In Oct news get free tix to Transform renewable energy jobs Expo, join the Frontline Climate Alliance, Ash Forest restoration project, end VicForests, national firefighting service, nuke-free action and forum, Chain Reaction magazine all-Blak Takeover, stop seismic blasting rally and film fundraiser plus more!
Read and listen to a special edition of Chain Reaction magazine all-Blak Takeover audio & pdf.
Join a Warrnambool rally Against Seismic Blasting here, and attend a Stop Seismic Blasting dinner & film fundraiser in Northcote here.
Transform renewable energy jobs Expo 13-14 Oct Traralgon
TRANSFORM Expo is a unique and pioneering event where the community can directly engage with renewable energy and cleantech companies, discover real-world job and training opportunities in the sector, and feel empowered to join Gippsland's renewable energy transformation. It features panel discussions with key figures from renewable energy, farming, healthcare, job training, and community leadership, showcasing Gippsland's renewable energy proposals and providing information on employment, training, and business opportunities. This event is accessible to all, including young people, offering insights into economic and educational prospects in renewable energy through interactive presentations and workshops. RSVP for your free ticket to TRANSFORM Expo.
Community led climate adaptation & sign-up to Frontline Climate Alliance
We know that the climate crisis is already here and communities are experiencing the impacts right now. That's why we're moving beyond calls to mitigate emissions and demanding the Vic government resource adaptation for frontline climate impacted Vic communities now. In November we'll be launching our call for a Frontline Climate Alliance (FCA) in Vic. This will enable communication, knowledge and resources to be shared across communities and coordinate efforts to build pressure on the Vic government to act on climate adaptation. The alliance will work to build grassroots power towards solutions for community led adaptation, supporting those being hit first and worst by impacts. Read more & sign-up!
One month to reach 10,000 signatures! Can you help?
The Sydney Road Accessible Transport campaign have launched a petition to request that the Victorian Government install fully accessible tram stops on Sydney Road before the Upfield train line is closed for the level crossing removals. SIGN NOW to make sure that people with mobility issues have access to move freely around our communities.
Join the People’s Inquiry into the impact of covid-19 pandemic in Darebin event info & RSVP.
Nuke-free teachers action
Teachers have been organising in their unions to take a stand against the military agenda in the school curriculum. In August and September, Friends of the Earth's Nuclear Free Collective have supported teachers who have taken strong action around the militarisation in schools, including the nuclear propelled submarine challenge, where year 7-12 students are asked to design nuclear submarines, active ADF recruitment in schools and other not so explicit STEM programs in school that are sponsored by weapons companies with the open aim to create an 'extraordinary workforce'. Read more & take action.
Report on the Nuclear Waste Info Night
On September 20, the Nuclear Free Collective held a Nuclear Waste Info Night, where we celebrated the Barngarla Traditional Owner's win on the formerly proposed nuclear waste dump on their land, and Dr Jim Green looked at what we can expect in the near future regarding nuclear waste, especially related to AUKUS. You can watch a recording of the Nuclear Waste Info Night here and a follow the link to the presentation slides.
Ash Forest restoration project
Simply, ash forests at risk of regeneration failure can be ‘saved’ by the sowing of seed from helicopters immediately following the bushfires if we have sufficient supplies of seed available. The Victorian Government has a long history of doing this. After the 2013 fires in the Upper Ovens valley (the Harrietville-Alpine fire), the Victorian government established the Ash Forest Restoration Project which collected and then aerially seeded ash forests which were facing population collapse after those fires. This action was required again in 2019, then in 2020. The 2020 Ash Restoration program was the largest in Victorian history – an estimated 30,000 ha of ash was at risk of regeneration failure, and needed aerial reseeding. Due to a lack of stored seed, 10,000 ha could be seeded, leaving 20,000 ha to collapse (Bassett et al. 2021). The Ash Forest Restoration Program is therefore a significant and necessary program, with management currently shared by a number of agencies including VicForests. Once VicForests is wound up, management of the Ash program should be taken over entirely by DEECA and funding for this program must be maintained and extended. Read more.
Calls to abolish Vic Forests
Sixty Victorian grassroots community organisations and ENGO's have written to Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Tim Pallas to urge them to abolish state-owned logging business VicForests. Within the letter the groups state that "VicForests has systematically breached the public's trust and abjectly failed Victorians on every measure — economically, socially and environmentally". The letter calls on the government to partner with traditional owners, environmental organisations, scientists and the broader community when planning the management of Victoria's native forests. Read more.
A national firefighting service
While firefighting is (and should remain) primarily the responsibility of individual states and territories, it is clear that Australia would benefit from a professional national firefighting team which can be deployed to assist firefighting efforts locally. Read more.
Join the Food Co-op
Volunteer with Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Listen back to the latest 3CR Dirt Radio episodes