TED TALK: Brian Skerry reveals ocean's glory and horror

Brian Skerry reveals ocean's glory -- and horror | Video on TED.com

www.ted.com

TED Talks Photographer Brian Skerry shoots life above and below the waves -- as he puts it, both the horror and the magic of the ocean. Sharing amazing, intimate shots of undersea creatures, he shows how powerful images can help make change.

Click here to view see the talk and view the magnificent photography of Brian Skerry.

Coast and Marine Teacher Training in South Australia 22 March 2011

Marine coastal conservation project and student leadership

AUSMEPA has finally launched the eagerly awaited student, teacher and community support materials for marine and coastal conservation projects.. 

Is it time for your students to organise their own exciting coastal conservation project? 

The AUSMEPA website will help students plan their next project. 

• It is full of new ideas about what kind of innovative projects they can do with community partners. 
• There is a full communication tool kit to help students run their local community education programs
• The site provides specific advice for schools wanting to initiate habitat restoration projects.
• Students are advised about methods for creating digital photographic libraries of their local coastal environment that can have conservation applications in the future

Community groups are also provided with help and advice how best to work with schools and students. It asks community groups to think outside the box and ask students to help them run their public education programs.

This leadership program is designed around helping students identify a coastal conservation project either independently of with a partner. It has a wide range of planning tools to help students understand all the necessary stages that they need to address when planning a project. Throughout their project, students are developing their leadership skills.

The website is divided into sections:                                                                                                                 

1. Start here: provides students with a summary and checklist for deciding on a project and planning it.
2. Students: this is a detailed reference section for students to dip into at the different stages of organising their project.
3. Teachers: assists teachers in supporting their students through the process and provides advice about building in student wellbeing issues that may relate to school policy.
4. Community: is designed to help community groups develop partnerships with schools.
5.  Photo survey: provides procedures for students using digital cameras and GPS units to make libraries of conservation images for future use.
6. Revegetation: suggests some methods specific to schools for organising a revegetation project.

To access these free materials click here

Project Sponsored by Caring for our Country

World Environment Day 5 June 2011 Marine and Coastal Management Award & Sustainability Education Award NOMINATIONS OPEN

Please find following information regarding the upcoming United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards 2011. Nominations are now open nationally for the Awards. The Awards are held in celebration of United Nations World Environment Day 5 June and 2011 the International Year of Forests.

Please share with any individual or organisation who may be interested in entering the Awards this year. 

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN NATIONALLY. Each year on World Environment Day, June 5, the United Nations focuses world attention on the environment, and in particular, on positive programs that work towards protecting or restoring the world's natural heritage. The United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) actively promotes World Environment Day through the annual national World Environment Day Awards. In 2011, the Awards support the International Year of Forests and UNEP World Environment Day theme 'Forests: Nature at your Service'.

The national awards program invites nominations from individuals, organisations, community groups, schools, businesses and the media across Australia whose work demonstrates environmental leadership. The Awards play an important role in raising awareness about key environmental issues and challenges, and inspiring and motivating individuals, organisations and businesses to take positive steps towards sustainability and environmental excellence in their homes, schools, communities and workplaces.

The Award Categories for 2011 are:

• WSP Lincolne Scott Sustainability Leadership Award

• Peter Szental Award for Sustainability Entrepreneurship

• Virgin Blue Business Awards

• Department of Sustainability and Environment Biodiversity Award

• Green Building Award

• Local Government Awards

• Excellence in Sustainable Water Management

• Environmental Schools Award

• Sustainability Education Award

• Excellence in Marine and Coastal Management Award

• Media Award for Environmental Reporting

• Community Award

• Individual Award for Outstanding Service to the Environment

For more information including award categories and entry criteria,

please visit: www.unaavictoria.org.au

5th International Marine Debris Conference 20-25 March 2011

The 5th International Marine Debris Conference will take place March 20-25, 2011 in Honolulu, HI, U.S.A.  here

Waves of Change: Global lessons to inspire local action

Date: March 20-25, 2011

Location: Honolulu, Hawai‘i, USA

Co-organizers: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United Nations Environment Programme

It is our hope that this conference will open a new chapter in the field of marine debris by reinvigorating our efforts, providing new tools and information, and inspiring innovation. This new era relies on sharing across borders—building upon successes, taking away lessons from others’ experiences, and working towards common goals. This conference is being designed with a variety of tracks, themes, and session types, with all paths leading to the shared goal of moving forward, globally and locally, in combating the economic and environmental impacts of marine debris.http://www.5imdc.org/program/abstracts/

Australian national ports strategy

The Federal Government commissioned Infrastructure Australia and the National Transport Commission (NTC) to develop the national ports strategy released on 7 January 2011.  Why do we need this strategy? Most all imports to and exports from Australia are carried by ship and our our busy ports manage about 10% of the total world sea trade. There is increasing pressure on ports and peripheral infrastructure to to be able to handle trade levels that are expected to continue to double every ten years. The strategy is anticipated to provide a coordinated approach including transportation in and out of ports. The strategy will be submitted to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) for endorsement and can be downloaded from the NTC website via this link. For more information on the strategy, please visit the Infrastructure Australia website at www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au. Teachers wishing to introduce a unit plan about ports are invited to view the AUSMEPA unit of work called Ports and the Marine Environment which can be found here.

6th World Environmental Education Congress, Brisbane 19-23 July 2011

The 6th World Environmental Education Congress 2011 will be held from Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 July 2011 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia, and is expected to attract approximately 1,000 Australian and international delegates. 

The 6th WEEC is targeted at individuals and organisations with a stake in environmental and sustainability education who want to share learning and experiences with global experts and peers. Combining content from associations, government and industry sectors, 6th WEEC is offering an opportunity for your members to showcase and discover innovative ideas and network with their peers at this global event. 

The program, under the broad theme of Explore, Experience, Educate, will offer participants an opportunity to learn, encounter, share and debate new ways of thinking, feeling and doing and to explore new trends in research and practice in environmental education.

Click here for more and come and meet AUSMEPA there!