Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that he will call a double dissolution election for Saturday July 2. Time to review the Abbott/Turnbull record on the environment.
The Australian Conservation Foundation have prepared a list of the Good, The bad, and the inconclusive achievements of the Government with Environment Minister Greg Hunt. You be the judge:
The Abbott/Turnbull Government environmental record
We’ve examined the Abbott/Turnbull Government’s environmental record and found much more bad than good.
As the federal election draws nearer, it’s worth remembering the world we hand on to future generations is the result of decisions our elected representatives make today. Continue reading →
Sustainable Fawkner member John Englart talks about attending the UN Climate Conference in Paris, the strengths and weaknesses of the Paris Agreement, and the inmportance of continued grassroots activity to pressure governments and businesses to step up action commensurate with the goals and framework set in Paris.
On the program today we spoke to Australian citizen journalist and climate activist John Englart about the Paris Climate Agreement!
On the show we analysed the Paris Agreement, discussed its strengths and weaknesses, spoke about Australia’s position on climate action, and John provided advice on where to go from here. Todays program is well worth a listen, if you missed the show you can listen to it here!
John Englart recently attended the UN climate conference in Paris as an accredited NGO observer delegate for Climate Action Moreland, and as a climate advocate participating in, and observing civil society protests.
Earthhour was last Saturday night. Did you turn out your lights for the hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm?
We had extra excitement here in Fawkner near Major Rd. A blackout in the local electricity grid enforced a measure of compliance slightly later in the evening. Those who had already participated in earth hour would have been well prepared with candles, matches and flashlights.
The electricity was down for perhaps 40 minutes, but provided a unique time to see the stars and the night sky more clearly from suburbia.
Around the world hundreds of millions of people participated in earth hour or were part of earth hour events to raise the profile and light the way on climate change. It isn’t the saving of power that is important (although those who control our grid now factor in the drop in demand over earthhour itself), but the symbolism involved in people calling for action to curtail the environmental degradation of the earth’s life systems and the looming threat posed by climate change.
People in about 172 countries participated in the earthhour event.
“From the Earth’s extremes to outer space, people came together to send a clear message that action on climate is on top of their agenda. Earth Hour confirms our belief that in order to change climate change we need to act together. WWF will continue to do its share to shape strong, global climate solutions,” said Sudhanshu Sarronwala, Chair, Board of Directors, Earth Hour Global.
According to the WWF, in Moscow the Kremlin switched off the lights while citizens switched on their power for change by collecting close to 70,000 signatures to petition a moratorium on the exploration of Arctic oil.
In Malaysia, citizens attended the first-ever Earth Hour 2015 carnival in Petaling Jaya and answered the call to come out in large numbers to show their support for a city council declaration to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent within the next five years.
Here is UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging participation in Earth hour in 2015. “No individual action is too small, no collective vision is too big. This is the time to use your power. Join the global movement to change climate change….Together let’s make climate change history.”
Over 1,400 landmarks switched off the lights on Saturday including the Empire State Building and the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Hong Kong’s iconic skyline. Close to 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Acropolis in Athens, the walled city of Baku, the Cologne Cathedral and the Galapagos Islands also participated.
Earthhour started in Sydney in 2007. It has proven to be a powerful symbol of education in motivating change for more sustainable choices.
So, if you turned out your lights, you were a small part of this too. To read more and see photos and videos of earth hour visit http://www.earthhour.org/media-centre
Australia is hosting the G20 and climate change is not on the agenda. Come along to a screening of ‘Reasons for Hope‘ film and a discussion to show that Australians want climate change #OnMyAgenda. Local resident John Englart will lead the discussion.
When: 6.00pm Saturday 15 November
Where: Fawkner Community House, CB Smith Reserve
Bring a plate of food to share.
You’ll join friendly local people who care.
As climate change has been taken ‘off the main agenda’ by the Australian Government, the Australian Conservation Foundation is organising for people round Australia (and elsewhere) to put climate change #onmyagenda in self organised events and parties from November 12-15. Anyone can organise an event for their community. You can register your event here.
John Englart, as a member of Sustainable Fawkner and Climate Action Moreland is holding an event called Climate change is #OnMyAgenda in Fawkner on November 15, 2014 at 6:00 PM at the Fawkner Community House.
If you wish, you may also attend Sustainable Fawkner’s monthly meeting 4pm to 5.30pm, Come a little early to do a little bit of veggie gardening in our community garden.
The #OnMyAgenda event will start about 6pm. All welcome.
In my travels around the internet I found this site put together by the Australian PV Institute showing the level of installation of solar photovoltaic panel installation by postcode or Local Government area.
In Fawkner there have been about 246 solar PV installations. This amounts to approximately 5.4% of the estimated 4520 dwellings in our suburb with an installed capacity of 571kW.
This is lower than the Moreland average of 6.1%. Moreland Local Government Area (LGA) and is also below other municipal areas in Melbourne’s north. Maribyrnong has 7% solar installation, Moonee Valley is on 6.5%, Darebin is on 6.9%, Banyule on 6.7%, Whittlesea on 9.7%, and Hume on 11%. Continue reading →
Moreland Energy Foundation in conjunction with Moreland City Council are holding a forum for residents, community groups and businesses to discuss and network on environmental sustainability issues, to make a greener Moreland.
It is a chance to catch up with the many groups and individuals across the municipality working on sustainability from many different angles.
The event will also provide an opportunity for ideas and input into the creation of the Moreland Community Climate Action Plan being developed by Moreland Council.
An introductory session will use a 2 minute market process, allowing every person an opportunity in turn to speak uninterrupted and explain what they or their organisation are doing regarding environmental or sustainability activities, or areas they are interested in working in.
When: 9.45am to 1.00pm Saturday 30 November Where: Coburg Town Hall – Concert Hall, 90 Bell St, Coburg (Entry at the back via Urquhart St) Booking: Attendance is free but RSVP at MEFL website is required for Catering purposes
Lunch: Lunch Food provided free after the forum. Continue reading →
Moreland Council is particularly active in reducing it’s carbon footprint and achieving carbon neutrality in it’s operations. This still involves purchase of international carbon offset credits.
Waste collection, storage and landfill is one of the big costs, in terms of money and in generating greenhouse gases. If homes and businesses can reduce waste through more recycling and composting, then this is a substantial saving in both council expense, which can then be directed into other amenities, and in reducing carbon pollution from waste management.
To highlight the importance of reducing waste Moreland Council is urging Moreland residents to take the Zero Waste for a Week Challenge this November, to reduce your landfill waste to zero for one week.
“It’s not as hard as it sounds, changing the way you buy goods and produce, composting food scraps and recycling more all make a huge difference. Free workshops will be available throughout November on food waste avoidance and composting to help you cut your waste to zero. For more information or to register call Council on 9240 1111 or go to Zero waste for a Week Challenge” says the Council promotional material.
Registration for the challenge is only open to Moreland Residents but information is open to everyone. Tips and information on how you can achieve Zero Waste, or even substantially minimise your waste is available from Moreland Council – Zero waste for a Week Challenge. The first 150 residents to register will receive a free Waste Wise kit.
For the 2013 Federal Election, come and hear what the candidates have to say about policies, particularly on climate change and sustainability. Sustainable Fawkner is a sponsor of this event organised by Climate Action Moreland. The Following Wills Candidates have agreed to attend:
Dean O’CALLAGHAN, (Save the Planet)
Kelvin THOMSON, (Australian Labor Party)
Margarita WINDISCH, (Socialist Alliance)
Tim READ, (Greens)
We are hoping that the other candidates: Shilpa Hegde for the Liberal Party and Adrian Trajstman for the Australian Sex Party, and any other candidate that registers for the poll in Wills, will also come along to highlight their climate and sustainability policies.
When: 7.00pm for 7.30pm start, 19th August Where: Coburg Concert Hall, Moreland Civic Centre, 90 Bell Street, Coburg
Facebook: register for this event on Facebook
This is a family friendly event. Gold coin donation. Further information: sallyRose m. 0431 445 930
Climate Action Moreland has organised this event but is supported by other community groups around Moreland including: Moreland Bicycle Users Group (BUG), Brunswick Residents Network, CERES, Sustainable Fawkner, Friends of Upfield Linear Park
The election has been called by Kevin Rudd at last for September 7th, one week before Julia Gillard’s announced date. The campaign is on. September 7 also happens to be Threatened Species Day. It is perhaps significant as action on climate change, the future of clean energy programs and investment, and conservation and biodiversity programs are at risk.
Matted Flax lilly
One tends to think in the city that biodiversity is not a great concern, but here in Fawkner we have the Matted Flax-lily (Dianella amoena) at Bababi Djinanang native grassland. The species is nationally endangered although only listed as vulnerable in Victoria. We sometimes have platypus in Merri Creek and kangaroos that follow the creek down into the Fawkner grasslands.
These are wondrous sights to see in our urban environment along our creek nature reserves. Once degraded and used as little more than drains, many people have put incredible effort into re-vegetation and restoration of our creek environments, including Friends of Merri Creek and Merri Creek Management Committee. Continue reading →
The State Government has just handed down it’s 2013 budget. As expected, there is little for public transport, or meeting it’s own environmental election promises. Instead we see more support for brown coal which contributes to climate change, and to major road projects like initial funding for the east west link which will result in a public-private partnership and a privately managed tollroad which you and I will pay to travel on. The Metro rail tunnel and other badly needed rail network extensions have been effectively shelved by the current Government.
It hurts even more when the State Government ignores basic maintenaince and simple upgrades which benefit public transport commuters. Melbourne’s inner middle northern suburbs residents are calling out for existing station car parks to be resurfaced, at the cost of several thousand dollars, to avoid injuries such as broken ankles sustained from potholes in the gravel carpark surface. Continue reading →
Sustainable Fawkner 