Our MP wasn’t in. His integrity had left the office too. Temporarily, we hope
Where did the honest federal politician go? We dedicate this podcast to Richard Marles MP in the hope that he will listen to these strong voices we present during the hour. It’s time to take a personal stand for what is right.
Why are more and more citizens heading for the climate and #StopAdani frontiers on the streets of Geelong and on dirt roads in Queensland?
Did Senator Jordon Steele-John just deliver the Australian speech of the year?
How did the Swedes become the planet’s climate action leaders?
Listen to The Sustainable Hour no. 196 on 94.7 The Pulse and find out:
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LISTENER SERVICE:
Content of this hour
Links, excerpts and more information about what we talked about in this Sustainable Hour
The Sustainable Hour attended the ‘Generations Against Adani’ action in front of Richard Marles MP’s office in Geelong on 21 November 2017, where we talked with Andrew Netherway, Bill Hunter, and Sue Higgs.
We also have a line through to Thea Ormerod, head of Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, who was arrested with a group of faith leaders at the Adani construction site in Queensland on Tuesday 21 November 2017.
We talk with Janine O’Keeffe – an Australian who lives in Sweden, the country which tops this year’s international climate action index – about the new Swedish climate law, a People’s Parliament for climate action – and hope.
We play and excerpt of Midnight Oil lead singer Peter Garrett’s Great Barrier Reef address in the National Press Club, and Senator Jordon Steele-John’s speech in the Australian Parliament about the intergenerational theft that climate change really is.
We play the Stop Adani song by the New Zealand-based singer Ruth Mundy: ‘Love in the Time of Coral Reefs’, and the Swedish singer Fredrikke’s theme song from the French film ‘Demain’, ‘Tomorrow’
…and by the way, Richard Marles MP, now that we have your attention:
As a shadow minister for defence, what is your comment on this article?
“Changing climate is a “direct threat” to U.S. national security, endangering 128 military bases with sea rise and global destabilization that could fuel terror groups, according to the NDAA, which is a bipartisan compromise struck by the House and Senate.”
» Washington Examiner – 22 November 2017:
Climate change is a ‘direct threat to national security,’ the defense bill says. And Trump is expected to sign it
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Thea Ormerod: Faith blockade of Adani
On 21 November 2017, a multi-faith group of six peaceful protestors blocked work on the rail line from Abbot Point to the Galilee Basin to protest Adani’s proposed mega-coal mine.
The protestors are all members of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC), a multi-faith organisation that works with diverse faith communities to tackle global warming.
» See photos
“We are facing a climate emergency: The time has come for civil resistance
“The world is now in a climate emergency, and this requires a response which is purely ethically informed and courageous, rather than cautious and self-protective. To refrain from doing all we can to oppose Adani and other fossil fuel extraction companies is to hold back from full solidarity with the Wangan and Jagalingou, with coming generations and with all those currently suffering because of climate disruption.
Some believe this to be extreme. In our view, it is being truly conservative to act according to our traditional values with the goal of conserving this sacred earth. We believe that in our context today, it is part of our mission as people of faith to include civil resistance in the suite of options we offer faith communities as they respond to the climate challenge.
Some other parts of the environment movement are also moving in this direction. What ARRCC hopes to add is the legitimation which comes from our historical connections with long religious traditions, our beliefs and values which are grounded in scriptures and spiritual practices.”
~ Thea Omerod, president of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC)
» ABC – 30 November 2017:
We Are Facing a Climate Emergency: The Time Has Come for Civil Resistance
Message from the front line
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To repeat: wherever we live we will peacefully stop this mine Opinion | The Last Thing Australia and Our Planet Need https://t.co/Y3dMqAZUqR
— Peter Garrett (@pgarrett) October 26, 2017
PETER GARRETT:
“I believe this is the most critical address I have given here”
“The only question is will we decide to live sustainably and protect our future or will we continue to live unsustainably until the future no longer exists for any of us.”
~ Peter Garrett, lead singer of Midnight Oil and former minister
Peter Garrett’s National Press Club Address was entitled ‘Trashing our crown jewel: the fate of the Great Barrier Reef in the coal age’ and was broadcasted live on ABC News 24 on Tuesday 24 October 2017 at 12:30. A great speech, which you can read in full on Peter Garrett’s home page.
“There is nothing about this Adani project that doesn’t stink to heaven.”
~ Peter Garrett
» Peter Garrett on Twitter
www.twitter.com/pgarrett
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JORDON STEELE-JOHN:
“This is intergenerational theft”
“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.”
“We cannot discuss the issue of climate change without discussing the Adani coal mine, of which Senator Canavan seems to be such a huge fan. Let’s be clear – support for this project amounts to nothing more than intergenerational theft.”
~ Jordon Steele-John, newly appointed Greens Senator in the Australian Parliament
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On Saturday 2 December: Stop Adani Geelong Get together at The Farmer’s Place
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Janine O’Keeffe
In this interview, Janine O’Keeffe explains about how the Swedes are taking action on climate change, and about the Swedish ‘Climate People’s Parliament’ – an event which will take place in February 2018.
“Compared to the Australian situation, the Swedes are an engineering hot house, trying to get a lot done quickly, without upsetting to many people, but still it is being done.
To give a simple example, my son now only gets meat around once per week for lunch at school. Done! Not all schools but it is spreading and I have not heard a single complaint. There was bound to be a few grumbles, but I have not heard them.
As a climate activist from Australia, I thought I would have had to do a ‘sit in’ at the cafeteria and more to get this change. No need, it happened, and I did not even know about it until six months after.
The local council is now delivering politically private information via electric cars and most councils have electric charging facilities, etc. Some even have systems where you can rent the council’s car, so you do not need to buy your own.”
~ Janine O’Keeffe
The Climate People’s Parliament
“The idea of a climate parliament came from Annika Elmqvist. The children’s author organised an event at the Nature Conservation Association one and a half years before the 2014 election in Sweden because she was annoyed by the so-called hopelessness in politics.
KlimatRiksdagen, the Climate Parliament 2018, is a people’s parliament with policy and law changes being evaluated.”
» Home page in Swedish language: www.klimatriksdagen.se
» Facebook page: www.facebook.com/klimatriksdagen
» KlimatSverige home page: www.klimatsverige.se
“Sweden tops climate action index”
Driven in particular by a comparably high performance in the index’ emissions category, Sweden ranks fourth in this year’s CCPI.
» Read the report (PDF)
» More about the Swedish Climate Law:
Scandinavians take legislative steps to slash their carbon emissions
On 15 June 2017, the Swedish Parliament took a decision on the most important climate reform in the country’s history. Sweden committed to cutting its net carbon emissions to zero by 2045, becoming the first country to significantly upgrade its carbon ambitions since the Paris Agreement in 2015.
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Australian bird pushback?
First it was Trump, then Brexit and now its the White Ibis: the pushback vote continues. Can’t believe the white ibis is winning by miles!
» Vote – and see who is leading…
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» Advertisement for the Australian Bicycle Network
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“To be arguing, in the midst of environmental crisis, that the government is not delivering enough growth is a refined form of madness.”
~ George Monbiot
ADDITIONALLY:
In other news
From our notes of this week: news stories and events we didn’t have time to mention but which we think you should know about
Australia is unbelievably embarrassing. @TurnbullMalcolm @SHendersonMP @RichardMarlesMP et al. https://t.co/4VdXymGdiE
— Caroline Danaher (@CarolineDanahe1) November 20, 2017
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» The Guardian – 23 November 2017:
Australia facing climate disaster on its doorstep, government’s white paper warns
“Foreign policy paper says climate-related conflict and migration could put Australia’s economic interests under pressure”
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There are new petitions to sign every week!
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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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Richard Marles, you have three generations on the line https://t.co/JeMx99hhUP pic.twitter.com/wtXDM48ln0
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“Participation – that’s what’s gonna save the human race.”
Pete Seeger, American singer