A state election is approaching in Victoria in November. Will we hear any of the candidates talk about sustainability, onshore gas exploration, or climate change policy in their debate at public election meetings and in the media?
A new initiative is going to work hard to make sure that in City of Greater Geelong, you must likely will! The grassroots movement GetUp, which has a membership list of 677,500 Australians, recently started a ‘Vote Clean’ campaign in Geelong, and on 3 September 2014 three members of the team visited the Sustainable Studio on 94.7 The Pulse.
They are mobilising hundreds of volunteers to have thousands of conversations about clean energy and climate change policy in Geelong region in the next three months.
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 41:
» To open or download this programme in mp3-format, right-click here (Mac: CTRL + click)
» Subscribe to ‘The Sustainable Hour’ podcast — via iTunes or via your own podcast/RSS software
Guests in the studio:
• Dan Cowdell, GetUp Geelong climate campaign leader
• Leigh Adamson, GetUp member
• Mary-Jane Walker, GetUp member
Live phone interview:
• Alan Cuthbertson, Climate Walk (Starting at 35:00)
Pre-recorded speeches:
• Doug Mann, MC at March Australia in Johnstone Park – teacher at Geelong High School
• Bryan Eaton, retired scientist from CSIRO
“Geelong is at a pivotal moment in its history. It could be a Copenhagen of Australia. It could be a green centre. The old technologies and industries are coming to an end in this city. Geelong is at a moment where it could choose to go into an integrated green solution which would create jobs. The majority of jobs being produced in Britain at the moment are in renewable energy.
Like ‘urban mining’, reclaiming the rare earth metals and valuable elements from e-waste [scrapped electronical equipment], dragging them out of the products we throw away. It is a huge movement overseas. And ‘green hubs’, using rubber tires to create steel. Geelong could be a ‘green hub’.
These new technologies are all part of the total solution that GetUp is talking about. A future-facing direction.”
Mary-Jane Walker in The Sustainable Hour
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG0JI3mSsgU
The GetUp video we played in The Sustainable Hour
Another GetUp video – about the door knocking campaign
» If you live in the Geelong region, join the Facebook group:
www.facebook.com/groups/GetUpGeelong
» RVSP if you are joining the People’s Climate March on 21 September in Geelong:
www.facebook.com/events/827137233983333
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Join millions of people in a global day of climate action. Over 1,150 (and counting) climate marches, rallies and events around the planet. So far 24 events have been registered in Australia, five of them in Victoria. In New York, almost 950 NGOs are collaborating about what is expected to become the largest climate action rally in history.
» Avaaz’s event page (an online network of 38 million people):
www.avaaz.org/en/event/climate
» 350.org’s event page:
www.act.350.org/event/peoples_climate/
» General sign-up and share-function via 350.org:
www.act.350.org/signup/readytomarch
» New York:
www.peoplesclimate.org/march
» Melbourne:
The People’s Climate March
Sunday, September 21, 11:00 AM State Library of Victoria 328 Swanston St, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
» Lower Plenty:
Climate Talk
Sunday, September 21, 7:30 PM Lower Plenty Scout Hall Maskell Cres – Lower Plenty, 3093, Australia
» Geelong:
Geelong wants climate action
Sunday, September 21, 11:00 AM Transvaal Square, Geelong Waterfront 1 Yarra Street – Geelong, 3220, Australia » Facebook
» Castlemaine:
Castlemaine Climate Mobilisation
Sunday, September 21, 11:00 AM Castlemaine Market Building and Victory Park Mostyn St – Castlemaine, 3450, Australia
» Bendigo:
Global People’s Climate March
Sunday, September 21, 11:00 AM Rosiland Park, Bendigo Rosiland Park, Pall Mal – Bendigo, 3550, Australia
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Climate change – a turtle disaster
A group of concerned citizens have decided that they will walk from Melbourne to Canberra carrying a petition calling for real action on climate change.
To highlight the risks faced by endangered species they will be taking a large sea turtle with them. The leader of the walk, Alan Cuthbertson said “the risks to the earth, to humans and to animal species are so great we must take action.
Alan will be joined by June Norman, a 74 year old grandmother from Queensland. June is a veteran of long distance walks. Last year she walked 1,200 kilometres in support of the Great Barrier Reef. June said: “I walk to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren”.
The group will be hosted by local people on the way and will engage with the community to talk about climate change and its impacts. They will set of from Parliament House in Melbourne on Sunday 21 September 2014, arriving in Canberra on Monday 20 October.
Everyone is invited to join them on the first day from Melbourne to Heidelberg, or on any other day.
» Details are available on: www.climatewalk.org.au where the petition can be downloaded and signed.
» Give the initiative a ‘like’ on: www.facebook.com/ClimateWalk
VICTORIA
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25 government actions against renewables
The Victorian Coalition Government’s systematic campaign against renewable energy has cost Victoria investment, employment and revenue according to this report from Environment Victoria.
Mark Wakeham, CEO of Environment Victoria, wrote:
“Environment Victoria released a report which summarises a series of 25 actions the Baillieu/Napthine Govts have taken to delay or frustrate the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency or encourage polluting energy sources.
The report got a run in The Age
While some of these actions have been reported on individually this report pieces together a systematic attack on our clean energy industries which is costing us thousands of jobs, billions in investment and delaying the necessary clean up of our power supply.
You’ll notice some fairly lame responses from Govt, e.g. its the Federal Government’s job to reduce emissions – (a) the Fed Coalition aren’t exactly doing a great job of that, and (b) the Napthine Govt has been campaigning for less Federal action – weakening RET and scrapping carbon price.
They also argue that we don’t care about cost of living, despite the fact they are cutting energy efficiency programs that are saving households and businesses money.
If anyone feels like writing to the Age to highlight the Napthine Government’s recklessness it would be great: letters@theage.com.au
‘Sun blocks and wind breaks: 25 attacks on clean energy by the Baillieu and Napthine Governments’
» www.environmentvictoria.org.au/sunblocksandwindbreaks
AUSTRALIA
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The Renewable Energy Target
“It’s no wonder climate-change denier Dick Warburton’s RET review is little more than part of the dinosaur protection racket – an $8 billion favour for Tony Abbott’s mates in the fossil fuels sector, at the expense of renewable energy technology.”
Christine Milne
The Renewable Energy Target was one of the few climate change-related measures in Australia to enjoy bipartisan support before the election in September 2013. To first make an agreement and then later on, all of a sudden, to turn around and not keep your word… well, in a normal world among normal, decent people that would be perceived as being dishonest.
Politicians might think they have been given a mandate to do whatever they please. But really, it’s not like that. If you can’t be trusted, all business ends there, really.
In an election debate, who will talk with politicians about values and ethics?
Why is keeping your word not a value in politics?
What are your own values?
Do you see yourself as a decent person? An honest person?
What are the conservative core values?
Decent manners? Being respectful of others? Being fair?
What does individuality and freedom of choice mean to you? What does it mean when it comes to your choices of energy?
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Onshore gas extraction
The water trigger
“What the hell is going on?!” asks Alan Jones, who talks about “the mining invasion”. It is, in Alan Jones’ words, “staggering stuff”.
High risk decisions are being made to facilitate the onshore gas mining industry while government authorities are giving up on protecting our ground water. Laws are being changed in order to enable large coal and gas mining projects to run without any federal supervision, while state government environmental protection is being crippled by vested interests.
» Listen to this podcast clip: www.2gb.com/audioplayer/60556
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Public meeting: GAS RUSH – Information night in Geelong
Topic: Onshore gas extraction in City of Greater Geelong
Thursday 18 September at 7:00–9:00pm
Chair: Michael Martinez
Free admission.
Place: Manifold Heights Baptist Church
Corner Shannon Ave and Volum St. Manifold Heights
Geelong Council seeks public submissions regarding onshore gas extraction methods. Taking a stand on this should not be about party politics. This is about our common future and what we would like it to be.
Come and ask questions to a panel of independent authorities about onshore gas mining’s impact on health, jobs, economy, environment, climate and ethics.
We will be watching a short film which focuses on why communities in Gippsland are opposing onshore gas extraction – also known as CSG mining or ‘fracking’.
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Time to move your money
Julien from Market Forces wrote:
“The Government has now signed off on two massive new coal mines in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, along with their connecting rail lines and new coal export terminals in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. I can’t put it more simply than this: we need to get to the banks before the owners of these massive coal export projects do. And if history is any guide the big four Australian banks will be crucial to these deals.
That’s why we and our friends at 350.org are calling on thousands of customers of ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac to turn out and publicly close their accounts on the 18th of October if the banks fail to rule out further support for the dirty fossil fuel industry.
If the Galilee Basin coal mines get built it would open up one of the biggest untapped coal basins in the world. It would mean dredging and dumping of millions of tonnes of spoil in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, putting this natural icon at risk for the sake of building new coal export terminals that would then export hundreds of millions of tonnes of coal to be burned in power stations, increasing greenhouse gas emissions even further. It is completely unacceptable and we need to intervene before the owners of these projects get to the banks and lock in their funding.
There is plenty you can do to help make Divestment Day on the 18th of October the massive event we need it to be:
• If you’re with one of the big four banks sign up to take part!
• If you’re not with one of the big four banks you can still build up the event by promoting it to your friends and family – go to the “spread the word” section on the Divestment Day page: www.marketforces.org.au/divestmentday
• And anyone can help make the events a success by volunteering either before or on the day. To volunteer, contact Govind, our Divestment Day Coordinator simply by replying to this email.
We’re making it easy to find and move to another bank
We’ve made it easy for people to find and switch banks, with an overhaul of our comparison table. You can now see which banks are funding the dirty fossil fuel industry, which ones have told us where they stand on fossil fuel investments and who is yet to come clean on their position. Check out the comparison table here:
www.www.marketforces.org.au/banks/compare
And for those who want some help on the bank switching process, our “How to Switch Banks and Make it Count” guide is a great companion for all those taking part in Divestment Day.
Switching-Banks-Guide.pdf
It really is now or never for keeping the Galilee Basin coal in the ground where it belongs.
With determination,
Julien, on behalf of Market Forces
P.S. The Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility is looking for shareholders of the big four banks to support resolutions they are putting to the banks, that would force disclosure on the climate impact of activities the banks finance. If you have shares in ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB or Westpac, click here to find out more and join this action: www.accr.org.au/big_banks ”
INTERNATIONAL
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Plans for a global low-carbon fund
Three weeks before the UN Secretary-General’s extraordinary meeting of world leaders in New York to tackle climate change, a leading British scientist unveils plans for a global low-carbon fund on a par with the Apollo Moon programme.
» www.climatenewsnetwork.net
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Experience “climate hell”
United Nations predicts climate hell in 2050 with imagined weather forecasts
» www.theguardian.com
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Locked in to 300 billion tons of CO2
Challenging news for those climate campaigners who believe that renewable sources of energy are on the increase: they may be, but so are carbon dioxide emissions.
Steven Davis of the University of California, Irvine and Robert Socolow of Princeton University in the US report in the journal Environmental Research Letters that existing power plants will emit 300 billion tons of additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during their lifetimes. In this century alone, emissions have grown by 4% per year.
The two scientists have already reported on the increasing costs of delay in phasing out fossil fuel sources of energy. This time they have looked at the steady future accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from power stations.“We show that, despite international efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, total remaining commitments in the global power sector have not declined in a single year since 1950 and are in fact growing rapidly,” their paper says.”
Climate News Network – 28 August 2014:
Committed carbon emissions are rising fast
Article by Tim Radford
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Medical experts back divestment to benefit climate and health
Health NGOs are calling on the medical sector to divest from fossil fuels and invest instead in clean, renewable energy as “one of the most important steps” to protect human health from climate change”.
Speaking during this week’s World Health Organization Climate Change Summit, doctors, health NGOs and other medical experts argued that just as the health sector divested from tobacco, it now needs to address the “even greater threat” of climate change.
Across the board, divestment is being cited as a promising way to help mitigate climate change and improve human health, as Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, insisted at the WHO conference. Many academic institutions have already ditched their fossil fuel investments, with the University of Sydney, Australia this week confirming it will halt future investments in coal firms.
Campaigners also launched a petition in recent days calling on the Pope to persuade the Vatican Bank to “stop the Catholic church from fueling the climate crisis through its investments”. Despite this massive and growing momentum and calls from scientists for fossil fuel reserves to stay in the ground to stop runaway climate change, a new report shows that G7 nations are still spending huge amounts on subsidising oil, coal and gas.
Next month’s UN Secretary General’s Climate Change Summit in New York is a key opportunity for government leaders to show that they agree that bold action on climate change is the only responsible way forward for a healthy climate and a healthy public.
Divestment is “one of the most important steps” in protecting human health from climate change. This is the message of doctors and health experts at this week’s WHO Climate Change Summit. Just as the health sector divested from tobacco if now needs to take similar steps to move away from fossil fuels, say NGOs, which believe that climate change is an “even greater threat” to public health. The British Medical Association took the lead this June when it became the first health institution in the world to vote in favour of divestment.
Divestment is becoming mainstream with actors across the board calling for an end to investments in fossil fuels. From the world’s largest philanthropic foundations, banks and pension funds to cities, universities and faith groups, organisations are following scientific warnings, re-confirmed by leaked drafts of the IPCC’s latest report, that large amounts of fossil fuels must stay in the ground to protect the climate and human health from the impacts of runaway climate change.
This is a critical time in the fight against climate change and next month’s UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in New York is the ideal opportunity for governments to show their willingness to divest from fossil fuels. Despite much rhetoric, a new report from Oil Change International shows that G7 countries are still massively subsidising oil, gas and coal reserves. But this is hugely shortsighted with analysis by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) showing that coal firms are underperforming on the markets, ex-npower boss Volker Beckers stating the fossil fuel energy system has ‘reached its natural end’, and the largest world’s largest private bank forecasting the end of large-scale, centralised power stations.
» Source: The Tree
www.treealerts.org
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Hours and hours of sustainable podcasts
You can listen to all of the radio shows in full length as well as in selected excerpts. Use the links below. You will also find links to more information about the topics and sites that have been mentioned during the hour.
| Social stream | Hour no 41 | No 40 | No 39 | No 38 | No 37 | No 36 | No 35 | No 34 | No 33 | No 32 | No 31 | No 30 | No 29 | No 28 | No 27 | No 26 | No 25 | No 24 | No 23 | No 22 | No 21 | No 20 | No 19 | No 18 | No 17 | No 16 | No 15 | No 14 | No 13 | No 12 | No 11 | No 10 | No 9 | No 8 | No 7 | No 6 | No 5 | No 4 | No 3 | No 2 | No 1 |
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