United Nations Association of Australia (WA Division)

Environment Committee

Convenor: Rob Hewson

Goodbye and Thanks to Rob Hewson

2010 is not only the International Year of Biodiversity, it is the UNAA-WA Year of Saying Goodbye to Rob Hewson, our popular Environment Convenor. A sad occasion, but Rob leaves us with a great record of good things undertaken in the community, on behalf of UNAA-WA, and in the long term, on behalf of Planet Earth. It is his intention to return in early June to Victoria, where we hope he will once again join the UNAA, and so still be a part of the family, though a bit further away than Subiaco.
It was the Year 2004, and a small group of people sat together in the UNAA-WA small meeting room, to contemplate the possible future of the Environment Subcommittee. Lead by then secretary Lindsay Dorman, the group comprised Henk Stappenbelt, Rob Hewson, Caroline Pembroke and a young Chinese lawyer, who with her husband, came for a few meetings. It was a time of change for our Association, and the group was moving from 6 sub-committees (children, women, refugees, health, human rights and environment) to two, Human Rights and Environment. Six years later, Caroline Pembroke and Rob Hewson have both been Convenors, (the only one escaping being Henk Stappenbelt). Though there have been many changes of supporting Committee members, these three can claim to be foundation members of the 'new' Environment group.
It is surprisingly stable in many ways. Not long after, we were joined by Manita Beskow and then three members of the Caruso Family, Joseph, Carolyn and Aleisha-Marie and then Leslie and Bernie Keen. Surender Mann, Sandeep Sharma, Harvey Davies and Scott Lambert have added themselves to our Committee more recently. We have all been together for quite a few years now. Its been a terrific time, with Rob just completing his three year Convenorship and membership of the Executive Committee, this June.
The very first public event which we undertook was a photographic exhibition at the State Library, for the International Year of Oceans. For this Rob can take the responsibility, since we were all looking round for something to do for our first World Environment Day, as a new Committee, and Rob said, "Lets have a photographic exhibition". The idea quickly took hold and we held a good opening with Denis Beros for the Marine Environment, and Caris Bailey from Landscope, as speakers. The exhibition ran over 2 weeks, thanks to the generosity of the State Librarian, so it was a big undertaking for a new committee, but seems like we learned a great deal about working together to get the best out of our opportunity. Rob has since been involved in our annual treeplanting, as a real hands-on man; has organised us into another photographic exhibition with the City of Subiaco, and has instigated and run several high quality seminars on big environmental issues, with excellent speakers. Carbon Credit, Alternative Energies, and Biodiversity in WA in partnership with Sustainable Population Australia, being among the topics covered.
Rob has shown himself to be a skilful MC on occasion, particularly where its necessary to know one's scientific subject. It has been enormously to our benefit to have a Convenor with the requisite scientific background, and thanks Rob for being that person. Then there is fundraising, with Rob pitching in gallantly to assist with quiznights, bonfires and other activities; running of the UNAA-WA information stall at relevant public meetings, such as the Walk Against Warming, earlier this year. In addition, Rob has attended seminars and talks as our representative, and was also our delegate to the Conservation Council. It all comes together to show what an excellent and involved Convenor we have had in Rob Hewson.
Our deepest thanks and warmest good wishes go with you, Rob. All the very best for your new life in Victoria.

News & Notices

Photo: UNAA(WA) Wildlife Advocate Aleisha Caruso (see biography below) being a surrogate mother to a panda bear
WED Treeplanting Event - Thankyou!: Click HERE for photos from the event! This is the time of year for treeplanting, and the Environment Committee of the UNAA(WA) held its annual treeplanting on the Wooroloo Brook, Noble Falls Bushland.
Thanks to the support of Wooroloo Brook LCDC, the City of Swan and the EMRC for donations of plants, tree guards and site preparation, a thousand native trees were planted by enthusiastic volunteers from the Committee, neighbours and friends, including Jacks the dog whose hole digging capacity was made good use of by his two young owners.

According to Convenor Rob Hewson, "Treeplanting is an important annual event for the Committee to demonstrate hands on UN Environment Program commitment. We have one more Noble Falls planting planned for 2009, which should complete the major planned revegetation of this area. We will register this planting with the UNEP Billion Trees project, Plant the Planet." Bob Huston, Chairman of the Wooroloo Brook LCDC, said it was good to encourage local Associations to help members become actively involved with putting back the vegetation and restoring the balance of the local ecosystems.

The UNAA(WA) Environment Committee often invites a diverse range of folk to plant, including those from the various Embassies and Consulates here in WA, bringing awareness of environmental factors into a wider arena. If anyone would like further information on the Environment Committee of the UNAA-WA, or on how to register their planting in the Billion Trees project, they can call Caroline Pembroke on 9221 9455, or 9574 6937. Alternatively, go to http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/.
"PLANT THREE TREES A YEAR FOR EVERY YEAR OF YOUR LIFE AND HELP TO REPLENISH THE EARTH"
Attention: Indian Ocean United Nations Associations Environment Community - The UNAA(WA) Environment Committee is interested in starting an email network of Indian Ocean UNA Environment groups. We have some leads and contacts. If you could help with building the list and making the contacts, we'd love to hear from you. We are a volunteer Association, but would be able to consider a small sum to cover costs. Please contact Caroline Pembroke through the office via Email or Phone if interested. Thankyou!

About the Committee

The Environment Committee was re-convened in 2004, and we have been steadily building an understanding of what it is that we can best do on behalf of the people and the environment, here in WA, and abroad. Environment is very large indeed to cover, and we are aware of so many things which could be useful to our state and its people. Sustainability, water supply and treeplanting, awareness of the ocean environment and its increasing degredation, and an interest in the state of the Earth's threatened animals, are among our major interests.

Charter

The United Nations Association of Australia (WA), Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (ESSC) is convened to work in concert with the Association to promote awareness and understanding of the environment and sustainable development.

Through reflecting the principles and values of the United Nations the ESSC adopts the mission statement of the United Nations Environment Program, namely - "To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations."

The Committee seeks to do this through contributions across government, industry and the community, undertaking activities which support this mission. In so doing the Committee aims to foster balance and harmony between people's need and a sustainable environment in Western Australia and through our parent body UNAA, Australia.

Objectives

1. To provide leadership for a sustainable future
2. To disseminate information about environment for development
3. To promote the business of sustainable development in Western Australia and if applicable overseas
4. To provide inspiration and participation
5. To promote the five identified priorities for sustainable development as identified by UNEP:
> Water for the future
> Clean and renewable energy
> Health and the environment
> Sustainable agriculture
> The value of biodiversity

Recent Activities

> World Environment Day Event 2008.
> Quiz Night to Help Save the Woylies.

Upcoming Activities (See the Events page for details)
Environment Committee WebLinks

UNAA(WA) Wildlife Advocate - Aleisha-Marie Caruso

Aleisha-Marie is the Wildlife Advocate for the United Nations Association of Western Australia. She is also a Board Member of Pandas International. Aleisha studied Primate Biology at Roehampton University in London before gaining practical experience with endangered animals at Animal Sanctuaries and Zoos around the world.

Raising orphaned animals, conservation awareness and funds for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sanctuaries is all in a days work for Aleisha as she works with UNAA(WA) to help safeguard endangered species from extinction.

Aleisha's most recent conservation assignments include:
> Assisting with the rehabilitation and release of an Andean Bear back into the wild in South America, which was being kept as an illegal pet.
> Delivering urgently needed medical equipment to the Wolong Panda Research and Breeding Sanctuary in Chengdu, China. This was to assist in the survival of seventeen baby Panda cubs in the successful “Panda Cub Swapping Technique” which has boosted the fragile Panda population in the Sichuan Province.
> Patrolling the Borneo jungle with an Anti Poaching Unit to protect the remaining 35 Sumatran Rhinos from poachers in The Tabin Reserve.
> Tracking Sumatran Rhino footprints with a RPU (Rhino Protection Unit) in Tabin Reserve, Borneo to determine population density demographics and distribution of the Sumatran Rhino to enable the implementation of conservation strategies for this subspecies.

Due to human impacts such as Habitat Destruction, Poaching, Climate Change, Pollution and the Illegal Wildlife Trade, (where $7 Billion USD worth of animal products are sold each year on the black market), 1 entire species of plant or animal is lost every 20 minutes, or 3 entire species disappear each hour.

Sadly, as many animals struggle to stay alive, many now depend on human intervention for their survival.

Aleisha is currently developing a 13 part wildlife documentary television series, entitled “Extinction Sucks”, with “Off the Fence”, a production company based in Amsterdam.

The “Extinction Sucks” wildlife series is designed to bridge the gap between humans and animals by giving a face to the facts and a voice to the voiceless. Each episode provides us with a rare, engaging and intimate look into the life and struggles of an endangered animal and explores ways we can all play a part in helping to protect its future survival. These will include baby Pandas, Gorillas, Lions, Tigers, Orang-utans, Polar Bears, Elephants and many little known Australian animals.

Aleisha was recently voted Australia’s “Most Inspirational Young Woman of the Year” for her work in the community towards animal conservation. Therefore, her spirit and passion for this cause makes her an inspiration for all.

The series provides captivating viewing as Aleisha & the “Extinction Sucks” crew work together against the odds, fighting barriers of language, culture, foreign borders, apathy and ignorance, experience the emotions and triumphs as they help save some of the rarest animals on the planet! Providing an upbeat and inspiring view to wildlife conservation we witness the dedication, the frustration, the setbacks and the excitement.

The aim of the series being to inspire an attitude of understanding, respect and appreciation for the earth’s endangered animals and to generate an awareness in bringing about a safer and more productive world for animals everywhere. “Extinction Sucks” will bring wildlife conservation alive and into the homes of people far and wide, urging viewers in each episode to support the featured animals and their organizations.

Extinction is Forever, Extinction Sucks!

See http://wwww.myspace.com/extinctionsucks