2005 Reef Beat posters 1-8 in Cairns Post.pdf - Great Barrier Reef ...

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8 Sustainablelivingreef beatriver to reefAUSTRALIA is made up ofmany amazing and diverseenvironments such asthe world heritage listed GreatBarrier Reef. All Australians playan important role in looking afterour precious marine and landenvironments and it is up to you todo your bit to help look after ourGreat Barrier Reef.As individuals, we all undertakeeveryday activities that may impacton the environment.It is important to keep your sinksand drains free of chemicals andrubbish. Never pour chemicals downthe sink and always use a strain inyour sink when washing the dishes.Water is a very precious resource.Using less water in your homeand at school will help to decreasethe amount of wastewaterand stormwater enteringlocal waterways.Make sure you fix leaking tapsaround your home and do notWorm farming at its best!Zev Nutley-Gilmour makes a pleato save the marine life.amount of waste in your bin and it isgood for your gardens and lawn.Plant garden beds around yourhome to capture rainwater andminimise runoff.Try to reuse plastic bottles andother items and recycle as much asyou can. This will help to decreasethe amount of rubbish that ends upin our landfills and our oceans.Each year millions of plastic bagspollute the world’s oceans, so alwaysuse calico or reusable bags whenshopping instead of plastic bags.Sustainable living in yourcommunityKeep the drains and gutters inyour local streets free of chemicalsand rubbish by picking up litterand never pouring chemicals ordetergents into or near drains.how important they are to ourwaterways and the Great BarrierReef.Wetlands store and filter waterrun-off, so it is important that theyare protected.Participate in specialenvironmental events such asClean Up Australia Day, WorldEnvironment Day and CoastcareWeek. Join a local communitygroup that actively supports theprotection of our coasts and oceanssuch as Waterwatch, Seagrass Watchand Landcare.Sustainable living in businessMany businesses and industrygroups are implementing bestpractices to ensure the impactsof their activities on importantenvironments like the Great BarrierReef are minimised. From smalloffices to large factories, businessesare doing many things to ensure theyare working in an environmentallysustainable way.Some of these best practicesinclude:• Installing renewable energysystems and conductingregular energy audits to helpconserve energy.Educating others...Many of our daily activities canincrease the amount of nutrients,sediments and other pollutants beingdischarged to rivers and creeks.However, by living in a sustainableway you and your family can make adifference to protect local waterwaysand help ensure the Reef`s existencefor generations to come.DOING YOUR BIT TO LOOK AFTER ITSustainable living in your homeleave water running for longerthan needed.Always make sure you wash yourcar on the lawn instead of in yourdriveway or on the street.When you wash your car on thestreet, the detergents can wash intonearby drains and may end up inlocal waterways.Make or buy a compost for youryard and put all of your food scrapsin it. This will help to minimise theAlexandra Bay State School studentsarrange a beach clean-up!What goes into drains usuallyends up being discharged intonearby creeks and rivers and mighteventually end up in the ocean.Always put litter in the right place.Pick up litter around yourneighbourhood and on your localbeaches, as even the smallest pieceof litter can harm the Great BarrierReef and many of the animals thatcall it home.Learn about the wetlands inyour area and teach others about• Implementing water recyclingsystems and practices that useless water.• Reusing and recycling wastes.Many companies have put paperrecycling bins in their offices andstandard recycling bins in theirstaffrooms to encourage staffto recycle.Businesses and industry groups arecontinually improving practices tominimise their impacts on the GreatBarrier Reef and help ensure itsexistence for generations to come.30 The Cairns Post, Tuesday, May 10, 2005
8reef beatriver to reefWater testing,Reef guardianactivitiesand schoolprojects likethe manufactureof calico bagscan all have asignificant effecton the Greatsustainable schoolsMORE than 140 Reef GuardianSchools throughoutQueensland are doing thingsrubbish reaching the Great Barrier Reefby reducing and reusing items such asplastic bags and containers.“Don’t be a sap, turn off the tap” andplace them in outlets in and aroundschool buildings. Water is a preciousin their school grounds and within their■ Reduce plastic bags. Implement aresource and the less water your schoollocal communities that will help tocalico bag project in your school. Designuses the less opportunity there is forprotect the Great Barrier Reef and otherand manufacture calico bags and sell ornutrients and chemicals to be dischargedimportant environments for the future.give them to members of your communityto waterways through wastewater.Even if your school is thousands ofand encourage your family, friends and■ Conduct an audit in your schoolkilometres from the Great Barrier Reef,community to use calico or reusableto conserve water, reduce litter andlearning to live, work and play in abags when shopping.waste, reduce green and organic waste,sustainable way will help to protect and■ Compost around the school groundsconserve energy or monitor stormwater.preserve many of our precious land andand collect food scraps and set up aAll of these audits will help your schoolmarine environments.worm farm for recycling organic waste.to be more sustainable. Audit toolsThe activities below are some of theThis will decrease the amount of rubbishcan be accessed at www.reefed.edu.ways Reef Guardian Schools are helpingyour school discards every day.au/guardians/ideasto protect the environment and operate in■ Keep your drains clean and free of■ Encourage your principal and teachersa sustainable way.chemicals by sweeping the drains andto implement best practices in theYou can help your school do theirgutters around your school, reusingschool such as a water recycling system,bit to look after the Great Barrier Reefgreen waste (leaves, twigs etc) andan energy conservation strategy or aby implementing some of these innever pouring chemicals or waste downrevegetation program.your school.the sinks.You can get more information on theseDOING YOUR BIT TO LOOK AFTER IT!Everything that enters a stormwaterpractices from the Great Barrier Reef■ Become a Reef Guardian School.drain has the potential to be dischargedMarine Park Authority.Encourage your teacher to phone theto local waterways and eventually theLearn more about the Great BarrierGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park AuthorityGreat Barrier Reef.Reef and ways that you can help tofor more information on (07) 4750 0850.■ Keep your community’s drains andprotect it and share these with yourDOES your school have what it takes tomake a difference and keep the Reefgreat? Do you want to help protect theGreat Barrier Reef and other importantmarine environments for the future?Visit www.reefed.edu.au/guardians orphone (07) 4750 0850 to register tobe a Reef Guardian.■ Reduce, reuse and recycleEnsure enough bins are placed aroundyour school and set up recycling bins forcans, glass, plastics and paper and labelthese bins clearly.Millions of plastics and other piecesof rubbish enter Australia’s oceansevery year.We can all do our bit to preventgutters clear of litter and chemicals bystencilling your bins, drains and gutterswith messages such as: “This drain leadsto the Reef”, to raise awareness in yourcommunity.■ Use less water by repairing leakingtaps and putting mulch in your gardens.■ You could also design waterconservation signs with messages like:class by visiting the Reef Ed website atwww. reefed.edu.au30 The Cairns Post, Tuesday, May 17, 2005
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2005 Reef Beat posters 1-8 in Cairns Post.pdf - Great Barrier Reef ...

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