An old discussion thread but hey, I am going to push it along .. <br><br><div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/plakboek/466917666/">
<img style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/217/466917666_3d179de54c_m.jpg"></a> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/plakboek/466917666/">
<br></a> </span></div>
Challicum Hills Wind Farm is a wind power station near Ararat in western Victoria, Australia. The
wind farm complex has 35 wind turbines, with a total generating capacity of 52.5
MW of electricity. The energy is produced by Pacific Hydro for Origin
Energy who pass on the electricity to our home and this computer. It gets better :-)<br>
<br>
Farming
continues around and between the towers. It is a nice picture of
contrast of orange sand and blue sky, wood and steel, old and new
technologies that now try harder to be environmentally sustainable. At
least for my eyes, they are less of a blot on the landscape than a
smoky, brown coal fired power station.<br>
<br>
With the family car tanked up with <a href="http://www.farmersfuel.com.au/SAFF%20Biodiesel.htm">SAFF Biodiesel</a>,
this was a great stop over on the start of our greenhouse friendly
holiday. I hear you say Biodiesel? Well the fuel that my car now runs
on comes from canola oil plants, not fossil dinosaurs. This means that
we didn't contribute any more carbon dioxide or extra greenhouse gases
on our holiday. Our holiday, did something positive for the future and
we didn't need to procrastinate or leave global warming problems for
our kids to solve.<br>
<br>Stephen, Biopetrol has added ethanol. Basically it is a better performing premium fuel (racing cars add methanol) but sold at a standard fuel price. No modification needed for most cars, my Subaru runs like a dream on it, slightly higher octane and cleaner running.
<br> <a href="http://www.farmersfuel.com.au/BioPetrol.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.farmersfuel.com.au/BioPetrol.html</a><br><br>The biodiesel in my Toyota 4wd is 100% plant oil (mostly Canola) so there are no net greenhouse gas
emissions, runs better, further and
cleaner. Its slightly cheaper and the money spent stays in Australia too. In an emergency, I could still tank up on petroleum based diesel although with the current spread of stations (there are around four in Melbourne), I could drive from Melbourne to Darwin and back on this fuel. :-)
<br>
<a href="http://www.farmersfuel.com.au/SAFF%20Biodiesel.htm" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.farmersfuel.com.au/SAFF%20Biodiesel.htm</a><br><br>Cameron is right .. there is little reason why schools should not insist that their busses run on it. It is rather odd for us to take out this environmental loan, drawing upon the future of our students to prepare them for a world that they will inherit.
<br><br>Regards Roland<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 25/02/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Stephen Digby</b> <<a href="mailto:digby.stephen.p@edumail.vic.gov.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
digby.stephen.p@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>> wrote:
</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><span>What is "biopetrol" is it ethanol
?</span></font></div><span>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><span></span></font> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">
<p><font size="2">======================================================================================<br>Stephen
Digby, Learning Technology Manager<br><a href="mailto:admin@cheltsec.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">mailto:admin@cheltsec.vic.edu.au</a> <br>Cheltenham
Secondary College <a href="http://www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au</a> Ph: 613 955 55 955 Fx: 9555
8617<br>======================================================================================<br> </font>
</p><br></div>
</span><div dir="ltr" align="left" lang="en-us">
<hr>
<font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:offtopic-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">offtopic-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>
[mailto:<a href="mailto:offtopic-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">offtopic-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Roland
Gesthuizen<br></span><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, 25 February 2007 5:18 PM<br><b>To:</b> IT
Teachers' Offtopic Mailing List</font><div><span><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Offtopic] galloping
glaciers<br></font></span></div><br></div><div><span>
<div></div>Good point Stephen, last year we switched our home to electricity
sourced from a wind farm and this year switched our two family cars to biodiesel
and biopetrol (new servo in Boronia). Its something we can do now to make a huge
impact on our family greenhouse gas production. <br><br>Still, a friend
was at pains to point out that not only do we need to make my life more
sustainable and reduce our eco-footprint, we need to also think about reversing
the debt made by ignoring the warnings for the past few decades. (sigh). If we
think of the damage caused by all our schools, not just today but over the last
couple of decades, then the mind boggles. <br><br>Regards Roland<br><br>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 25/02/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Stephen
Digby</b> <<a href="mailto:digby.stephen.p@edumail.vic.gov.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">digby.stephen.p@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>>
wrote: </span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2">The
"inconvenient solution' to the planetary problems that beset us is of course
"sustainability".</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2">The
planetary problem lies in the cross-cultural pervasiveness of the deadly
enemies of sustainability - "growth" and
"development".</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2">Unfortunately, the "haves" in all human societies preserve their
position only by encouraging the "have nots" to fantasise that they will
benefit eventually from growth and development. The aspirations of the
common people in China and India are likely to accelerate this planetary
destruction. The "developed" world is still in denial thinking of more
and more irresponsible ways to achieve the ludicrous goal of "sustainable
growth".</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2">Politicians get ever more strident as they want you to accept
props to the continued insanity of growth such as nuclear power, recycled
water, ever higher density housing, These "developments" are far
more like a desperate fix for a addiction, than ecologically desirable and
sustainable improvements from the planet.</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"></font></span> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span>
<p><font size="2">======================================================================================<br>Stephen
Digby, Learning Technology Manager<br><a href="mailto:admin@cheltsec.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">mailto:admin@cheltsec.vic.edu.au</a> <br>Cheltenham
Secondary College <a href="http://www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au</a> Ph: 613 955 55 955 Fx: 9555
8617<br>======================================================================================<br> </font>
</p></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"></font></span><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"></font><br> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left" lang="en-us">
<hr>
<font face="Tahoma" size="2"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:offtopic-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">offtopic-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:offtopic-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
offtopic-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Roland
Gesthuizen<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, 25 February 2007 1:37 AM<br><b>To:</b>
Information Technology Teachers' Offtopic Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> Re:
[Offtopic] galloping glaciers<br></font><br></div>
<div><span>
<div></div>Golly Stephen, also seems to be getting a lot thinner. I wish more
of our schools were sustainable and don't understand why we are not taking
more steps in that direction.<br><br>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 24/02/07, <b class="gmail_sendername"><a href="mailto:stephen@melbpc.org.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">stephen@melbpc.org.au</a></b> <<a href="mailto:stephen@melbpc.org.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
stephen@melbpc.org.au</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">A
glacier in Norway ..<br><br><<a href="http://envisense.org/glacsweb/photos/briks-panos/index.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://envisense.org/glacsweb/photos/briks-panos/index.html
</a>><br><br>Regards people<br>Stephen Loosley<br>Victoria
<br>Australia<br><br>Message sent using MelbPC WebMail
Server<br><br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>offtopic
mailing list<br><a href="mailto:offtopic@edulists.com.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">offtopic@edulists.com.au</a> <br><a href="http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/offtopic" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/offtopic</a><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary
College <br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a
small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it
is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead
<p></p></span></div>
<p><b>Important - </b>This email and any attachments may be confidential. If
received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or
using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss,
damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not,
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liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any
representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and
not necessarily those of the Department of Education.
</p></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen -
ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead <p></p><p><b>Important - </b>This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education.
</p></span></div></div>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead