Ideas That Inspire
- Happy Earth
- The Earth Charter
- Transition Towns
- UNESCO’s Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future
- Reading List
- Book List
- Your Suggestion
Happy Earth
A young couple in the Illawarra are carving out a pathway to suburban sustainability and are willing to share their roadmap with the community. Alison Mellor and Richard Walter purchased a weatherboard cottage with a large garden, typical of the post-war 1950’s period. Passionate about sustainable living, they took up the challenge to see how far it could be achieved in the suburbs of Wollongong. Their plan was to retrofit the house and to develop a food forest, making their lifestyle as sustainable as possible and to achieve this whilst both working fulltime and with limited capital.
- Learn more about Alison and Richard’s journey
here www.happyearth.com.au
The Earth Charter
The Earth Charter www.earthcharter.org is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century. Created by global civil society, endorsed by thousands of organisations and institutions, the Charter is not only a call to action, but a motivating force inspiring change the world over.
Transition Towns
www.transitionculture.org
www.transitionsydney.org
www.seac.net.au
This is beautiful – and you’re about to hear a lot more about it. Communities all over the world are getting together to plan their own response to climate change and a future without oil. It’s all about ‘energy descent futures’ – oh yes, it’ll make you think!
UNESCO’s Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future
www.unesco.org/education/tlsf
Do you need facts and figures? Are you a teacher? Would you like to take a short course in sustainability? This is for you…work through the modules for an amazing journey through the history – and future – of sustainability on Earth.
Reading List
Australia has been a pioneer of sustainable living for decades, and there are some very good publications which celebrate and share the achievements of those in pursuit of the ‘good life’.
These are some of the magazines which inspire us, many of which are available at your local library:
- Renew (www.ata.org.au/publications/renew) is published by the Alternative Technology Association (http://www.ata.org.au/about-us ), one of the leading sustainable technology organisations in the world. The magazine is a wonderful source of accurate information, as is the ATA website
- Published by the ABC, Organic Gardener Magazine (www.abc.net.au/gardening/features/organic_gardener.htm) is essential reading for all keen gardeners. Even if you’ve never picked up a trowel in your life, this magazine will inspire you to have a go at growing something beautiful, delicious – or both!
- Earth Garden (www.earthgarden.com.au ) has been celebrating ‘alternative lifestyles’ for nearly 40 years. An amazing treasure trove of DIY projects, traditional crafts, and special publications awaits you!
- G The Green Lifestyle Magazine (www.gmagazine.com.au ) is new to the scene, but proving very popular as a savvy monthly publication dealing with issues affecting urban consumers.
Book List
Coming soon!
Your Suggestion
Got an Idea that Inspires? Drop us a line at mail@sustainableillawarra.com.au or use our feedback form