In this August news, stop seismic blasting in the Otway Basin, 100% Renewables petition, Transform renewable jobs expo, nuke free news, court win and waste dump petition, a koala study, Lt Dargo walk, and an inquiry into the impacts of the pandemic, plus more!
Have your say on seismic blasting in the Otway Basin
We have until August 11 to stop a massive seismic blasting proposal in the Otway Basin that will impact whale habitat and endangered marine life, Southern Sea Country, commercial fisheries and the Zeehan Marine Park. Read more & make a submission.
2-day Transform Expo renewable energy jobs Gippsland
TRANSFORM will inspire and empower attendees to participate in employment opportunities in the Gippsland renewable energy transition. Come along to check out jobs, become a stall holder, a sponsor or a volunteer. WHEN: Fri 13th - Sat 14th Oct 2023
WHERE: Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon. Read more & RSVP.
No new gas connections huge win for Victoria
Environment group Friends of the Earth Melbourne today welcomed a raft of measures announced by the Victorian Government today to reduce the state’s dependency on fossil methane gas. This announcement is a critical step towards the top demand reduction recommendation contained in the No More Gas campaign’s Community Gas Retirement Roadmap (p25) that any further residential or commercial gas connections be prohibited across the state. Read more.
100% Renewables by 2030-No More Gas petition
Big energy companies are fuelling the climate crisis, driving up power prices for profit, and threatening communities with plans for new gas extraction. But Victoria has a huge opportunity to accelerate the shift to 100% renewables and equitably electrify everything to help households and businesses get off expensive and polluting gas. Read more & sign the petition.
Walk away from Kimba nuke waste dump petition
Please email the Albanese Government calling on them to abandon plans for a national nuclear waste dump on Barngarla Country in SA. The Federal Court has quashed the declaration of a dump site on the land of Barngarla Traditional Owners and we need the Government to respect their rights and abandon the dump plan. Send an email.
Nuke free news July
In this Nuclear Free News update of 2023 celebrates the historic win of Barngarla Traditional Owners vs Federal nuclear waste dump, with a call to action to encourage the Labor government to drop the flawed Kimba plan. Read about Japan's release or radioactive Fukushima waste water into the ocean, the ongoing risks with the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the insane costs of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and read more.
New Koala study
A new scientific study by Biolink Ecological Consultants and funded by the Myer Foundation has revealed that Morwell National Park and surrounds are likely to be the source population of the highly significant Strzelecki koala, the only genetically diverse koala population remaining in Victoria and South Australia. The study shows for the first time that both genetic and records analysis point to the same area. Read more.
Guided walk to the Lt Dargo November
The state government logging agency, VicForests, intends to log a total of 11 “coupes”, or sections, of mature forest in the upper Little Dargo River. These coupes are located in a series of clusters, where separate sections of bush will be harvested, creating a large zone of cleared land over time. Extensive roading networks will be needed to access the coupes. There is a growing community campaign to oppose this destruction. In 2022 and 2023, Friends of the Earth, in conjunction with the Treasure family, who have grazed cattle on the Dargo High Plains for generations, have hosted a number of walks to show people the headwaters of the catchment and surrounding area. Over the cup weekend (November 4 – 7) we will be hosting another free guided walk. The walk will happen on the Sunday, 5 November. This is a free trip, open to anyone with a moderate level of fitness. Numbers are limited so you will need to RSVP. A full gear list and details on where to meet will be sent closer to the event. Read more & RSVP.
Pandemic public hearings
Inspired by the Covid Truths - The People’s Commission and Public Inquiry Committees project, run by social movement organisations in India, this project will involve holding several Pandemic Public Hearings in locations across greater Melbourne. We hope these public hearings will create a model for how we can process major catastrophic events as a community, to understand how they have changed us and learn lessons for the future. The first pilot hearing for this project will be held on Saturday 21 October, for members of the Darebin community, RSVP here to register your interest. We are currently looking for partner organisations to work with us to host and promote the project. Read more.
Volunteer with Friends of the Earth Melb
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