Environment Collective

2000 is the year for the Environment at ANU. Itís time to get involved, and the best way is through the ANUSA Environment Collective. A dynamic and fluid organisation, it welcomes and is dependent upon student participation at all levels, from casual contact to highly committed activism.

In this day and age, there is an increasing need to be aware of and act sensibly within our world. If you think being concerned about where you live is up to the government, the farmers and lentil eating ferals, itís time to change your perspective. There are many simple things you can do, from recycling your waste to not buying from irresponsible companies. A great first step as a student is through involvement in the ANUSA Environment Collective.

The Enviro Collective is a way for all of us to get together and decide how we want to make our contribution to a more sustainable society. It is made up of all the students who want to be involved. The Collective is open, inclusive, and friendly. It works on consensus, which means decisions are made as a group and everyoneís opinion counts in final decisions. As a student, you already belong to the Studentís Association Environment Department, so you have access to all the office, money and other resources for environmental action.

What the Enviro Collective does each year is determined by who is in it and what they/we want to do. You donít need any prior knowledge or experience to take part. Once you talk to someone you will soon be up to date. Last yearís Collective ran campaigns on anti-nuclear issues, worked on making ANU more sustainable and helped many other campaigns. They built up a good network with other ANU groups, other campuses, and green community groups. Many of these people will still be around and are there to share their knowledge.

This year, there are many possible things the Collective could do. We can continue to improve the ANU through input into the ANU Environmental Management Plan Committee and by tackling consumption and waste systems. We could get into Waterwatch, Landcare and Total Catchment Management. There are huge national and international networks working on issues like forests, global warming, sustainable agriculture, living cities, multinationals like McDonaldís, and heaps of things - all you have to do is tap into them. Action can include holding stalls, organising and attending protests, tree planting, printing t-shirts, writing articles, talking about things, and having BBQís. There will be the annual Students & Sustainability conference, to be held in the semester break in Queensland ó this is a fab event, a must for all. There is also the chance in second semester to organise wonderful events for Bushweek, which is a bit like O-Week.

To get involved in the Environment Collective, come along to one of the meetings or, if you canít make it, contact the Environment Office to find out what is happening. Email enviro.collective@student.anu.edu.au, phone 6279 9869 or come into the office in the Studentís Association building. Walk in through the doors and take a right, it is in between the Womenís Office and the Queer Office. Check it out ó this is your space and your resource. The first meeting of 2000 is on the Wednesday of Week 2 at 5pm on the grassy area by Sullies Creek (opposite the Uni Bar), where future meeting times will be decided.

 Thanks to all the people who have helped with the ANU Environment Collective.

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Comments, Queries or suggestions email enviro.collective@student.anu.edu.au