Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 3 November 1917
Surrey, November 1
Unlike the bare ground at the foot of the beech, grass spreads almost up to the root-trunk of our oaks, and fallen leaves lie thick among the bents. Underneath them are acorns, a full crop this year. It takes but a little time to collect a full sack. They are so plentiful that a litter of young pigs throw small showers upward as they nose about while they scutter along the edge of the wood. A sudden loud whirr of wings is heard. A cock pheasant, all brown and gold, goes one way just above the yet green nut-boughs; three hens fly the other. There is passing companionship, but not much more, among these birds. Rooks now chatter together in the upper branches of elms, going from one to another as though to test which will best stand the coming winter gales. The old hedger, slicing off faggot wood with his bill-hook, “reckons them as almost overwise. If they could but speak they would tell us a good deal more than we’d know.”
The air is warm, bees in something like small swarms are out on the remaining autumn flowers. St.John’s wort is here and there open on the hedge bank, and in a corner of the cornfield which has not been ploughed a few poppies bloom, but they are dull, not scarlet as in summer. The campion has not all gone, but it is foliage and fruit which to-day complete the picture of the hedgerow. This week the robins sing longer and oftener. While one pipes another will accompany you along the lane, flitting from side to side, but never far away.
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SENG QLD Newsletter - November 2017
Welcome to Newsletter Number 68
Dear SENG Qld members and friends,
Apologies for the ghoulish short notice, but early Halloween evening (Tue 31st Oct) will be the Brisbane launch of Rethinking Cement by Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), a pathway for modernising cement presented as part of the Zero Carbon Industry Plan by Zero Carbon Australia. Held in Engineering House, the event includes refreshments and registration at 6:15pm, a presentation by Michael Lord (BZE Project Director), a Q&A panel discussion and then networking opportunities with industry, academia and government professionals also committed to sustainable infrastructural development. Please register as soon as possible.
This month’s newsletter includes:
Rethinking Cement
Other Events
Interesting Snippets
Open for comment
David's Blog
As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there!
Sustainable Engineering Society
Qld Branch Engineers Australia.
Rethinking Concrete
Date: Tuesday 31st October, 2017
Time: 6:15 to 8:15pm AEST Presenter: Michael Lord, BZE Project Director Venue: Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House 447 Upper Edward St, Brisbane Cost: Free with registration Produced by Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), Rethinking Cement sets out a pathway for modernising cement by eliminating carbon emissions whilst still building strong and durable infrastructure. Cement-making is responsible for 8% of all global emissions and if we don’t rethink cement, we won’t achieve our crucial Paris Climate Summit targets. Modernising cement is achievable and affordable, and Rethinking Cement shows how Australia can lead the world with zero carbon cement. We have the technology to wipe out emissions from cement in ten years, and with smart thinking, we can even turn cement into a carbon sink of the future. The event will include refreshments with registration at 6.15 PM, followed by a research presentation from BZE Project Director Michael Lord, a Q&A discussion panel, then opportunities to network with industry, academic and government figures who share the same interest in sustainable infrastructure and development. We hope you can join us. Seats are limited and time is short so please register soon.
Beyond Zero Emissions is one of Australia's most respected climate change think-tanks. They produce independent research demonstrating that zero emissions is achieveable and affordable now. Their work is carried out by a small staff of experts, with the help of academic institutions and a large network of volunteer scientists, engineers and economists, funded by private foundations and concerned individuals. You can be part of our audacious vision for a Zero Carbon Australia by making a donation to fund their research. Eighty-five per cent of BZE's researchers are volunteers, making your donation go a long way. To find out how visit http://bze.org.au
This event is supported by Engineers Australia. Register now.
Other Events
Centre for Environmental Training (cet)
Erosion and Sediment Control workshops (14 – 17 Nov)
Four consecutive workshops address the fundamentals of erosion and sediment control, the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) guidelines, construction site water management, and control plans.
Engineers Australia
Renewables' impact on Qld Transmission Network / Qld Electrical College AGM (15 Nov)
The evening will commence with the Queensland Electrical Branch's Annual Group Meeting followed by guest speaker Mr Kevin Kehl, Powerlink's current Executive General Manager Strategy and Business Development. Mt Kehl’s presentation will focus on the impact of renewables on Queensland's transmission grid and the development of the North Queensland Clean Energy Hub. Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Research at Virginia Tech (22 Nov)
Professor Saifur Rahman, Director of the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute, USA, will discuss renewable energy integration and storage, demand response, energy efficiency and smart grid/smart cities, focussing upon on the interactions between students, faculty, university and industry sponsors on research projects.
General 10th International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) & Hydropolis 2018 (Feb 12 - 15) The program for WSUD / Hydropolis 2018 has recently been released and the focus is “Creating Water Sensitive Communities". This event aims to challenge delegates’ thinking and knowledge, and expand their views on what represents urban water management best practice and its vital role in developing our future communities. The program includes three days of technical presentations with a number of excellent keynote speakers and range of oral sessions covering both peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed papers. A formal conference dinner will be held on 14 February 2018 where Engineers Australia and Stormwater WA Industry Awards winners will be announced, alongside some light entertainment. Register before Tuesday 7 November to secure the early-bird rate.
Interesting Snippets
For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items.
- The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) are suffering uncertain direction as climate change adaption impacts upon the coal industry, including MCA’s major lobbyists. After a recent and unexpected leadership departure, and waning feasibility for new and old coal-fired power plants, the old ways are coming under scrutiny. Do MCA embrace the emerging renewable energy technology revolution now, or ignore increasing public pressure to continue promoting coal to appease the concerns of their major supporters, BHP and Rio Tinto. Read more here.
- The Australian Institute’s Climate and Energy Program have released their first major report, indicating that energy-generation is the cheapest way for Australia to address greenhouse gas emission targets set by the Paris Climate Summit Agreement. This requires 66 – 75% emission-free renewable energy sources by 2030 to stay on target. Find out more here.
- The outcomes from Australian National University’s (ANU) recent research of the nation’s pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) options are extremely positive. It is predicted that only a fraction of a percent of these options are necessary to fill Australia’s energy demands with this renewable, emission-free resource. Read more exciting PHES information here.
- Collaboration between OPEC Systems and the Australian Department of Defence have applied ‘Green Chemistry’ to develop breakthrough technology, Downhole Foam Fractionation, for remediating soil previously contaminated by now-discontinued fire-fighting foam containing PFAS pollutants. More details here. - TechCollect, an Australian technology (e-waste) recycling company, have conducted a survey seeking answers to why most technology is not being recycled once disused, citing data-security fears, hoarding and unawareness of recycling options as the main reasons. TechCollect are responding by aiming to increase awareness of their technology recycling options and drop-off centres. Click here to find out more.
- China halts progress on the development of over 150 new coal-fired power plants but still falls well short of necessary targets. Read more here.
- Canada and the United Kingdom have joined forces to phase out all coal-fired power generation by 2030 and 2025, respectively, to improve community health and benefit future generations. They urge other countries to follow their lead. Full article here.
Awards and Open Comment
The Qld Government's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and Department of the Environment and Energy require feedback regarding an independent Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) they have financed. The RIS aims to determine any necessary amendments to current reef protection legislation. More information about helping to broaden and enhance reef regulations is available here.
Moment for Action
Sign the petition
David's Blog
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Though regarded as among the tastiest fish, 90% of the catch goes to Europe. Now a supermarket campaign aims to change that
At close to midnight, the crew of the Rachel Anne are surprisingly cheerful, given they have spent seven hours fruitlessly searching the English Channel for sardines. Scanning the screens in the wheelhouse, Richard Chamberlain, the skipper, suddenly spots a red blob on the echo-sounder which indicates a sizeable shoal is close by. “It’s looking good,” he shouts, checking its location and satisfied that it is a “tight” (and therefore plentiful) shoal, and not too deep. “Let’s shoot.”
The nocturnal silence off Cornwall is shattered as a huge circular net is catapulted or “shot” overboard by a hydraulic winch and – engine revving – the boat lurches ahead in a giant curve, the net unfurling behind.
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