Wunya everyone,
It’s been a hectic week! We’ve had several events that have highlighted the strength of people’s voices to focus our community’s awareness and action for climate and country. And it’s shown me again how it’s our relationships that bring us and bind us together!
What a chance to reflect on the many ways we can shift the power and help make a difference together. Such a good time to appreciate and celebrate!
One of these events was the Queensland Community Alliance Assembly on Tuesday night.
Over 800 people met the Premier and Opposition Leader at the event. Not only did they fill the largest cathedral in town but several regional communities also joined in by video conference call – including our friends at North Queensland Conservation Council from Townsville (whose actions we are sometimes able to highlight).
The diversity of the participants was impressive with faith groups, trade unions, community organisations and ethnic associations all present. Their concerns are about climate, fair work, early childhood development, welcoming new Queenslanders, and safe, connected communities.
In a kind of live negotiation situation, both potential future premiers were asked to commit to a series of proposed solutions to Queensland’s most pressing issues. These were developed in consultation with the 32 member organisations representing 1.7 million Queenslanders. They are a great group to support if you can! They achieved a huge climate-related win in 2021 with the $2 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund. Here’s how you can follow their work:
Read their Facebook posts to learn more about the commitments made.
Sign up for updates on their webpage.
And how about this for people power?
About 500 people converged on the state capital to break the world record for the number of people playing yidaki (the Yolngu word for didgeridoo) and clapsticks. What a blast! Once again, Australia’s First People set the tone, show the way and invite us migaloos (non-Aboriginal people) to understand more and join with them celebrating their culture and identity. ✊✊✊👏👏👏
Hosted by the Wangan and Jagalingou Family Council, this event recognised 3 years of continuously practicing ceremony on their Country in Central Queensland on a part of the current Adani/Bravus Carmichael coal mine near Clermont.
It was a joyous, exciting, adrenaline-pumping treat. The sight and sound of so many different yidakis and players is a memory many of us will hold close. Along with guests from Arnhem Land in the north to Boorloo/Perth over in the West, the good vibrations filled the city. In the words of Gurridyula Gaba Wunggu, they came together…
“to raise our voices and our Yidakis (Didgeridoos) together and sing out to Country and protect the water.”
(We have previously written about the W and J stand to protect their sacred Doongmabulla Springs in Issue #41).
The glue that holds all these actions and events together is relationships of trust and respect between people.
The love between strangers was quite tangible at the yidaki event – smiles and laughs everywhere, no one getting hot and bothered! A bystander I spoke to said he felt thrilled and delighted to have seen just part of it.
The mutual respect and connection in the big community assembly was also tangible, with so many laughs and smiles. I delighted in the variety of people I met as I mingled to take photos.
Our individual part may seem small, but we are connected to others who are also part of this thing we do. I really felt this in the last seven days. ❤️
As Jodie from the original Climate Club (Aotearoa), puts it in their recent issue:
“…. If I've learnt anything over the past few years, it's that the work of climate action doesn't look like a superhero movie, with some powerful individual swooping in to save the day. It looks like a network of people, simply doing what they can. It looks like just doing your part, and believing that there are others out there who are doing theirs.”
Well said Jodie! So let’s get to it this week!
What can you do today?
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
The Qld Government is asking for feedback on its Biodiversity Strategy and how it measures performance. But its current form doesn’t reflect the essential role nature plays in the health of individuals, communities and our state as a whole.
Action: The good people at Protect Beautiful Queensland have crafted a submission that outlines a better approach to protecting our environment. All it takes is a quick click to send this submission through and make your voice heard! (NEEDS TO BE IN BY FRIDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER)
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
Tamboran has started work fracking in the Beetaloo Basin in the NT. They boast about drilling 3km wide wells, and brag how it will be the largest fracking project in the Beetaloo to date 🤮 But people are using social media to call on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to use the water trigger, and call in Tamboran’s fracking for proper assessment. You can make a simple post to get her attention too! Thanks AYCC for this one!
Action: Use these easy quick steps to make a simple sign and post it tagging her in!
Get your local library involved in getting climate action in the spotlight
Ask your friendly librarians (they are always friendly) for a special display on climate and social change in the library. Suggest one or two that you have found useful which they could buy and display. Librarians are always open to recommendations for purchases, so speak up. 🕮 Our friend Jenny had this cool idea ❤️ and suggested these, which are some of her favs.
• The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg (should be in every library)
Action: Email or drop in to chat to the librarian – it will be a good conversation!
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
Queensland has some of the most threatened wildlife and some of the highest rates of land clearing in the world. Stand up for nature this Threatened Species Day! Celebrate all of our unique plant and animal species on a very colourful march with a giant greater glider puppet!
Action: Meet up and march through Brisbane with a giant greater glider to stand up for nature! Tuesday 10 September, 10am - noon, Queens Gardens to Parliament House. Bring your friends and creative signs or costumes featuring your favourite threatened species.
Are you in the Logan area? Join this social event to find out more about Torres Strait Islanders, their culture and action to protect their country from climate change and rising sea levels. This is a great community night out - a very welcoming and relaxed short film screening and informal get together - and guaranteed to help you appreciate First Nations cultures.
Action: Join Our Islands, Our Home and 350 Dugulumba (Logan) for a special screening of a new documentary. Tuesday 1 October 6pm Logan West Community Centre • 2 Wineglass Drive, Hillcrest, 4118
And to make this an even more upbeat edition -
One of our special friends Gillian and Li’l Bean on Substack has penned a short encouraging read on seasons and something I personally relate to – my willingness to succumb to that inner mantra to be ‘productive/busy/doing something’ – all the time! Is that something you recognise?
Also as a keen observer of small scene nature, I loved Gillian’s glimmers for the day with her macro lens! Enjoy this – and make sure you give them a 👍
That’s all for today folks, Nanni ngin 👋🏽
See you in two weeks.
Malcolm
plus Jan, Robyn and Ron - The Climate Club Qld team
We live, work and play on the lands of the Yuggara and Turrbal people in and around Magandjin - Brisbane. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded - always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
To help keep these newsletters useful, we’d love your feedback and you can get in touch by email climateclubqld@gmail.com or check out the simple info on our About page.
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