Issue #66: Coping with these weird times
Positive people, the power of nature, and political duds
How are you travelling along this wildly swerving path at the moment? Indigestion from electioneering maybe? I have had some great moments, some prompts to think more deeply, and a few predictable disappointments. (Sorry to say that some politicians are even more disappointing than cheap Easter eggs.)
Let’s get the disappointment out the way – I bet you can add your own here too.
The recently-elected Queensland conservative government has decided to extend the life of Queensland coal-fired power stations, review (in reality this means: probably ditch) our ambitious emission reduction targets, and invest more heavily in gas. If you want to doom scroll you can read the details here from Renew Economy or in the ABC.
Predictable but still disappointing.
There is plenty in this announcement that undermines us becoming a renewables powerhouse in Queensland, but the part about extending the working life of coal-fired power stations is the bit that rankled me the most.
Back in May 2021, the Callide C power station in Biloela had a catastrophic explosion which caused a power blackout for half a million customers, took nearly 3 and a half years to get back online, and ultimately cost taxpayers $50 million. A full investigation into the explosion showed that management had taken shortcuts and failed to consider risks. They were fined $9m.
A recent analysis of the performance of Callide Power Station by Nexa Advisory says:
“Our coal-fired power stations are reaching, and in some cases have passed, their technical life span. Our analysis shows clearly how unreliable, expensive and dirty they all are….”
Referring to a very recent incident there, the CEO said:
“The most recent ‘explosion’ at Callide C that occurred earlier in April is the third major incident at this power station in four years and confirms what we already know—that ageing coal-fired assets cannot be relied on even as Band-Aid solutions.” (CEO Stephanie Bashir)
So much for reliable coal-fired power!
Now for the good stuff ✨✨✨
I’ve been joyfully surprised recently when hanging out with volunteers I have met giving their time, energy and skills to help Ellie Smith’s independent federal election campaign against Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson.
I have been carried away with their enthusiasm for change and their willingness to work every day for it. To be surrounded by so many people with generous hearts and a shared vision for something better in Australia’s political life is a real tonic!
Georgina Woods - a poet, environmentalist and head of research and investigations at Lock the Gate. - wrote a recent piece in the Guardian which really resonated with me and my experience of nature. Check out her opening paragraphs, which helped me see my relationship to the natural world in a different light.
“At times my work takes me to the big city and the tall buildings where people with power make decisions that affect the rest of us. While I am there, crossing busy roads, wearing tidy clothes and carrying out my duty, I think of faraway places where life is getting on without me.
Logrunners are turning leaf litter on the rainforest floor, albatross are cruising the wind beyond sight of the coast. Why does thinking about these creatures, who have no idea that I exist, bring me such comfort?
Because they are free, because they are beautiful, and because of their utter indifference to me ……”
What can you do today?
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
The State Government plans to repeal our renewable energy targets, investigate keeping our ageing coal power stations open past their retirement dates, massively expand polluting gas, and ‘review’ the State’s 75% by 2035 emission reduction target.
Action: Use this form to email Treasurer/Energy Minister, and ask him not to backflip on his promise to deliver real emission reduction cuts for Queensland. Personalising your email makes it even more high impact eg you could add details like: I'm solar owner / teacher / business owner.
Burning coal and gas is cooking our planet and fuelling extreme weather. At each step, people and nature suffer. Yet the Australian Government hands over $18,588 in public money every minute to the fossil fuel industry. 27 coal and gas projects have been approved since the last federal election.
Action: Sign the pledge to tell your election candidates that you’ll be voting to stop the climate wreckers and put an end to new coal and gas.
Despite environment and safety breaches totaling millions of dollars, Whitehaven Coal continues to greenwash its image in countries like Japan. They do this to attract joint venture partners to give the company a critical injection of cash to jump-start its other projects. Let Japanese corporations know that it is shameful to associate with a criminal organisation.
Action: Use this simple email template to contact their executives now!
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
There are some amazing projects underway round the country that we don’t hear enough about - solar, wind and storage projects that set the bar. Let’s get this message out far and wide so we keep building on our momentum!
Action: Have a read of these inspiring projects, in the Climate Council Choice Awards. Then share these good news with family and friends.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
How can we strengthen our democracy, and ensure our elected leaders are accountable and their decisions transparent? The Australian Democracy Network has an answer. Join their online forum where candidates get a few minutes to say exactly where they and their parties stand on key democracy and integrity issues. I was there online in 2022 and it was lively, fast paced, not boring!
Action: Wednesday 23 April 7pm to 830pm (AEST) Register for the online forum to get the link.
If you got through all those action, well done!
Alternatively, if you’re crying HELP!! - you can find some here. If you are finding wall to wall election media speeches, debates and news bamboozling (and who doesn’t), the Climate Council has created a report and scorecard that assesses the track records and promises of the major parties and key crossbenchers, based on expert analysis of policy platforms and voting history.
That’s all for today, folks. 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action.
See you in two weeks - Malcolm
plus Robyn, Ron and Jan - The Climate Club Qld team
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Indigestion!! Good way to put it :)