Adelaide FoE Notes

These posts are to appear in the fortnightly newsletter

The Foreign Donations Bill is broken. Time to start again

roman April 27, 2018

April 9th, 2018: The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (JSCEM) Committee which has been running the Inquiry into the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017 has released its report late this afternoon. The Committee has released a Majority Report (written by government and ALP members) and a Minority Report (dissenting report) from the Australian Greens.

“This is a significant step back by the government members of this Committee from the extreme measures proposed in the original Bill” said Friends of the Earth campaigns co-ordinator Cam Walker. “The original Bill was clearly ideological over-reach, and the Committee members had the common sense to recognise this”.

Actions, Adelaide FoE Notes

Accelerate Climate Action! Bill McKibben in Town May 4th

roman April 27, 2018

Glen Klavotsky, of 350.org writes:

Sometimes you hear someone speak and it can change your view on the world.

350 founder Bill McKibben is one of those people.

He is a compelling speaker – someone who has changed people’s minds about climate change.

That’s why we’re so excited about bringing Bill to Australia for the Accelerate Climate Action tour. Because at each of our event locations across the country, people will get empowered to take climate action, and have the chance to hear from local climate activists in their area.

Have you booked your tickets?

350’s Jackson was inspired by Bill McKibben to get into climate activism. “He showed me that our governments weren’t going to handle this,” Jackson says. “And that it was up to people like us to step up, and stop the fossil fuels industry burning the planet up.”

Another testimonial comes from 350’s Joce. “I loved how he made the Maths so simple,” she says. “I could scribble it straight into my notebook and then re-read it to friends for months after. The simplicity of the numbers was just overwhelming.”

Alongside Bill in Adelaide, you will also hear from founding member of Coloured Stone, Bunna Lawrie; Repower Port Augusta’s Lisa Lumsden; and Peter Owen, Director of the Wilderness Society in South Australia.

Are you ready to accelerate on climate action?

Book now to hear from a world renowned climate activist, people taking action on the ground in your area, and join with us in fighting for a safe climate future.

We hope to see you there,

Glen, for the 350 Australia team

PS. Once you’ve booked to join us on the Accelerate Climate Action tour, make sure you invite your friends and family on Facebook. Help us make this Fossil Free event massive!

Adelaide FoE Notes, Climate

Don’t Bank on the Bomb!

roman April 27, 2018

2018 report Don’t Bank on the Bomb now available!

Maaike Beenes, co-author, writes —

This report, produced by PAX, a member of the Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons (ICAN) is the only report detailing the global investments by financial institutions in companies producing nuclear weapons.

$525 Billion invested

329 investors made $525 Billion available to nuclear weapon producing companies between January 2014 and October 2017. They assisted with share and bond issuances, owned or managed shares and bonds or outstanding loans or made credit facilities. This is a decrease in the number of investors, but an $81 billion increase in the total amount invested. Find out who invests.

Most investors are from the US, and US$110 billion came from just 3 US financial institutions: Blackrock, Vanguard and Capital Group, all from the United States.

ICAN executive director Beatrice Fihn: “If you have been wondering who benefits from Donald Trump’s threats of nuclear war, this report has that answer. These are the companies that stand to profit from indiscriminate mass murder of civilians. We grow less safe while they cash in on chaos by banking on Armageddon.”

Author of the report Susi Snyder: “The Nuclear Ban Treaty has sparked momentum towards divestment, shown by 10% fewer investors in nuclear weapon producers, and an increase in financial institutions comprehensively prohibiting any investment. Investments are not neutral, these companies should be congratulated for standing on the side of humanity.”

Access the full report here

Adelaide FoE Notes, Divestment, Nuclear

The Future is Renewable

roman April 27, 2018

South Australia is currently on track to hit 73% renewable energy by 2030, unless the State Government interferes massively in the energy markets.

We could do a lot better if the new State Government actively supports the transition to renewables.

Given the Federal Government’s support of coal, and its antipathy to renewables, we need to actively promote renewables and the transformation of our energy markets.

There’s a meeting for FoE members and supporters at 3pm on Monday, April 30th at the common room at Christie Walk to discuss what such a renewables campaign might do. If you’re interested in FoE Adelaide taking up such a campaign, please come along, or email roman to let him know you’re interested (roman.orszanski@foe.org.au)

Adelaide FoE Notes, Renewables, Sustainability

Wentworth against Adani…

roman March 12, 2018

More than three-quarters of voters in Malcolm Turnbull’s Sydney electorate of Wentworth would support reviewing the environmental approvals for the controversial Adani coalmine, according to a new opinion poll.
A ReachTel survey of 676 residents in the prime minister’s electorate, commissioned by the Australia Institute, found an emphatic majority favoured a review of the project approvals, including 70% of Liberal voters.
Opposition to the mine is a significant issue in the head-to-head contest between Labor and the Greens in the by-election in Batman

More details: Katherine Murphy in the Guardian.

Note: Election comment this issue (unless otherwise noted) is Authorised by Roman Orszanski, 65 Russell St Adelaide 5000

Adelaide FoE Notes