All eyes are on Canberra.
With the new Senate sitting it’s one amazing development after another. The national groups have been doing some great behind the scenes work. The Australian Conservation Foundation an amazing press conference with Clive Palmer and Al Gore in which Palmer promised to keep the Renewable Energy Target as is, and prevent the abolition of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Climate Change Authority. Then Ricky Muir promised to block the abolition of ARENA. And now, today, the Australia Institute has arranged for Clive Palmer and John Hewson to launch their new report http://www.tai.org.au/content/fighting-dirty-clean-energy . Wow!
AYCC did a great action on the first day of sitting. They started early with 1200 signs bearing messages from young people spelling out a message to the new Senators. Then twenty two Senators attended – almost a third of the Senate – attended a “youth senate” before the swearing in. AYCC also asked Senators to wear badges that said “I support a safe climate future for young Australians”. Lots of Senators wore them and Mark Butler was even spotted giving them out to his colleagues! AYCC were offered a meeting with Ricky Muir, which was chaotic and brief, but they did get a good message from him on renewable energy. They also met incoming Senator Nova Peris and volunteers from Seed, the first Australian Indigenous youth climate network.
Lots of independents standing in Victorian election
Voice for the West are looking for 22 candidates from the Western Metropolitan area and Western Victoria to stand election to the 22 state parliamentary seats in the lower house, and four in the upper house, in these two regions. Expressions of interest close on 31 July 2014. Voice for the West are not including any requirement for a position on climate change. They seek candidates who are “not Left or Right but positioned in the broad centre of politics” and “committed to grassroots initiatives and local solutions”. Might be worth keeping an eye out to see who they select. Applicants for selection will face a Selection Forum on Saturday 2 August (Western Metro) and Sunday 3 August (Western Victoria). All members of Voice for the West will be eligible to attend the appropriate Selection Forum and choose our parliamentary candidates. To become a member go to http://www.voiceforthewest.org.au/join There is no cost.
Door knocking and stalls continue in July and August
Lock the Gate Prahran will be doorknocking on Saturday morning 12 July and Sunday afternoon 20 July. Contact hannah@lockthegate.org.au
Public Transport not Traffic stalls in Werribee, Bentleigh, Banyule and Richmond. Please RSVP to DanaeBosler.info@ptnt.org to get involved.
Environment Victoria have a film night tonight in Frankston with Public Transport not Traffic – showing “Urbanized” on sustainable urban design at the Enviro Hub at 6:30pm, 14 Wells St Frankston. Saturday 12 July. Door knocking is in Forest Hill 10am-12:30pm and a street stall in Frankston – meet at the Enviro Hub. RSVP to jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.aufor these events or to find out about other events in Frankston, Mordialloc, Carrum and Forest Hill.
Next Campaign Skills Training is Saturday 23 July at Vic Trades Hall. . RSVP jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au
Coming events
Wednesday 23 July. Green Drinks in Geelong – Keynote Topic: Community renewables – cheaper and clean electricity to all – is it possible? Meet three speakers who are saying: Why not? Learn about community energy models, and ways of saving money on your electricity while shrinking your carbon footprint to help solving the problem with global warming. Find out more at: http://geelongsustainability.org.au/event-1716660
Sunday 27 July, 7.00 pm Hugh Venables from BZE is presenting: ‘Fed up with rising energy bills? Find out how to reduce them, Zero is achievable’ –a public information night organised by Transition Towns Maroondah at East Ringwood Community Hall, Knaith Road, Ringwood East. RSVP events@ttm.org.au
Thursday 7 August, 7.00 pm. ‘Empowering Moreland – Community Climate Action Forum’. Presented by Climate Action Moreland and 350.org Melbourne. At Coburg Concert Hall, 90 Bell St, Coburg. See Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/678219255546437/
Sunday August 31. March in Australia (March in March) event. https://www.facebook.com/MarchInMarchMelbourne2014
September 19-21. Australian climate summit in Brisbanehttp://climatesummit.org.au/ .
September 20-21. People’s Climate Mobilisation at the United Nations Global Climate Summit in New York and around the world. https://secure.avaaz.org/en/join_to_change_everything/?bdqehab&v=41253
October 24-27. BEYOND COAL & GAS: Protecting our Heritage, Embracing the Future in South East Queensland. Website coming soon. http://www.sunriseproject.org.au/blog/
November 15-16 in Brisbane G20 summit.
November 29. Victorian election.
