[Peakoil] Re: [PopulationForum] Heinberg Tours Australia 21/8 - 7/9

[Jenny Goldie]

No Canberra meeting? I'm sure ACT Peak Oil and SPA would be happy to organise. Who should we contact?

Jenny

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: eclipse 
  To: SPA at mail08.syd.optusnet.com.au 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 2:48 PM
  Subject: [PopulationForum] Heinberg Tours Australia 21/8 - 7/9


   



  Peak Oil and Permaculture 
  Australian Tour by Richard Heinberg and David Holmgren
  August-September 2006


  Background

  With the peak of global oil production happening or imminent, the issue is breaking into mainstream economic and political discussion and there is a widening of public awareness through coverage in the mass media.  A public speaking tour of Australian capital cities in August by two leading thinkers on the issue presents an excellent opportunity to inform a larger number of people about both the issues and ,most importantly, the creative solutions that people can implement in a context where government has almost completely failed. 

  Richard Heinberg, university teacher at New College in California is author of The Party’s Over and Powerdown.  He is one of the best known of the many peak oil publicists and is constantly in demand as a public speaker in the USA and around the world. His presentations are featured in the 2003 documentary film about peak oil called The End of Suburbia. 

  David Holmgren is best known as the co-originator with Bill Mollison of the permaculture concept (1978).  His book Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability provides deeper insights into the principles behind permaculture strategies and techniques for living within nature’s limits.  In 2005 Holmgren and Heinberg shared a platform at two peak oil conferences in Ireland and the seed was sown for this Australian tour.
    
  The aims for this tour are two fold. 
  Firstly to provide an informative briefing and an empowering sense of how citizens and communities can creatively respond to the end of cheap energy.  

  Secondly, to bring the focus of media and public awareness to local groups, networks and businesses that are providing resources for both awareness and positive solutions.

  While both speakers are more than capable of addressing the issues and the solutions, Richard will draw on his extensive experience to explain the changing role of oil and gas in shaping our world and a broad overview of the solutions. His work can be accessed at www.museletter.com

  David will draw on the incredible success of permaculture as a grass roots global  movement to present a diverse range of strategies and solutions that people can implement at home and in their communities. His work can be accessed at www.holmgren.com.au. For a download of a powerpoint presentation by David on this issue see Global Energy Peak: Threat or Opportunity at
  www.holmgren.com.au/html/Writings/Writings.html

  The tour is an opportunity for peak oil and permaculture activists to join forces to drive the debate about an energy constrained world towards household and community based creative solutions. 



  Proposal

  This is an invitation to peak oil and permaculture activists based in Australian capital cities to take a lead in organizing these events either as interested individuals or through relevant organizations. At this stage it is not possible to consider events in Darwin, Canberra and regional centres because of the limitation of time.

  The tour dates and duration is set between August 21st and Sept 7th to fit within Richard’s availability.

  A well publicised evening lecture at a large public venue with audio visual facilities should the central event in each capital city.  Sponsorship from universities,  relevant government agencies, NGO’s and corporations with relevant track records should be sought and considered. Any sponsorship arrangement should be checked with us before conformation. 

  Su Dennett (partner of David) will accompany David and Richard to provide organisational support as well stretch breaks in the presentations. 

  Extensive publicity should be used to ensure the event makes a significant media impact and audience attendance covers costs..  Different angles of the tour could be used in targeting different networks and media. For example the broad environment movement might be one important target group.  Emphasising the environmental credentials of the two speakers might help counteract the inertia in the environment on peak oil perhaps because of a perception that the message is any environmental (ie the idea that petroleum is bad primitive stuff is replaced by one saying it is scarce and valuable)  The mainstream media may be attracted to the idea that this tour is about the good news as well as the bad news.  This emphasis on solutions may also work with people familiar with the issue but looking to move on the adaptive strategies they can take.  

  Richard and David will be available for media interviews especially beforehand to promote the events. 


  Displays and representation by local activists and relevant businesses should be organised to provide support and add value to the presentations by Richard and David. Organisers should network with these groups galvanising support and sponsorship for the events. Some examples might be bicycle transport, car pooling and sharing, natural building, alternative technology and energy sources, reuse and recycling, community gardens, food co-ops, community supported agriculture, ethical investment, LETS, WWOOFing and other grass roots solutions accessible to the public as well as by environmentally focused businesses. Permaculture courses and training options should be represented. Some discretion should be exercised in selection of relevant and appropriate displays and groups represented.  Book sales, especially, but not exclusively of Richard’s and David’s publications is another important element that could be used by the organisers to enhance the financial and community education value of the event.  Arrangement for purchase of adequate books at wholesale prices should be made with the publishers well beforehand. Alternatively an appropriate bookseller, who is prepared to have appropriate stock of  books could be sought as a sponsor for the event.

  We encourage non-profit organisations taking responsibility for organising these events to be as entrepreneurial as possible so long as any profits are used to support relevant work of the organisation.  
  Richard and David would be available to sign books.


  The draft outline below could be varied to suit particular requirements 

  6.30pm Doors open for payment and examining displays
  7.00pm Introduction by leading local figure (balance between being well known and being up to speed on the issues and the work of Heinberg and Holmgren)
  7.15pm Presentation by Heinberg using powerpoint (including 3 minute stretch break led by Dennett)
  8.00pm Questions from floor
  8.15pm Interval: tea/coffee, displays
  8.45pm Presentation by Holmgren using powerpoint (including 3 minute stretch break led by Dennett)
  9.30pm Questions from floor
  9.45pm  Book signings, displays
  10.00pm  Close venue

  The cost of entry to the evening can be set by the organisers but we suggest $25-35 with concessions might be an appropriate figure.

  The tentative dates for events are as follows

  Brisbane 22nd and 23rd
  Perth  24nd and 25th
  Adelaide  26th and 27th
  Sydney  29th to 31st
  Hobart   1st and 2nd
  Melbourne 3rd to 5th 
  R&R Hepburn 6th and 7th

  The extra day in Sydney and Melbourne allows for a half day workshop aimed at corporate, public policy and political representatives which is in the early planning stages (by Catalyst Communications)

  It is hoped that these workshops will provide a limited but effective way to get higher level support  for more progressive responses to energy descent and partially cross subsidise the public talks by covering air travel costs.  At a later date David may be available to run half, one or two day advanced permaculture principles workshops for sustainability activists and professionals which will provide a foundation for developing peak oil solutions. Information about these will be available for use in promotion.


  The proposed cost to organisers of the public event in each city is $2500 plus provision of local transport, food, hosting and/or accommodation for Richard, David and Su. We hope that this modest cost will allow local organisers to cover costs and, by making effective use of volunteers, to make a significant profit to support peak oil and permaculture activism.

  This proposal is being sent to an initial list of contacts, if you think there are persons and/or organisations better able to take up this offer please let us know. An email list should be established between groups in each capital city to exchange  ideas and cross promote.


  This proposal will allow local organisers to take responsibility for the local event/s while Holmgren Design Services takes responsibility for ensuring Richard and David liaise to ensure integrated and complementary presentations.


  Su Dennett and David Holmgren 









  Dave Lankshear

  www.eclipsenow.org

  Free peak oil posters for your local notice board.

  www.sydneypeakoil.com

  Raising Sydney's awareness of global oil depletion and the possible consequences






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