Wayiba (Hello, in Ngarluma language).
I am currently travelling through some very remote regions of northern and western Australia, including the Burrup Penisula, known as Murujuga by the Ngarluma people, who share custodianship with the Yindjibarndi people. Murujuga is also the location of Woodside’s Karratha Gas Plant and construction is well underway for Woodside’s Pluto Gas Plant for the Scarborough Gas Field.
Many of you would have helped try to prevent this climate-destroying development through actions listed in our Climate Club Qld e-news. It struck me that members of the climate activist community have so much in common, and led me to reflect on how generous people are, as together we contribute to the cause. A theme continuing on from Malcolm's thoughts in our last newsletter about the relationships that bring and bind us together.
In Issue 32 I received permission from Cathy Wilcox to publish one of her cartoons; and for Issue 49 I was able to use a report by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility and to use a cartoon by Jon Kudelka. In each case, all I had to do was ask! And that’s them allowing us to reproduce their work which is their source of income. 💚
Recently I sought clarification about alleged habitat destruction by the Clarke Creek windfarm project (150km north west of Rockhampton) from Giles Parkinson, the busy Editor of Renew Economy. He was able to confirm it was part of a misinformation campaign. All I had to do was ask.
I draw strength from like-minded people working in unison trying to stop new fossil fuel projects. Crafternoons, workshops, calling parties, digital storms, webinars, marches, legal and not-quite-so-legal actions. Camaraderie, respect and trust are strong.
All of our shared activities seeking to protect the environment are supported by tens of thousands of people who donate money/ This money goes to wages for organisers and to pay for props, billboards, digital tools and other expenses. Our organisers, and people like you and I as volunteers, also spend a lot of time on after hours activities, as this is when many folk are available to participate.
Our whole movement relies on the generosity of everyone who gives their time!! And so many people are giving so much. Together we have so much power. We can do this.
And we need to now more than ever:
Labor has caved to the fossil fuel industry by indicating they will try to strike a deal with Peter Dutton to strip the proposed Federal EPA of its decision-making role, reducing it to a mere compliance watchdog. 🔥🔥🔥
From a body that could assess projects against our (inadequate) EPBC Act (see Issue 44), it looks like it will merely be allowed to whinge about projects that break the rules. And we know that some dodgy companies are perfectly willing to treat fines as merely a cost of doing business.
What can you do today?
Readers of our last edition showed interest in the Maroonprint Assembly and the water trigger. While the water trigger was finally introduced into our Environmental Legislation late last year (reported in Issue 35), we are still calling for water trigger action! The work never ends.
So check out this issue’s actions: with one event happening tonight and two events on tomorrow, there’s so much activity to support.
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
Queensland’s Premier and Opposition Leader recently both attended the Queensland Community Alliance’s Maroonprint Assembly, along with 1,000 community members. When asked, the Opposition Leader would not commit to supporting the state’s renewable energy targets and delivering a plan to meet them.
Action: Help Qld Conservation Council (QCC) apply pressure to Opposition Leader David Crisafulli to clearly commit to the state’s 70% by 2032 and 80% by 2035 renewable energy targets. Add your comment to QCC’s Facebook , Instagram , X. Also see our one hour actions for more you can do.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has the power to stop fracking in the Northern Territory now, by using water trigger laws. Instead she is seeking scientific advice on the impacts of fracking on water, and meanwhile the fracking continues. Minister Plibersek must act now to protect water using the water trigger – before it's too late.
Action: Stand with Traditional Owners to protect water from fracking by emailing Minister Plibersek.
Are you concerned by reports about farmers opposing renewable projects due to solar panels, wind turbines, and transmission lines ruining valuable farm land? Well, some farmers have quite the opposite experience.
Action: Read about some great farming renewable success stories! ….. And for a useful overview of renewables for the rural sector, this AAP article is a quick, authoritative read.
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
Do you have or know children who want to understand the climate crisis? Experts from The University of Melbourne have written a series of explainers.
Action: Watch these short animations to help young ones understand. Share with friends and family who might have children in their lives.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
We have publicised the Rising Tide Blockade in Newcastle this November for a while. See what happened last year and learn about plans for this year.
Action: Join our Brisbane film screening and pot luck, Wed 25 Sept, 5:30pm, House Conspiracy, West End
Last week Opposition Leader David Crisafulli was asked directly if the LNP would maintain our state’s renewable energy targets and he wouldn't commit. This is a concerning shift from the LNP, just weeks before the state election on October 26. We need all sides of politics to have strong climate action and renewable energy plans.
Action: RSVP to join Qld Conservation Council and Lock the Gate outside LNP MP Tim Nicholls’ office (729 Sandgate Road, Clayfield) to present a petition and wave roadside signs. Tomorrow, Thu 19 September 8:30am - 10am. Also see our 5 minute actions to pressure Mr Crisafulli through social media.
Dickson Decides is a local group in Peter Dutton’s electorate dedicated to bringing independent and community-focused representation to the community. This is important because the Liberal National Coalition have no intention of seriously tackling the climate crisis. We all know that Dutton’s nuclear plan is a tactic to protect the fossil fuel industry. Learn more about the Dickson Decides campaign in their official launch to search for a community-backed independent to contest Dickson at the upcoming federal election.
Action: RSVP to the Dickson Decides launch event. Listen to Zali Steggall share her journey in Parliament, discuss her impactful private members' bills, and highlight the power of independent MPs to shape policy and hold the government accountable. This event launches Tomorrow, Thu 19 Sept 6pm - 9pm at Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane.
Dr Saul Griffith is a visionary with an ambitious yet achievable path to address the climate and cost of living crisis while helping every household reduce their energy bills. Saul has previously advised the US Biden Government and now leads the push for Australia to electrify everything.
Action: Saul was hosted by the Gold Coast Climate Action Network last night (Tues 18th Sept), but you can purchase a ticket ($15) to listen to him tonight Wed 6.30 - 8.30 Queensland Multicultural Centre, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane.
Closing with some good news
Lord Howe Island’s solar and battery microgrid is supplying around 70% of the island’s power and saved $1.5m in diesel fuel costs since commissioning in April 2021. That’s a lot of greenhouse gas avoided - and money saved!
I stayed overnight at Tobermorey Station, along the Plenty Highway between Boulia Qld and Gemtree NT. They are also reducing their diesel costs and greenhouse gas emissions with an impressive array of solar panels. And in Western Australia, I saw a network of solar-powered EV charging stations being progressively installed along Highway One, the “big lap”. Seeing solar soar across the country is so inspiring!
That’s all for today, folks👋🏽Thanks for taking action. See you in two weeks.
Ron
plus Jan, Robyn and Malcolm - The Climate Club Qld team
We live, work and play on the lands of the Yuggara and Turrbal people in and around Meanjin - 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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Great to see the work of Farmers for Climate Action (under the 5 minutes actions) demonstrating how farmers can embrace renewables in their on farm mix. The media, pollies and disruptors are so keen to paint this as another fight - it’s always a fight isn’t it! This time is it between the ‘greenies’ and the farmers? If you believe the simplistic arguments being peddled, you can’t have good farming practices and renewables in one place - but the case studies by the Farmers for climate action proves otherwise! (And it’s always going to be more nuanced than a sound bite will allow! )