All of us have some sort of vision for the way we want to live in our Village. Now, with the Management Committee about to initiate new inputs to whole-of-village planning, it’s a very good time to share some of those thoughts, so that we can get to know and appreciate both our commonality and our diversity.

A new webpage has been set up to present these ideas. Bridget O’Donnell and Adrian Oakey have kindly made the first contributions. See “Vision for AAEV” in the main menu at right.

If you would like to open up some of your own ideas to fellow villagers, send them in by email for posting on this new page.

Elizabeth H - Communications Group on behalf of MC

Congratulations to villager Anthony Steel, whose new book “Painful in Daily Doses” is hot off the press this December. See the Wakefield Press release flyer ATTACHED.

“If anyone can be said to be the father of festivals in Australia, it is Anthony Steel. He changed the way we experienced the arts, and set new standards for us to aspire to, both as audiences and artists.” – Robyn Archer

In this engaging memoir Anthony Steel tells his story, from growing up in a wealthy steel manufacturing family – the Steels of Sheffield – where music was a fundamental part of daily life, to his triumphant staging of Adelaide’s 1986 Festival ... ...
Painful in Daily Doses flyer 2

Just a reminder for the Village Knitting Group THIS Wednesday, from 7:30 pm at Julie’s place, 4 Hakea Walk

And for those with an interest in knitting, crochet, felting and similar crafts, here is some information from Mirra to think to think about for next year's handcraft projects:

Aldinga Spinners, Knitters & Felt makers meet in the Aldinga Community Centre, Symmonds Reserve, on Tuesdays during the day and fortnightly on Wednesday evenings.

The group features demonstrations of a range of techniques, including for next year: different ways of felting scarves, and moccasin making. Also next year, the group will be visited by Ron Dole, SA's own world-class maker of spinning wheels.

The contact for further information is Rosemary - 8556 6447 or 0417 823 176.

If you would like picture files of the Village from the air, Ken C recently took some photos during a flight over the district. See below for low-res samples. If you would like the larger files sent by email, let me know.

Elizabeth H - 8556 6892 or email

Australian humour causes international confusion!
A hoax "cheat's guide to Copenhagen for the Aust UNFCCC negotiating team" created confusion among foreign delegations to the Bangkok UN climate talks last month. Greenpeace Australia’s "top secret" guide suggests using "shock and bore tactics" "to dampen public enthusiasm" for action on climate change. "Bamboozle the public with acronyms and figures to make climate change sound as dull and confusing as possible," it suggests. If that fails "blame China", it says. It discusses "how to cook the climate books" on Australia’ss emissions accounts by pushing for Land Use Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) carbon credits to be included in any new global climate agreement, allowing Australia to avoid having to cut its industrial emissions. A delegation from a major emitter in the region thought the guide was real. See: 
http://www.greenpeace.org.au/blog/energy/?p=886

An Omissions Trading Scheme for Australia?
The australian gummint is determined to implement an 'omissions trading scheme'. There is a lack of understanding of what this entails, so ATTACHED is an explanation of the key concepts.
Omissions Trading

Having problems installing the program Husband 1.0? Better read the ATTACHED instructions from Tech Support:
Installing a Husband

[Thanks to Sharon Ede, Vanda R, Tony G and John H for the links.]

Must watch - the “Firecrackers”! Who knew skipping could be so amazing!
This is an example of making change fun - don't tell kids to eat right and exercise, get them involved in something they will want to do because its so cool! [note: no obese or overweight kids in this lot]! The Kings Firecrackers are a performance jump rope team made up of talented 4th-8th graders from the Kings Local School District in Ohio. Coached by Lynn Kelley, they perform at venues across the USA. This performance was at a US Army vs US Navy game in February [watch it all!]: See:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/firecrackers.html
OR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqI7cGM9mWs

Carbon Offsets don’t work! Consumer carbon offset schemes do not lead people to change their behaviour, the first holiday firm to run such a scheme has argued. ‘Responsible Travel’ said they were a "distraction" from climate change's real urgency and is ending its scheme. Read more at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8383869.stm

Rising sea levels threaten many coastal cities. When people talk about the impact of rising sea levels, they often think of small island states that risk being submerged if global warming continues unchecked. But it's not only those on low-lying islands who are in danger. Millions of people live by the sea - and are dependent on it for their livelihoods - and many of the world's largest cities are on the coast. By 2050 the number of people living in delta cities is set to increase by as much as 70%, vastly increasing the number of those at risk. See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8369236.stm

The case of Rom Houben, thought to have been in a coma for 23 years, but apparently conscious all the time, raises a horrifying prospect: how can you cope being trapped in your body, aware of everything but unable to communicate with the outside world? See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8378262.stm

There’s a bunch of impressive young Pacific Islanders who can't afford to travel to Copenhagen to tell the world's leaders that the decisions made there threaten the very existence of their home nations. They have asked us to help. GetUp is campaigning to make sure they get heard in Copenhagen. Can you help? See: www.getup.org.au/campaign/VoicesFromThePacific

[Thanks to John H, Opaleye, and GetUp for the links.]

It is time for Neighbourhood Groups to organise bird netting of fruit trees in their orchards.

Almond trees need to be netted as soon as possible. Other fruit trees will need covering over the next couple of months.

Please can Neighbourhood Group leaders let the Village grounds maintenance team know if their group can net the trees, or whether the task will need to be done by the maintenance team.

Contact Tony Gerlach (8556 6783 or 0413 407 150) or Marc Kelly (8556 5555 or 0429 144 304).

The bird netting is stored in two sheds in the Market St. area. Some bundles of netting are labeled with the approximate number of trees covered, and there is also a roll of netting near the Toyota ute. Scissors can be used to cut the bird netting if necessary.

Marc Kelly and Toby Good - for WMG Orchards and Irrigation

Jago and Christian, two young travelers from Germany, are staying with Lukas and Julia in the Village. They would like to raise money to travel to Tasmania, so are looking for some paid work, builder's laboring, gardening, landscaping or cleaning.

They have been landscaping around our house, are delightful to have around, and come highly recommended!

Please phone Lukas or Julia on 8556 6225 or 0402 622 820 or email

We are in the market for a dining table for our new cottage, and are looking for something secondhand or handmade locally - recycled hardwood preferably.

Does anyone have any ideas, or something suitable you want to sell?

Please contact Josh Spier on 0434 203 008 or by email

Cheers - Josh

Residents of Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsular can now access FREE home sustainability assessments to find out how to save energy and water around the house and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The free assessments are funded by the Australian Government’s Green Loans Program, which also funds interest-free Green Loans of up to $10,000 to make recommended improvements.

Each year the average Australian household contributes 13 tonnes of greenhouse gas to the atmosphere—enough to fill more than 700 balloons a day. Every household also draws an average of 73,000 buckets of water a year. That’s enough for around 12 baths a day.

Villager Mark Moody, who has completed the course to become an approved Green Loans assessor, can help you find ways to stop wasting resources, save money on household bills, make your home more comfortable, and help protect our environment.

To find out more, including how to begin the process, see the ATTACHED postcard:
Assessor-Postcard_Mark-Moody

For Sale: Cedar double door frame with sliding door and full length window 1798/2120 $200

Call Justin or Kat - 8556 5855

Want something to watch? Here’s a useful list of inspiring, enlightening and provoking films:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/moving-pictures-to-provoke-enlighten.html

If you are interested in Local Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS), this short (218 kb) essay, Explorations of the Localisation of Money, written last year by Sophia van Ruth of the Schumacher College is a good reference:
http://animatearts.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/localisation-of-money.pdf

Here’s something for our Cottage owners as they move into their cheek-by-jowl precinct: Short of space? Try vertical gardens and “edible walls”. See:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/incredible-edible-wall.html

Don’t waste your money on calcium supplements! If you’re taking them hoping to build strong bones and avoid osteoporosis you are likely to be let down on both fronts. See:
http://www.alsearsmd.com/calcium-supplements-bones/

Media web coverage of the Copenhagen and Emissions Trading processes:
SBS World News Australia has been running stories on renewable energy for the last week and has set up a special Climate Critical site ahead of the UN Copenhagen Conference. The site features text and video on a large variety of subjects including clean energy sources such as geothermal, wind and solar. See:
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/specialcoverage/5/Climate-Critical
In addition, ABC’s Inside Business had a good piece on Sunday that looked at the mechanisms of the CPRS with a lot fewer federal politicans per 30 seconds than most other recent coverage of the issue. Find video and transcript at:
http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/content/2009/s2749837.htm

Humanity collectively is now demanding 1.4 Planet Earths!
Interesting and challenging data (and good pictorial graphs) from the Global Footprint Network (GFN):
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/humanity-now-demanding-14-earths.html
http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/blog/ (posted 11/25/2009)
[The GFN site has more graphical data.]

Prosperity without more economic growth - Bring it on!
In his explosive new book, Prosperity Without Growth, author Tim Jackson makes a compelling case against continued economic growth in developed nations. No one denies that development is essential for poorer nations. But in the advanced economies there is mounting evidence that ever-increasing consumption adds little to human happiness and may even impede it. More urgently, it is now clear that the ecosystems that sustain our economies are collapsing under the impacts of rising consumption. Unless we can radically lower the environmental impact of economic activity - and there is no evidence to suggest that we can - we will have to devise a path to prosperity that does not rely on continued growth. Economic heresy? Or an opportunity to improve the sources of well-being, creativity and lasting prosperity that lie outside the realm of the market? Access the book at:
http://www.earthscan.co.uk/ProsperityWithoutGrowth/tabid/102098/Default.aspx

[Thanks to Vanda R, Michael V, and Opaleye for the links.]

Calling all parents:

Please help us to keep children from playing in, or sliding down, the planted mounds and slopes surrounding the amphitheatre when events are on around the Sharing shed and Pizza Oven, and now when films are shown in the Amphitheatre. Such play damages the native plantings that we have been struggling to nurture and maintain.

Jill W - for the NEC

Report on the recent community water discussion with Colin Pitman from the Salisbury Council and representatives from the Onkaparinga Council

As an environmentalist, I found this meeting optimistic. Colin talked about his passion for the integration of air, water and land to add biodiversity and richness for the Salisbury area.

New innovations are  coming from the Salisbury area, for instance, the Vertical bio-retention system which takes out heavy metals through a nano-sand technology and produces improved quality water; and an aquifer retrieval system is bringing reticulated water to home holding water tanks (purchased by the owner), via a drip system for garden usage, and for toilet flushing.

Colin mentioned the value of developing wetlands, and how, in one disadvantaged suburb he worked on, of how the human spirit is lifted and house prices increased.

The Onkaparinga Council Report:
Internal village lobbying for a wetland development this side of Bowering Hill Road has now come to fruition. With the $30 million federal water grant the Willunga Creek next to the farm is now a designated wetland with ASR (aquifer storage and retrieval). This will a beneficial backup for the village water supply as it would be cheaper and very accessible.

The Onkaparinga Council is getting pretty avant-garde in the field of storm water management, with the Hart Road wetland winning a national award, and water runoff treatment at Pt Willunga Beach car-park and the bio-retention garden on Quinliven Road award winners as well.

To become a food orientated village the water issue needs urgent attention and dual reticulation with reclaimed water from sewage, upgraded to A-grade water a priority.

The Village Wetland Group is looking at advanced, creative, state-of-the-art approaches to our system, and we will be asking for your ingenious ideas soon.

Anyone interested in wetland issues, please let me know by phone on 8556 6340 or by email.

Maria Bray - for the Wetland Group

Calling all applicants!  The City of Onkaparinga's 2010 Environment Grants and Awards program opens on 1 December 2009.

Grants are open to individuals, community groups, service clubs, schools, rural landholders and businesses. Maximum grants available are:
- $1,000 for up to 50% of total costs for demonstration sites or school projects conducted solely on school grounds.
- $4,000 for up to 50% of total costs for other projects (special conditions may apply).

Nominations can be made for achievements in the categories of individual, community group, local business or school projects.  Awards are given in the form of a certificate of appreciation and recognition and a $100 cheque.

A poster giving further detail is ATTACHED. 
Further information, guidelines and forms will be available from 30 November via:
http://www.onkaparingacity.com

Applications and nominations close 5pm Friday 12 February 2010. 
 
Tracy Fulton, Project Officer Sustainability - 8384 0083
Environmental Grants

Warning sign for anyone with an energy-hungry TV set - a move to ban them in California:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8367545.stm

Lost 81-year-old driver does 600km in a single shopping trip! Maybe this is why they start trying to take our licenses away after 70 years of age! Read more at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8365665.stm

“It’s time to dismantle the guilt industry, argues Adam Ma’anit – or else be smothered by its monopoly on our lives.” Even if you don’t read every word of this interesting article from New Internationalist (1/11/09), read the last paragraph for a little gem of positive thinking:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/guilt-complex.html

Interesting photos of new land emerging from an undersea volcano in the Pacific:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/maiken.asp

Speed yoga? Road runner living? What is the world coming to!How can we hurry up and slow down? Around the world, groups are organizing around taking a slower, more conscious approach to food, to community, to living. The Slow Movement began in 1989 in Italy as a a reaction to the fast pace and disconnectedness of modern life. Listen to a TED talk by Carl Honore on slowing down in a world built for speed:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/hurry-up-and-slow-down.html

Too much stuff - too many choices. What we need is less not more! If you have too many books on your ‘to read’ list and too many movies on your ‘to watch’ list, this is for you - a very witty, but also very insightful post from The Guardian:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/stuff-lanche-time-for-cultural-diet.html

‘AdBusters’ call a General Consumer Strike for Friday and Saturday:
Turn ‘Buy Nothing Day’ up a notch this year by joining the ‘Adbusters’Wildcat General Strike! On November 27/28 Adbusters are asking you to shut off your lights, your televisions and other nonessential appliances; park your car, turn off your phones and log off your computer for the day. The call is for a Ramadan-like fast. From sunrise to sunset, we abstain en masse - not only from shopping but from all the temptations of our five-planet lifestyles: See:
https://www.adbusters.org/blogs/adbusters-blog/wildcat-strike.html

Did you know that you can recycle your old glasses?

Your unwanted reading, sight or sunglasses can help improve the eyesight of children and adults all around the world. The simple donation of unwanted glasses can make a huge difference to someone living in less fortunate circumstances.

Drop off your unwanted reading glasses and sunglasses, either broken or intact to any OPSM, Laubman & Pank or Budget Eyewear stores across Australia.

For more information on recycling many other household items see - Amanda Rishworth's recycling information at:
http://www.rishworth.com.au/a/newsletters/GreenNewsletterAugust2009.pdf

SA Water has issued a Tree Planting Guide designed to help with selecting and positioning trees to lessen the risk of roots blocking sewerage pipes. While the main emphasis is on the standard Adelaide suburban environment, the guide may be useful to villagers thinking about planting trees near sewer lines on their lot or adjacent common land where there are buried sewer lines. You can find the Guide on the NEC Documents page at:
http://www.aaev.net/management/nec/nec_documents/index.html
or access it directly at:
http://www.aaev.net/management/nec/nec_documents/files/Tree_planting_guide.pdf

Hi - from your local Buyers Group
 
Here’s a summary of our latest Solar PV system offers. For more detail on how to place orders, and information on handling RECs under the new Solar Credits and old Rebate scheme, see the ATTACHED information sheet.

Offer prices include: Initial Site Inspection; physical installation of panels and racking system
co-ordination of the electrical installation; and help with the RECs (renewable energy certificate) application (for the new & old scheme)
               
1 kW System (incl inverter, 6 panels, racking & standard installation on iron roof)
$ 8,865 Incl. GST (plus electrical hook up and import / export meter)
                                               
1.7 kW System (incl inverter, 10 panels, racking & standard installation on iron roof)
$ 10,655 Incl. GST (plus electrical hook up and import / export meter)             

3.5 kW System (incl 2 inverters, 20 panels, racking & standard installation on iron roof)  
$ 20,570  Incl. GST (plus electrical hook up and import / export meter)              

NOTE:  For those interested in purchasing commercial solar PV systems, the government tax-break only applies to purchases made before the end of December 2009.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
 
Regards - Steve Poole - for Onkaparinga Buyers Group - email
Buyers Group offers

Here’s a cartoon from Seppo Leinonen that sums up nicely the juvenile “I want more!” behaviour of the consumer culture:

Benefits of meditation confirmed:
It seems medical science is catching up with traditional knowledge. There is now positive evidence that meditation eases the effects of heart disease and has tangible positive effects on the brain. Read more at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8363302.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7319043.stm

"Go Home On Time Day" - Wednesday 25 November:
Strike a blow for better work / life balance. Are you regularly working unpaid overtime. Don't do any on Go Home on Time Day! See:
http://www.gohomeontimeday.org.au

The Ecology of Finance:
From the new economics foundation - a greatly improved concept for the global financial system: “The financial system needs to start working like a productive ecosystem. It should be characterised by diversity and an ability to sustain specialised and adapted life in the face of external shocks. Instead of a monoculture of mega-banks deemed too big to fail and answerable only to the demands of private shareholders, an ecology of finance would involve a range of different financial institutions.” See:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/ecology-of-finance.html

Support the Reinvention of Economics to Sustain People and Planet: Sustainability is the art of living well within the limits of the world. But right now, for the first time in history, the human enterprise is in overshoot [the breaching of the physical limits of Earth’s capacity], driven by a commitment to growth in spite of its human and environmental costs. However, we invented the economic and social systems in which we operate, and we can change them so that they better meet the needs of all human beings, enhance our quality of life, and reduce our impact on the planet. The Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy [CASSE] promotes post-growth and steady state ideas, and on how to show people what this means for their lives. Read more at:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/please-vote-grow-better-not-bigger.html

Could the Earth be heading towards an even hotter future than currently predicted?
Average global temperatures are on course to rise by up to 6C without urgent action to curb CO2 emissions, the lead author of a new analysis says. See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8364926.stm

Could self interest just possibly get us moving on global warming?
Loss of polar bears? Huh? Retreating glaciers? What? Climate refugees? Nothing to do with me... My HOME under threat and I can't get insurance??? Something needs to be done about that! Excerpt from The Australian, 14 November: “Almost 250,000 homes, now worth up to $63 billion, will be "at risk of inundation" by the end of the century, under "worst-case but plausible" predictions of rising sea levels.” What if prime waterfront property becomes uninsurable as sea levels rise? For more, see:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/finding-self-interest-story.html

Electronic newsletter from the Global Footprint Network:
An interesting read if you are into the many interrelated aspects of sustainability:
http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/newsletter/

[Thanks to John H, Opaleye, and Zero Waste SA for the links.]

We Have a new system for dealing with refund recyclables.

Replacing the old bales we now have 2 wheelie bins with orange lids (see picture)

They will be emptied each week on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

These bins accept anything with a refund - PET and Glass Bottles, Aluminium Cans, and flavoured milk / juice Cartons. (Consider that the iced coffee containers that your builders leave on site are worth 10c to our community, they could go into the collection bins instead of your skip.)

Please take the lids off all bottles.

It is very important to only put refund recyclables  in these bins or we will forfeit the whole bin, ie. they pay us nothing. Please help by checking (is it refundable?) before you throw it in.

So Please no rubbish, cardboard / plastic or recyclables other than refundable containers.
All other recyclables can to go into the yellow top bins.

As a community we all benefit from the funds raised in these bins. For example, today’s delivery of refund recyclables made $53.60 for the Village Savings Fund.

Thanks for your support.

And finally, please don’t leave hard rubbish in the Recycling Bay until it is called for specifically for a hard rubbish collection. The picture below shows some rubbish that someone has dumped in the clean recycling area. If it is yours, please come and take it home. This area is not a dump. Please do not dump your rubbish. If dumping continues I may need to resort to locking the gates.

Bridget O’D - for the Works Maintenance Group

Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its annual neologism contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternative meanings for common words. The winners are:

1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

See the ATTACHMENT for more winners:
Neologism winners

Did you ever have doubts about whether sorting recyclables is worth your while? If so, you had better not watch this funny video!
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/recycling-omid-djalili-show.html

The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit, says a whistleblower at the International Energy Agency who charges it has been underplaying a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying. The senior official says the US has played an influential role in encouraging the watchdog to underplay the rate of decline from existing oil fields while overplaying the prospects of new reserves. Read more at:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/panic-warning-as-oil-supplies-run-low.html

Tackling global warming means not only changing attitudes but behaviour as well. And that turns out to have little to do with science or government policy. The psychology of climate change is the broken thread, the missing piece in the puzzle. Most people don't believe the messages of chief scientists and politicians. Instead, it said we constantly compare ourselves to others and this influences our environmental behaviour. Read more at:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/delicate-psychology-of-climate-change.html

Carbon trading cannot work. How do we know this? Because economic theory tells us so! Read this interesting post at:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/why-carbon-trading-cannot-work.html

'The prestigious Prix Pictet was inaugurated two years ago to honour outstanding photography that conveys important messages about global environmental issues. Last year's theme was water; this year it is earth...
Can the earth’s complex living systems sustain the future consumption patterns of another three billion people in the world’s population by 2050? Or are we making the transition to a point where the face of the earth – its soil, its waters, its groves, its hollows – is no longer natural, but bears the terminal scars of man’s intervention. If a picture tells 1000 words, the winners of the Prix Pictet are worth volumes. Do browse this amazing site - and be moved to help protect our Earth from the ravages of human culture:
http://www.prixpictet.com

The Death of “Gucci Capitalism”: We are witnessing the death of a paradigm. As is usual at moments of mourning, the new reality is being met by denial, resistance and anger from the initiators and defenders of the old faith. It would be parochial to think recent events expose only flaws in the banking sector - micro-flaws - and the outcome will be a mere tinkering with the financial system. The dominant economic theory of the past 20 years - a theory that put liberty before equality, gave markets more power than states, and saw risk as a public good that shouldn't be restrained - is now defunct. The laissez-faire capitalism embraced by the US and the UK some 20 years ago and foisted on the poorest countries of the world by the World Bank and IMF has had its day. Read more at:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/death-of-gucci-capitalism.html

Debate over rising seas is heating up! A report out today by the Federal Government's Department of Climate Change contains some extremely worrying data about the likely implications of rising sea levels over this century. It shows some local government areas in Australia would be inundated. Two of the worst affected are along Adelaide's shoreline. Read more at:
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26348493-5006336,00.html

[Thanks to Sharon Ede of Opaleye and John H for the links.]

There are now only two Lots left in the final land release (Lots 120 to 129)

We are willing to talk a extra special price if settled by Christmas.

Call Lou de Leeuw on 0412 806 329

Hi there sports fans,

The proudly 100% Village indoor soccer team, Village FC, has had two matches in the 5-a-side indoor comp. at Seaford.

In our first match we were beaten, but not nearly as badly as anticipated, with a scoreline of 11 - 4 against one of the better teams in the comp.

Last night, in gruelling heat with just one substitute, we managed to grind out eight goals (all thanks to Tom, the Village Cristiano Ronaldo) and were only just pipped with the other team scoring nine. With this kind of form in our first two matches, it's looking like a promising season, so get your tickets now.

If you're interested in getting involved, it's good to have a longish list of subs to call in, so please let me know. If you just want to cheer on the side and see us suffer in the heat, you're more than welcome to come along and watch. Match times can be found out from anyone who's playing, or, if you're super keen, the monthly game times are posted on the seaford rec centre website at: http://www.casaleisure.com.au/media/docs/seafwedsoccer.pdf

Tim J

Does anyone have, or know how to access or purchase, a small rope-twisting device - or can give me more information about such a device. It is capable of making ropes out of used bale twine and/or plastic bags.

If you think you might be able to help with information, call Mirra on 0417 740 280.

Hi all,
 
We all love the farmer's market, and I thought I would let everyone know (who doesn't already) that on the second Saturday of every month between 9am and 1pm they have the Willunga Artist's Market in the hall across the road from the farmer's market.

I have a display there with my jewellery, and as I have already given a couple of villagers discount on my already low prices, I thought I would let you all know as a general rule ....10% DISCOUNT TO ALL AAEV VILLAGERS AT THE TEMPLE & UNIQUE BELT BUCKLES JEWELLERY STAND.

Very timely with Christmas looming....!

Melissa P

Too often the elderly in our society are treated as peripheral, as nuisances, like children, or even as though they have somehow become invisible as real people. The ATTACHED poem, currently in general circulation through the internet, strikes a blow for better visibility and appreciation for elders in our society. [Thanks to Anne W for sending it in.]
Grumpy Old Mans gift

“Slow death by rubber duck” a new book on the toxicity of everyday manufactured materials - an insidious effect on our lives and the planet; see:
http://slowdeathbyrubberduck.com/

How clutter costs you money: Clutter isn’t just about making you stressed out and irritated, it can actually have an impact on your wallet and your bank account - to say nothing of the blow-out of your environmental footprint! See:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-clutter-costs-you-money.html

The Climate Debt Crisis - The world’s richest economies are responsible for the majority of carbon emissions causing climate change. A British report calculates that ‘climate compensation’ owed to poor countries far outweighs the illegitimate debts with which they are currently burdened. The UK, for example, owes the Developing World £17 Billion in “Climate Compensation” annually. Read more at:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/climate-debt-crisis-uk-owes-developing.html

In case Village knitters aren't busy enough already with rugs for our own babies, here’s another great project: “Knit One to Save One” - Just by knitting a 20cm square you can help to save a life.  Get friends and family in on it too and help piece together warm blankets for children in countries that need a helping hand.  A 20cm knitted square is all we ask of you. See:
http://www.savethechildren.org.au/knit-one-save-one

[Thanks to Vanda R, Opaleye, and Beau S for the links.]

Hi everyone,

Just letting you all know that Christy gave birth to a son yesterday (6 November) at home! Archie James Spier weighed in at 3kg. Christy and Archie are doing great, and we are thrilled and happy. We’re looking forward to introducing him to everyone in the near future.

Love - Josh

[Josh, Christy and Matilda Spier - Cottage 22]

Use of Rainbank Controller for water pumps:

It has come to my attention that people have either installed a Daveys Rainbank Controller or are being advised to buy one by the pump dealer to allow swap over between mains and tank water. The Rainbank controller requires mains pressure to operate and actually uses mains until the flow is more than 1.5 litres per minute. This means that if the village pump is not working then neither will your own pump which is not a good idea

Make sure that you get an independent pressure controller for your pump. I would advise manual change over if you need it. Please refer to the Water Document on the AAEV web site for information on the ways to configure your water systems. See:

http://www.aaev.net/management/bdc/bdc_documents/files/Water%20Systems%200704.pdf

Adrian Oakey - BDC Co-ordinator

For particular attention by new Lot owners - especially Cottage owners:

There is a lot of mail piling up in the large metal box labelled “173” in front of the Village Noticeboard. Quite a bit of it is for Cottage owners who, as yet, have no other mailbox option.

And a reminder: Mail which is addressed to any lot-owner as “Unit XX/173 Port Road” will be placed in this box as the mailman has no cross-index for lot numbers and street numbers.

Mail which is regularly placed in this box includes important notices from the Council, Electoral Office, etc., as these agencies do not recognise our streets numbers.

So - even if you have a separate mailbox for your street number and have notified all your personal contacts, or even if you are not actually resident at the Village yet, make sure to check the big “173” mailbox periodically.

John H - on behalf of WMG

Available for loan: Vestfrost fridge and freezer

If interested, contact Mirra to discuss on 0417 740 280.

If you have offcuts of fibre-cement sheeting (blue-board) you want to get rid of, please let me know. I need pieces for mosaic work.
               
Phone Bridget O’D - 8557 6123 or 0418 892 463

More on food waste in Australia:
Australian households are throwing out $5.2 billion worth of food each year, which exceeds the amount they spend on digital equipment such as flat screen TVs, according to new research by The Australia Institute (TAI). TAI is a partner in Do Something's 'FoodWise' campaign, which aims to reduce this high level of waste. Read more at:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-waste-analysis-of-household.html
http://www.foodwise.com.au/

It just had to happen, didn’t it - a send-up game featuring the role of cows in greenhouse emissions and global warming! See:
http://www.carbonmarket.com.au/game/savethecows.html

The human skin is a giant bacterial ecosystem. Scientists have developed an atlas of the bacteria that live in different regions of the human body. Some of the microbes help keep us healthy by playing a key role in physiological functions. Read more at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8342991.stm

“Nano-particles” found to cause damage to DNA: Tiny metal particles have been shown to cause changes to DNA across a cellular barrier - without having to cross it. The nanometre and micrometre scale particles resulted in an increase of damage to DNA across the barrier via a never-before-seen cell signal process. Reporting in Nature Nanotechnology, the researchers say the mechanism could be both a risk and an opportunity. They say the preliminary result is relevant as more medical therapies rely on small-scale particles. Read more at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8344815.stm

[Thanks to Opaleye, Zero Waste SA, and John H for the links.]

From today's ‘Indaily’ of the The Independent Weekly (Thanks to Jane O’C):

Rainwater declared safe for daily drinking 
A major study of Australian households with a water tank has found drinking rainwater had no impact on their health.

The study was based in Adelaide, the nation's tank capital, and took in 300 homes that used rainwater as their primary drinking source. All of the homes were given a benchtop filter and told it would remove any potential gastroenteritis-causing bugs from their water, but half of the devices intentionally did not work. The rate of gastro cases recorded across the households over 12 months was found to match that seen across the broader community, who drank treated tap water. "There were just under 770 episodes of gastroenteritis reported during the study or 0.77 episodes of gastro per person," said Associate Professor Karin Leder, head of the infectious diseases unit at Monash University's department of epidemiology. "Interestingly, this rate is very similar to the rate of gastro reported in other studies both in Australia, and in ! other industrialised countries, amongst non-rainwater drinkers." Gastroenteritis rates were the same for families who used the working filters and those who had the dummy devices. The research contrasts with official advice from state health departments that discourages rainwater drinking where treated water is available. (AAP)

Hi everyone,

There will be a vote on the Willunga Basin Protection Bill, (which was passed in the Upper House on October 4th), in the House of Assembly in the next two sitting weeks (17-19 Nov / 1-3 Dec).  

If you can spare some time to lobby the House of Assembly Members in support of this, and/or write letters in support, this would be most helpful in building support for some kind of protection legislation, whether it be for this bill or a possible government alternative bill further down the track...
 
The House of Assembly contact details may be found at:
http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Members/ContactDetails.htm   

Your letter could be something similar to:

****************************************
To whom it may concern

The various agricultural, horticultural, environmental, tourism, heritage, landscape, community and other assets of the region bounded by the Onkaparinga River Riparian Zone, the Adelaide Hills Escarpment, Sellicks Beach and the sea - and otherwise known as the Willunga Basin - require legislative protection, and I/we therefore encourage you to support the Willunga Basin Protection Bill with your vote. I/We understand that close to 1600 signatories have put their name to a petition to that effect, and that the Legislative Council and the City of Onkaparinga have also voted to support the Bill.

In addition to the petition, a Spring Forum held in Aldinga historic township on September 17, 2009 was attended by 100 + people. Those present represented residents, wine growers, tourist enterprises, food producers and people with environmental interests. The forum was sponsored be the McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism Association and the Southern Community Coalition.  The Coalition represents community groups from Maslin Beach to the Sellicks area (including the Willunga Farmers’ Market, Friends of Willunga Basin, Aldinga Bay Residents Association and Friends of Port Willunga) and MVGWTA represents over 520 grape-growers, winemakers, food producers and tourism businesses in the McLaren Vale region. Together these bodies cover the diverse interests of the Willunga Basin.
 
There was overwhelming support at this meeting and other community forums for legislation for long term protection, so again we ask that you take business and community sentiment into account when voting on the Upper House Bill.

Yours sincerely

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Put in your name and address)

*********************************
Stephanie Johnston

The Copenhagen agenda: Global Warming or Global Government?
Environmental policy expert and former science adviser to Margaret Thatcher, Lord Christopher Monckton travels the globe educating people on the myths about global warming. He sued to prevent Al Gore's, ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ from being forced into British classrooms, and won. The judge ordered that 9 serious inaccuracies in the film be corrected. Al Gore has for years refused to accept Monckton's repeated challenge to a public debate on global warming.
Monckton has very closely read the 200 page proposed UN Climate Change Treaty world leaders are expected to sign in Copenhagen in a few weeks. Below are links to a speech and radio interview with him, and two Australian newspaper articles concerning the alarming and irrevocable changes that are about to be very quietly ushered onto the Australian and global stage. This is vital information that every Australian should know, so do pass the links on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMe5dOgbu40
http://www.2gb.com/index2.php?option=com_newsmanager&task=view&id=4998
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26268754-7583,00.html
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/kevin-rudds-7b-un-wrangle/story-e6frfhqf-1225794045942

[Note: Several copies of the documentary, Global Warming or Global Governance? by Dr M.C Coffman are now available from the village library for circulation. Thanks to Julia E]

The Greenpeace “DirtyKev” campaign: Send Kevin Rudd, Penny Wong and your local MP a letter using the form at the link below. Tell Rudd that he must stand up for Australians and the climate rather than the big polluters when he goes to Copenhagen.
http://www.dirtykev.org/letter/letter.php

Shocking statistics: Internationally renowned speaker, artist and photographer, Chris Jordan (www.chrisjordan.com) knows how to make statistics riveting! This month he is in Australia using his unique artists eye to give us some shocking reasons for the “4 Rs” - Refuse, Reduce, Re-use, Recycle. To see Chris in action visit :
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/chris_jordan_pictures_some_shocking_stats.html

Culture of “We” rather than “I” buffers genetic tendency to depression:
A genetic tendency to depression is much less likely to be realized in a culture centered on collectivist rather than individualistic values, according to a new Northwestern University study. In other words, a genetic vulnerability to depression is much more likely to be realized in a Western culture than an East Asian culture that is more about we than me-me-me. Read more at:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/culture-of-we-buffers-genetic-tendency.html

Carfree cities - an idea with legs: A quarter of households in Britain – more in the larger cities, and a majority in some inner cities – live without a car. Imagine how quality of life would improve for cyclists and everyone else if traffic were removed from areas where people could practically choose to live without cars. Vauban in Germany is one of the largest car-free neighbourhoods in Europe, home to more than 5,000 people. If you live in the district, you are required to confirm once a year that you do not own a car – or, if you do own one, you must buy a space in a multi-storey car park on the edge of the district. Read more at:
http://opaleye.blogspot.com/2009/11/carfree-cities-idea-with-legs.html

Is CSIRO gagging its scientists again? In research areas that directly relate to current federal government policy, scientists risk a rap over the knuckles or worse in getting their work read by the public - i.e., the people who fund the work in the first place! See:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26291548-2702,00.html

[Thanks to Julia E, Marion Ferguson, Sharon Ede, Opaleye, and John H for the links.]

How often do we joke about computer and call-centre services being located in India. Well, I had a real laugh at the pictures in the ATTACHMENT sent in by Anne Waters. I saw similar “rats nests” on street poles in Pakistan in the 1990s. The very idea that they are still around today in a place that provides sophisticated electronic services is mind-boggling!
Calling Mumbai

Go Home on Time Day - November 25:
In recognition of the more than 2 billion hours of unpaid overtime that Australians work each year, The Australia Institute (TAI) has declared November 25 to be national Go Home On Time Day. It's intended to be a guilt-free way of raising awareness of the nature and extent of unpaid overtime in Australia and the important economic, health and social consequences it often has. The dedicated GHOTD website allows people to register their intention to participate. In the weeks leading up to GHOTD TAI will be releasing the results of a national poll and research into the economic impacts of overwork. See:
http://www.gohomeontimeday.org.au/

The great name change debate – register your vote now! The McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association is running a campaign to put McLaren Vale on the SA Tourism map. However, if it aint broke ... ...! It seems South Australians have quite an aversion for name-changing and were not talking about another hospital. The committee of Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism has voted against a proposal to rename the Fleurieu Peninsula McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Peninsula. Would you have liked to see the name changed? Have your say in our online poll. http://www.independentweekly.com.au/polls/

Eating a diet high in processed food increases the risk of depression, research suggests. What is more, people who ate plenty of vegetables, fruit and fish actually had a lower risk of depression, the University College London team found. Read more at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8334353.stm

The “350” Global Day of Climate Action on 24 October has produced a legacy of some inspiring events and images from over 5200 actions in 181 countries. Check out the brief video capturing the moment at the following link:
https://www.getup.org.au/campaign/Copenhagen&id=810?dc=913,363257,2

So why wouldn’t you sell your soul to migrate from Africa to Europe? Thousands of Africans try to make the journey to Europe each year as illegal migrants - risking people smugglers, deserts, sea crossings and the possibility of being sent home, all for the dream of a better life. Check the statistics at the following link and it becomes totally understandable:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6228236.stm

[Thanks to The Australia Institute, GetUP, Stephanie J, and John H for the links.]