Green Maps

October 26, 2010

Help StreetSmart Help The Homeless – November 2010

StreetSmart may have started as a small small operation but the network is spreading around the country. Why not help them help the homeless around Australia this November? Adam Robinson has just fired up this year’s campaign. He says that […]
October 19, 2010

NFP To Support Community-Funded Renewable Energy Projects

Ethical Investor tells us that the launch of NFP ‘Embark Australia’ – aiming to accelerate the roll-out of community-funded renewable energy projects – has coincided with the turning the first sod ceremony for the Hepburn community-owned wind farm near Daylesford […]
October 19, 2010

EcoSwitch Saves Standby Power And Money

This Australian invention is an award-winning little gadget that eliminates the standby power used by our non-essential electrical appliances 100%. It is simple and sells $19.95 (RRP). About The Ecoswitch The Next Big Thing Award describes this device as effectively […]
September 24, 2010

Improving Melbourne’s Public Transport..DEMOCRATICALLY?

The MTF (Melbourne Transport Forum) is using social media to drive a community discussion. The MTF blog says the trains are full, the freeways jammed and Melbourne needs a better public transport plan. HOW IS MTF USING SOCIAL MEDIA? There […]
September 24, 2010

The Online Handmade Market – madeit.com.au

I heard about this handmade website after admiring a most unusual belt. Bec Davis runs www.madeit.com.au, a 100% handmade online market, showcasing Australia’s most creative, undiscovered art, design and craft talent. Buyers can choose from fashion, art, homewares, accessories, stationery, […]
September 22, 2010

Social Returns Forum Sydney 25 Oct 2010

Australia’s not-for-profit sector is changing and measuring social returns is becoming increasingly important to business-savvy social enterprises. Social Enterprises, Funding And Reality Peter Cox of Future Employment Opportunities – a Melbourne-based non-profit that operates several ventures – places value on […]
September 21, 2010

‘My Main Street’ Economical And Much More Than A Directory

Lane Burdett of Business DIY has a new project, My Main Street, a website that offers communities and their small businesses a remarkably economical online platform for self-promotion. It’s all about small and medium businesses (SMEs) competing with the ‘big’ […]
September 21, 2010

Grandmothers, Kids And ‘Hole In The Wall’ Internet Learning

Sugata Mitra is an Indian education researcher. His ‘Hole in the Wall’ experiments have shown that, if motivated by curiosity and peer interest, children can teach themselves and each other without formal supervision. He says in every country there are […]
September 6, 2010

Melbourne’s Sustainable House Day – Volunteers Needed

We hear through Monique Decortis’ excellent Vic Climate Action Calendar that the Alternative Technology Association is looking for help with managing visitors to homes on Sustainable House Day Sunday 12 September 2010 10am-4pm. Help give out info and have fun […]
September 6, 2010

What ‘Freecycling’ Is And Why It Works

Caroline Smith tries to live a green lifestyle and enjoys the challenge of recycling secondhand items to give them a new lease on life. Here, as a PWF guest writer, Caroline explains ‘freecycling’. _________________________ WHY FREE-CYCLING WORKS A major tenet […]
August 29, 2010

Dealing With Suicide Prevention, Hunger Relief, Gambling In Oz…

PWF has found the TRI Community Exchange (TRI) on Twitter. TRI is a NSW community info exchange that has been in operation since 1992. They’re dealing with: Suicide & Self Harm Prevention– TRI has just launched a national suicide/self harm […]
August 29, 2010

The Growing Community Social Enterprise Movement

The ABC’s Inside Business has provided a very positive picture of Hepburn Wind an Australian community owned social enterprise. This registered cooperative is Australia’s first community owned wind farm. A Strong Conclusion From Collaboration Hepburn Wind chairman, Simon Holmes a […]