Inaction on the climate emergency only makes sense in a shortsighted perspective. Enter The Sensible Citizen who has the capacity to think long term and to think independently, able to see straight through all the media ‘white noise’ – the fake news, disinformation and outright nonsense which we are bombarded with on a daily basis.

This week 15,000 scientists warned the global community of human misery and catastrophe in a depleted planet if we don’t begin to wean off our addiction to fossil fuels. Last year was the hottest on record, and before that 2015 broke all records. Researchers warn that 2017 will be one of the three warmest ever years. Meanwhile, Geelong’s two local newspapers are full of letters, articles and editorials trying to convince us that this doesn’t mean a thing, or that it is a hoax.

In The Sustainable Hour on 15 November 2017 we talk heat records and climate change science with Dr Andrew King, Climate Extremes Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, who argues that in three generations, every other year could be a record breaker.

We talk with Geelong’s new mayor Bruce Harwood about the ‘Clever-Creative’ 30-year vision for Geelong, which he had told voters – in response to a Geelong Sustainability Council Election Survey – that he was “fully committed” to, but now disappointingly brushes it off with a saying that “there are only two days that you can’t do anything and that’s yesterday and tomorrow.”

We learn about earth-centered ethics and eco-psychology from Dr Michelle Maloney, learn about a new crowdfunding campaign Paul Hoelen, Ken Peters-Dodd and Paul Nimbahly have started for their Pit to Point Project, where aerial landscape photographers and traditional land owners join forces to #StopAdani. We remind everyone about the #StopAdani event in Geelong on Tuesday 21 November at 11 am in Yarra Street, Generations Against Adani, and play the song ‘Leave it in the Ground’ with Simon Kerr. More info and an editorial below.

Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 195 on 94.7 The Pulse:

» 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

LISTENER SERVICE:

Content of this hour

Links, excerpts and more information about what we talked about in this Sustainable Hour

• Editorial
• Bruce Harwood: Geelong’s new mayor on Our Future
• Dr Michelle Maloney: The New Economy
• Dr Andrew King: Climate research
• Paul Hoelen, Ken Peters-Dodd and Paul Nimbahly: Pit to Point project
• Generations Against Adani: On Tuesday 21 November
• Simon Kerr: New song video

Bruce Harwood – Geelong’s new mayor – on Our Future

“We live in the present, so it is important that we don’t miss that, that we embrace that. Of course you look forward and you look behind, for what you’ve done, and what we’ve done well. And you look down the track, but importantly, you know, the sun comes up tomorrow, so let’s look forward to that, and make that a good day. I used to say sometimes, there are only two days that you can’t do anything, and that’s yesterday and tomorrow. Otherwise, get on with business.”
~ Bruce Harwood, Mayor of Geelong

This interview with Bruce Harwood was conducted half an hour after he had been elected as the new mayor of Greater Geelong. Did Mayor Harwood just say ‘Burn like there’s no tomorrow!’ – or if we are to translate his polly-speak, is he saying, “Let’s not bother with long term planning or 30-year visions, let’s just continue business as usual and live in the present,” …or are we hearing things?

Bruce Harwood’s statement clearly indicates that a commitment to the ‘Clever Creative’ 30-year vision in the new Council is far from certain, even though it has been buried in a time capsule in front of the city hall. For Council again to loose view of the long term future, including view of how climate change could be affecting us 30 years from now, would be a critical mistake.

This was what Bruce Harwood campaigned for
– **Click to enlarge**

Harwood told The Indy this week that his priorities are economic growth, infrastructure and the Geelong Conference Convention Centre.

This was what Bruce Harwood told Geelong Sustainability he stood for:

» More about the ‘Clever Creative’ 30-year vision for Geelong

» Clever Creative future vision – community pledges:
Make a pledge and see pledges that have been submitted by members of the community

Do you believe in a #clevercreative future for Greater Geelong? Make the pledge at https://t.co/CZZ0POiY7k

— CityofGreaterGeelong (@GreaterGeelong) November 15, 2017

What Bruce Harwood told Geelong Sustainability

Geelong Sustainability invited all candidates to participate in an independent online survey. This is the transcript of candidate Bruce Harwood’s response:

My local government responsibility priorities in rank order are:
• Improving the overall quality of life for people in the Geelong community
• Environmental sustainability
• Social sustainability
• Effective use of ratepayers’ money
• Economic sustainability
• Promoting business and employment opportunities

My commitment to implementing the COGG Clever and Creative Future vision?
• Yes, fully committed

From the Greater Geelong: A Clever and Creative Future vision, my most important to least important priorities are:
• An inclusive, diverse, healthy and socially connected community
• People feel safe wherever they are
• Sustainable development that supports population growth and protects the natural environment
• Development and implementation of sustainable solutions
• A prosperous economy that supports jobs and education opportunities
• A leader in developing and adopting technology
• A fast, reliable and connected transport network
• Creativity drives culture
• A destination that attracts local and international visitors

Geelong has been awarded a One Planet certification. My ranking of the One Planet Principles are from most to least important:
• Health and happiness: Encouraging active, sociable, meaningful lives to promote good health and well-being
• Culture and community: Nurturing local identity and heritage, empowering communities and promoting a culture of sustainable living
• Equity and local economy: Creating safe, equitable places to live and work which support local prosperity and international fair trade
• Zero waste: Reducing consumption, reusing and recycling to achieve zero waste and zero pollution
• Sustainable water: Using water efficiently, protecting local water resources and reducing flooding and drought
• Zero carbon energy: Making buildings and manufacturing energy efficient and supplying all energy with renewables
• Materials & products: Using materials from sustainable sources and promoting products which help people reduce consumption
• Land and nature: Protecting and restoring land for the benefit of people and wildlife
• Local and sustainable food: Promoting sustainable humane farming and healthy diets high in local, seasonal organic food and vegetable protein
• Sustainable transport: Reducing the need to travel, encouraging walking, cycling and low carbon transport

My key motivation for standing for Council is:
• Environmental, Social & economic equity for the whole region

My three top priorities are:
• Proper community consultation on matters that affect us all
• Social equity for disadvantaged
• Identify and act on sustainable economic opportunity

» Source: www.geelongsustainability.org.au

» Geelong Sustainability’s Candidate scorecard summary for Kardinia Ward | Full scorecard (PDF)

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“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Alan Kay

“Door number 1, you eat your kids’ futures.
Door number 2, you fight for their futures.
That’s all the doors there are. And there’s precious little time left to make your choice.”
~ Raúl Ilargi Meijer, blogger, The Automatic Earth

Dr Michelle Maloney: The New Economy

Dr Michelle Maloney has a Bachelor of Arts and Law (Hons) from the Australian National University and a PhD in Law from Griffith University.

As co-founder and national convenor of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA), she manages the strategic direction and governance of AELA, including the extensive partnerships and networks that AELA has with the legal, academic, indigenous and environmental advocacy communities.

The Australian Earth Laws Alliance was created in early 2012 to carry out research, education, promotional and activist work that furthers the understanding, theoretical development and practical application of Earth Jurisprudence or ‘Earth Laws’ and ‘Wild Law’ in Australia.

» Home page: www.earthlaws.org.au

» Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AustralianEarthLaws

Dr Maloney is also co-founder of the New Economy Network Australia. Like the Australian Earth Laws Alliance, both are strongly connected with fast-growing global movements, and a burgeoning mix of initiatives on the ground.

The New Economy Network Australia (NENA) is a network of individuals and organisations working to transform Australia’s economic system so that achieving ecological health and social justice are the foundational principles and primary objectives of the economic system.

“NENA works to facilitate connections, showcase and promote innovative projects and build peer-to-peer learning, so that we can build a strong movement of people demanding, creating and benefiting from a ‘new’ economy.”

» Home page: www.neweconomy.org.au

» Facebook page: www.facebook.com/neweconomyaustralia

Podcast from August
In August 2017, Dr Michelle Maloney told about The New Economy and the conference about this topic in Brisbane in September where 350 people would be coming together to share information in a Rescope podcast.

 
» The Sustainable Hour no 181

» Michelle Maloney’s Linkedin profile

The core of the matter with our economy

– as explained by Canadian scientist and activist David Suzuki:

GLOBAL OUTLOOK:

The Climate Economy Initiative

The Climate Economy Initiative was founded on the premise that confronting climate change through innovative economic development can be a competitive strategy, one that will build national reputation, create jobs, and attract youth and entrepreneurism.

» www.vtrural.org

» VTDigger – 15 November 2017:
Justin Wheating: Championing the climate economy for Vermont

Dr Andrew King: Climate research

Last year was the hottest on record, and before that 2015 broke all records. Researchers warn that 2017 will be one of the three warmest ever years. By 2100, every other year could be a record breaker, says Dr Andrew King, who researches climate extremes at the University of Melbourne.

He published his research in the journal Earth’s Future. Considering chance alone, between 1861 and 2005 there might have been seven years of record-breaking temperatures. In fact, there have been 17 such years, he tells us in the interview.

“We can now specifically say climate change is increasing the chance of observing a new temperature record each year. It is important to point out we shouldn’t be seeing these records if human activity weren’t contributing to global warming,” King told Climate News Network.

Andrew King is a Climate Extremes Research Fellow and postdoc at the School of Earth Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, University of Melbourne. He focuses on variability of climate extremes and the attribution of extreme events to human-induced climate change. He also investigates the time of emergence of human-induced climate change signals.

» Andrew King | The Conversation – 6 November 2017:
2017 is set to be among the three hottest years on record

» Andrew King’s articles on The Conversation

» Andrew King’s articles on unimelb.edu.au

» Andrew King’s blog:
www.andrewdking.weebly.com

» Andrew King’s Twitter account:
www.twitter.com/AndrewKingClim

“The problem … is us. It’s our whole way of life. It’s our comfort … It’s the greed. It’s the indulgence. It’s the pattern. And it’s the inertia.”
~ Jerry Brown, Governor of California, USA

California may reach 50% renewable power goal by 2020 — 10 years early https://t.co/2BVVGvjmjg via @sfchronicle

— Stefan Rahmstorf (@rahmstorf) November 16, 2017

Two years ago, Governor Jerry Brown signed an ambitious law ordering California utility companies to get 50 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030. It looks like they may hit that goal a decade ahead of schedule:

» San Fransisco Chronicle – 13 November 2017:
California may reach 50% renewable power goal by 2020 — 10 years early

“Two years after nations signed the historic Paris Agreement, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rising faster than expected and the international community lacks essential leadership to tackle this crisis.”
~ Johan Rockström, Executive Director, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, and Amy Luers, Executive Director, Future Earth

» World Economic Forum – 17 November 2017:
We have the tools to fight climate change. It’s time to start using them
“Earth’s climate has been remarkably stable since before the dawn of civilization. This stability is now at risk.”

“Two reports, The Fourth National Climate Assessment from the United States government, and the World Meteorological Organization’s annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, underline, yet again, that none of the proposals, plans or actions of governments or the private sector will result in any meaningful steps to avoid cataclysmic climate change. Concentrations of carbon dioxide surged at a record-breaking speed last year, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
~ Ken Ward

THE SUSTAINABLE EDITORIAL:

In the midst of it all, in the door steps The Sensible Citizen

Inaction and procrastination on the climate emergency only makes sense in a shortsighted, selfish perspective. Enter the responsible and sensible citizen who has the capacity to think long term and more broadly about the protection of human life.

The sensible citizen is first and foremost informed. Aware of the kind of devastating news which this week’s Sustainable Hour is full of, and aware of what action needs to be taken, and how urgent it is. The sensible citizen is able to think independently and to see straight through all the media ‘white noise’ – the fake news, disinformation and outright nonsense that we are bombarded with on a daily basis.

The sensible citizen knows that short-term planning, as good or profitable as it may seem, can often be irrational, irresponsible and even destructive in a long-term perspective.

The newly appointed Senator Jordon Steele-John spoke beautifully about this in the Australian Parliament the other day:

“I would like to ask this Chamber whether it can think of any greater intergenerational theft than failing to act on climate change. Whether it can think of any greater act of intergenerational theft than letting the vested coal and various fossil fuel interests, which seem to run this government, rob my generation of its future. Of a safe and healthy environment in which to raise our kids. Because I cannot.”

The Sustainable Hour this week is opened with a really disappointing interview with our new mayor Bruce Harwood, who dismisses his election campaign commitment to that long term planning that the Clever Creative future strategy paper represents.

This week, Pope Francis blamed climate change on short-sighted humans – a blame not to be taken lightly, in particular if you are a new mayor just sworn in with a promise, hand on Bible, that you will be leading City Hall “in the best interest of the people”. Whether you are religious or not, Catholic or not, Pope Francis says it as it is:

» The Independent – 12 November 2017:
COP23: With Trump absent at UN climate talks, Pope Francis blames ‘short-sighted’ humans for global warming
“The pontiff has become an authoritative voice on climate change, all the more so as the US leadership has abdicated responsibility”

» CBS News – 16 November 2017:
Pope Francis denounces climate change deniers

This is the core of the matter – not only concerning what a religious leader and Trump are doing, but concerning what we all are doing when it comes to stepping up to the challenge of climate change. It’s absurd to see the Australian government putting the brakes on clean energy when it is firm action and investment in the area that is urgently needed. Because time is running out for us. What NASA showed us this week is a reminder of that:

Ice sheets breaking off
On 15 November 2017, the first photos of a new giant iceberg in Antarctica ticked in. This iceberg, which has been given the name ‘A-68’, is one of the largest icebergs ever observed on Earth. So now we can see it with our own eyes, looking at NASA’s photographs which are circulating on social media: how our poles are rapidly warming, and the ice is melting.

What happens to Antarctica’s ice is of huge importance to us and to the rest of the world, because our big cities, like Melbourne, are vulnerable to a rapid rise in sea level.

» Mashable – 15 November 2017:
NASA took the 1st, astonishing aerial photos of the giant new Antarctic iceberg

There was a study in the journal Nature last year which told that the melting of the ice from West Antarctica alone is projected to cause a sea level rise of one metre within this century. If you then add Greenland’s melting ice at the other side of the globe, the study projected a 15 metre sea level rise over the next 15 generations. Which would mean a goodbye to all of the world’s coastal regions, and all the megacities which are on the coast line – which happens to be most of them.

What these photos remind us of is that time is running out. Our planet’s ice sheets are melting, breaking off. And NASA is delivering the data for us.

https://twitter.com/ClimateGuardia/status/933210325834276865

Climate silence
25 years ago, climate change appeared to most of us to be all just theory. Future projections. Now we are seeing it rolling out all around us. In recent months extreme weather events have been on the on the news every evening. Reports tick in of the melting ice at the poles, violent hurricanes, devastating floods, forest fires and bush fires, asthma thunderstorms and 50°C heatwaves.

News reporters aren’t telling us why all this is happening, in part because our media news rooms are controlled by people who have a vested interest in the climate action deadlock, in part because journalists have been fooled to believe that when it comes to climate change, “nobody knows” what’s really going on. Pseudo-scientific arguments and false or non-relevant data have been effectively used by columnists who are supported financially by the fossil fuel industry to create an atmosphere of doubt around the climate science.

So we never get the explanation how come it is still free to pollute the air, even though we can see that it is killing people.

Media’s silence on both climate crimes and climate solutions is one of the most atrocious scandals of this century. But luckily, most people seem to be able to think for themselves. It has become evident to most of us by now that what we are witnessing today are the first impacts of climate change.

A recent and scary example of how it suddenly hits home, in our own Geelong region, are the reports about the new phenomena called ‘asthma thunderstorms’ that literally kills our children. Nine died last year. Without a word about climate change and without holding our elected leaders – and their lack of action – to account for these deaths.

MODERATE thunderstorm asthma forecast tmrw Sat 18 Nov. https://t.co/Q3v6sT2d5M To stay safe:
-avoid exposure to any storms that may emerge
-have reliever medication on hand
-review your asthma action plan. More here https://t.co/Q3v6sT2d5M pic.twitter.com/hgwkb5fcom

— Better Health (@BetterHealthGov) November 17, 2017

Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones are likely. Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water. Continue to monitor conditions https://t.co/WRoIIJjBEj #vicstorms https://t.co/aTFs86GZMm

— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) November 17, 2017

“Australia’s east coast could be devastated by massive cyclones as global warming pushes extreme weather farther south, experts claim. Environmentalist Tim Flannery said climate change was causing more extreme weather than ever before as oceans got warmer. He said cyclones were getting so big, meteorologists were considering adding a sixth category to described storms of unprecedented power.”

» Daily Mail – 16 November 2017:
Australia’s east coast at risk of ‘nightmare’ cyclones with ‘tremendously damaging’ 120km/h winds

Scientists keep warning us
Scientists warned us about that this would happen: If we don’t get our air pollution levels under control, it will have catastrophic consequences, they have warned for decades – actually since the beginning of the 1900s. They also said, back in 1992:

“We (…) forewarn the authorities in charge of our planet’s destiny against decisions which are supported by pseudo-scientific arguments or false and non-relevant data.”

This is a quote from a joint statement from 25 years ago – the ‘Heidelberg Appeal to Heads of States and Governments’, endorsed by 4,000 scientists including 72 Nobel Prize winners.

Our democratic system got ‘hacked’ and our leaders decided to ignore the scientists’ warnings. The pseudo-scientific arguments and false data fabricated by the fossil fuel industry have had exactly that effect that scientists already 25 years ago warned us about they would have.

So this week, 15,000 scientists issued a second warning, a second notice:

» Bioscience – 13 November 2017:
World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice

I'm among the over 15,000 signatories of this: Thousands of scientists issue bleak 'second notice' to humanity https://t.co/PTX588TSlB

— Stefan Rahmstorf (@rahmstorf) November 16, 2017

» Sydney Morning Herald – 14 November 2017:
Climate scientists warn time is running out to prevent global environmental collapse
“Time is running out to prevent a global environmental collapse — that’s the stark warning 15,364 of the world’s leading climate scientists have sent out.”

» The Independent – 14 November 2017:
15,000 scientists give catastrophic warning about the fate of the world in new ‘letter to humanity’
‘Time is running out’

» International Business Times – 14 November 2017:
15,000 scientists warn of human misery and catastrophe in depleted planet
“Global warming, deforestation and spiralling population puts earth in great peril.”

» CommonDreams – 13 November 2017:
Over 15,000 Scientists Just Issued a ‘Second Notice’ to Humanity. Can We Listen Now?
“Reassessing warning issued 25 years ago, the “second notice” to humanity warns of “widespread misery and catastrophic biodiversity loss” unless business-as-usual is upended”

It is up to us do decide if we are going to do something about it.

A recent study showed that “if the world’s top 10 percent of carbon dioxide emitters were to cut their emissions to the level of the average European Union citizen, global emissions would decline by 33 percent. If the top 20 percent were to do so, the reduction would be about 40 percent.”

Annual Climate Change Performance Index:

Australia ranked at the very bottom

“Australia ranks among the very low-performing countries in three of the CCPI’s categories – GHG emissions, energy use and climate policy – and among the low performers regarding renewable energy, which results in position 57 in the overall tableau.

Experts emphasize the need to strengthen Australia’s 2030 targets especially in terms of emissions reduction and renewable energy and demand that their government sufficiently implement credible policies for meeting these targets.”

» Read more on www.germanwatch.org

» Sydney Morning Herald – 15 November 2017:
‘Ringing alarm bells’: Australia near the bottom of the heap for climate action

Solving Victoria’s energy problem when it gets hot

Understand how you can help solve it

The Victorian Government has announced that it may be necessary to turn on a diesel generator this summer to keep power running, which the opposition of course has been quick to try and score a few cheap points on.

What the opposition conveniently forgets to mention is that this is a result of the messy politics that they have been part of, their politics which have deliberately delayed the inevitable transition to renewables – year after year our politicians have been procrastinating with getting a full functioning renewable energy system up and running in Victoria.

It could have been done years ago, as it has been done elsewhere in the world, in which case there would have been no need for any temporary fixes using diesel or gas while we get the wind turbines up and running.

Meanwhile, while Victorian and Australian politicians keep bickering and slinging their mud cakes on each other, countries such as Scotland, Denmark, Holland, New Zealand and many other countries around the world are getting on with the job of doing what simply needs to get done.

There are a hundred good reasons to get off the fossils and on to a fully electric system powered 100% by renewables. Number one, its better, healthier, safer and cheaper for the communities, us, the people.

Mik’s comment:
“Back off, David Southwick. Climate change is your problem too. And if you have kids, even more so it will be their problem to deal with.
You are on the wrong side of history, sir.”

David Southwick
“Diesel Generators will not help Climate Change”

Mik
“David – definitely not, we can agree on that! But keeping polluting coal-fired power stations running is certainly not the answer either.
It seems to me you are only trying to score a few cheap points here, and really, you should be above that.
The only reason it now MAY be necessary to turn on a diesel generator is because of the politics that you have been part of, politics which have deliberately delayed the inevitable transition to renewables – year after year you have procrastinated with getting a full functioning renewable energy system up and running. It could have been done years ago, as it has been done elsewhere in the world, in which case there would have been no need for any temporary fixes using diesel or gas while we get the wind turbines up and running.
You are pointing a finger at Andrews, but three of your fingers point at yourself.”

Customers rewarded for using less power

Ease the demand, get rewarded: As part of a government initiative, Powershop is now asking its customers to register to a ‘Curb Your Power’ program.

There are a number of times a year when electricity demand surges, putting a lot of pressure on the electricity grid. As a result, supply of electricity to your home or business can become unstable, often resulting in blackouts. To reduce the likelihood of these risks, rather than pay for costly infrastructure upgrades to cover the very few days per year when demand surges – which in the long run will have an impact on your bill – consumers can reduce the amount of electricity they use during those surge events. This is called demand response. It’s effective, it’s cheaper and it’s better for the environment.

In Victoria, the biggest risk to energy supplies this summer are not variable renewable energy generation, but the failure of country’s ageing fossil fuel generators in the mid-summer heat. However, you can be sure that the opposition will use any blackout to mock Daniel Andrews and his government for their aspirations to build more renewable power stations in the coming years.

What can you do? Powershop writes:

“For the couple of times a year when demand on the grid is super high – like at the height of summer when everyone’s cranking their air-con – we’ll ask you to voluntarily reduce your usage by around 10% for a couple of hours, and we’ll reward you for doing it with a $10 power credit. Participating can be as easy as changing the air-con from 17 degrees to 24 degrees and doing your washing after the event, or powering down and leaving the house for the duration of the event – perfect excuse for an ice cream. We’ll share plenty of tips on how to curb your power usage before each event.”

» Powershop: How to curb your power

AEMO and ARENA demand response trial to provide 200 megawatts of emergency reserves for extreme peaks
» Read more on: www.arena.gov.au

» ABC – 23 November 2017:
Latrobe Valley plans for diesel generator back-up power supply
“Plans are underway to set-up diesel generators in the Latrobe Valley in eastern Victoria, to be used as a back-up power supply on days of high electricity demand.”

“Many readers have already embraced lifestyle changes but, over the coming year or two, this initiative will particularly challenge our religious leaders to promote ‘compassionate simplicity for the sake of the climate’. It will also offer support and encouragement to individuals. Some emphasis will be placed on adopting a plant-based diet, reducing food waste and minimising car and plane travel.”
~ Thea, ARRCC

TED Talk presentation from a Norwegian psychologist and economist, Per Espen Stokes, on how – and how not – to communicate the implications of climate change, and the need for behaviour change, to people

» TED.com – September 2017:
How to transform apocalypse fatigue into action on global warming

“Live simply so others can simply live. Climate change is a global emergency. Carbon pollution kills. Polluters should pay.”
John Pratt

Elizabeth Kolbert once again shows why she has a reputation for well-researched, in-depth articles! Read it. https://t.co/sJMuSlLeJs

— Stefan Rahmstorf (@rahmstorf) November 14, 2017

» The New Yorker – 13 November 2017:
Going Negative
“Can carbon-dioxide removal save the world?”

“We need to act, first and foremost, within the realm of information: because right now, it is the absolute dysfunction of the global information architecture — represented in the intersection of mainstream media outlets, social technology platforms and giant digital aggregators — that is sowing confusion, and paralyzing us from taking the action required to take on global and local challenges.

Are you awake? If so, then you’ll agree with me that something is deeply wrong.

The media is broken.
It’s broken financially.
It’s broken in terms of content that actually means something, anything.
It’s broken in terms of ownership.
It’s broken in terms of its relationship to its audience.
And it cannot be repaired. It needs to be transformed.”
~ Nafeez Ahmed

» Medium – 17 November 2017:
How the blockchain will give the media back to the people, to save the planet
“Insurge intelligence is launching its new crypto-economy for fearless, independent journalism that will empower action for change.”

» Read more news from the climate frontier:
“Stop. Look. Listen. Think. Act!”

“Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”
Anna Lappe

StopAdani

Farmers for Climate Action’s petition: Stop compulsory acquisition of grazing land for Adani’s private rail line

“My vision for this region includes my family, the community and agriculture in this district for a thousand years. I don’t think Adani can say the same.”

» Add your name to call on the Premier, Opposition Leader and all candidates running in the Queensland state election to commit to supporting farmers by stopping special deals for Adani like this land acquisition.

Simon Kerr: ‘Leave it in the Ground’

» Vimeo.com

» Find it on Facebook
www.facebook.com/simonkerrperspective

Simon Kerr – Guitars and Vocals
Kylie Morrigan – Violin and Vocals
Mal Webb – Bass, Trombone, Melodica, Vocals
Scott Lewis – Keys and Vocals
Daniel Hook – Drums and Percussion
Christine Parker – Videos and Images

Simon Kerr writes in his newsletter ‘Brief update on Music for a Warming World’:

“It is now two years since we first launched this musical/visual experiment called Music for a Warming World!

We have played 45 shows to well over 2000 people, from Hobart to Brisbane, from universities and conferences to art galleries and music festivals. And the show has constantly evolved to stay relevant and focused with many new songs and visuals added (and some others retired!).

We want to keep changing the narrative around fossil fuels.

ADANI COAL MINE STILL GOING AHEAD
The Indian mining company Adani is planning to open Australia’s largest coal mine ever, in the Carmichael Basin in Northern Queensland.

This is a very bad idea as it will lock in emissions for decades, pose an unacceptable risk to the Great Barrier Reef, damage the world largest artesian basin and waste $1b of public money. And that’s just the start.

If you haven’t seen it yet, watch the Four Corner’s expose of Adani:
www.abc.net.au/4corners/digging-into-adani

Please, please … add your name to the most important environmental campaign since the Franklin River in the late 1970s.

www.stopadani.com/

YOU CAN HOST OF SHOW!
Music for a Warming World is a safe and entertaining way to help share the important story of our changing world. Consider hosting a show with your networks, colleagues, family and friends; climate change will never ‘sound’ so good!

Best wishes
Simon and Christine”

» www.musicforawarmingworld.org

ADDITIONALLY:

In other news

From our notes of this week: news stories, social media debate and coming events we didn’t have time to mention but which we think you should know about

“Those that love peace must learn to organise themselves as effectively as those that love war.”
~ Dr Martin Luther King Jr – in a speech he gave on 25 March 1967 after leading 5,000 people down State Street in Chicago to protest the war in Viet Nam

“People like us, who are driven by conscience and conviction to take responsible climate action, get prosecuted on felony charges, while those profiting from climaticide are backed by the government. That leaves us with one option: to put our own bodies and freedom on the line. But we’re far from alone. As climate change advances and the circumstances grow more dire with policy solutions nowhere in sight, more people will feel compelled to act.”
~ Ken Ward

“We need to place ourselves on a war footing”

“I recently returned from a trip to Canberra to interview a couple of climate scientists for Ecosophia, Prof. Will Steffen from the Climate Council said towards the end of the interview we – those of us who are wise enough and not afraid to face the reality – need to prepare for survival now because humanity won’t stop climate catastrophe increasing (and resource depletion) because people have not changed fast enough and quite literally we have psychopaths in positions of government and corporate power, globally.

Prof. Steffen had spoken to our Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull when he was Environment Minster and Turnbull is well aware of the seriousness of climate change but is doing the opposite to what is needed. As Will said, he should be charged in a court of law for going against his mandate to protect Australian’s. The only climate conspiracy I have found making these documentaries is that little is being done to avoid it except for some greenwashing. We need to place ourselves on a war footing.”
~ Peter Charles Downey

“We are locking ourselves into apocalypse”

“”Time is running out”, “must take action now” really think this type of article still understates just what is happening. For 3 years global emissions flattened out. However even during this time we saw CO2 increase at record levels in the atmosphere, indicating feedbacks kicking in and syncs starting to loose their capacity to store carbon. So the flattening, which is still maintaining the highest levels of emissions, accompanied with levels rising at the highest rate the planet has ever seen was never really a good news story….

But now emissions are again on the rise, so with no carbon budget, with syncs failing and levels of CO2 in the atmosphere sky rocketing we continue to increase global emissions. Does anyone have any illusion about were we are headed?

Lets be clear even reducing emissions rapidly, by several percent a year, at this point wouldn’t be enough to avoid catastrophic impacts. So every year we increase emissions not only moves us in the wrong direction but ADDS more CO2 so that we have simultaneously less time, less budget and further to go.

Concurrent to this impacts are increasing and ecosystems starting to collapse. How is it that a lot of people don’t even know we are in the 6th mass extinction, let alone how rapidly we are locking ourselves into the greatest apocalypse the planet has ever seen.”
~ Shihan-Malcolm Ayles

» www.storify.com/takvera

“Big problems require big solution. That’s why www.climateemergencydeclaration.org has been getting such positive reactions from tens of thousands of people.

Maybe the issue is that people know what’s going on, but find it too hard to think about and then simply push it off? People know that individual acts aren’t going to do it. And everyone’s waiting for others to take the first steps.

Which makes the kind of news stories as those compiled on this page even more important to tell.”
~ Mik, Fossil Fuel Free Future

“Agree, have been supporting the idea of a #climateemergency for a few years now. Just don’t see a path that actually gets it to happen… and even if it did I now think the best we could hope for is to limit ourselves to catastrophic impacts and avoid a total apocalyptic outcome. But every year of rising emissions takes us further from the goal with less time to act and further to go once we start. Not only is abrupt climate change looking like progressing at an exponential rate but our inaction is now making the task exponentially harder each year… feels like mankind has already sealed it’s fate.”
~ Shihan-Malcolm Ayles

“Shihan-Malcolm Ayles, Our fate as individual human beings is already sealed: we have been given the opportunity to live a century or less, but seldom much more, on this blue planet – and then, before we know it, we’re gone, and others take over after us.

But mankind’s fate is in no way sealed. What humanity currently is heading for is likely a very unjust fate, where millions and millions of poor people and poor nations will suffer unfairly, and the much fewer rich people and rich nations will find ways to adapt and move ahead relatively unharmed, except for the loss of the world they used to know, and its bio diversity.

At the moment it looks like we are losing the fight at the climate frontiers. It’s going to get ugly at a very large scale, but then again, through human history, its been ugly before – most of us just weren’t there to witness it personally, so we don’t acknowledge all the suffering and the ugliness that has already been taking place on this planet through centuries and millennia.

Life-and-death challenges can be traumatic. But they can also be rewarding, if you come out on the other side. A personal victory over death tends to make you feel even more alive, appreciative and uplifted than ever. Problem solving is what we humans are genetically programmed to thrive from. Ironically, humanity’s fate could look even more dark if we no longer had any more problems to solve and were left to be fed by robots… Elon Musk has been talking about this, calling artificial intelligence “a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilisation”.

I know this sounds very “existential”. But that’s what climate change is, and that’s not only a bad thing.

The point I’m trying to get to her is that nothing is more important when an emergency builds up than to keep the spirit high and to not be overwhelmed with darkness, despair, sadness, depression or hopelessness. What we need in times of emergency is action and collaboration. And these two things – action and collaboration – tend to get ignited and to thrive on positivity, optimism, clarity, visionary leadership.

Instead of focusing on the catastrophic impacts, we could focus on making the impacts less catastrophic. If there was a catastrophe scale from 1 to 10, it will make the hell of a lot of difference whether the generations after us have to battle with a level 4 or a level 8.

Millions of people are already today paying a price with their lives due to the shortsighted greed, selfishness and cynicism of those polluters and decision makers who made it all happen. The losses are already overwhelming. But if you look around at what is happening in the world, we are clearly approaching that tipping point where enough people can see what is going on. But they lack proper and credible solution scenarios.

So it will always be worth it to get involved and give it what we can, and help create those solution scenerios. We will be able to tell our kids, “Yes, admitted, we got in too late. But hey, once we got in, we gave it all, and what we eventually achieved has made a real difference. It has reduced the impacts. With new technologies and methods for carbon sequestration etc that keep surfacing, it may even at some point be possible for humanity to restore the CO2 balance in the earth system entirely. It won’t bring the ice or the extinct species that we lost back. But it won’t be “the end of the world” either.

A good life, safety, and a good safe feeling about our future, is not something we get given. Never was. It is something we have to fight for. There’s a lot that could get lost, but don’t tell me there isn’t also a lot we can win.

Not sure if this made any sense, but what I AM sure about is that we have to keep adjusting our thinking as we move along in the emerging climate crisis – we have to keep looking for that recipe that enables us to properly deal with the issues and get a majority of people involved, and there is no doubt that optimism rather than pessimism works best when you want to do something like that.
~ Mik, Fossil Fuel Free Future

“It’s all about pollution and waste. We should stop polluting our environment and minimise our waste. Any sensible person knows that we cannot continue like now. The future has to be a clean and green, or there will be none.”
~ MrsRobinson

“We are a nation of bludgers.

I put it to you that not all the denialists are so stupid as not to believe the effects of man on our climate.
There is an economic advantage in the short term of continuing with the status quo. Let others be financially be disadvantaged by taking strenuous efforts against Climate Change.

Our politicians of all stripes want to dig up the coal quickly and flog it off before its use is outlawed. Even to the extent of subsidising of the long term destruction of our planet.

Australia should be leading by example. And good luck with the curbing of our rampant population growth. Churches will fight that tooth and nail and in Australia the Population has been growing rapidly with the connivance of our politicians. There is a short term economic benefit for them, makes it look as if the economy is growing whereas individual Australians are becoming worse off.”
~ Muddy1

“The principles of our government is now to disregard all scientific research, evidence, expert opinion and otherwise when in conflict with the ideal they and a very small minority would rather believe in.

To prevent (hopefully) catastrophic/’run-away’ climate change we require emissions to be in line with keeping global warming to “well under” 2C, so it would be just fitting for our government to promote, in every perceivable way, further investment in fossil fuels. Our current ERT as it stands is also in line with a 4-6C warming; but emissions are still climbing, thanks to policy, a lack of regulation, and a lack of principles that should underpin leadership. Instead we have a government that’s there without purpose or commitment to changing anything in a progressive and reflective manner.

Populism is alive and well, and the future less desirable than ever. I used to be optimistic, but now all I see are ideologies ungrounded by the unfolding reality.”
~Tim St. Quentin

City of Hoboken issues climate emergency resolution

Cities doing it again! This one in the United States. The image above shows part of the Hoboken climate emergency resolution passed by Hoboken City in New Jersey, USA on 1 November 2017.

» Read the resolution’s full text: www.gallery.mailchimp.com (PDF)

» See what local councils can do, and are doing, in Australia at www.cedamia.org/local-government and at www.caceonline.org

Australian politics: This is how too many people feel in the current Queensland state election… On this candidate’s poster the wording has been changed by a creative painter so it says “Jason Costigan MP fights for corruption”.

“Climate change is one of the most important factors that has shaped human history. Much has been written about the science of climate change, but in his new book The Great Derangement, one of India’s best known storytellers explores an interesting new question – the inability of the modern literary imagination to grasp the sheer scale of change that may await us.”
~ Sanjeev Sanyal

Podcasts and posts about climate change

Acknowledgement

We at The Sustainable Hour would like to pay our respect to the traditional custodians of the land on which we are broadcasting, the Wathaurong People, and pay our respect to their elders, past, present and future.

The traditional owners lived in harmony with the environment and with the climate for hundreds of generations. It is not clear – yet – that as European settlers we have demonstrated that we can live in harmony for hundreds of generations, but it is clear that we can learn from the indigenous, traditional owners of this land.

When we talk about the future, it means extending our respect to those children not yet born, the generations of the future – remembering the old saying that…

The decisions currently being made around Australia to ignore climate change are being made by those who won’t be around by the time the worst effects hit home. How utterly disgusting, disrespectful and unfair is that?

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“Participation – that’s what’s gonna save the human race.”
Pete Seeger, American singer

In the midst of it all, in the door steps The Sensible Citizen

Content of this hour

Bruce Harwood – Geelong’s new mayor – on Our Future

What Bruce Harwood told Geelong Sustainability

Dr Michelle Maloney: The New Economy

The core of the matter with our economy

The Climate Economy Initiative

Dr Andrew King: Climate research

In the midst of it all, in the door steps The Sensible Citizen

Australia ranked at the very bottom

Solving Victoria’s energy problem when it gets hot

Customers rewarded for using less power

StopAdani

Simon Kerr: ‘Leave it in the Ground’

In other news

“We need to place ourselves on a war footing”

“We are locking ourselves into apocalypse”

City of Hoboken issues climate emergency resolution

Acknowledgement

Streaming live

Podcast archive

Promote The Sustainable Hour

Receive the podcast in your mailbox

The Sustainable Hour on social media

Share on Twitter

Share on Facebook

Share on Pinterest

Like this:

Related

Content of this hour

Bruce Harwood – Geelong’s new mayor – on Our Future

What Bruce Harwood told Geelong Sustainability

Dr Michelle Maloney: The New Economy

The core of the matter with our economy

The Climate Economy Initiative

Dr Andrew King: Climate research

In the midst of it all, in the door steps The Sensible Citizen

Australia ranked at the very bottom

Solving Victoria’s energy problem when it gets hot

Customers rewarded for using less power

StopAdani

Simon Kerr: ‘Leave it in the Ground’

In other news

“We need to place ourselves on a war footing”

“We are locking ourselves into apocalypse”

City of Hoboken issues climate emergency resolution

Acknowledgement

Streaming live

Podcast archive

Promote The Sustainable Hour

Receive the podcast in your mailbox

The Sustainable Hour on social media

Share on Twitter

Share on Facebook

Share on Pinterest

Share this:

Like this:

Related