In response to the economic impacts of the outbreak of the Coronavirus/ Covid-19, state and federal governments are now announcing rolling, large-scale stimulus packages to keep the economy afloat. These already total billions of dollars and are likely to be ongoing. 

This is both a threat and an opportunity for the future of the economy, the climate and ecosystems at a time of overlapping crises.

Will we see the Morrison government attempt to force through subsidies for new coal mines and fossil fuel generators, bailouts of large corporations and guarantees for executive pay while regular people struggle to pay rent and emissions continue to rise?

Or will we take this opportunity to transform the economic system to get the climate crisis under control, and ensure the safety and health of people? We cannot return to business as usual.

Water beginning to trickle down the lower Darling has come as a saving grace in a moment of global crisis. 

The first flush down the Darling-Barka in 3 years was always going to bring joy and hope to towns like Menindee, but as Australia braces for the potential public health crisis of COVID-19, the importance of this water cannot be understated.

Last week Infrastructure Victoria (IV) released its paper on network transfer pricing. Based on some flawed and hidden assumptions its main conclusion is that zone three fares should be raised and off-peak fares lowered to reduce congestion on peak trams and trains. Most people don’t endure the morning crush by choice and many Seniors already travel off-peak on their discount fare. 

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up! 
Monday 2:00pm-2.30pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 years of Acting Up! Pesticides, permaculture, organics & food co-op audio episode

Listen up mp3
Presenter: Em Gayfer
Guests: Beth Cameron, Leanne McLean, Esala Liyanage, Peter Podolinsky, Alex Bhathal

In the 1970s and 1980s Friends of the Earth campaigned on food justice, agricultural pollution, and the politics of food. In 2020, Friends of the Earth continues to champion food safety and sovereignty, building relationships with Indigenous and local growers and producers, and promoting fair trade.  FOE Melbourne’s Food Co-operative & Café is 45 years strong, offering biodynamic vegetarian and vegan fresh and bulk food.  The Food Co-op & Café is leading the way in sustainable food practices, waste minimisation, giving space to FOE fund-raising events, supporting activists and growing community, powered by 1,000s of volunteers from across the world.  Continue reading about key moments in FOE's food justice and food co-operative communities from 1975 - 2020.

 
We’re living in tumultuous times. Straight off the back of summer’s horrific bushfires, COVID-19 came along; and whilst its impacts are devastating, both personally and collectively, the community response has been incredible. Mutual aid groups are popping up with increased rapidity and capacity to provide direct aid to those most severely impacted. The lack of support and action from governments has left gaping holes ripe for grassroots organising, and it is invigorating to witness so many stepping into the space.

We believe it is important to acknowledge that some groups of people, both here and overseas, were already experiencing things such as restricted movement, food shortages, limited access to education, and long-term separation from family. This does not mean the rest of us must now be ok with these things; but it does mean we must acknowledge our relative privilege up to and including this point - as it is undoubtedly these same groups of people who are now experiencing the impacts of COVID-19 most heavily.

Click here to read Friends of the Earth Australia's statement on COVID-19.

 Air Quality Pollution PM10 & PM2.5

In crisis times, is it more important to spend $16 billion on the North East Link (NEL) road project, or support families, the health system and employers? Billions are already sitting in the bank for the NEL Project. The NEL toll road will take a toll in more ways than one.

THE GAS STORY: SO FAR NOT SO GOOD
Last week the Victorian government gave the go ahead to onshore conventional gas exploitation across the State. A moratorium had halted all exploration and drilling since 2014. In March 2020, the Andrews Government introduced new laws to lift the moratorium and allow extensive drilling for gas reserves underground from July 2021. 

In 2018, the Victorian Labour Government released five new oil and gas exploration blocks in the offshore Otway Basin in State waters, extending from Port Campbell to the South Australian border.  Climate science makes it abundantly clear that time is running out if we want to avoid catastrophic climate change.  To reduce methane gas emissions, we must stop further fossil fuel expansion and transition to 100% renewable energy and energy storage.  The State government needs to cancel the tender process for offshore oil and gas exploration and end onshore gas expansion in the Otway Basin in western Victoria.  The time for new fossil fuel expansion is over. Keep reading to meet the CAST OF GAS VILLIANS and TAKE DIGITAL ACTION NOW!

DIGITAL ACTION TO RESIST FOSSIL FOOLS!

TELL Mr Andrews … NO NEW OIL & GAS in the OTWAY BASIN FOE PETITION

Join FOE’s NO FOSSIL FUELS DIGITAL SNAP ACTION

Otway Gas Plant near Port Campbell, Victoria (source: Beach Energy website)

Community members in Victoria's south west have collected over 1000 signatures on a petition calling for an extension of a ban on onshore gas exploration.

Community opposition to drilling remains strong across regional Victoria with over 70 communities declaring themselves 'gasfield free' as part of the campaign that also banned fracking.

The announcement to scrap the temporary ban on onshore gas drilling has come just as community members from local group Protect the West in the south west of the state prepared to submit over 1,000 signatures in opposition to a lifting of the ban to the Premier’s office.

A coalition of ten leading wind energy companies and supportive organisations have today released a joint statement calling on Victoria's Andrews government to set science-based Emissions Reductions Targets that help limit global warming to 1.5C.

The statement comes as the state government enters the final week of its decision-making process on Victoria’s first interim targets to cut emissions across the whole economy.

Friends of the Earth podcast history series made in collaboration with 3CR 855 AM community radio show Acting Up!Monday 2:00pm-2.30pm.  Ratbags, peaceniks and agents of change, resistance radio that explores the movements that made us. 

45 Years of Acting Up!! Indigenous Solidarity gatherings 1997 and 1998

Presenters: Em Gayfer & Megan Williams.  Guests: Anthony Amis, Jim Green

FOE Australia meet and work on stolen lands of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people and respect that sovereignty of those lands was never ceded.  We pay respect to Elders, past and present, and acknowledge the pivotal role that Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within the Australian community.

Warning: this page contains images and voices of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people who have passed away.