On this episode of The Grapevine, Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth gets on the line with Kulja and Dylan to discuss the likelihood of a gas-lead recovery from pandemic recession, Friends of the Earth remote Stay In Paddle Out action against off-shore drilling and the brumby issue.

Australia suffered through a terrible summer. The 2019–20 bushfires have been described as 'the worst bushfires in our history’. Australia wide, approximately 19.4 million hectares have burnt since 1 July 2019 and at least 33 people dead. It has been estimated that a billion animals died. More than 2,500 homes were destroyed, with more than 300 in Victoria.

In Victoria, more than 1.2 million hectares have been burnt—making it the largest bushfire since 1939.

Now the Victorian government is holding an independent investigation into the 2019–20 fire season. It is being led by the Inspector-General for Emergency Management, and is looking at Victoria's ‘preparedness for, and response to, the current fire season, as well as review Victoria's recovery effort’. Submissions to this process are open until the end of April and preliminary recommendations are due on 31 July 2020.

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! Walking tall amongst giants audio episode

Listen up mp3
Presenter: Megan Williams
Guests: Fiona York, Martin Daly, Anthony Amis

Since the 1990s, Friends of the Earth’s forest campaigns flourished, collaborating with Indigenous communities to protect land and water rights, saving old growth forests from logging, and challenging plantation practices.  Friends of the Earth helped to break down “greenies versus loggers” dynamics, establish the Forest Stewardship Council, and support greater co-operation with trade unions to launch the Earthworker alliance.  Keep reading to find out about our affiliates and partners, and discover how you can help protect Australia’s native forests, expand our national parks and help locate sites for the koalas of the Strzelecki Ranges.

In November 2019, the Andrews government announced a commitment to immediately end logging in remaining Old Growth forests, protecting around 90,000 hectares, with all logging in native forests across the state to stop by 2030.

The announcement includes the release of the Greater Glider Action Statement, which makes another 96,000 hectares of forest across Victoria immediately exempt from logging in order to protect this and other threatened species.

The government also announced a 30-year plan to support the timber sector as it transitions out of native forests. The government allocated $120 million to ensure the industry is fully supported in the transition.

With the overuse of native forests, 2030 was always too late to phase out logging. But now this summer’s fires have added an urgent dimension to the question of when native forest logging will end.

With fires devastating communities and landscapes in East Gippsland, north east Victoria, south west Victoria, southern NSW and across many other parts of the country, it has been a sombre start to the year.

All those affected by the bushfire—the firefighters, first responders, community members, and wildlife — are front of mind for us.  

Here is an initial list of ideas about how you can help affected communities.

Goongerah Environment Centre and Friends of the Earth have today welcomed the Victorian government announcement of protection of 96,000 hectares of forests in eastern Victoria and complete and immediate protection of 90,000 hectares of old growth forest, but say more details and maps are needed to ensure the announcement results in lasting and effective protection. 

Goongerah Environment Centre and Friends of the Earth spokesperson Ed Hill said:

“It’s very welcome to see the Andrews government finally show leadership to protect native forests, especially old growth forests in East Gippsland. This is a positive first step towards better protection of East Gippsland’s forests, but questions remain over how these promises will be implemented.”  

It’s very clear from the current state of Victoria’s environment that bold action is needed by the Andrews Government to protect the places and wildlife we love – our National Parks, forests, rivers, beaches, oceans, native plants and animals.

On Thursday 28 November, the fifth anniversary of the election of the Andrews Government, environment and community groups from across Victoria will rally together to demand real action to protect Victoria's nature.

A ‘green new deal’ proposal for a Fair and Just Transition from Friends of the Earth

There is an urgent climate imperative to transform our economy. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (2018) argued that, by 2030, global emissions must drop by 45% from their 2010 levels if we are to avoid exposing hundreds of millions of people to serious climate-related hazards. A growing body of mainstream climate science says that we need to achieve deeper targets earlier if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change.

 
The following Sample Responses have been prepared by members of the FOE Forest Collective to assist forest lovers and activists to complete the Survey on Regional Forest Agreements which forms part of the consultation phase on the Modernisation of the Victorian Regional Forest Agreements.

***UPDATE*** Your response must be completed by midnight Sunday, 7 July 2019.

Use the following Sample Responses to guide your completion of the survey (in your own words). Alternatively you may use the Sample survey responses prepared by the Wilderness Society.

Please respond to the RFA Survey here.

The Wilderness Society and Goongerah Environment Centre and Friends of the Earth

Independent Review of Timber Harvesting Regulation ​joint ​​response