FebFast

With much trepidation, I am announcing my participation in FebFast - short story is I am voluntarily going without booze for the month of February! FebFast is a fundraising initiative and funds go to Australian Drug Foundation, Mater Child and Youth Mental Health Service (Qld), Ted Noffs Foundation (NSW & ACT), Youth Substance Abuse Service (Vic) and FebFast’s grants program for smaller grass-roots organisations. The focus of these organisations is education in general around alcohol use, but particularly for young people.
I am anticipating that this will be quite a challenge for me - as with many Australians, a drink or two is a large part of my social routine! However, this will not only benefit the charities I raise funds for, but will have added benefits in: raising awareness through the conversations that are sure to ensue, particularly related to our drink oriented social culture; saving me money (and hangovers); and benefits to my waistline!
Please feel free to sponsor me through the following link: http://www.febfastfundraising.com.au/rowena_southgate
Also feel free to join me or check out the website for more information http://www.febfast.com.au/

Carbon calculator

Add up your energy use with this handy Cool It Calculator from the federal environment department. Work out how much you want to save in a reasonable time frame and pledge that! There is an alternative still up on ABC TV site. Go to Carbon Calculator.  To look at what action is being taken in Canberra, apart from providing calculators, the official government climate change initiatives link is in the Make a Difference list.