National Sustainability Conference 2010

July 29, 2010

to

July 30, 2010

The Office of Environmental Sustainability (OES), National University of Singapore and the Workplace Research Centre (WRC), University of Sydney are jointly organising The National Sustainability Conference 2010, entitled “Environmental Up-Skilling & the Green Collar Industry”. This conference builds on the Climate Change @ Work series of conferences which take place in Australia and promote achieving sustainability in the workplace through sustainable leadership and management practice.

This conference will promote achieving sustainability in workplaces through sustainable leadership and green business solutions. The main themes of the 2010 conference will centre on important management issues, such as how sustainability practices will affect workplace relations, skill demands and career opportunities, to operational issues such as carbon emissions mitigation practices in the workplace. It will feature case studies from companies who will be showcasing how they have driven and developed sustainable business practices in their organisations.

For more information and to register please go to our website www.nationalsustainabilityconference.com

Grace Tan, Sustainability Executive (Singapore)

Office of Environmental Sustainability, University of Singapore

Phone: +65 6516 1983; Email: grace_tan@nus.edu.sg

Office of Environmental Sustainability

2 Estate Office Drive, Singapore 117587

National University of Singapore

T: +65 6516 1983; F: +65 6778 6031

W: www.nus.edu.sg/oes

Karen Treacy, Events Coordinator (Sydney)

Workplace Research Centre, University of Sydney

Phone: + 61 2 93515624; Email: karen.treacy@sydney.edu.au

Workplace Research Centre

Storie Dixson Wing, H10

Faculty of Economics and Business, The University of Sydney

NSW 2006 Australia

T: +61 2 9351 5626; F: +61 2 9351 5615

W: www.wrc.org.au

Green Future Solutions Starts mywaterbottle Campaign to Encourage the Use of Refillable Water Bottles and Reduce Single-Use Bottled Water

Green Future Solutions started its first green campaign called mywaterbottle on 22 April 2010, Earth Day. mywaterbottle is a non-profit campaign to encourage more Singaporeans to use their own refillable water bottles, instead of buying or taking single-use bottled water.

mywaterbottle Goals

mywaterbottle aims to achieve the following goals:

1. Create awareness on the environmental impacts of single-use bottled water and encourage people to use refillable water bottles.

2. Show that tap water is safe to drink and tastes just as good as bottled water.

3. Make it easy to choose and buy affordable refillable water bottles that are safe for both environment and health.

4. Build a map of mywaterbottle refillers (water coolers, cafes, restaurants, food and beverage outlets, etc) for easy and free refilling of water bottles.

5. Showcase events that encourage participants to bring their own refillable water bottles. Read more

Greenpeace University

CALLING ALL YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS FROM INDONESIA, SINGAPORE & MALAYSIA

Greenpeace South East Asia are seeking its next generation of leaders…future caretakers and activists for the Earth!

Could this be ‘YOU’?

Are you ready for the opportunity of a life time? To make a positive change for our environment? To stand up and make a real difference in an effort to protect our planet?

Become part of the ‘GREENPEACE UNIVERSITY’ Program, and not only achieve all of the above, but learn the skills and gain the experience to become an environmental activist of the future.

Commencing 14th June 2010, this exciting, first of its kind program in South East Asia consists of a 6.5 week direct learning program, delivered through systematic and guided training as well as relevant and ‘real’ hands-on practical experience. The course program is free of charge.

Participants will be ‘submerged’ into the world of Greenpeace. Here they will gain high level exposure to all major facets of our operation as well as essential training in skills such as basic campaign training, project management and research techniques. Based on this themed training, participants will be given the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a fully supervised, practical manner through a series of stimulating, real and relevant challenges and campaign placements.

Students successfully completing the program will be awarded a certificate of achievement upon completion.

To be eligible for this exciting program, you must meet the following criteria:

• Ability to speak, read and write in English language;
• Between 18 – 25 years of age;
• Committed and passionate towards saving the environment;
• Energetic, enthusiastic and willing to work hard, to learn and to be constantly challenged;
• Self confident, proactive and results orientated;
• Team player, with a ‘can do’ attitude;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment;
• Able to fully commit to 6.5 week, full-time program (approx. 38 hours per week) on a volunteer basis*

Eligible candidates who wish to apply should forward their resume (2 pages), an application cover letter explaining why they wish to become the new voice of our planet and join Greenpeace University, as well as a 500 word essay (in English), addressing one of the following topics:

1. Should economic development come at the expense of our environment?
2. What is civil society’s role in environmental protection?
3. Many businesses now say they are ‘green’. Many communities now have ‘green’ initiatives. Is this enough to protect our environment for future generations?

Applicants should send their application to:

Indonesian Applications: gpu.id@greenpeace.org

Singapore Applications: gpu.sg@greenpeace.org

Malaysian Applications: gpu.my@greenpeace.org

Become an environmental activist of the future and join Greenpeace University!

* Note: Financially disadvantaged applicants may apply to the program on a partial scholarship basis in which a modest stipend towards transport and accommodation may be awarded to the successful applicant/s. Interested applicants may request a Greenpeace University ‘Partial Scholarship’ Application Form by writing to chelsey.james@greenpeace.org. All scholarship applications should be submitted together with the general program application for the selection panels consideration.

Applications close 16th April 2010

For more information, feel free to visit our Greenpeace University website at:
www.greenpeace.org/gpu

Avoidance of Responsibility

Environmental problems are a manifestation and a consequence of avoidance of responsibility. It’s a result of us not being responsible to our future generations and the rest of nature (which we are a part of).

We take too much resources from nature; we consume too much; we don’t care about how our actions affect biodiversity; we enjoy short-term gains and ignore long-term losses. All because we don’t think we are responsible. To our children. To nature.

Our green future is not a dream but a responsibility to nature and our children. Be responsible. Now.

I’m sorry, each and every one of us can say, we have no choice but to destroy the planet. It’s really not our fault.

Bullshit.

We may as well acknowledge that our entire culture—from top to bottom, inside out, personally and socially—is founded on, motivated by, and requires a systematic and absolute avoidance of responsibility. This is true both for our actions and our failures to act. What, ultimately, is environmental degradation? Any and all environmental degradation is a manifestation and a consequence of avoidance of responsibility. What is pollution? It is a manifestation and a consequence of avoidance of responsibility. What is overfishing? Deforestation? They are manifestations and consequences of avoidance of responsibility.

And what is our failure to stop each of these things? It’s just as much an avoidance of responsibility.

- Derrick Jensen in Endgame Vol 2: Resistance

Image credit: phre3a via stock.xchng

Green Drinks Singapore – Jan 2010

January 28, 2010
8:15 pm	to	9:30 pm

From Green Drinks Singapore:

—–

Venue: Naive, 99 East Coast Road

This month, we are gathering all the green groups, societies, businesses and individuals with green values to talk about their plans for 2010, and explore ways we can all work together.

In particular, we are targetting to have ECO (Singapore), SEC, Nature Society (Singapore), Vegetarian Society (Singapore), Social Innovation Park, Food for All, green societies from the various tertiary institutions, various businesses, and individuals already well known in the green sphere. As always, everyone is welcome!

Let us have a meaningful greater conversation about what we can do together! Do spread the word, and we hope to see you there!

Foodwise, Naive has kindly put together a special three-course menu at the price of $18+ for those wishing to dine there.

How to get there: By bus- 10, 12, 14, 32, 40; By car- parking is available at Katong Mall and Katong Village

—–

(We are selling Al Gore’s new book, Our Choice, at Green Drinks to raise fund for the Haiti Earthquake relief operations. Have 40 copies of the book to sell at $50 each. 100% of profits will go to the Singapore Red Cross who will channel it to the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies.)

JGIS Announces Research/Conservation Grants in Primatology

This is a press release from the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore).

As part of its Primate Research Initiative, from 2010 the Singapore office of the Jane Goodall Institute will offer grants for projects related to the study and the conservation of primates in their natural habitat in Southeast Asia.

Singapore, January 8th 2010 – From 2010, on a yearly basis the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) will be offering grants of S$500-S$5000 to fund projects aimed at researching and conserving primates and their habitat in Southeast Asia. Applications for the 2010 grants are already open and the final application deadline is 15 February 2010.

The Primate Research Grant is part of the Primate Research Initiative launched in June 2009 by the founder of the organisation itself, Dr. Jane Goodall, during her last visit to Singapore. It aims to encourage the non-invasive study of primates in their natural habitat in Southeast Asia, with the hope that it may contribute findings as groundbreaking as Dr. Goodall’s own original work. Read more

Singapore Green Landscape 2010

Singapore Green Landscape 2010 gives an overview of the various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), green groups, business associations and groups, green websites, government agencies, and institutes and centres in Singapore, which are related to the environment.

We hope that the publication is useful for everyone who wishes to find and connect with the environmental organisations in Singapore, and explore personal and business opportunities.

The publication is free for download here. Feel free to share this.

Next Page »