2030.solar power: the sun shines on silicon panels producing an electric current. Very clean and no
green house gases are emitted. Batteries are used to store energy for use at night. hydro-electric power: generated by damming
up water and pushing it through giant turbinesGeothermal power: uses naturally occurring underground heat ‘hot rocks’ to push steam through turbines. Australia is starting to develop
this technology. Biochar: a type of charcoal made using crop waste and manure. Used as an organic soil conditionerand it’s by product – synthesis gas,
might be used as an alternative fuel
CarBon FooTprinTs waste, water, power, activity – just like the footprint you leave on the beach, you leave a carbon footprint. only this one doesn’t wash away in the waves. it is the
impact you are having on the planet. Visit www.carbonfootprint.com. who do you Think has Big CarBon FooTprinTs?
MY PLEDGE foR A GREEnER fUTURE
◗ I believe the planet is important and we must
look after it.
◗ I will treat all living things with respect and
consideration.
◗ Every day actions count – I am making
a difference!
◗ Learning about the problems will help me to
make changes.
◗ I will share my knowledge with others.
name: _______________________
Signature: ____________________
Date: ___________
AUSTRALIA’S VITAL STATS
Population: around 22 million
Size: Australia is the lowest,
flattest and, apart from Antarctica,
the driest of the continents.
THAnk YoU...Contributors: Green Cross Japan, Australian Diary Advisory panel Green Cross: Miranda Mason, Fran Curro Illustrator: Michelle Draycott/The Illustrators Agency.com Designer: Michelle D’Souza,www.three60degreemedia.com Printer: Webstar. We acknowledge the support of Green Cross Japan’s Project Team. Copyright© Green Cross Australia 2011.DISCLAIMER: Every effort has been made to acknowledge the source of all contributions to this diary and Green Cross Australia apologises for any inadvertent omissions. Green Cross Australia does not accept any liability for any loss or damage arising from any errors omissions or inaccuracies in the information in this Diary or the associated website www.greencrossaustralia.org
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YoUR WoRLD ToDAY
HoW Do THESE PRoBLEMS AffECT US?
We live in on an incredible planet but there are environmental problems that we have to face. It’s up to each of us to do something about these
problems – you can start today! Step 1 – learn about the issues.
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Unless someone like you cares a whole
awful lot, nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.”— Dr. Seuss, from The Lorax
WiSe WOrDS
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Keeping a diary is a terrific way to keep track of things and express yourself. Use your Green Lane Diary to talk about how you are living a greener life, to track your own research project or keep your class project going - It’s easy!
GET STARTED1. LEARn about what’s going on – read your booklet2. WRITE in your diary each day of term3. START a project yourself, with friends or your class4. SHARE what you are doing on our website5. EnTER the competition and WIn to be a 2011 Green Lane Hero
TIPS To HELP YoU!• Makeatimetowriteinyourdiaryeveryday(before
school, lunchtime or at home)• Draw,addstickers,articlesyoufindandinterviewsyou
might conduct• Writewhatyouthinkandyourideas• Usetheweeklychallengequestionstohelpyou
GETTInG STArTED
☛ Look oUT foR WAzzA AnD
HIS EnDAnGERED fRIEnDS,
THEY HAVE TIPS To HELP YoU.
READ THEIR SToRIES onLInE.
BRookE, SUnSHInE CoASTBrooke took up the diary challenge last year and she loved it! not only did Brooke work hard to learn about the issues but the little things she did each day really helped and showed other people how to live green. Brooke’s diary is a work of art! Her passion for the planet shone through in the creativity and time she took to write her diary. Check it out!
Diary: comes from Latin word dies, meaning “days,” as traditionally entries are written every day.
fAST fACTEcuador has
2211 threatened species, the most of any country. (Internationalunionforconservation of nature)
2010 WINNER
Enter the competition and be a Green Lane Hero for 2011.•Writeadiaryentryeveryday
of term•Runyourowngreenproject•Checkwithyourparent/
teacher, send your diary to Green Cross Australia
•Terrificprizesandsharingyourwork with other kids online, in print and in video!
BE A GREEn STAR
Only when the last tree has died and
the last river has been poisoned and the
last fish caught will we realise we cannot
eat money. – native American saying.
WiSe WOrDS
HAnDS on!Try things out for yourself. When you see this icon, visit our website for instructions and experiments.
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Think Big
WHY ARE THE ADULTS GETTInG So WoRkED UP?
If you have been keeping an eye on the news you will have noticed increasing numbers of reports about the weather: pollution, animals and climate change.
Earth is an incredible place, full of wonder and mysteries that we are still learning about. We are discovering that all living things are all connected.
We need to know about the problems and why they have happened so we can fix them and make better choices about how we live.
You are the custodian of the planet. It is time to show the adults how to fix things! There are plenty of things you can do right now to make a difference.
DID YoU CATCH LAST YEAR’S nEWS? fInD oUT ABoUT THESE ExTREME EVEnTS!•OilspillintheGulfofMexico•Pakistanflooding•OilspillofQLDcoast•Haitiearthquake•Icelandvolcanoeruption
fAST fACTWith an estimated
population of only 30 to 40 in the wild, endangered
Gilbert’s potoroo is one of our
rarest mammals
aCTiOn iDea !Write a letter to the editor of your local
paper telling everyone what you do to help
our planet.
HAnDS on!Make your own thermometer to measure temperature.
Phot
o by
Mich
elle
D’So
uza
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GREEnHoUSE GASESGases in the atmosphere that trap the sun’s energy: carbondioxide(CO2);methane(CH4);nitrousoxide(N2O); hydrofluorocarbons(HFCs)
GLoBAL WARMInG – IT’S GETTInG HoT!The earth’s climate has always changed but over hundreds of years. Global warming is speeding up temperature change and just a few degrees will mean changes for the world’s ecosystems. 13 of the 14 warmest years on record occurred between 1995 and 2008.(AustralianGovernment–DepartmentofClimateChange)
keywords to search: Climate ChangeCSIrOIntergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeBureau of MeteorologyGreenstreet
There are plenty of problems and many of these are due to human activity.
HoW MAnY CAn YoU SEE?
CAn YoU THInk of MoRE SoLUTIonS?
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• Thermometers,satellitesandweather balloons to record air and ocean temperatures
• Usingtreeringstocalculatethe temperature at a time in the past
• Cuttingacrossthetrunkof a dead tree to study its rings can show us how temperatures have varied as the tree has grown
• Drillingintothedeepestsnowand ice can also tell us about temperatures from the distant past
MALEnY STATE SCHooL Leading the way for kids across Australia Last year, 5A and Ms Anthony worked hard to help the environment. They planted richmond Birdwing Butterfly Vines in the local national Park to help save the endangered species and they placed weekly ‘Greeny Groovers’ eco friendly tips into their schools weekly Familygram to give others ideas for helping others. Is your class as green as 5A?
HoW Do SCIEnTISTS WoRk oUT THE PLAnET’S TEMPERATURE?
Green Lanehero
kYoTo PRoToCoLThere was fuss about this. find out why?
THE CLIMATE PUzzLE Just like the way Christmas and the school holidays changes what happens in our lives – our climate has different systems. El nino: a climate warming phenomenon that can lead to drier conditions in Australia. In Spanish literally means ‘boy child’La nina: Meaning the opposite ‘girl child’ refers to cooling that leads to wetter conditions.
Why have we got these environmental problems?
Take the green pledge and work out what you can do for our planet.
Email Green Cross and tell us what you are doing?
LANE
CHALLENGE
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SUrF THe neTSUrF THe neT
keyword search:WWFUnEPUnFCCCUnESCO
Carbon neutral: balancing the Carbon emissions you cause by removing the amount in other ways. IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Ozone: the layer of gas in the upper atmosphere that absorbes harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
fAST fACT230,000 homes can be powered by the world’s
largest wind farm in Texas, USA. That’s the entire
population of the northern Territory.
MAkInG InTERnATIonAL AGREEMEnTS - WHo DECIDES?There are 195 countries in the world and getting everyone to agree is tricky. International meetings are often run by the United nations..1. nations decide that action needs to happen2. The Leaders meet and discuss ideas3. A draft agreement is written4. It is discussed until all nations agree5. The Leaders sign the agreement 6. The nations carry out the actions
THE HISToRY of GLoBAL WARMInG In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius was the first to claim that burning fossil fuels leads to temperature increase. After that, it wasn’t talked about for a long time because people believed that human impact was too small to hurt the planet. Our technology has got better and scientists started more studies. Based on the research, the majority of the planet’s leading scientists argue that climate change is occurring. Leaders have held international meetings to discuss what countries need to do to help.
The Un helps countries to agree on global action for big issues like peace, human rights and climate change
HoLD YoUR oWn Un: Can you think of some big
problems for your school and community? Get together your friends or class – head to the library or under a shady tree and have a meeting. Keep some notes and work out what your group will do. DREAM IT AnD Do IT!
1988: Establishment of the IPCC
1992: The Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro
1995: CoP 1, Berlin (COP=ConventionofParties)
1997: CoP 3, kyoto
2007: CoP 13, Bali
2008: Toyako Summit, Japan
2009: Un Climate Change Summit, Copenhagen
2010: CoP 16 Summit, Cancun
2011: CoP 17 Summit, Durban
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JUMPSTART YoUR oWn PRoJECT Don’t wait for the adults, make a change yourself. PLAnnInG IS EASY!
Decide on a problem to fix Make a list of things you could do to help Talk about the best idea with others Start working on itRecordwhatyoudo(takephotos/video) Email Green Cross and tell others how
it went.
Let's Plan It!
Talk to your teacher and with your friends - you could work on some of these ideas together.•Startawormfarm.Compostand
use all of the food scraps from lunches
•Makeamusicvideothatteachespeople how to recycle
•Dosomefundraisingforbikeracks,solar powered bubblers, foster an animal
•Researchlocalendangeredspecies and make leaflets for your community explaining how to protect them
•Getyourtuckshopgreen–doesitsell healthy food made locally?
More ideas online!
PRoJECT IDEAS
PAnTEAPantea is a girl on a mission. She shows others how to live a greener life by being a good example herself. Pantea has started a veggie patch at home and she uses green transport when she can like walking or using her bike. not content with this, Pantea ran a petition in her school to develop a recycling system. Maybe you could try some of her ideas and campaign in your school for change.
Green Lanehero
CoMMUnITY SERVICE oRGAnISATIonS CAn HELP YoU!Groups like rotary, Lions, Apex and Zonta have members who have all got incredible skills from their working lives. Each organisationhasclubsacrossQueensland.Theycanofferyourschool excellent advice and might even help you to get your projects started. Ask your teacher to help you to get in contact with them. Green Cross can help you!
START YoUR oWn GREEn GRoUP All you need to start are your ideas, a group of friends (maybeyourdiarybuddies)andashadytreeto meet under. Brainstorm all the things your group coulddotohelp(useideasfromthisdiary),writethem down and arrange a meeting with your school Principal to get started. Ask a teacher to help your group.
WRITE YoUR PRoJECT PLAn In YoUR SCRAPBook
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MY PROJECT
PLAN FOR 2011
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
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IDEAS TO FIX IT?
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THE SOLUTION
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WHAT DO YOU NEED?
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STEPS TO GET IT DONE
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RESULTS
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INSPIRE OTHERS: Email Green Cross ([email protected])
about your project. We love pictures and videos. We will share them and
make you a star.
MY PROJECT
PLAN FOR 2011
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Power it! Energy
Different energy sources affect our planet in different ways.
TWo foRMS of EnERGYrenewable – the energy sources can be replaced like solar, hydro, wind and geothermal power; non-renewable – energy is gone once it is used. (burningfossilfuels–oil,coalandgas).Weareenergy guzzlers. Can you think of the things we use that your grandparents didn’t?
fUEL fRoM PLAnTS AnD AnIMALS – REALLY!!It’s true, fossil fuels are formed from plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.
Most of the energy we use now comes from fossil fuels. Once it is used, it is gone. It takes millions of years for the fuel to form. renewable, green energy doesn’t release as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
PEAk oIL? WHAT IS THAT?no it’s not a strange mountain. It is the peak in our planet’s supply of oil. After that we use more than there is left and eventually, we could run out. That’s one of the reasons we need to develop new technologies that are renewable energy sources.
HoW MUCH EnERGY Do YoU USE EVERYDAY?
Living without energy would be very difficult. We use it to cook and grow our food, transport materials, make goods, light our homes and power technology.
Wave generators: waves reaching the shore push air through a turbine to generate electricityGraphene: Very thin sheets of carbon that are used to make electrical devices run more efficiently.
THE BIG SWITCH Look around you, are there lights and appliances on that aren’t in use? Turn them
off and make reminder stickers for your family and friends.
fAnTASTIC fACT
Extra load in the car increases fuel consumption.
Empty out anything you don’t need to cart
around.
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kEYWoRD SEARCHEnergy KidsWind power kidsrenewable energy
DID YoU knoW THAT EnERGY CAn BE SToRED In SIx foRMS?
1. Radiant energy: Energy that travels in waves such as light, radio waves and x-rays.2. Thermal energy: Heat energy is a type of kinetic energy, the energy of moving and vibrating molecules.3. Chemical energy: The energy that bonds molecules together.
4. Mechanical energy: The energy ofmotion(kinetic)andtheenergyofposition(potential).5. nuclear energy: The energy locked in the nuclei of atoms.6. Electrical energy: A kind of kinetic energy the energy of moving electrons.
Do an Energy Audit of your school
– count everything that uses electricity.
LANE
CHALLENGE
WHAT IS...Wind power: used by boats for thousands of years. Windmills generate electricity through rotation. 50% of Denmark’s electricity will be supplied by wind power by 2030.Solar power: the sun shines on silicon panels producing an electric current. Very clean and no green house gases are emitted. Batteries are used to store energy for use at night. Hydro-electric power: generated by damming up water and pushing it through giant turbinesGeothermal power: uses naturally occurring underground heat ‘hot rocks’ to push steam through turbines. Australia is starting to develop this technology. Biochar: a type of charcoal made using crop waste and manure. Used as an organic soil conditionerand it’s by product – synthesis gas, might be used as an alternative fuel
CARBon fooTPRInTS Waste, water, power, activity – just like the footprint you leave on the beach, you leave a carbon footprint. only this one doesn’t wash away in the waves. It is the impact you are having on the planet. WHo Do YoU THInk HAS BIG CARBon fooTPRInTS?
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Peak Energy - How can we reduce power usage between 4pm-8pm? We want your ideas!
LANE
CHALLENGE
Energy and persistence
conquerallthings.
- Benjamin Franklin
WiSe WOrDS
BUILDInG DESIGn AnD EnERGYour buildings use huge amounts of energy mainly for heating and cooling. This can be reduced if they are designed carefully by facing the right direction, using insulation, planting trees and avoiding windows on the west side. Appliances should be energy efficient and lightbulbs fluorescent. Well designed buildings need less air conditioning!
Peak Energy 4pm-8pmWhen everyone is at home at the same time we use a lot of energy. Think about everyone cooking tea, watching the news and doing homework all at once. It can be hard for our power stations to keep up with the demand. We are also putting lots of carbon into the
atmosphere during these hours when we burn
fossil fuels.
What is a solar farm?Instea d of crops, solar farms generate energy from the sun using large numbers
of solar panels. Ivanpah Solar in the Californian Mojave Desert USA, is the world’s largest solar farm. It will generate enough electricity for 140 000 homes. That is the size of some Australian towns. Find out where the solar farms are being
built in Australia.
fAnTASTIC fACT
Standby energy: the power used by an appliance when it seems to be
turned off but still uses power to keep led light or a clock running. Accounts
for 10% of a home’s energy use costing Australia $950million
a year and tons of co2.
aCTiOn iDea !
Is your school solar? Check out www.solarschools.net
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Switch off your set
top box, games
machines, modem,
computers, printers
at the wall.
Use fans instead
of
air-conditioning.
Recycle everything
you can, including recyclable plastic, glass, metal and
paper.
Hi kids, I’m Captain ClimateSmart from the Department of
Environment and Resource Management or DERM.
Welcome to my climate change fun page!
Climate change, also called global warming, is
an environmental problem caused by too many
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The main greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2)
which is released when we burn fossil fuels to
make electricity.
Too much CO2 in the atmosphere warms the
planet and the climate changes, causing
damage to our precious natural and man-made
environments.
Check out the simple actions YOU can take to
help tackle climate change and reduce your
carbon footprint.
Be a ClimateSmart Kid, and join forces with me
and DERM to protect planet Earth!
To a sustainable planet and beyond!
Green is clean,
Captain ClimateSmart
Reduce your time in the
shower
to four minutes to save water and energy.
If helping with the washing, hang clothes
on the line rather than using the
dryer.
Ask your Mum or Dad’spermission to walk, ride orskate to school.
For more great tips about what you can do in your home check out www.climatesmart.qld.gov.au
Turn off the
lights when
you’re not in
the room.
A note from...
Captain ClimateSmart
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Our Backyard
WHAT IS GoInG on In YoUR BACkYARD? WHAT ARE YoU DoInG To HELP?
Australia is sometimes called ‘The Lucky Country’. We have so many wonderful natural resources and unique flora and fauna. But there are some problems too.
ToP AUSSIE ISSUES✷ Waterway health ✷ Feral animals✷ Land clearing✷ Ocean dumping and over fishing✷ Invasive species✷ Litter✷ Urbanization ✷ Soil Salinity
Uluru and the OlgasKakadu
HAnDS on! Do you have a map in your room? Mark the places you’d like to explore on it!
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States -Tectonic plates: huge plates of slowly moving rock that make up the foundation of the Earth’s crust and the shape of the continents; GPS: Global positioning systems powered by computers and satellites that map location; States and Territories: In our federal system of government, a territory is an area which has not been given the full rights of a state.
kEYWoRD SEARCHWorld heritagenatural wondersTourism AustraliaWorld Heritage List national Parks Australia
Who needs to go overseas - some of the most incredible places are right here. Fraser Island, Kakadu, Uluru, Blue Mountains - all of these
incredible places and more are on the World Heritage List. This means they are very special to the planet and worth conserving forever.
Landmarks are part of nature: The OlgasAttractions are often man-made: Sydney Harbour Bridge
SPECIAL oz STUff- Akubura hats- Sydney Harbour Bridge- Aussie slang - Dreamtime stories- VegemiteCan you think of more?
CULTURE AnD HERITAGEDifferent groups of people have different cultures – their customs, values and beliefs.
Heritage are the things from our past and present that we value and save for the next generation.
LoCATE IT! Search on environment or endangered species. Can you find your house or the closest national park using Google Earth?
oUR PRECIoUS PLACES
I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding
rains. I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea, Her
beauty and her terror - the wide brown land for me!
My Country’ by Dorothea McKellar (1904).
WiSe WOrDS
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ToP 5 WAYS YoU CAn
TRAVELSMART
1. Park and walk the rest of the way
2. Get on your bike, use pedal power
3. Use your feet, pound the pavement
4. Jump on board, catch public transport
5. Share the ride, carpool
aCTiOn iDea !Register to be a TravelSmart
School in 2012. To find out how, visit www.travelsmart.qld.gov.au
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Living GreenWe can make a big difference to the planet by living green at home and at school.
EASY THInGS YoU CAn Do AT SCHooL✓ Get on your bike or walk to school. Make sure you wear a helmet – you could make a groovy green sticker for it!✓ Use both sides of every sheet of paper and start a scrap paper box✓ Turn off the lights when you leave a room. ✓ Leaky taps? Check them all out and let your Principal know. ✓ Take your lunch nUDE! It’s not rude, just your food nude with no waste to throw out. Use a lunchbox and any scraps go to a worm farm or compost.✓ Find out the facts, if you really want to be an expert you need to do some research! ✓ Start a Green Group at lunch and work on bigger projects together.
ACTIon IDEA – Has your school got a veggie garden? Start one – find out about bush tucker and if you can plant any. www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au
EASY THInGS YoU CAn Do AT HoME✓ Use your electrical appliances wisely: Switch off your television, VCr and computer
✓ Be careful about what goes downthedrain:someliquidscanharmourwaterquality and wildlife. ✓ Wash your car or bike on the lawn. ✓ Make your own cleaning products from vinegar and bicarb soda. All the different products you can buy from the shops pollute our waterways. The packaging is another thing that fills up our tips. ✓ Plant native trees and shrubs at home: trees provide shade and can cool your house. They reduce noise from traffic, give homes to wildlife and prevent erosion by holding the soil together.
ACTIon IDEA – save for a solar charger and use it to power your toys and devices.
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ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHooL, IPSWICH (YEAR 6&7) These clever heroes started an enterprise growing and selling seedlings to eventually supply their tuckshop with fresh produce. They use their worm farm and compost to help grow their plants. They also want to improve the way waste is dealt with at their school and they have lobbied their local Mayor to help. Maybe you could start a green store too?
Are you living green? Make a to do list to put on the fridge.
LANECHALLENGE
GET THERE GREEnCars use petrol which emits lots of carbon dioxide into the air. Until electric and solar powered cars are available everywhere, we need to think about how much driving is done.• Canyouarrangetocar pool with your friends to school? Maybe
you are even close enough to walk? Walking even one way and being picked up to go home helps. If you are lucky to live near a bus stop or train station, take that to school.
• Public transport really helps to reduce pollution. Imagine how many cars a train replaces?
• Use less fuel: check that your parents don’t drive with the car full of things that aren’t being used and that the car is serviced often at the garage. That helps it to run more efficiently.
• Windows down please! Use less energy.• Tyre check: are they in good condition with the right pressure?
Green Lanehero
Some things you have in your home have travelled a long way to get to you. Things that travel great distances have used more energy being transported. The grapes you eat for lunch might have put lots of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere because they had to come all the way from the US. It’s much better for the planet to buy products that come from close to home.How to do this?• Eatfoodthatisinseason• Shopatthelocalmarkets
and buy from farmers who grow things nearby
• CheckthelabelsandbuyAustralian products
www.acfonline.org.au
fooD MILES!
fAnTASTIC fACT
It takes 10L of water to make 1 A4 sheet
of paper
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keyword search:Energy ratingsAustralian Youth Climate CoalitionACF Green HomesHabitat for HumanityEco-Kids Canada
Carbon sink: trees, the ocean and soil can absorb CO2 and stop it from being released into the atmosphereE-waste: old electrical equipment like phones and computers. There are organizations that recycle the parts safely.Thermal mass: the ability of a material to store and release heat
aCTiOn iDea !
Imagine if your school was a plastic bottle
free zone! How could you do it?
fAnTASTIC fACT
South Australia has more than 50% of Australia’s
wind power capacity. (InternationalEnergyAgency)
IS YoUR SCHooL GREEn? Imagine if your school didn’t add any greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, used only clean energy, harvested rain water, recycled resources, grew food, saved wildlife and was cool and airy, perfect for learning.
PoWERInG THE SCHooLYour school uses electricity for the lights, air conditioning, fans, computers and the tuckshop. This electricity could be free with solar panels transforming energy from the sun.www.solarschools.net
GET YoUR TUCkSHoP GREEnAudit the tuckshop and find out where the products come from. Have a meeting with the Principal to work out improvements.
fAMILY CHATInstall water tanks: collect water to flush toilets or do washing. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products: Detergents with no or little phosphorus are better because phosphorus can cause algal growth and harm aquaticplantsandanimals.no aircon: seal cracks and gaps, put insulation in the ceiling, shade windows from hot sun. Choose energy efficient appliances: Check the energy rating label. More stars mean less greenhouse gases. Consider buying a front loading washing machine: They use much less water. Solar panels could provide your electricity: find out about them Change the hot water system: from electric to solar oraheatpump(savesenergy).How many cars does your family need: could you get by with just one? Grow your own food: plan the spot for a vegetable garden.
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Hybrid engine: has more than one source of power and works more efficiently; Environmental audit: an assessment of the impact a person or organisation has on the planet; Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) : Tiny carbon based compounds which evaporate into the atmosphere at room temperature
aCTiOn iDea !Before you go on your next holiday, consider which mode of travel
would be more environmentally friendly.
GREEn SCHooLS ARE HEALTHY, EnERGY EffICIEnT AnD
VISIonARY.
Listen up!
Sanitation is really important. We need to make sure we are looking after our health by washing our hands and keeping clean. We shouldn’t take our toilets for granted! In medieval times, waste was collected and thrown into the street, left to drain into water ways. now our sewage is collected and sent to plants where it is treated, allowing the waste water to be reused for landscaping or industrial use. Some countries don’t have good systems and waste can get into drinking water supplies and make people sick.
kEEP CLEAn & HEALTHY
YoU CAn BE A CITIzEn SCIEnTISTDon’t wait until you are grown up, you can volunteer to collect data, keep measurements and make observations. Many Australian farmers are citizen scientists, responsible for keeping weather observations over many years giving us valuable information about our climate. You can get involved too. www.climatewatch.org.au
IT’S So PRECIoUS!DID YoU knoW THAT oVER 1.1 BILLIon PEoPLE Do noT HAVE ACCESS To DRInkABLE WATER, LEAVInG RoUGHLY onE SIxTH of THE WoRLD’S PoPULATIon AT RISk of PooR HEALTH AnD HYGIEnE.
Look UP!roof space is really useful, the greater the area, the more water that can be captured in a tank. Water harvesting is vital in developing countries that don’t have large town water supply systems like we do and for remote and rural properties.
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★Ghana
Hygiene: the promotion and preservation of good health; zooplankton: very tiny water-dwelling animals; Ecological latrine: composting toilets that turns human waste into rich fertilizer that can be used to help agriculture
aCTiOn iDea !Organise an event to
help raise money for our Green Cross overseas schools and give them
the gift of clean water.
keyword search:AuSSICarbon Sink SchoolsGreen Building Council AustraliaCarboSchoolsTravelSmartSri LankaST BREnDAn’S CATHoLIC PRIMARY SCHooL,
MooRookA The St Brendan’s students learnt about the plight of their peers in Ghana and the lack of clean drinking water and latrines. They decided to do something to help. They held a movie lunch and raised much-needed funds and are planning future ventures. Funds raised will go directly towards providing a water tank to deliver clean drinking water at the Dawu Methodist Primary and Junior High School in Ghana’s east. Both the school and the community do not have access to safe water and sanitation. 589 kids attend the school and there are 2363 people live in the village.
Green Lanehero
GHAnA (MEAnS WARRIoR kInG) AnD IS ABoUT THE SAME SIzE AS nEW zEALAnD. IT IS onE of THE WoRLD’S LEADInG SUPPLIERS of GoLD.
nEWSfLASH GREEn CRoSS ARE BUILDInG GREEn SCHooLS In GHAnA AnD SRI LAnkA. Imagine what your life would be like without clean water! For some communities, the new tanks at the local school are the only source of clean water.
fAnTASTIC fACT
There are 1300 critically endangered grey nurse sharks on Australia’s
east coast.
SUrF THe neT
DoES YoUR SCHooL USE THE GREEnSTAR EDUCATIon RATInG TooL To fInD oUT HoW GREEn THEIR BUILDInGS ARE? fInD oUT AT WWW.GBCA.oRG.AU
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fAnTASTIC fACT
722 000 litres – the average amount of water we use each year, people who live in Banglesdesh
use 80% less!
Water worldsEvery drop is precious!
We can’t survive for longer than a week without water – it keeps our bodies healthy, grows our food and is a habitat for incredible sea and freshwater creatures. The salty oceans make up 97% of water on earth. 2.3% is frozen in our polar icecaps and the tiny bit that is left is what we use each day.
BE A DRoP SAVER:• Shortenyourshowerto3mins• Collectwaterwhenitrains,useitonthegarden• Turnoffthetapwhenbrushingyourteethorcleaninghands• Usethehalfflushontheloo• Coldwashyourclothesinthewashingmachine• Startaleakytappatrolatschool• Teachthelittlekidshowtosavewater
WHAT IS DESALInATIon?It is the process of removing salt from seawater to make it potable, or drinkable. Because of droughts and population increase the water treatment plants are being built more often. The
technology is improving and the cost of desalination
is falling.
The earth is constantly recycling its water. It is evaporated into a gas from oceans, rivers and lakes then condensed into water droplets in the clouds. When temperatures are right, precipitation occurs and rain falls. The rain is collected in rivers, lakes and oceans and the whole cycle starts again. We use water in our everyday lives for washing, showering, our toilets and irrigation to grow food.
Each one of these has its own Urban Water Cycle which explains where the water comes from that we use and where it goes when we have finished.
THE WATER CYCLE
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oUR RIVER of LIfEThe vital Murray-Darling river system provides water to 60% of our farms and is sometimes called the food basket ofAustralia.Itsbasincovers1millionsquarekmreaching into 4 States and 1 Territory. Because of long droughts, increasing salinity, pollution and too much irrigation, the river hasn’t got as much water and this is causing problems for all the people who rely on it for survival. The river is home to many endangered species and special wetlands. The Government is currently working out an agreement so that the river’s water can be shared and keep the ecosystems working and farms producing. It’s a tricky task.
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kEYWoRD SEARCH:WaterwatchAMCSnational Water CommissionMurray Darling Basin AuthorityBlue promise
Aquifer: layer ofunderground rock that contains waterGreat Artesian Basin: The largest underground basin in the world, over 3000m deep in places
BAnDAnoon’S SToRY: BAn THE BoTTLEIn Bundanoon, nSW residents decided bottled water wouldn’t be sold in their town and installed free water bubblers. They are the first town in the world to do this and other councils are following. Use your own water bottle - save all the energy it takes to make up the plastic and stop the bottles filling up our rubbish tips.
CoLIn THE QLD BRUSH TURkEY After the incredible flood in Brisbane this year, it was all hands on deck to help. Colin cleaned up one family’s backyard by scraping all the flood debris into his mound to attract a mate. Brush Turkey’s are common along the eastern coast and their mounds are often 4m wide and over 1m tall.
THE BIG DRY
Drought isn’t lack of rain for weeks, it is a long dry period that can go for years. Heavy and regular rain is needed to restore the land. Erosion occurs when soil and rocks are worn away and the topsoil is removed from the land. Topsoil contains important nutrients that plants need to grow and it is difficult to replace the topsoil once erosion has occurred. Farmers are learning how to be better
prepared for drought. Even when it is rainy, we all need to remember that every drop of water is precious.
HEARD of BLUE CARBon? It’s how coastal and sea ecosystems like mangroves and sea grass beds help keep our oceans healthy.
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How much water do you use each day? How could you find out?
LANECHALLENGE
aCTiOn iDea !Write to your mayor asking
for gutter guards to be installed into your town’s drains. rubbish in to the drain eventually flows to creeks and the ocean.
1. oVER fISHInGSometimes we take too many. Choose fish that have been farmed sustainably. (Learnwhattobuy–Sustainable Seafood Guide www.amcs.org.au)
2. PoLLUTIonrubbish ends up in the sea everyday and it kills animals like turtles that can choke. Find out about the ‘plastic soup’ in the Pacific Ocean.
3. oCEAn ACIDIfICATIonThe ocean is a giant carbon sink absorbing tones of CO2 naturally. Climate change is increasing the amount that is absorbed making sea water more acidic. More acid changes the ecosystem
PRoBLEMS AT SEA
oUR GEnTLE GIAnTS Whales migrate up the east coast each year to breed before heading back to the cold waters of Antarctica. Early in Australia’s history, we hunted whales for their oil and valuable blubber. We took so many that many species were pushed to the brink of extinction.
In 1986, the International Whaling Commission banned the hunting of whales and their numbers are now slowly increasing. However, there are some countries that continue to hunt whales illegally, sometimes for scientific and cultural research.
Go GARDEnInG – CoRAL GARDEnERS CARE foR oUR REEfS BY REMoVInG PREDAToRS, GRoWInG AnD REPLAnTInG CoRALS AnD MAnAGInG ToURISTS. HEALTHY REEfS MEAn A HEALTHY ECoSYSTEM.
Ballast water: water carried in unloaded cargo ships to help weigh them down during rough seasAcid rain: rainwater mixed with acid pollution from the atmosphere. It can damage flora and faunaBioaccumulative: when toxic substances build up inside living things.
It is area of land that water falls on and then finds its way into creeks, underground supplies and eventually our rivers. Lots of animals live in our catchments like Gilbert. If they
are healthy then it's likely the catchment and water ways are as well. SickGilbert=SickEnvironment! Learn more: www.seqwater.com.au
HAnDS on!Create a sustainable seafood fridge magnet
HEARD of WATER CATCHMEnTS?
Phot
o by
: Mich
elle
D’So
uza
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Is your school an Earth Smart Science school?The Department of Education and Training’s Earth Smart Science schools are some of Queensland’s best environmental ambassadors. They work together with Environmental Education Centres to make schools greener, by:• reducingenergyconsumption• conservingwater• minimisingwaste• increasingbiodiversityandgrowingplants,fruitandvegetables
on school grounds.
If you think your school is “Earth Smart”, talk to your teacher about becoming an Earth Smart Science school, and get greener!
Tomorrow’s Queensland: strong, green, smart, healthy and fair
www.det.qld.gov.au/environmentalsustainability/earth-smart.html
enough for all forever
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Harden Upour country experiences most of nature’s extreme weather so it’s good to be prepared for things that happen. To do that we need information!
oUR WILD WEATHERCyclones,floods,bushfires,earthquakes,seriousstorms and tsunamis are part of nature. They are unpredictable and can be very dangerous. Climate change might be causing extreme weather to occur more often but we are still learning about this. The best thing we can do is to learn about the disasters and know what to do.
WHAT’S THE DIffEREnCE?
WEATHER AnD CLIMATEWeather is all around us all of the time. It is the day to day conditions of a place. rain, temperature, fog, snow, clouds, sunshine are all elements of the weather. Someone who studies weather and makes forecasts is called a meteorologist.
The climate is the average weather conditions measured over time. Australia has a hotter climate than Alaska. Climatologists are people who study climate patterns and climate change over time.
Experts at the Bureau of Meterorology are always
studying the weather to make long range forecasts of what might happen – remember they are always a prediction based on science.
We still can’t be 100% sure about the weather.
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SUrF THe neTHelp prepare your family’s Extreme Weather kit. You will need supplies and
equipment for a few days. A radio, torch, food and water are essential. What else?
LANECHALLENGE
CHLoE & TILLY – PHUkET, InDonESIAChloe is on a mission - she wants to help others learn about what they can do to help. Chloe has designed presentations, posters and newsletters to explain everything from local endangered species to extreme weather and how to be prepared. Being informed is really important, like Tilly, in Phuket who knew what it meant when she saw “the water bubbling right on the edge of the beach and foam sizzling like a frying pan”. She warned her family and beachgoers and Maikhao beach was evacuated seconds before the tsunami arrived. Chloe and Tilly are helping to keep people safe!
Green Lanehero
WHo HELPS?TheSES(StateEmergencyService)aretrainedvolunteers and some staff who assist the police, ambulance, fire fighters and army during a disaster. It’s a wonderful way to help. You might like to consider joining when you have finished school. Read their stories: www.extremeweatherheroes.org
Failing to plan is planning to fail.WiSe WOrDS
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keyword search:Emergency Management Australia Emergency kidsDisaster kids Australian red CrossExtreme Weather Heroes
Phenomena: An unusual, significant, or unaccountable fact or occurrence; a marvelEvacuation: Moving people, animals, or materiel from a place because of dangerFirebreak: a strip of land cleared of plants to stop a fire from spreading
RECEnT DISASTERS2011 QLD/NSW/VICflood(coveredmorelandthanGermany
andFrancecombined);Japanearthquakeandtsunami;Cyclone Yasi
2009 ‘Black Saturday’ bushfire in Victoria2006 CycloneLarry,QLD2002-06 Drought in Southern Australia
When disasters occur EVErYOnE pitches in – volunteers, firefighters, neighbours, leaders, builders, teachers.
We plan for events so we know what to do if they happen. Plans are created to deal with prevention(stoppingdisasters),preparation(gettingready),response(duringthedisaster)andrecovery(afterthedisaster).
PREVEnTIon✷ Clearing leaf litter from
drains✷ Laws for total fire ban days✷ Building flood levees✷ Warning systems
PREPARATIon✷ Telling people and evacuation✷ Protecting property and
animals✷ Arranging supplies
RESPonSE✷ Arranging accommodation
for people✷ Arranging relief funds
RECoVERY✷ Clean up✷ rebuilding✷ Support for people
affected
ADULT ALERT! WHAT THEY ARE DoInG To HELP
DoES YoUR SCHooL AnD fAMILY HAVE A PLAn? Visit www.hardenup.org and make one today!
fAnTASTIC fACT
The ash from bush fires helps to rejuvenate
the soil making it rich in nutrients for plants to
grow again.
32MAnY HAnDS MAkE LIGHT WoRkThe best things in life really are free like being kind and helpful to others by volunteering your skills. Volunteers worldwide give millions of hours and their actions change the world. Some people rescue injured animals, others run tuck shops or care for the elderly. Kids can get involved too by helping whenever you can.
aCTiOn iDea !
Make a video for kids explaining how to get ready
for extreme weather. Act it out!
WATCH oUT ! Do you know the difference? A hazard is a threat that might become a bigger emergency like a bush fire or a severe storm. An emergency harms people, property and the environment. When things are dangerous, keep your eyes peeled and stick close to an adult.
HAnDS on!Make your own Lightning, the Diary website shows you how!
BE PREPARED!
❑ Talk with your family about what you would do in a disaster
❑ Know where to take shelter in a storm, the strongest part of your house – room with the least windows
❑ Make up a supply kit (food,firstaidandsafetyequipment)
❑ Know who to call for help (SES132500,Police000)
❑ Pack up your special things to keep safe
Print off this check list and go through it with your family http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/kids/kidnas/documents/prepared_
home_checklist.pdf
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Extreme Weather Heroes In a tricky spot – these guys can help! They are helping
us cope with intense floods, fires and storms right across Australia and for cyclones in the top end.
aCTiOn iDea !Make a list of important
emergency numbers for your fridge. Add
them to your parent’s mobile phones.
RUBY – VICToRIAn SESruby is a leader in her Victorian SES group. ruby is trying to spread that word that EVErYOnE can be a hero! ruby doesn’t spend all her time wearing an orange jumpsuit, she is a Forensic Tech and is studying EXTrrrEEEMMMEES of climate change & enviro issues at Monash University!
zoE - ST JoHn AMBULAnCE WAAfter hearing about St John Ambulance First Aid Volunteers at age fourteen, Zoe couldn’t wait to sign up. She has been an active member since and has now gone on to become a registered nurse, using many of the emergency medicine skills learnt as a St John Ambulance Volunteer. Zoe is still at the very same division where she was trained and is now training young cadets.
JAkE – ACT RURAL fIRE SERVICEJake was practically born a firefighter, and as a volunteer for the remote Area FireTeam(RAFT)withtheACTRuralFire Service, he’s an Extreme Weather Hero. Devastated at age 4 that he could not immediately don a hat, hose, and listen to sirens all day - he returned on his 16th birthday and now is super highly skilled to save our bushland from the next fire season!
BEn – nSW RED CRoSSBen volunteers in the Emergency and Youth Services fields handing out bandaids and bandages, educating the kiddies in drug awareness and helping with personal support when you’re up to your neck in water or your roof has collapsed. When he isn’t volunteering he is a robotic engineer!
www.extremeweatherheroes.org
WHICH SERVICE WoULD YoU LIkE To VoLUnTEER foR WHEn YoU ARE oLD EnoUGH?
START YoUR JoURnEY ToWARDS BEInG PART of THE SoLUTIon.
GET InTo VoLUnTEERInG!
Jake Cannon Ben Tsang
Zoe Payne
Ruby Haouchav
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The 6rs (reduce,reuse,recycle,respect,replenishandrefuse)
With over 21 million Australians, we make a lot of rubbish. We can bury it in landfill which takes up space, burn it which releases toxic smoke, or we can
recycle it. If we all lived by the Six Rs – it would make a big difference.
HoW CAn WE TEACH oTHERS ABoUT THE 6RS?
SPACE JUnkBroken satellites, metal tools and rocket parts are surrounding our planet causing damage to anything they collide with which would cause a threat if they were to fall to earth. nASA is working out how to deal with the debris. What do you think? A trash blaster perhaps?
fAnTASTIC fACTS
1. recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours 2. Every year the average Australian family produces
enough rubbish to fill a three-bedroom house.
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1. REDUCEWe need to reduce the amount of rubbish at the tip. It can be dangerous and cause pollution. Here are a few ways to help – can you think of more? ✷ Buy food without packaging and
purchase eco-friendly items.✷ Get a refill rather than a new
item(couldsaveyoulotsofpensin your pencil case!)
✷ Take your own water bottle, bags and containers
2. REUSEBefore you throw it out – try to repair and reuse . It’s cheaper than buying new things and fun to fix! ✷ Try inventing something new
from old bits and bobs✷ 9 plastic bags have enough
embodied petroleum to drive a car 1km! reuse or refuse them so they don’t end up in the sea choking animals
✷ Collection Corner – start gathering stuff at school that can be reused for craft or science activities.
4&5. RESPECT AnD REPLEnISHIt is easy to talk about living green but if we respect our planet we will think twice about harming it and really WALK THE TALK. replacing what we use so there are enough of the world’s resources for everyone to share is called replenishing. EnOUGH FOr ALL, FOrEVEr!!
6. REfUSE Stuff is everywhere – before you go and buy something ask yourself:❏ Do I need this? ❏ Can I borrow it, make it or save for it? ❏ Where is it made? Everything takes energy to make and if you don’t need it, save your money and help the planet at the same time. Stuff isn’t as important as time with family and friends. Don’T BECoME A ‘STUff A HoLIC’
3. RECYCLErecycling means processing materials once they have been used to create new items. It’s more efficient than throwing things out!
foR YoUR RECYCLE BIn✓ Glass bottles and jars✓ Milk and Juice cartons✓ Steel cand and empty spray cans✓ Paper, cardboard✓ Marked plastic containers
(Thesethingsaremoretricky–check with the olds) ✗Foodscraps(compostthem)✗Batteries(checkwithparents)✗Nappies(unlesstheyare biodegradable)✗ Chemicals and paint
ARE YoU A LITTER BUG?
fAnTASTIC fACT
1 154 077 bicycles sold in Australia in 2009 – that’s lots of people using pedal power.
aCTiOn iDea !START A SWAP CLUB.
Share books, cds, clothes and games. It’s fun
to share, you will save money and reduce the
energy usage.
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oCEAn SHoRES PUBLIC SCHooL, nSW (YEAR 5&6) Putting sustainable thinking into action Mrs Lengyel’s students run their classroom ‘green’. They have started a recyling project reusing all containers, paper and folders. They also visit local growers market to learn about food miles and fresh produce which led them to introduce composting and a vegie garden at school. But that’s not all, this class holds regular litter free lunches and has created posters with reminders for composting and recycling. They use the 6rs every day, how about you?
Green Lanehero
zERo WASTE WEEk – can you and your family manage
to recycle or compost everything? Try it out.
LANE
CHALLENGE
Organic: something that is produced naturally without fertilizers or artificial pesticidesBiodegradable: material that can be decomposed by natural agents (bacteria). Plastic bottles can take 450 years to break down. There are different types of plastics, some break down faster than others.
GREEn WASTE AnD fooD RESCUE30%-40% of the garbage that each family produces comes from foods which are left over from meals. Buy only what you need and compost any food scraps in the garden. It makes excellent fertilizer for the plants. There are wonderful organisations like Oz harvest and Foodbank which - takes leftover food to others in need. Check them out: www.foodbank.com.au; www.ozharvest.org; www.foodwise.com.au.
Have a look at your plate – everything you eat has an impact on the environment. Do you know where your food comes from? Every day matters.
fAnTASTIC fACT
We are the world’s 14th largest food exporter (USA is no 1) valued at
$23.3 billion for 2009
Food Futures
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PRoBLEMS AnD SoLUTIonS
5 PRoBLEMS- Badly treated farm animals- ‘Battery hens’- Food that travels a long distance to get to you- Packaging waste- Poor farming methods- Over fishing
5 SoLUTIonS- Choose local produce- Buy free range eggs- Avoid packaging, buy in bulk- Eat food that is in season- Eat only farmed fish
fAnTASTIC fACT
There are fewer than 200 Siberian tigers
left on the planet (WWF)
kEYWoRD SEARCH:Keep Australia BeautifulPlanet Arkreverse Garbage ACF Earth KidsABC Science
GEnETICALLY MoDIfIED CRoPSWith a growing population, there is more demand for crops. resistance to pests is important so we have learnt how to modify the crops so that they are hardier. The downside? We don’t know yet what the long term effect of the changes might be.
fUTURE fARMS: Our farms are getting smarter. Farmers know that preserving the environment and keeping trees is important for the soil. By working with the land, farms can be more productive.
The world’s poorest farmers often live in the most amazing places and sometimes do great damage in order to grow a fast crop or run livestock. We need to teach them how to farm in an earth friendly way so they can make a living and look after their land. organic farming: a way of farming that is in harmony with the land and animals. Pests are controlled by:•Croprotation•Usingnaturalpredators
aCTiOn iDea !Hold your own Clean up Australia day. research
Australia’s Green Hero Ian Kiernan. You could clean up
the school, your local park or creek, you neighbourhood.
CREATE A DIAGRAMWhat’s in season?
AlmondsApplesBananasBlueberriesGrapesorangesRhubarbStrawberries
SPRInG AUTUMnSUMMER WInTER
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PEoPLE EVERYWHERE
It hasn’t taken long for Australia to go from thousands of people to millions. Earth’s population could be over 9 billion people by 2050! How old will you be then? That’s a lot of mouths to feed. Farmers have to keep producing more from less
land. Breeding new varieties of plants that provide more food from each crop and
developing new fertilizers are solutions. However, pesticides to get rid of the bugs can be harmful to our health and the wash off from fertilizer and pesticides encourages algae to grow in our waterways which can poison other plants and animals.It’saquandary!!Rememberplantsandanimals need food and water to grow too!
Biodiversity – it’s variety!Biodiversity is the incredible variety of living things
and the ecosystems needed for survival.
WE ARE ALL ConnECTEDThe huge range of species on our planet is important because different organisms help keep a healthy balance by cleaning waterways, providing food and useful materials. Living things depend on each other in many ways like worms, who help to break down waste and transform it into nutrients for plants. It’s like dominos falling if we upset the balance.
WHY Do WE nEED foRESTS?✷ Forests are filters recycling
carbon, oxygen and nitrogen✷ Home to thousands of species✷ natural wonder full of beauty✷ Forests usually are in areas of
high rainfall, chop them down and higher risk of flooding
The most deforestation is occurring in the mighty Amazon Rainforest (it covers almost half of South America) and Indonesia.
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BEAConSfIELD STATE SCHooL, MACkAY Ms Mifsud’s clever class didn’t delay to get stuck into several projects. Their school has a Future Forest plot where trees are planted to support wildlife and this class went and presented to youth conferences to spread their ideas. They came up with a clever memory trick and taught theirschool-LOFOACCO(Lightoff,fansoff,aircon,computers off) across school. Why don’t you try it!
Green Lanehero
aCTiOn iDea !Make a map showing the habitat of endangered
species in Australia
3 REASonS WHY WE CHoP DoWn nATIVE foRESTS1. Sell timber(weusemorewoodthan ever and developing countries sell the timber to pay off their debts)2. Clear land for farming(sadlythe forest soil isn’t very productive so farmers keep on clearing)3. Easy and fast(withourchainsaws it is much faster to clear than it is to plant)3 SoLUTIonS1. More laws to protect forests2. More forestry plantations and recycling3. Help farmers living near forests to earn living in new ways
HELP - find out more about rainforests and making sure that any wood your family buys for building or to use in the garden is fSC-certified which means the wood comes from sustainably managed forests.
fAnTASTIC fACT
There are over 13 million different species of plants, animals and
microorganisms on earth!
fAnTASTIC fACT
Wehavesomanyuniquespecies because our
continent is very isolated from other landmasses. Look up Gondwana to
find out more.
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SUrF THe neTChoose a local animal under threat and make a brochure or video to
inform your neighbours
LANECHALLENGE
nICHoLAS fRoM RUnCoRn STATE SCHooL After learning about the plight of orangutans and the effect of the palm oil industry, nicholas discovered his tuckshop was selling noodles containing the oil. His wonderful teacher asked him what he was going to do about it. So nicholas began his campaign to revamp the tuckshop investigating the products that are sold andwhichonesmightbemoresustainable.Nicholas’questionsand initiative have resulted in the whole community making more conscious decisions about their purchases.Today the tuckshop, tomorrow the world – way to go nicholas!
Green Lanehero
RED ALERTExtinction has always occurred naturally butsadly,therateisquicklyincreasing.Because of land clearing, pollution, introduced species and other human impact Australia has one of the highest numbers of endangered species in the world. Here’s how you can help:❑ Find out about the species living in
your area,❑ Look after your local bush, ❑ Make sure your pets don’t hurt
birds and animals, ❑ Put rubbish in the bin so it doesn’t
end up in the bush,❑ You can also join a volunteer group
that helps animals, ❑ Consider a career in science
when you grow up.
InVASIVE SPECIESSome plants, animals and diseases have been brought from overseas and have become pests here because of the impact they have on native species. Can you name some? Why not become a WEED Buster and make a chart of invasive plants?
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
HAnDS on!Make homes for our animals: - Build a pond and create a home for frogs and insects- Bird baths and possum boxes, have you got these?
kEEP IT CLEAn Get rid of rubbish that could hurt animals and bird.
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keyword search:Junior LandcareBiodiversityredListWWF Australia Zoo FAME.orgAWC
oUR CRITICALLY EnDAnGERED REPTILES✷ nangur Spiny Skink✷ Western Swamp Tortoise
PALM oIL – IT’S A no GoPalm oil typically costs the lives of up to 50 orangutans each week.The amazing Orangutan which lives in Indonesia and Malaysia can’t compete with farmers destroying their habitat to farm palm oil. Palm oil is in lots of our food. Check the label for these names and if you find them, think twice before buying. Sodium Laureth Sulphate(canalsobefrom coconut); Sodium Lauryl Sulphates (canalsobefromricinusoil);Sodium dodecyl Sulphate(SDSorNaDS);Palmate; Palm oil kernal; Palmitate.find out what you can do: www.zoo.org.au/PalmOil
aCTiOn iDea !Don’t feed birds or
animals when you are having a picnic – it
teaches them bad habits and those corn chips could
be terrible for them.
HoW To GET YoUR TUCkSHoP GREEn? 1. Talk to your teachers about: 2. Selling local products3. reducing plastic packaging4. Composting food scraps5. Growing veggies in a school garden
CAnE ToADS MARCHInG noRTH These tough toads were brought to
Australia to control pest beetles that were eating sugar cane in 1935. They
loved the conditions here so much and aresoquickto
breed(theycanlayupto30000eggs)thetoadshavequicklymultipliedandspread. Find out why cane toads are such a problem.
IS YoUR PET GREEn?Small pets have less impact on the planet. Keeping animals is great but what do they do when you aren’t around? Some can hurt native plants and animals. Cats often kill native birds and dogs can hurt koalas. Keep your pet in at night or have fish! If you find an injured animal call the rSPCA – they will help. Green Greener GreenestCat with bell collar Ant farm Pet rock or plant
fAnTASTIC fACT
Australia is home to more than 1 million plant and animal species and many of these are only
found here.
CELEBRATE InTERnATIonAL
YEAR of foRESTS
42InfLUEnTIAL fUTURE LEADERS!
aCTiOn iDea !Email Green Cross
Australia at [email protected]
and share your ideas.
What’s your idea to make an existing product or business greener? Be part of the nBLf forum.We want to know your vision.
The annual national Business Leaders forum on Sustainable Development has pioneered leadership in sustainable business in Australia. The forum has hosted leaders including Hon Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister of Australia and former American Vice-President Al Gore.find out more at www.nblf.com.au
kIDS VoICES CoUnT
EConoMIES of SCALESounds fancy! When new technologies are first created they are very expensive but as more people want to use the service or product they go down in price. This happened with computers and mobile phones. The Un Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecast that renewable energy could pro-vide up to 70% of our energy by 2050. As demand increases and research funds are invested, these new technologies will become more affordable.
BE A nATURE kID! When was the last time you explored in the wild or just listened to the birds? Don’t forget about the wonders that are all around us – you don’t have to go the bush. Just stop where you are and look, listen and marvel at how incredible nature is!
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Cool CitizensGET YoUR fRIEnDS GREEn. TELL THEM ABoUT THE PRoBLEMS, SHoW THEM HoW THEY CAn HELP, START A PRoJECT ToGETHER.
Attitude is everything – do you try to help others?
DEVELoPED AnD DEVELoPInGPeople talk about countries being developed or developing. Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United nations, defined a developed country as: “one that allows all its citizens to enjoy a free and healthy life in a safe environment.” Developing countries are working toward this. Australia, new Zealand and the UK are among the developed countries.
THE GoLDEn RULEEach of us needs to try and live our lives by following the declaration and treating others with respect. The Universal Declaration of Human rights was proclaimed on the 10th December, 1948 and contains 30 articles that explain our rights.You have a right to:✔ Freedomandequality✔ Work and have a family ✔ Live and be safe ✔ Justice before the law ✔ nationality, representation and education ✔ Think, believe and express yourself
oUR CLoSEST nEIGHBoURSnew Zealand, Papua new Guinea, Indonesia, new Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
fAIR TRADEOther countries aren’t as lucky as we are and don’t have the same living standards. People live on less money and often have fewer opportunities. It is also cheaper to make products but this means workers get less money and their families suffer. Fair trade aims to make sure farmers and workers in developing countries are paid good prices under fair working conditions.
fAnTASTIC fACT
Coffee is the most purchased
fair trade product in Australia.
oUR PAST IS SPECIAL
Hundreds of indigenous languages have been spoken in Australia. These languages, customs,
dreamtime stories and special sites are treasures to learn more about.
aCTiOn iDea !From start to finish,
map the lifecycle of something in
your pantry.
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oCEAn on THE RISE
One of the biggest problems that comes from global warming is slow sea level rise.
The level rises because of melting polar ice and glaciers adding extra water to the seas and also because sea water expands as it heats up. Global warming is speeding up sea level rise. Pacific island nations and people living on the coast will be most affected.
Tuvalu, a group of nine coral atolls has started to evacuate its population because of the increasing flooding during high tide.
Scientists believe the rise will be from 9cm-88cm which doesn’t sound like much but will damage fresh water supplies, towns and erode beaches.
It’s not too late to help – all the littlethingsaddup(saveenergyand live a little greener, tell others) and everyone makes a difference.
Respect: to hold someone or something in high regard Citizenship: the rights and responsibilities people have as Australians Conservation: the preservation, management, and care of natural and cultural resource
kEYWoRD SEARCHGreenpeaceOxfam Breathing earthPEO officeCitizenship
MAnY VoICES MAkE CHAnGE – If one person at your school asks the Principal for something it may not happen but if every student asked then there is more pressure for change. The Australian Youth Climate Coalition is a group of young people who want to solve climate change. They campaign decision makers to stop pollution from damaging the environment. You can be involved and find out more at www.aycc.org.au
Green Lanehero
oUR CoAST – kEEP IT CLEAn86% of Australia’s population lives along the coast. So, it’s not just a great place to cool off but a home that we have to share with sea birds and marine life. ✔ Keep off the sand dunes and walk on the designated tracks. It is tempting to crash down them but the dunes are held together by plants and they stop the sand from blowing away.✔ Take all your rubbish with you. Leave only footprints.
fAnTASTIC fACT
ACT is the best recycling state – 74%
recovery rate
SUrF THe neT
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THE BIG GREEn CHEESEFederal and State Governments are organised into different departments all headed up by a Minister (thebigcheese).ThereisaFederalMinisterforthe Environment whose portfolio manages national programsandlegislation(laws)toprotectandconserve Australia’s environment. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBCAct)istheGovernment’skeypieceofenvironmental legislation.
How to: be an awesome citizen?Know what goes on in the world, look out for others and try to do something to help. Write to your local
politicians telling them your opinion and start your own project. Often the best things are the interesting, small ideas. Just be positive and have a go. That’s how people change the world.
Everyone over 18 has their say on who represents us in Parliament because we are a democracy. Our Government is led by politicians who make decisions based on what the citizens want – the Prime Minister is the head honcho for Australia and leads the Federal Government. Then there are the State Governments, ledbyaPremier(orChiefMinisterfor the Territories) and the local councils, led by a Mayor who look after our towns, cities and regions. Each level of Government looks after particular areas like defence, education and telecommunications. Who are your politicians?
GoVERnMEnT - HoW DoES IT WoRk?
THE AUSSIE GonG Twice a year our most outstanding Australians are awarded Australian Honours byourGovernor-GeneralwhoistheQueen’srepresentativeinAustraliaandour Head of State. The medals go to people who have gone out of their way to help others by doing their work with great passion. Something to aim for!
WHAT’S An nGo?Groups like Green Cross and Oxfam are non-government organisations or nGOs working independently from government. They try to help solve problems. You can find out more about them by searching their websites.
aCTiOn iDea !Write to the Big Green
Cheese in Australia. Tell them about your
projects and how they can make our country more environmentally friendly.
HAnDS on!Make your own Earth Charter poster. www.earthcharter.org.au
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CSIRO can help you with
your diary entries! Collect
ideas and find inspiration
with our fun hands-on
environment activities www.csiro.au/csiro/channel/
EnvironmentActivities.html
For more awesome project ideas, fun ways to explore science and exciting reading
material join CSIRO’s Double Helix Science Club!You will enjoy two magazines to choose from, event discounts, games, competitions, prizes and more!
Join today atwww.csiro.au/helix
You can create an El Niño effect in your own kitchen! Learn about
global weather patterns with the Kitchen El
Niño activity.
See how melting ice and snow affect our sea levels with the Poles Apart
activity.
Calculate your car’s greenhouse gas
emissions with the Not-so-green
machines activity.
Make your very own recycled paper by hand with the Handmade
recycled paper activity.
Build a model wind turbine and much more...
Are you interested in your energy consumption? Calculate the amount of energy you use at school or at home with the
How much do you use? activity.
Write an
aWesomediary entry
with !
LS_GreenLaneAdvert_2011-04v3.indd 1 28/04/2011 4:07:41 PM
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Destination Clean & GreenThe future is coming and we need to think big to come up with solutions
to the challenges we face.
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WHAT PART WILL YoU PLAY? CAn YoU DREAM UP AWESoME, GREEn AnSWERS?
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SUrF THe neTCan you design a new product for the future? How does it help our planet? Try using
www.kerpoof.com to help you design.
LANECHALLENGE
GETTInG ARoUnD GREEn
Walking or taking the train or bus helps because petrol vehicles emit lots of CO2. Check out these new types of transport: ✷ Biofuel cars: They can run on alternative fuels like
ethanol. Biofuels are made from grains.They need to be farmed carefully so that environmental damage isn’t caused.
✷ Solar cars: Uses the sun’s power to run the engine. ✷ Electric cars: These cars store electricity in a
battery to power the engine. ✷ Hybrid cars: These cars are a mixture.
They use both an electric and a petrol motor. ✷ Green flying: Solar planes could be the future. Find
outabouttheSikorskyfireflyandQinetiQ‘Zephyr’
aCTiOn iDea !Get your friends
together and make a YouTube video about
something green!
WoRk GREEnYou can start thinking about the work you might like to do. Remember if you choose something you love, you won’t feel like it is a job at all! How will your work help our planet? We will need people who care about the earth – meteorologists, engineers, organizers, vets, teachers, web designers – in every job we can make sure the resources we use are friendly to the earth. Every job will be a green job. If you can dream it, you can do it!
fAnTASTIC fACT
not just panda food but Bamboo is the fastest growing wood-
based plant in the world. It is a type of grass and is used
to make clothing.
RooTS & SHooTS is a global network of youth making our planet a better place. Phones contain coltan, a metallic ore that is being mined in the Congo river basin, destroying forests – the habitats of mountain gorilla and chimpanzees. Yarra road Primary School collected over 325 old phones so far and donated them to Zoos Victoria where they are sent off to be refurbished before being sold to disadvantaged communities. Start your own collection! www.janegoodall.org,au.
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SUrF THe neTSUrF THe neT
Bioneer – from biological pioneer, describes social and scientific innovators who believe the worlds problems can be solved by mimicking natures; Perseverance: sticking at something even if it is tough; Nanotechonology: the science of the very small using minute particles to make new materials; Trend forecaster: someone who predicts future ideas
HEATLEY AnD MAnoRVALE Two schools with two great projects – one year 5 classes at Heatley StateSchoolinTownsville,QLDarrangedanEarthDayforthewholeschool with walking to school and an hour without power! Manorvale State School in Victoria did something totally different. They created their own performance with dance and drama for the Wakkirii festival to show others how to protect the planet. What are you doing?
Green Lane
heroS kEYWoRD SEARCH:new InventorsCosmos magazineKids future
fAnTASTIC fACT
Hans Tholstrup and Larry Perkins were the first solar car racers
who completed a Solar Trek from Perth to Sydney, Australia
in 1983.
What could we achieve if we didn’t say impossible? Thinking about amazing ways to solve problems is exciting. Some of these things are being worked on now. What can you dream up? •Floatinggreencity•Skyscraperveggiefarms•Flyingsolarcars–noasphaltroads,parksinstead•Portablegreenstadiums•Kineticclothing–makesenergywhileyoumove•Selfgrowinghouse•Specialnaturewarningdevices(protection
from pets)•Virtualcomputers–allinyourmind!•Nolightbulbs–surfacesthatglowand
absorb energy•Homerecyclingsystems–transformingwaste
on the spot•Wildlifeprotectivebubbles–stoppingpoachers
Look InTo THE CRYSTAL BALL ...
on THE AGEnDA noW:Some of these things are starting to happen:•SunscreenwithnanoparticlesprotectingfromUV•Lawstoensurebuildings&businessesaregreen•Morepublictransport•Watersanitationdevices•Solarpaint•Smarterfarming
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Don’t forget us...HAVE YoU MET
MY EnDAnGERED fRIEnDS?
I’M WAzzA THE noRTHERn HAIRY noSED WoMBAT Howdy. I am one of the world’s most endangered species. There are only about 120 of my friends left. We live inWesternQueensland.Weare the largest herbivorous burrowing mammal in the world and we eat a lot of grass.
aCTiOn iDea !Invite your park
ranger to visit your class and talk about
local endangered species.
I am Australia’s most endangered
reptile.
SHELLY, THE WESTERn SWAMP ToRToISEI’ve been around since
the dinosaurs and I only live in Western Australia near Perth. Summer isn’t my favourite
time. I sleep underground when the swamp is dry. Me and my friends live our waterways where.
kYLIE, THE SoUTHERn CASSoWARY
Yes, I have no tail andmyquillsdon’tallow me to fly. I love my rainforest home in NorthQueensland.Myfriendsthink I am a little bossy but I don’t like hearing about trees being cleared! Where will we live?
My growl sounds scary but I am
really quite shy!
JT, THE TASSIE DEVIL Even though I look grumpy, I’m a big softie at heart. I am the largest of Australia’s living marsupial carnivores. Before the dingoes, I was found on the mainland, not just Tasmania. You might have heard about the Devil Facial Tumour Disease that is hurting us.
foxes aren’t my friends!
WEnDI, THE WoYLIEI am part of the marsupial Bettong family and related
to the kangaree. Scientists helped us to increase our numbers
but we are critically endangered again because of predators like feral cat. Meat is not for me, I rather like mushrooms and seeds.
SHAnE, THE GREY nURSE SHARk It’s because I
look so fierce that I am endangered.
People almost hunted me to extinctions years ago
because they think I look scary. Appearances can be deceiving. You
can help to keep our oceans clean and learn more about sharks.
Yo yo! My sharp teeth actually are brittle and break easily. Don’t tell
anyone!
I’m pretty incredible! I can
grow as tall as an adult human.
School is all about getting good grades. And when it comes to environmentally friendly building practices, the best grading system is the Green Building Council of Australia’s environmental rating system, Green Star. To find out how to green your school visit: www.gbca.org.au/resources/greening-your-school
GBCA023 School Diary250610.indd 1 25/6/10 3:06:01 PM
POBox12117,GeorgeStreet,Brisbane,QUEENSLAND,Australia4003Phone: 07-3003 0644 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.greencrossaustralia.org
Everyday actions do make a difference - start right now!
Copyright© Green Cross Australia 2010. Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to acknowledge the source of all contributions to this diary and Green Cross Australia apologises for any inadvertent omissions.
Green Cross Australia does not accept any liability for any loss or damage arising from any errors omissions or inaccuracies in the information in this diary or the associated website.