Greens Welcome Sustainable Living Fair

With the challenges our society is facing from climate change and water shortages, we must all do what we can in our lives to help ease the squeeze on the planet.

The Caboolture Sustainable Living Fair on 2 June 2007 will be the perfect opportunity for people to find out more about how to reduce their impacts on the earth.

Greens lead Senate candidate, Larissa Waters, will be attending the CREEC Fair and will be available to meet and talk to people at the Greens stall at the Fair. Ms Waters is an environmental lawyer who has worked for the last five years giving free legal advice to the community on using law to protect the environment.

Ms Waters will briefly outline the Greens SUSTAINABLE HOUSING and TRANSPORT policies, and will be joined by two other prominent speakers - sustainable living guru Jeff Poole, co-owner of Bellis - the sustainable house, and Al Gore trained climate change speaker Dr Matthew Gray.

“The Greens believe that Governments should be introducing policies and subsidies to encourage and reward sustainable lifestyles, and make it easier for us all to live a sustainable life,” said Ms Waters.

“Full rebates for solar panels, water tanks and backyard greywater recycling would enable all families, regardless of their income, to do their bit to reduce climate change and water usage.

“But there are other things that people could do without spending any money – in fact they may even save families money.

“Catch public transport to work if it’s available, and just count the dollars you save and the stress you avoid of sitting in traffic! If there’s no train or bus, try car pooling with workmates.

“Think about what you buy in the shops – is it grown and packed in Australia? If not, it might have come many miles using lots of fossil fuels to get here – and that’s bad for climate change and Australian industry! Is it wrapped in a whole lot of unnecessary packaging? Buy in bulk and save money as well as plastic! And don’t forget to take your re-useable green bags to the grocery stores.

“Want your herb or vege garden to perk up? Then start composting your fruit and vege scraps rather than just chucking them in the bin!

“Think about switching over to green power if you have a few extra dollars a week – you can feel great about powering your home with clean, green renewable energy.

“And think about whether you really need to buy that item. Are you just being sucked in by the advertising industry to waste money on stuff you don’t need? Save money and energy to protect your wallet as well as the earth’s climate!

“I am looking forward to attending the Sustainable Living Fair at CREEC on 2 June 2007, to find out more about new, simple ways of reducing my carbon footprint. Catching the train there and back from Brisbane will be a start!” said Ms Waters.

Larissa Waters

Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland

email: larissa.waters@qld.greens.org.au