We all know that the state election which will happen on November 24 is a high stakes one for climate and environment policy. With the Coalition threatening to tear up the state renewable energy target (VRET) and gas moratorium we worked so hard to achieve, we have a lot to lose if we cannot shift their current policies.
With less than four months til the election, we are working as hard as we possibly can to ensure all political parties go to the election with solid environment and climate policies. We’re working on the ground with regional and suburban communities, in places as diverse as Maryborough in north central VIC to Bass, on the eastern fringe of Melbourne.
We’re advocating for a visionary campaign agenda, one which will help transition the state’s energy supply and future proof Melbourne against further growth by seeing the creation of a world class set of parks around the city’s fringe, including the Great Forest Park. We’re also calling for investment in a world class public transport network, including the Metro 2 tunnel which will provide an essential new cross-town PT connection worthy of a city like Melbourne.
We need your help:
1/ Please sign on to our election platform vision. This tells the major parties that people want to see action on the environment. Sign on here >> https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/victoria2018
2/ Please support us with a donation. We are frugal and strategic and will use any funds received to achieve maximum outcomes.
3/ Stay involved. Check our events page for details on our election events and our ‘winter series’ of forums.
Get Active with Quit Coal and Energy Justice this month!
It's Quit Coals month of action as part of FoE's '6 Months to Make a Difference'. We are excited and ready to amp up our Energy Justice campaign with our work in Caulfield. We want the Vic Libs to know that we think their energy vision will keep us in the past. They have no climate policy, a taste for more coal and have pledged to scrap the VRET if elected. So join us for our fun 1950’s themed protest picnic outside outside David Southwicks office to let him know that we don’t want to stay in a time where coal is king. We’ll be delivering him a telegram with a community statement and results from our Caulfield street surveys.
Join us in your 1950's attire, this Friday 10th 1pm @ 1/193 Balaclava Rd, Caulfield North.
We have more exciting events in the works and will be continuing to do community surveys, hold forums and have creative street actions ready for Spring. To help support our campaign we have launched a Crowdfunder, where Quit Coalers are pledging to risk getting a mullet for some funds. If you'd like to see more mullets and Energy Justice kept as a top priority at this election please support our work or come along to our weekly meetings Wednesdays 6pm, upstairs @ Friends of the Earth Melbourne.
Stories from the Frontline to the Heartland
A special event with Melbourne Playback Theatre - Saturday September 1, 2018 5pm-6:30pm
Friends of the Earth Melbourne is a member-based organisation made up of ordinary people who share a vision. For 45 years, our work on the frontline of environmental activism continues to draw new generations of activists and leaders into the movement.
$15 Concession/FoE Members
$30 Solidarity
Time: 5pm - 6:30pm
Double threats to Westernport Bay
AGL's plan to import Liquid Natural Gas to Crib Point, and Kawasaki Industry's hydrogen exports from Westernport Bay represent a double threat to a natural wonder.
In August 2017 AGL announced that they had chosen Crib Point in Westernport Bay as the proposed location for a floating storage regassification unit (FSRU) to be permanently moored at the Crib Point jetty.
The government has also supported a coal to gas project which aims to provide hydrogen to Japan. Although this project is only in a test phase, any hydrogen that is produced will be exported through facilities in Westernport. Should the project be commercialised, large volumes of potentially dangerous gas will be exported on a regular basis from Westernport.
Take action
Please sign the petition to the premier, urging him to cancel the AGL approval and fully assess the environmental impacts of these projects.
New Waste and Consumption Collective
We are pleased to announce the start of Friends of the Earth Melbourne’s Waste and Consumption collective. We are working in partnership with Friends of the Earth’s Co-op cafe, which has approximately 40 years experience of working to educate the community on food waste and plastic issues. In addition to these issues, we will be looking at waste to energy projects. Other areas that may be incorporated are the recycling crisis, ocean plastics, plastic bags and container schemes. We are interested in a systemic view on these issues, rather than individual changes of habit.
We have the following aims:
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Fill the vacuum, change the conversation in regards to consumption and appropriate disposal of waste
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Put pressure on MPs to release the Sustainability Fund to create self-sufficiency and green jobs in Victoria
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Support impacted communities
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Connect local governments
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Network interested groups across a wide range of consumption and waste issues to create a public awareness campaign and encourage their involvement in a strategic campaign to change waste policy in the state
If you are interested in being involved, have ideas that you feel aren’t reflected here, or have amazing contacts that we need to know about, the best action is to like our closed Facebook page, where you can get updates about meeting times, actions and an official launch. Search for “FoE Waste and Consumption campaign Team” on Facebook. You can also contact Anine at [email protected].
Yes 2 Renewables & Act on Climate hit the road to Portland, highlight local climate solutions
Yes 2 Renewables & Act on Climate hit the road to Portland last week to highlight the regional city's leadership on renewable energy & local climate change solutions After meeting up with the Knitting Nannas for the Portland Climate and Energy update, we visited a number of wind farms in the area with local wind energy technicians. We also met with workers at Keppel Prince, Australia's largest wind tower manufacturers, whose work in renewable energy is helping Victoria tackle climate change. It's safe to say the Portland community is fired up to protect renewable energy jobs and fight for more local climate solutions!
The Matthew Guy opposition's pledge to axe Victoria's Renewable Energy Target puts the jobs of people working in renewable energy at risk.
TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition to protect renewable energy jobs.
GET INVOLVED: Contact Yes 2 Renewables Coordinator [email protected] or Act on Climate Vic coordinator [email protected] if you want to protect Victoria's renewable energy leadership ahead of November's state election.
Renewable Powered Trains in the spotlight at Mulgrave event on building on Victoria's renewavle energy future
Community members gathered at the Mulgrave Community Centre last week, to talk about how to build on Victoria's renewable energy leadership and raise the issue of climate change in the area. Folks were fired up about Yes 2 Renewables' new campaign to make Melbourne's trains the first in the country to be powered by renewable energy, and are now talking next steps to put renewable powered trains on the Premier's radar.
Do you want to get organised to advocate for climate solutions like renewable powered trains? Get in touch! Yes 2 Renewables are organising actions around the city and need your help to turn our vision for a better energy and transport system into a reality.
Contact [email protected] and join us at our regular meetings every Tuesday 6:20PM at Friends of the Earth Melbourne to get involved.
JOIN US: Sign the open letter to power Melbourne's trains with renewable energy
Why am I stuck in traffic on the Eastern Freeway?
Have you heard the Eastern Freeway has some of the worst travel times in Melbourne? A big reason is there are currently zero rail or tram services in this part of town. Instead, everyone has to jumps in their cars and onto the freeway.
Building new roads does little if nothing to solve traffic congestion. The North East Link is going to add 95,000 cars a day to the already choked freeway. My name is Marc, I live up here in Doncaster and this mega road plan scares me.
That's why I've been jumping into the #GetOnBoardVic plan to build a better vision for my city. We need rail up here, and improved rapid bus connections. These connections aren't just to the city, but to local shops, schools, uni's, to go visit my mates, Big trucks are a growing problem, so let's find a way to reduce them on local streets with more freight on rail.
These last few weeks we've been growing local awareness with banner drops, radio shows, and flyering at local train and bus stations. Everyone I've talked to wants to Get on Board with better public transport and less traffic.
You can sign up here and read more about my story here.
River Country connections
River Country has been connecting with people throughout the Basin. This month we met on the steps of Parliament with people from Adelaide to Tamworth the message that Healthy Rivers need water.
Calling all artists!
Friends of the Earth's ACE Nuclear Free collective is holding our annual art auction in October and we'd love your creative contributions. 'Maralinga Pieces - Forever on Country' will commemorate the 66 year anniversary of nuclear bomb tests at Maralinga and celebrate decades of nuclear resistance, while raising vital funds for our national nuclear-free campaign work.
We welcome artworks from all disciplines and work is not restricted to the title theme, however artists are welcome to submit a piece inspired by the theme if they wish. We are seeking donations from July until the 30th September.
For forty years we've been an important part of a passionate national and international alliance that's working at all stages of the nuclear chain to protect country and community from this toxic industry.
Contact: Jim 0417 318 368 or Jemila 0426 962 506 or email [email protected]
Postcard Petition to Minister Canavan - Don't Dump on SA
The government is aiming to make a decision on whether to proceed with a nuclear waste facility is SA later this year.
Communities of the Flinders Ranges and Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula are working hard to make sure the decision makers hear a clear no - and we want them to hear from you too!
Conservation SA have started a postcard petition that will be delivered to Minister Canavan later this year.
Please go online to sign the online postcar.
Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in getting more involved with one or more of our campaign collectives. Let's make 2018 a year of action!