Federal Government attacks on environmental groups

robyn August 20, 2015

The Federal government is now attacking environmental groups on two fronts.

1. One inquiry well under way is the following attempt to remove tax free donation status of environmental charities like Friends of the Earth.

“The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment will inquire into and report on the administration and transparency of the Register of Environmental Organisations (the Register) and its effectiveness in supporting communities to take practical action to improve the environment.” More information here.

Friends of the Earth Australia has made a submission and hearings are being held around the country. The Adelaide hearing is scheduled for September 1st – location to be announced. The hearing will be open to the public and we intend to have a representative monitor the Adelaide event. Friends of the Earth are appearing before the inquiry in Melbourne on September 21st – location to be announced.

2. “The Abbott government has revealed plans to repeal a section of Australia’s environment laws that allows green groups to challenge approvals for mining projects and other large developments in the courts. Federal Attorney-General George Brandis said the government would seek to repeal section 487 (2) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and “return to the common law”, after it was used successfully by the Mackay Conservation Group to overturn the federal environment minister’s approval of the Carmichael mega-coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin.” Renew Economy: The six big lies in Tony Abbott’s attack on the environment

The Six Big Lies in Tony Abbott’s attack on the environment:

Lie 1. It’s the economy versus the environment

Lie 2. The parade of projects

Lie 3. Coal jobs at risk

Lie 4. Activists destroying the industry

Lie 5. The cost of emissions reductions

Lie 6. The sheer hypocrisy of it all

A good article at the Guardian article: George Brandis says vigilante green groups are destroying thousands of mining jobs

You are invited to sign the PETITION to Attorney George Brandis asking him to:

Stop Abbott government destroying Australia’s environmental laws.

climate change, community, divestment, friends of the earth, Mining, Sustainability

New website/enewsletter – One Step Off the Grid

robyn July 22, 2015

FOE members and friends who are interested in renewable energy and off grid living might be interested in this new website being set up by the excellent RenewEconomy – One Step Off the Grid. Enjoy!

Introducing our new sister site – One Step Off The Grid

“RenewEconomy is proud to announce the launch of One Step Off The Grid, our sister site that will focus on the consumer side of the energy market, and how the uptake of rooftop solar, battery storage and other technologies will usher in a dramatic transformation of our energy system”.

“Australia is at the cutting edge of this revolution. Already, it has more “pro-sumers” – consumers that produce at least some of their own electricity needs – per head of population than any other country. The advent of battery storage will offer even more choice. For some, it will mean the ability to leave the grid.

“But what are the social, economic, and business impacts of this transformation? How do consumers navigate their way through the complexity of tariffs, policy changes, and new technologies, and make the choice that suit their needs? Do we really want suburban households to quit the grid? Will the utilities evolve their business models?

“That is why we have created One Step Off The Grid. It is a free website and will have a weekly newsletter (click here to sign up for the newsletter), although it will be updated daily.

“It will provide information to consumers – in households, business and communities – on all of the latest developments, such as these new projections on commercial solar uptake, and the latest on solar, battery storage, tariff and policy changes.

“It also will focus on stories of what families, businesses, communities and townships have done, and are doing”.

Clean Futures, Climate, Divestment, Old_Notes, Renewables, Sustainability

climate change, education, Sustainability

Pledge not to use Reflex paper made from Australian native forests

robyn July 2, 2015

Friends of the Earth Adelaide have joined the 2,037 organisations who have pledged not to buy Reflex paper until they stop destroying native forests to make it.

Our comment: The decimation of Australian native forests has to stop. Our climate and native animals deserve more. Shame on you Reflex, source your wood from plantations.

Sign the pledge here.

Source ethical paper from this list.

Oxford University has found one of the most effective way to combat climate change is to plant more trees – companies like Reflex need to be planting plantation wood for their future products.

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Actions, Clean Futures, Divestment, FoE

climate change, community, education, Sustainability

Students of Sustainability Conference July 8-12 Flinders University

robyn March 26, 2015

The national Students of Sustainability conference is on again and this time in Adelaide at Flinders University 8-12 July! Friends of the Earth just might have a surprise….

Students of Sustainability (SoS) is the largest and longest running environmental & social justice conference in Australia and this year the conference will be in South Australia at Flinders University on Kaurna Country.

SoS is organised by students from the Australian Student Environment Network (ASEN) and brings together environmentalists, social justice advocates and activists from all over the country to share ideas and action.

The five day conference will explore how we can act on environment and social justice issues and find solutions for change. A variety of workshops, forums, plenaries, excursions and plenty of entertainment will fill the program, plus all of your meals and on-campus camping are covered in the ticket price.

The broad spectrum of experiences, diverse people and activities involved, makes SoS a crucible for sharing ideas, visions, designs and goals on how to make positive change. If this sounds like your kind of scene, come and join academics, entrepreneurs, Aboriginal elders & delegates, change-makers, campaigners and students who are working together for people and planet.

REGISTER NOW at www.studentsofsustainability.org and take advantage of early bird ticket offers.

If you have any questions you can also ask them in the Facebook event page.

See you there! Robyn Wood robyn.wood@foe.org.au

Climate, Divestment, Earth Jurisprudence, Environmental Law, Green Cities, Mining, Nuclear, Renewables, Sustainability

*events*, Adelaide, anti-nuclear, climate change, community, education, Mining, Sustainability

Fri Feb 13th – Break up with Fossil Fuels in the Mall! 11am

robyn February 6, 2015

On February 13 Adelaide is joining the global movement to divest from fossil fuels. We invite you to join us in the Rundle Mall to learn about the divestment movement and take action against dangerous climate change.

Hear from speakers and take part in this global event as we travel from the West to the East side of Rundle Mall.

Please wear ORANGE and lots of it 🙂

Together, we will show that we are a truly global and growing force to be reckoned with. As the fossil fuel industry throws more money at fossil fuel expansion, we will turn up the volume of our divestment movement. And we won’t stop until we win.

Organised by 350.org and the Conservation Council of SA

For more information see our Facebook event or contact Robyn robyn.wood@foe.org.au

Actions, Clean Futures, Climate, Divestment, Old_Notes, Renewables

*events*, Adelaide, community, divestment, education, Mining, Sustainability