Environment Victoria have released a new report, Sun Blocks and Wind Breaks – 25 attacks on clean energy by the Baillieu and Napthine Governments. It got a great run in The Age. The Coalition government argue that it’s the Federal Government’s job to reduce emissions and behind the scenes they have been campaigning for the weakening of the federal Renewable Energy Target. Environment Victoria have already sent a list of election questions to the major political parties and are awaiting replies. » Read more.
A big welcome to four new Victorian on-the ground GetUp! organisers campaigning in Prahran (three-way contest between Liberals, Labor and Greens) and Albert Park; Frankston, and other bayside seats (marginal Labor/Liberals); Geelong seats (marginal Labor/Liberals) and the universities.
Environment Victoria and GetUp! are funding a series of advertisements and billboards like this one:
Climate science postcards. Unfortunately many climate science guides, encourage the view that we can still keep on burning fossil fuels for a decade or two. The VCAN Science Sign-on working group has been meeting looking at ways of disseminating the message that we have zero carbon budget remaining. The climate graph postcard is off to be printed tomorrow and is available for groups to order. Contact DarebinCAN@gmail.com.
Warburton Renewable Energy Target review. The Warburton review report is now released and the federal government is going to take a month to consider their recommendations. The review was stacked with fossil fuel interests and was under pressure from Abbott to finish off the RET. They have obligingly come up with two alternatives –close the RET to new entrants or close the RET to new entrants unless electricity demand increases (currently falling). »
Monster Climate Petition. The Monster Climate Petition was initiated by Judith Brett and the Victorian Women’s Trust. It has been taken up by grassroots groups including the Climate Guardian Angels. The name of the petition is a reference to the Monster Petition in support of voting rights for women, presented to federal parliament in 1891, which is on display inside Parliament House. The organisers glued sheets bearing about 30,000 signatures onto a 260-metre-long roll of fabric that they carried into parliament on a cardboard spindle. The Monster Climate Petition is a paper and pen petition in a format which allows it to be tabled in parliament, unlike all the on-line petitions. It will be presented at the time of the G20 meeting in November as a way of putting additional pressure on the Abbott government to drop their opposition to addressing climate change at the G20 meeting. » Download it here
Big Banks petition. 350.org is calling on the Big Four banks to rule out funding expansion of the Abbot Point coal port and the construction of the associated Galilee Basin coal mine and rail infrastructure. » Sign the petition
In the past month, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition have met with 300 Westpac branch managers, and staff say they do not want their company to finance Galilee projects. » Read more
Transport forums. Want to have your say on public transport and the East-West Link? The Melbourne Public Transport Forum and Leader Newspapers have organised a series of town hall style forums about transport where you can meet candidates face-to-face and ask questions. Forums will be held Yarra, Darebin, Glen Eira and Frankston this week. Details in the Coming Events list below.
Campaigning in key electorates
Brunswick. Come and hear Professor Garnaut at a forum on Power to the People – reclaiming control of electricity in Victoria on Wednesday 3 September – see coming events. Street stalls with the climate science postcard in coming weeks. There will be two election forums one on 17 September organised by the Public Transport Users Association and the council on transport and one on 7 October organised by the Uniting Church. Climate Action Moreland will be asking climate questions at the forums and distributing Vote Climate scorecards in November.
Melbourne and Richmond. Yarra Climate Action Now are working with Public Transport not Traffic and the Public Transport Users Association to oppose the East-West Link. Come to the transport forum on 8 September and make your views known. Yarra Climate Action Now will also be distributing Vote Climate scorecards in November.
Northcote. Darebin Climate Action Now will soon be letter-boxing 28,000 houses with a postcard showing the graph from David Spratt’s presentation at the Breakthrough 2014 conference. Help appreciated. There will be a climate action election forum on 12 November.
Prahran. GetUp! held a well-attended launch of their climate campaign in Prahran with 45 potential volunteers attending. GetUp! organiser in Prahran, Anthony Mockler, has experience working on Obama’s campaign team. This week, there’s a volunteer phonebank on Wednesday night, a campaign brainstorming session on Saturday afternoon and a Letters to the Editor party on Sunday afternoon. If you would like to help out in a seat which is a three way contest between the sitting Liberal member and the ALP and the Greens, contact Anthony on 0466 955236.
Frankston and bayside. Door-knocking, street stalls and film nights continue with lots of action around the Frankston Enviro-Hub shop-front. The dates are below in the coming events listings. For bayside events contact Jane Stabb at jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.auor new bayside GetUp! Organiser, Claire Boland Claire@getup.org.au .Frankston Climate Action Group now have a Facebook page. Environment Victoria have been campaigning hard to get Geoff Shaw to support the retention of the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target, including this great sign.
Forest Hills and eastern Melbourne and the west. The Environment Victoria Eastside team has held two doorknocks in the last month, and got 50 people to pledge for the environment in two days. They are starting to hold street stalls in the Forest Hill electorate, and have their first one planned for at Brentford Square on Saturday, September 13.There will be fortnightly door knocking in Forest Hills in coming weeks and stalls in the western suburbs (Altona, Seddon, Point Cook). Contact Claire vanHerpen claire.vanherpen@environmentvictoria.org.au. Eastern Climate Action Melbourne are holding a candidates’ forum on 30 September. For these events and lots more, check the list of events below.
South Barwon, Geelong and western Victoria. Yes2Renewables and the Australian Wind Alliance held a standing-room –only forum on renewable energy and jobs at Portland. Read more here.
Yes2Renewables and Geelong groups are continuing kitchen table conversations about the Geelong region’s energy future. » Find out more
Corangamite (Geelong region) may be the location for the next of the marginal seats events being conducted by the Solar Council in protest against the threat to the RET. This campaign has already riled Greg Hunt, who has been trading insults with the head of the Council.
Dynamic local campaigner, Dan Cowdell has been recruited as GetUp! organiser in the Geelong region and recently held a successful Climate Change Brainstorm to Action there. The local team are working on taking the message of climate change and renewables out to the general public. » Read more
Three years ago Premier Ted Baillieu imposed a blanket ban on wind energy in Macedon. The laws killed off a community wind farm near Woodend – on the other side of the electorate from community-owned Hepburn Wind Farm. This photo was taken at the border between the ‘go’ and ‘no go’ zones. Yes 2 Renewables and partners, the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, are conducting a survey on Macedon’s energy future. Riddles Creek and the Macedon Ranges area are holding a film night and community conversation about the region’s energy future on Thursday 11 September. Details in coming events list.
A liberal Party MP, representing state energy minister Russell Northe at the Portland forum, indicated that the Coalition may be open to allowing wind farms with strong community support to proceed. Yes 2 Renewables are seeking confirmation that this is official government policy. Will be interesting to see if this is confirmed.
Events in September
Tuesday 2 September, 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Super Switch Launch. Organised by 350.org Australia and Market Forces at the Deakin Edge, Federation Square. Book here.
Wednesday 3 September from 6:30pm (drinks) to 9:00 pm in Brunswick. Power to the People – reclaiming control of electricity in Victoria. Merri Creek Residents Group and the Moreland Energy Foundation Limited (MEFL) forum with Prof. Ross Garnaut and other speakers. Register to attend here. At Brunswick Town Hall, Sydney Rd (corner Glenlyon Road), Brunswick.
Wednesday 3 September. GetUp! volunteer phone-banking in Prahran. Contact anthony@getup.org.au.
Wednesday 3 September. Korumburra unconventional gas information night.
Thursday 4 September. Prof Tim Flannery with OpenLabor and LEAN: What now for the climate campaign? A frank and full discussion on the future of the campaign to halt climate change in Australia and around the world. City of Melbourne Bowls Club, Flagstaff Gardens. Free but please book.
Friday 5 September, 5.30pm – 6.30pm in Wangaratta. Grassroots democracy in the US – Denis Ginnivan. Office of Cathy McGowan, 117 Murphy Street, Wangaratta. RSVP on 1300 131791 or email cathy.mcgowan.mp@aph.gov.au.
Saturday 6 September, 10am – 1pm. Environment Victoria door knocking in Burwood East and Frankston. For bayside events contact Jane Stabb at jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au or new bayside GetUp! Organiser, Claire Boland at Claire@getup.org.au .For Burwood East contact EV’s Claire – claire.vanherpen@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Saturday 6 September. GetUp! Prahran campaign brainstorming session. Contact anthony@getup.org.au.
Sunday 7 September 2.00pm – 5.00pm. Frankston door knocking. Meet at EnviroHub. Contact jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au .
Sunday 7 September. Letters to the editor party in Prahran. Contact anthony@getup.org.au.
Sunday 7 September. Disruption – a climate change film launches. Free premieres. http://vimeo.com/104429713
Monday 8 September, 6.00pm-7.30pm. People and Climate Change: Science from Europe – Public Forum. The University of Melbourne’s recently established European Union Centre on Shared Complex Challenges is holding a public forum to mark Climate Day, a joint day of climate action by the governments of the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Climate Day in Europe celebrates global efforts around the world in preparation for an ambitious, achievable and sustainable global deal on climate at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris in November 2015. At Woodward Conference Centre, Level 10, Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street. Please register to attend this free event.
Monday 8 September, 7.00 pm-8.15 pm. Yarra Transport Forum. Collingwood Town Hall, 140 Hoddle St, Abbotsford. Speakers: Jenny Mikakos, ALP MLC Northern Metro, Craig Ondarchie, Liberal MLC Northern Metro, Kathleen Maltzahn, Greens candidate for Richmond (speaking for Greg Barber MLC).
Tuesday 9 September, 7.00 pm-8.15 pm. Darebin Transport Forum. Northcote Town Hall, 189 High St, Northcote. Speakers: Fiona Richardson, ALP MLA for Northcote, Cr Trent McCarthy, Greens candidate for Northcote, Liberal speaker TBC.
Wednesday 10 September, 7.00 pm-8.15 pm. Glen Eira Transport Forum. Glen Eira Town Hall, 416-428 Glen Eira Rd, Caulfield. Speakers: David Southwick, Liberal MLA for Caulfield, Nick Staikos, ALP candidate for Bentleigh, Sean Mulcahy, Greens candidate for Bentleigh.
Thursday 11 September, 7.00 pm-8.15 pm. Frankston Transport Forum, Mechanics Institute, 1N Plowman Pl, Frankston. Speakers: Sean Armistead, Liberal candidate for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke, ALP candidate for Frankston Nina Springle, Greens candidate for South-Eastern Metro.
Thursday 11 September, 6.30pm. Farmland not Gaslands Film Launch + Gaslands II Melbourne Premiere. Kino Cinemas, Collins Place, 45 Collins St Melbourne. Book here.
Thursday 11 September. Riddells Creek and the Macedon Ranges area. Film night and community conversation about the region’s energy future. RSVP here.
Friday 12 September, 7.30pm. Portland Arts Centre. Richard Franklin and Friends in Concert. Coal and Gas-free Communities benefit concert. Tickets are on sale from Petals Florist, Portland for $15. Only 140 seats available so get your tickets early. Contact: John Coverdale jonco55@hotmail.com.
Saturday 13 September, 6.30pm, Sale. Farmland not Gaslands, Sale Cinema, 50 Cunninghame St, Sale. Book your tickets now to make sure you don’t miss out.
Saturday 13 September, 9:30am – 1.00pm – Environment Victoria Campaign skills training (field campaigning) held in conjunction with the VTHC, Victorian Trades Hall Building, 54 Victoria St, Carlton. . Contact Jane Stabb at jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Saturday 13 September. Street stall in Forest Hills electorate at Brentford Square. Contact claire.vanherpen@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Saturday 13 September. Environment Victoria sStall at the mayor’s picnic Carrum Downs. All day – two shifts. Contact jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Saturday 13 September. Smarter Living Expo at GPAC. This event will have three Al Gore-team Climate presentations and a councillor talk about fossil fuels and renewables, among other things. Find out more.
Saturday 13 September – Sunday 14 September. 350og and Nicola Paris are running a two-day non-violent direct action training at Common Ground for people who would like to participate in peaceful solidarity actions in cities across Australia when the Pacific Climate Warriors arrive in October. They will tell the fossil fuel industry in person to stop their radical plans that are destroying their island homes. The training registration page is here.
Sunday 14 September. 10.00am – 1.00pm. VCAN meeting. Including report back on Climate Movement Strategy Project meeting on August 17. NB. There is no meeting on 31 August or 21 September – just 14 September! At RMIT building 80, 445 Swanston St. Meeting room 2, level 7. This will be chaired by Morgana Russell and all agenda requests should be sent to her at morgana.russell@aycc.org.au.
Sunday 14 September, 1.00pm–5.30pm including afternoon tea. Divestment Leaders Training organised by 350.org.RMIT, Room 15, Level 3, Building 80. In the same building as the VCAN meeting, so you can go to both. Register here.
Sunday 14 September, 2.00pm – 5.00pm. Environment Victoria Campaign Tactics and Persuasive Conversations Training, 60 Leicester St, Carlton. Contact jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Sunday 14 September, 8:00am – 10:30am in Grovedale (near Geelong). Climate Reality + Pizza at 353 Surf Coast Hwy. Find out more.
Sunday 14 September, 2.00pm. Moriac and Fresh Water Creek Gasfield Free Community Declaration Day. Newling Reserve, Hendy Main Rd, Moriac. Come help the communities of Moriac, Mt Moriac, Paraparap and Freshwater Creek celebrate their gasfield free declaration. Contact Alison Marchant 0407 875123.
Sunday 14 September, 2.00pm-4.00pm in Morwell. Public meeting to discuss the recommendations from the Hazelwood inquiry organised by Voices of the Valley. Speakers include Nick Aberle from EV on recommendations that relate to mine rehabilitation. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the community with an opportunity to vote on what it sees as the priorities from the inquiry. At the Italo-Australian Social Club, 499-501 Princes Drive.
Tuesday 16 September–Wednesday 17 September. 24 Hours of Reality: 24 Reasons for Hope. This day-long event will highlight the growing momentum for solutions to global warming, and kick off 12 months of concerted climate action.
Wednesday 17 September, 7.00pm-10.00pm. Fundraising dinner for Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, in South Melbourne at Shakahari restaurant. www.arrcc.org.au/news-a-events/event/details/220
Thursday 18 September 7pm, Torquay. Unconventional Gas Information Night at Surf World, Surf City Plaza, Beach Road, Torquay. Contact Liz Packett 0414 891766.
Thursday 18 September 7:00pm–9:00pm in Geelong. GAS RUSH – Information night – a public meeting about onshore gas extraction in the City of Greater Geelong. Free admission. At Manifold Heights Baptist Church. Corner Shannon Ave and Volum St. Manifold Heights. Come and ask questions to a panel of independent authorities about onshore gas. Includes a short film which focuses on why communities in Gippsland are opposing gas. www.climatesafety.info/gasland.
Saturday 20 September. Doorknocking in east and Frankston. Contact jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au. For bayside events contact Jane Stabb at jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au or new bayside GetUp! Organiser, Claire Boland Claire@getup.org.au .For the eastern suburbs contact EV’s Claire – claire.vanherpen@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Friday 19 September – Sunday 21 September. Australian Climate Summit in Brisbane www.climatesummit.org.au/.
Saturday 20 September. Door Knocks in Frankston and Vermont South, 10am – 1pm. For bayside events contact jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au. For eastern suburbs claire.vanherpen@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Sunday 21 September. People’s Climate March – global event. Join millions of people in a global day of climate action. Over 1,450 (and counting) climate marches, rallies and events around the planet. So far 77 events are registered in Australia, six in Victoria:
Melbourne: Meet at State Library, 328 Swanston St, at 11am, before a march through the city.
Geelong: Geelong Wants Climate Action: Meet at Yarra St 1 – the waterfront – at 11am
www.geelongsustainability.org.au/event-1726528 and www.facebook.com/events/827137233983333
www.climatesafety.info/geelong-gets-up-for-climate-action
Castlemaine: Castlemaine Climate Mobilisation – 11:00am Castlemaine Market Building and Victory Park Mostyn St, Castlemaine
Bengigo: Global People’s Climate March – 11:00am Rosiland Park, Bendigo Rosiland Park, Pall Mal, Bendigo
Lower Plenty: Climate Talk – 7:30pm Lower Plenty Scout Hall Maskell Cres, Lower Plenty 3093
These marches are in support the People’s Climate Mobilisation at the United Nations Global Climate Summit in New York where almost 950 NGOs are collaborating about what is expected to be come the largest climate action rally in history.
www.secure.avaaz.org/en/join_to_change_everything.
The message is simple: Action, Not Words.
350.org RSVP www.act.350.org/event/peoples_climate/7675/signup.
More info: www.act.350.org/event/peoples_climate/
See also: www.peoplesclimate.org/australia/
Warm-up trailer: See video
Sunday 21 September to 20 October. Climate walk to Canberra with a petition to parliament asking for real action on climate change. » www.climatewalk.org.au
Monday September 22, 7.30pm. ALP panel discussion: energy transition to a low carbon economy. Kew Library.
Wednesday September 24. Lighter Footprints meeting. Ken Coghill speaking.
Saturday 27 September. Door knocking in Frankston and EV Street Stall outside Kmart Main Entrance, in Burwood East, 9am – 12pm. For bayside event contact Jane Stabb at jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au. For the eastern suburbs contact EV’s Claire – claire.vanherpen@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Sunday 28 September. NEW DATE for Whittlesea Transport Forum.
Monday 29 September. Moreland Transport Forum.
Tuesday 30 September. Eastern Climate Action Melbourne State Election Environment Forum, Waratah Room, Whitehorse Centre, 397 Whitehorse Rd, Nunawading, 7pm – 9pm. Moderator: Rob Gell. Candidates: Neil Angus MP, Liberal Party, Pauline Richards, Australian Labor Party, Brewis Atkinson, Australian Greens
R.S.V.P. and questions: ecam.enquiries@gmail.com. See https://www.facebook.com/easterncag.
Events in October
Wednesday 1 October. Western suburbs Transport Forum.
Thursday 2 October. Melbourne Transport Forum.
Saturday 4 October. EV Campaign skills training (field campaigning) held in conjunction with the VTHC, Victorian Trades Hall Building, 54 Victoria St, Carlton, 9:30am – 1pm.Contact jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Saturday 4 October 7pm, Deans Marsh. Dance for Lock the Gate. Concert and Fundraiser with Mountain Grey & Rondo. At Deans Marsh Memorial Hall, Pennyroyal Valley Rd, Deans Marsh. Contact Seona Gunn (03) 5236 3384.
Sunday 5 October. Rock 4 Renewables Fundraiser with Empat Lima, Alysia Manceau, Danny Walsh Banned, Nun of the Tongue and others. Plus DJ Emma Peel (PBS) & DJ Knave Knixx (Shack Shakers). Gasometer, 484 Smith St, Collingwood.
Sunday 5 October. Nelson Unconventional Gas Information Night. Contact Leila leila.huebner@exemail.com.au.
Friday 10 October. TEDx Melbourne Conference Off the Grid. Find out more about speakers: www.tedxmelbourne.com/speakers. Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (Plenary 1).
Saturday 11 October. Global Frackdown Day. Watch for local events. http://www.globalfrackdown.org/events-2014/
Sunday 12 October. EV Campaigns Communication and Personal Narrative Training, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, 1pm – 4pm. Contact jane.stabb@environmentvictoria.org.au.
Sunday 12 October. Run with Doctors for the Environment Australia in the Melbourne Marathon Festival.Everybody from new runners to seasoned experts welcome. Find more information and register here.
Friday 17 October. Pascoe Vale Uniting Church (Mel 17 B6) Q & A “What kind of Infrastructure for Victoria?” with Tony Morton (Public Transport Users Association), Carolyn Whitzman (Professor in Urban Planning, University of Melbourne), Andrea Sharam (former Moreland City councillor and affordable housing advocate).
Saturday 18 October. Divestment Day. Market Forces and 350.org are calling on thousands of customers of ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac to turn out and publicly close their accounts if the banks fail to rule out further support for the dirty fossil fuel industry. Sign up at http://www.marketforces.org.au/divestmentday
Saturday 18 October. The Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group pro-wind mountain bike ride – a Ride for Renewables. The ride planned offers options for the semi-serious mountain-biker as well as those that are interested in a leisurely 13K ride through the pine forest. Starting at 10.30 (staggered start), riding to the site of the proposed community owned wind turbine and through surrounding forest. You can go to https://register.canbook.me/r4r-2014 and book your tickets. See www.mrsgonline.org.au or email R4R@mrsgonline.org.au.
Sunday 19 October – Whitehorse Spring Festival – EV Market Stall, Nunawading, 11am – 4pm
Friday October 24- Monday 27 October. BEYOND COAL & GAS: Protecting our Heritage, Embracing the Futureat Ivory’s Rock, near Ipswich Queensland. The website and registration here.
Events in November
Friday 7 November. Seat of Pascoe Vale Candidate Forum – Coburg Uniting Church commencing at 7.30pm.
Saturday 8 November – due date for Monster Climate Petition.
Sunday 9 November. EV Building and Maintaining Effective Teams Training, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, 1pm – 4pm.
Wednesday 12 November 7.00pm-9.30pm. Lighter Footprints candidates’ forum.Q&A panel and breakout groups for candidates from Kew Hawthorn Burwood and Box Hill. At Hawthorn Arts Centre (formerly Town Hall), Burwood Rd Hawthorn.
Wednesday November 12, 6.30pm for a at 7pm start. Darebin Climate Action Now Northcote Candidate Forum Northcote Town Hall.
Friday 14 November, Brunswick Candidate Forum, Brunswick Uniting Church commencing at 7.30pm.
Friday 15 November – Saturday 16 November in Brisbane. G20 summit.
Saturday 29 November. Victorian election.