Previous Events 2006

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Recent public forum on global warming

Excellent attendance at a recent public forum on global warming held at LaTrobe University's Wodonga campus on November 20 confirmed public interest in this critical issue.

The evening forum "Global Warming ­ What can we do? What do our pollies propose?" was presented by the Institute together with La Trobe's Department of Environmental Management and Ecology, School of Life Sciences. The forum, attended by an estimated 150 to 180 people, provided for an informative and interesting discussion on the positions of our major political parties, and how we, as a regional community, can respond to the challenges posed by climate change.

The speakers were Bill Baxter (National Party), Lisa Mahood (ALP), Helen Robinson (Greens) and Tony Plowman MP who represented Bill Tilley (Liberal Party).

Institute director Prof Allan Curtis gave an overview of climate change concentrating on the predicted changes and the social and economic impacts in this region of those changes.

Head of the Department of Environmental Management and Ecology, Assoc Prof Phil Suter who chaired the evening said the forum was an example of the region's two universities working together to inform the community on important issues.

Globalisation, Development, and Human Security in the Asia-Pacific Region

Poverty, post-disaster rehabilitation and community development issues were intensely debated at an international conference on the influence of globalisation on economic development and human security in the Asia-Pacific.

About 150 participants from nearly 20 countries attended the conference held in Thailand in October and organised by A/Prof Manohar Pawar in collaboration with Japan 's Taisho and Kyushu Universities, and Thailand 's Thammasat University.

A strong theme emerging at the conference concerned Thailand 's policy focus on a 'self sufficiency economy'. This new model advocates the country's social policy for a modest life, resilience and the role of reasoning to progress society.

A/Prof Pawar said," The conference was not only a great success, but also laid a solid foundation for the group's intention to play a role in bringing the region's millennium development goals to fruitation." Any organisation interested in hosting the next conference should contact Manohar.

Launch of The Impact of Drought on Secondary Education Access in Australia's Rural and Remote Areas

(L to R): Kay Hull MP, Julie Bishop MP, Margaret Alston and Jenny Kent (L to R): Kay Hull MP, Julie Bishop MP, Margaret Alston and Jenny Kent

The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop visited CSU on 24 August to launch Professor Margaret Alston and Jenny Kent's report "The Impact of Drought on Secondary Education Access in Australia's Rural and Remote Areas". Unfortunately FRRR patron and head of the Myer Foundation, Ballieau Myer could not attend but a gathering of 50 guests heard the Minister speak about the importance of the research in presenting a real picture about life for students in rural and remote areas.

The report was funded by the philanthropic organisation, The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) as part of their charter to support communities to respond positively to change and build social and economic wealth in rural and regional Australia. The Department of Education, Science and Training also funded the report.

Further information on the drought report, including key recommendations is available.

Taking the heat out of prescribed burning

Speakers pictured at the forum (L to R): Peter Farrell, John Boal, Bruce Shindler and Ian Lunt Speakers pictured at the forum (L to R): Peter Farrell, John Boal, Bruce Shindler and Ian Lunt

This public forum, held on August 15 at the Nowik Theatre in Albury at 6pm attracted an excellent crowd of more than 80 people with a good cross-section of landholder, NSW Rural Fire Brigade, Country Fire Authority, land management agencies, local and state government and the health sector representatives.

The evening, which was chaired by the Institute's director Prof Allan Curtis, was informative and interesting with the keynote speaker Prof Bruce Shindler, a social scientist from Oregon State University providing an international perspective on prescribed burning while discussing his research on enhancing its social acceptability. He told his audience that they should encourage others in their communities to get engaged in the steps involved in the planning processes for prescribed burning.

"In the U.S. if you don't have a community fire plan you don't get fire money," he said. He also stressed the need to build "trust" between communities and agencies. "Sometimes difficult choices have to be made and you need to be honest about that," he said.

Other speakers in the evening which included a lively question and answer session and the opportunity for participants to chat over a glass of wine or a cup of tea were:

HERITAGE FUTURES: Global and Local

A successful public seminar presented by Assoc Prof Dirk Seminar at the Nowik Theatre in Albury on June 6 saw a crowd of some 40 people enjoy Dirk's interesting presentation on Heritage Futures: Global and Local. Starting with a quote "My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there" from Charles Kettering, former head of General Motors Dirk dispelled some of the myths about heritage, namely that something needs to be old, pretty, historical and that time needs to have elapsed to make it worth preserving.

Dirk went through a range of examples of things he believes we need to look at now to assess their future heritage value."We need to consider now what we will leave for the next generation. If something is likely to be of significance we need to manage it now. If it doesn't turn out to be important, we can always take it off the list."

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