Ecology Action

Genial Joe Walding will appear at the Union Hall on Weds. June 6 to give a public talk on government enviromental policy. The talk will restrain itself to the topics of recycling and packaging. But if you feel that more important environmental issues need airing then there will be a question time when all topics will be discussed. This is your chance to find out if the government has a policy. Don't miss it. If you don't think that the government is doing enough now is your chance to tell the man at the top.

Conservation Week Needs Your Help

Conservation Week is an annual event (July 27 — August 5). The principle aim of which is to get across to the public the scale of the environmental problem and to show what the indiviual can do.

The Conservation Week programme is far from finalised, but involves many displays and activities. Within the university a display will be set up in the third floor foyer of the new science block. Display topics will include sewage outlets of the Wellington urban area (based on 1969 efflent flow figures), the geography of denuded bush areas, and fishing conservation in Wellington on the theme of using income not capital, with particular reference to paua. These displays will be the work of members of the geography, zoology and botany departments and will include large scale maps, diagrams etc., latest statistical information and full references for all figures and contentions. This may sound rather passive but it will involve a lot of work and the result as planned is of a standard likely to have real impact.

Ecology Action will participate in this display on the topic of municipal refuse disposal. It has been proposed that the display include a map showing the extent of past Wellington dumps, plus planned future ones, to show the limited capacity of present methods to cope with future needs. Clearly also the display needs to show the potential alternatives such as composting, recycling. Anyone with information, other ideas or who is simply willing to help should contact me.

There are a number of other Conservation Week activities where students could help. These include organising a question and answer session on environmental topics in local papers, helping in a radio/ television link which would put people unconnected with environmental groups into contact with local projects, and manning a 'watch-dog' telephone which would tell people concerned with this particular issue who they should contact for information or action. Other activities include arranging with shops for prizes for competitions being run, helping with distribution of propaganda sheets on Conservation Week, erecting displays (in the case of the latter, one particularly good display is available, but because of its size, availability is reliant upon Conservation Week organisers providing the labour).

This list is in no way exhaustive. Anyone who has other ideas as to what could be done should not hesitate to come forward. An informal meeting will be held in Committee room 2 on Tuesday, June 5 from 12 - 2pm for anyone who is willing to help or has suggestions of their own. Anyone not able to come should leave a message for me at the Studass office or contact me at 555-814.