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Thursday November 23 2017
News Compostable food packaging at city events By Bridget Rutherford THIRTY Christchurch events are likely to use compostable food packaging after a successful trial saw more than 12 tonnes diverted from landfill earlier this year. The city council wants to run Composting Food Packaging at Events Trial 2.0 at 12 of its major events over the next 18 months. They would join 21 other privately-run events. For the second trial to go ahead the city council is seeking $29,553 from the Canterbury waste joint committee at its meeting tomorrow. The funding would be used to operate the initiative at the city council-run events, which includes waste sorters who are on site to separate the compostable packaging from other rubbish. The second trial would include the city council’s upcoming New Year’s Eve event, Kite Day, Sparks, Christchurch Lantern Festival, KidsFest Lantern Parade, Botanic D’lights, Heritage Week, Guy Fawkes, and New Year’s Eve 2018. Kite Day 2019, Sparks 2019 and Christchurch Lantern Festival 2019 would also be included.
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Quake theory criticised NEW ZEALAND earthquake scientists have been critical of a theory from two United States’ scientists that the frequency of earthquakes is linked to a slowing in Earth’s rotation, one saying “I tend to think of them in the context of [Moon Man] Ken Ring”. Last month, Roger Bilham, from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and Rebecca Bendick, from the University of Montana, presented a paper at a conference that posited that a year with a high number of earthquakes around the world coincided with a slowing in the rotation of the Earth. “A striking example is that since 1900 more than 80 per cent of all earthquakes on the eastern Caribbean plate boundary have occurred five years following a maximum deceleration (including the 2010 Haiti earthquake).” The paper concludes that 2017 marks six years since deceleration began in 2011, “suggesting that the world has now entered a period of enhanced global seismic productivity with a duration of
DESTRUCTION: Two United States’ scientists say the frequency of earthquakes is linked to a slowing of the Earth’s rotation. (Right) – New Zealand author Ken Ring who writes about moon phases and the weather.
at least five years.” GNS Science have commented that the paper has not been peer-reviewed and has no detail to examine, while Dr Virginia Toy from the Department of Geology at the University of
Otago says correlations are often made between natural events and other phenomena. “Some of these yield statistically defendable correlations; others don’t,” she said.
“I tend to think of them in the context of Ken Ring . . . the man who writes about apparent statistical correlations between the phase of the moon and the weather. “[The Americans’ paper] sounds like we will get a jump from six to 20 large earthquakes per year. I don’t think this is likely.” Dr Tim Stahl, a lecturer in tectonic geology from Canterbury University, says it is difficult to judge the scientific merit of the claims being made until additional testing is carried out by other research groups. – NZ Herald
Risingholme Orchestra
Santa Parade Riccarton Road, Christchurch
Celebrating 71 years Sunday 3rd December Starts 2pm
Presents an afternoon of opera and more... Sunday 26 November 2017 at 2pm Avonhead School - 55 Avonhead Road Conductor: Philip Norman
Johann Strauss - Die Fledermaus Overture and Act II with soloists: • Charles Levings • James Baines • Jillian Hewson • Peter Hewson • Sarah-Jane Rennie • Zara Ballara Pirates of Penzance Overture A dudelsack ‘concerto’ with soloist Roger Buckton Music by Percy Grainger and John Ritchie and some carols
Tickets: Adults $12 & Children $3 Includes afternoon tea
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