Welcome to Friends of the Earth May news our state-wide monthly update. In this pre-election edition, act on climate change, our Vic budget 2022 reply, gas & whale dreaming, Kranky spreads koala love, nuke free news, fires update, protect Lt Dargo river, and more!
Federal Election campaign action
With the long awaited announcement about election day 21 May, we now have only 2 weeks to ensure climate is an issue that matters to all political parties and in the media debate. At the very least, parties must agree to: Uphold the Glasgow Climate Pact and take an increased 2030 Emissions Reduction Target to the climate negotiations in Egypt later this year. Adopt a science-based target to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent by 2030. Sign our climate petition here.
ACT NOW: Call on Federal govt MPs for a science-based climate target here.
Check here for resources on where the parties stand on climate, energy and the environment.
Vic govt must build on budget to tackle climate and secure just transition
Friends of the Earth says the Andrews government must build on the budget to ramp up efforts to tackle the climate crisis and secure a just transition for Victorian communities. Read more.
Climate action May update
The 2022 Federal election is just weeks away and community members across the country are raising their voices to call for climate action. Whatever the outcome, you can count on Friends of the Earth and the movement to continue our campaigns for governments to deliver deep emissions cuts and protect communities from intensifying climate impacts. Read more.
First Nations group responds to gas licence approval on Great Ocean Road
MEDIA RELEASE: The Southern Ocean Protection Embassy Collective and communities across the Great Ocean Road and South West Victoria are shocked and angered by today’s decision to grant a gas production license to Beach Energy. The new license will allow production of gas at the Nirranda South site, accelerating the development of gas mining infrastructure both onshore and offshore at the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, and follows a decision from the State Environment minister late in 2021 to grant consent to drill beneath a national park. First Nations community members are concerned about the potential damage to marine and cultural landscapes from ongoing coastal industrialisation. Read more.
Kranky brings koala love to Strawberry Fields
Kranky the Koala joined by members of Friends of the Earth Melbourne journeyed up to Tocumwal to host a workshop at Strawberry Fields festival on the Dungala/Murray River amongst the river red gums on Yorta Yorta country. Each weekend Yorta Yorta elders welcomed everyone on the festival grounds to their country as Shane Charles invited us to “tickle our spirit” which was followed by a smoking ceremony and performance. Read more.
Greens MP sticks up for Strzelecki koalas
Greens MP Ellen Sandell this week asked the Victorian Environment Minister, Lily D'Ambrosio to support FoE's nomination for the Strzelecki koala to be listed under the Federal EPBC Act. Read more.
Koala massacre legal case update
Friends of the Earth continues to monitor the latest with the infamous koala massacre case. A directions hearing was heard on April 5 at the Portland Magistrates Court. The next directions hearing will next be heard on July 26th. The owner of the former plantation has been charged with 126 animal cruelty charges as has a forest and earth moving business. Read more.
Still time to protect Lt Dargo River
The fires of 2019/20 burnt huge areas of north eastern Victoria. The remaining unburnt forests are more important than ever. One of these areas lies in the headwaters of the Little Dargo River, just south of Mt Hotham. It is a pristine area, without roads, and containing mature forest, much of it dominated by Alpine Ash. It is an area of state forest that lies right next to the Alpine National Park. 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, probably this spring. Read more & take action.
Nuke free news
In our April Nuclear Free News update you can read about Australia's contribution to the nuclear situation in Ukraine, and a deeply concerning development in the proposed WA Mulga Rock Uranium Mine project. Read more.
Fires are getting worse update
As we head towards winter, now is the time to think about next summer and the fires that may come after two wet, mild years. There are many things we need to do to be ready for the climate change driven fires of the future. Here is one of them: Victoria should set up a volunteer remote area firefighting team, which can work alongside the government paid fire crews. This would increase our capacity to stop lightning strikes from turning into massive blazes. It’s a good idea. It just needs a bit of political will and money to make it happen. Read more.
Wind farm site tour
Victoria could soon be home to the country's first offshore wind farm, the flagship Star of the South offshore wind farm proposed in the Bass Strait off the coast of South Gippsland. On 6th April 2022 our Gippsland campaigner Wendy Farmer joined a tour of the region by the offshore wind project's Community Advisory Group. The group represents people from across Gippsland who have continued to work with the Star of the South team and surrounding communities. We toured the Port Welshpool area, known as the windiest place in Victoria, McLoughlins Beach, Reeves Beach and Giffard West allowing the group to take in the area surrounding the offshore wind farm, where project infrastructure would be located including proposed transmission lines. Read more.
Volunteer with Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Organising with us is a fun and rewarding way to get involved in environmental and social justice. Read more & register.
Join Friends of the Earth Food Coop
The Friends of the Earth Food Co-op and Cafe is a not-for-profit social enterprise and an active community space, supporting the environmental campaigns at Friends of the Earth. Read more.
Listen: 3CR Dirt Radio episodes
Community climate justice, Lismore resilience in the face of climate disaster, and big wins for wind power. Listen here.