Australian Broadcasting Association

Broadcast: 10/01/2012
Reporter: Ben Hawke

Plastic from hundreds of kilometers away is ending up on
Lord Howe Island and threatens the Mutton bird population.

Click here to view the video footage.
 
 

Create your anti-litter message and win!

Load up your digi cam, warm up your voices, get your friends together and get down to creating your own anti-litter TV or Radio ad that targets your peers.

Littering is ugly, dangerous and just not cool. So why do so many people still continue to litter? Every day, thousands of items are thrown, dumped, wedged and buried in areas where they are not meant to be. We need your help to get people to do the right thing and put litter in a bin.

If you are 25 years or under, we want your ideas and solutions for an anti-littering ad that will appeal to a youth market and send a strong message in a creative and appealing way.

With Keep Australia Beautiful offices across the nation getting involved in promoting the winning ads, there is even more opportunity to spread your anti-litter message and showcase your creativity.

You can win cash prizes plus have your winning entry up on a big screen around the nation or across the airwaves.

Entries for ‘Trash My Ad’ 2011 close on 22 July and will be judged by a panel of experts, including advertising and marketing specialists, and a youth panel.

Check out www.trashmyad.com.au for all the details you need to prepare your entry and view last year’s finalists in the TV category on the View Ads page to get some inspiration!

'Healthiest' Queenslanders awarded

Applications for the 2011 round of awards are now open and will close on 31 August 2011, with winners announced in November 2011.

Communities, schools and workplaces doing things differently to improve the health of Queenslanders today shared in $1.6 million in prizes.

Health Minister Geoff Wilson announced the winners of the Healthy Queensland Awards in a special ceremony at Parliament House.

"Congratulations to the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Loganlea State High and to Playgroup Association of Queensland," Mr Wilson said.

"Their innovative and exciting programs saw them beat out a strong field of entrants in this year's awards.

"It's great to see so many organisations keen to be involved in this great program and the Bligh Government is pleased to support the awards each year.

"It's part of our commitment to investing in helping make Queenslanders Australia's healthiest people by 2020."

Mr Wilson said Cassowary Coast Regional Council would use the $750,000 prize to promote its better informed takeaways and eateries (BITE) campaign for healt hier food outlets, a new community kitchen and pathways and bikeways.

Loganlea State High's $250,000 prize would go towards a food bank and breakfast club for students who don't bring food to school, camps to promote outdoor activities, a health walk and bikeways and a dance competition, he said

The healthiest workplace prize of $50,000 went to Playgroup Association of Queensland for portable marquees for staff and children sun protection, corporate sun safe hats, expandable shade for office courtyard, outdoor furniture, small storage shed for new equipment, breastfeeding tents, healthy eating sessions, and gym and pool memberships and training sessions.

Mr Wilson said the Bligh Government had once again partnered with Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland for the Healthy Queensland Awards.

"We're working together to promote fresh thinking and innovation when it comes to improving the health of Queenslanders.

Chief Executive Officer of Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland Mr Rick Burnett said Keep Australia Beautiful was pleased to be associated with the 'inspiring awards'.

"The prizes recognise community groups, schools and businesses that focus on the very important issues of health and well-being - and put into action ways of improving these values," Mr Burnett said.

"These prizes should identify our leaders in the on-going fight to change unhealthy habits and behaviour."

Applications for the new round of awards will close on 31 August 2011, with winners announced in November 2011

For more information, entry forms and guidelines visit www.kabq.org.au

ENDS

Media contact: 322 52475

Queenslanders rewarded for healthy ideas

Applications for the 2011 round of awards are now open and will close on 31 August 2011, with winners announced in November 2011.

Communities, schools and workplaces doing things differently to improve the health of Queenslanders are vying for $1.6 million in prizes.

Health Minister Geoff Wilson today announced the finalists in the Healthy Queensland Awards.

The top six entries in each category have been recognised for their healthy ideas to help Queenslanders be more active, make healthier food choices and maintain a healthy weight.

"These awards are a great way for the community to get involved in making Queenslanders Australia's Healthiest people by 2020," he said.

"The Bligh Government recognises and rewards the finalists for their innovative programs and commitment to help Queenslanders live healthy lives."

Finalists in the community and school categories each receive $50,000, with $10,000 going to each finalist in the workplace category.

Finalist Cannon Hill State School P&C Association is helping students, staff and parents increase their intake of healthy foods.

"The prize money will help the school expand its gardening and cooking program and purchase equipment including fridges and ovens," Mr Wilson said. 

Member for Bulimba Di Farmer said she was pleased to see a local school recognised for their efforts in improving the health of students and their families.

"This is a great program which involves the whole community," she said.

"I know the gardening and cooking classes are something the kids love being part of.

"It's great that teachers and volunteers will also benefit from increased training as a result of the $50,000 they received for being named a finalist.

"I wish the school all the very best in their bid to win the $250,000 first prize in their category."

Mr Wilson said the Bligh Government had once again partnered with Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland (KABQ) for the Healthy Queensland Awards.

"We're working together to promote fresh thinking and innovation when it comes to improving the health of Queenslanders.

KABQ Chief Executive Officer Rick Burnett said there were 207 entries from all over Queensland.

"We are down to 18 finalists and each will get funding for the projects and programs they have submitted," Mr Burnett said.

"One lucky finalist in each group will get the top prize to complete their project to help their local residents live a healthier life.

"The judging panels were very impressed with the projects entered this year and all have been designed to help make Queenslanders the healthiest Australians."

The winning community will receive $750,000 with the other 5 finalists to get $50,000 each. Finalists are:
• Cairns Regional Council
• Evolve Keeping Kids on Track
• Dalby Welcoming Community Committee
• Cassowary Coast Regional Council (WINNER)
• Logan Women's Health and Well-being Centre
• Burdekin Shire Council

The winning school will receive $250,000 with the other 5 finalists to get $50,000 each. Finalists are:
• Gordonvale State School
• Benowa State Primary School
• Loganlea State High School (WINNER)
• Cannon Hill State School P&C Association
• Inglewood State School
• Labrador State School

The winning workplace will receive $50,000 with the other 5 finalists to get $10,000 each. Finalists are:
• Playgroup Association of Queensland (WINNER)
• Indigenous Wellbeing Centre Aboriginal Corporation (IWCAC)
• Koolkan Early Childhood Centre
• Education Queensland (North Queensland Region)
• University of Queensland Wellness
• Toowoomba Hospital Foundation


Winners will be announced at The Healthy Queensland Awards in Brisbane on 19 May 2011.

Details of the winning community, school and workplace will be available at
http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/ and http://www.kabq.org.au/.


ENDS

Media contact: 322 52475

QUEST FOR “TIDY TOWNS” IN RAVAGED QUEENSLAND

Keep Australia Beautiful has launched its 2011 search for Queensland’s “tidiest town”, in a battered landscape “littered” with the debris of floods and cyclonic devastation.

KABQ’s CEO, Rick Burnett, said this year would be a great challenge for many loyal townships and communities, and regular entrants of the annual “Tidy Towns” competition.

“We know many communities are suffering and we hope the “Tidy Towns” spirit and sense of pride will shine through and help speed up the recovery process,” Burnett said.

“In damage stricken areas, we will be rewarding the efforts in recovery – the large and small steps achieved by townsfolk working together to clean up and rebuild.

“Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland, and the Tidy Towns competition, have reached a significant milestone in 2011 – it is our 40th anniversary.

“We’ve all come a long way since 1971, when the first anti-litter campaigns were introduced in Queensland.

“Now the Tidy Towns are competing in not just litter prevention, but also in categories like energy and water conservation, young legends, outstanding achievements, and the bush spirit award for overcoming hardship.

“Tidy Towns are part of the Aussie way – help out your neighbours, be part of the community and keep the environment clean and tidy.

“You don’t rubbish your home, so don’t rubbish your town or community.

“Litter is still a major problem from cigarette butts to fast food packaging and beverage containers. We need to stop this laziness in our communities.”

Burnett said the Keep Australia Beautiful “National Litter Index” in 2010 had found that half of all litter items were cigarette butts.

“An estimated 7-Billion cigarette butts are dropped on the ground in Australia every year,” Burnett said. “We need to stop that and we are asking all our Tidy Town entrants to lead the fight, by becoming ‘BUTT-FREE ZONES’.

“We are asking all smokers to take responsibility for this problem, and use an ash-tray or butt-bin.”
(A new KABQ “Butt-Free Zone” campaign will be launched on May 1, 2011)

Towns will compete in 11 categories of awards in 2011
1. The Friendliest Town Award
2. Australia Post Bush Spirit Award
3. RACQ Litter Prevention Award
4. Resource Recovery Award
5. Partnerships Award
6. Energy Conservation Champions Award sponsored by Ergon Energy
7. Environmental Protection Award
8. Queensland’s Young Legends Award
9. Heritage Award sponsored by Paradise & Bishopp Outdoor Advertising
10. Grundfos Pumps Water Conservation Award
11. MINT Individual Outstanding Accomplishment Award

Entries close: 27 May 2011

For more information visit; Tidy Towns

Nominations for the 2011 Premiers ClimateSmart Sustainability Awards were officially launched this week. More info is available from the Department of Environment and Resource Management website at http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/premiersawards/index.html

Award nominations are open until 4 March 2011 to recognise Queensland’s ClimateSmart champions who are showing environmental leadership in businesses, industry, schools and our communities.

In a recent speech KABQ CEO Rick Burnett described Climate Change as a symptom of  “planetary lung disease” saying:

“Our planet is suffering a cancer of mankind. It has “atmosphere disease”. This can be likened to lung disease in man. The planet is choking on excessive carbon emissions, which are polluting and reducing oxygen like a “smokers cough” leads to lung disease.  

Carbon is the carcinogen of the atmosphere, causing dark pollution clouds and shadows in the atmosphere, trapping the sun’s heat, and increasing temperatures in many different global regions. This heat creates changing air currents with more air turbulence than before mankind reached the Iron Age. BC – before carbon.

As carbon emissions reached danger levels things started changing in the atmosphere. A little at first, but now the examples are almost daily around the globe. Unstable pressure systems, fluctuating wind and cloud patterns, and shifting what were established and historic climatic conditions into different global geographical locations. Rain and storms where they are not usual. “Unseasonal” conditions in normally calm environments.

Climate change is upon us and while emissions continue to grow the unrest in the atmosphere will become more turbulent and unpredictable. Thunder, lightning, cyclones, typhoons, tidal surges are all symptoms of an unstable atmosphere.

It started when man reached the Industrial Age and pollution of the atmosphere began. As the global population has grown, the need for energy has grown and the pollution has grown. 200 years of exponentially expanding emissions.

The consequences of delaying action to stop this, will be catastrophic.”

Here at KABQ, we liked Ian Dunlop's article on ABC, in which when he said:

an emission reduction of 5 per cent by 2020, possibly 25 per cent if the rest of the world behave themselves, is laughable; it is high time we faced up to reality and stopped playing political games.

[Climate change] is a transformative issue which has life-and-death consequences. ... we need leaders who can see that what was politically impossible will shortly become politically inevitable.

 

But then the Bolivian President Evo Morales came in with this gem from the climate talks in Mexico.

"If we here throw the Kyoto Protocol into the garbage dump, we would be responsible for economy-cide, for ecocide - indeed, for genocide - as we would be harming humanity as a whole."

 

John Eales has become an Honorary Ambassador for Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland.

John is a former Australian rugby union player and the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby. He was involved in two world cup victories - as  player in 1991 and as captain in 1999.

Since retiring from rugby, John has been involved in business and the media; and his authored his own book "Learning from Legends".

KABQ looks forward to working with John, to give Queenslanders a cleaner environment and a sustainable future.

The bush town of Acland, two hours west of Brisbane, was once a winner of Keep Australia Beautiful's Tidy Town competition. With the planned expansion of a nearby coal mine, Acland seems doomed to be swallowed up up mining interests. The one-time Tidy Town, it seems will no longer exist as a town, let alone a tidy one.

The full story was covered by the ABC's 7.30 Report (see here)