nikiharre's blog

I am determined to do a really carbon conscious event. I've always liked the idea of acknowledging the tangata whenua and the other people that make up the history of the place. That could easily be extended to the environmental resources that have gone into a venue. I am going to see if I can find out a bit about the building in which this event will take place (the Human Sciences Building at the University of Auckland - if anyone knows!). I've talked with someone at my work who makes delicious Indian food and who has agreed to provide some dishes (paid - in case you are wondering).

I am organising an event for about 30 people soon, and I've been wondering about how to 'be the change' - i.e. make it as carbon conscious as possible. I'd want to make sure the food was as organic and local as possible and that I - or other people, didn't make excessive car trips to get it. I'd want to encourage people to arrive by bike or public transport. I'd want to think about the alcohol - I wonder what is best there - NZ I guess, glass or aluminium cans of beer?

I was at St Lukes at the weekend, when I had a sudden vision of the piles of rubbish and human misery that support the glittery displays. It was as if I could see the mall, all lit-up and lovely with well dressed people wondering around eating ice-creams and carrying plastic bags with new clothes and toys. Beyond the mall moat (the concrete carpark that surrounds it) were piles of landfill - broken toys, soiled plastic bags, polluted rivers and people working in dark factories.