April 2015 newsletter

More banks bailing on the Galilee Basin the 3 French banks have joined other European banks and announced they won’t be financing this mega mine or the port at Abbot Point, adding pressure for Australian banks to do rule it out.

State Election – the electorate has sent a strong message to the government against coal seam gas and its impact on our emissions. Locally we noticed on polling day chalked up VOTE CLIMATE pavement messages outside a few local booths. Who could have done that?

What will the future weather be? In January this year CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology released updated projections for Australia’s climate. All regions are expected to get warmer with inland regions warming at faster rates than the coast. Sydney could have the climate of Brisbane, and Melbourne could have the climate of Dubbo. http://csironewsblog.com/2015/04/10/australias-next-top-climate-models/

Knitting Nanas come to Ryde – on 16 March the roving Knitting Nanas Against Coal Seam Gas took up their needles outside Victor Dominello’s office to make the point that coal seam gas is unacceptable. Huge support from passing traffic was a sign that the community is behind this. A similar very successful group in Lismore where the Greens only barely lost the seat have now prompted a call from a local councillor to ban knitting in the street.

John Hewson on the big three energy companies Origin, Energy Australia and AGL who he suggests have been working hard to oppose the RET are the villains in the energy debate … http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/26/the-real-villains-in-australias-renewables-debacle-three-big-energy-companies

Switch! Powershop is a new energy retailer who are challenging the big power companies, has the thumbs up from Greenpeace and other environment groups and is also cheaper than most others according to the Victorian govt. Tow find out more http://www.powershop.com.au/?gclid=CPvs9cWB88QCFUoJvAodqzYATQ

The Climate Mobilization is a new campaign gathering speed in the US http://www.theclimatemobilization.org/. They have produced a nice slide show with the basics, great graphics and quotes on growing climate change to help those conversations https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9HHPq85FjLGZklGUFM0NTZnRzA/view

Animal Zombies The animals killed at Leard State Forest are coming back as Zombies to haunt ANZ who financed their death. Being organized by Beyond Green to find out how to be part of the fun http://www.beyondgreen.net.au/animals_now_zombies.

Solar powered cars come closer – a partnership between Aston Martin and Chinese solar company Hanergy are coming closer to an on road solar car – now incorporating thin-film solar cells for use on roofs or rear windscreens. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/solar-racer-to-rev-up-delivery-of-solar-powered-cars-for-consumers-32740

stand with the village of Bulga and Wonnarua traditional custodians to stop the Warkworth mine expansion by Rio Tinto which will destroy this town by signing the Bulga declaration. http://www.lockthegate.org.au/the_bulga_declaration

What’s On

22 April – National Day of Action on Divestment – the campaign for universities to divest from fossil fuel investments will take another leap in May with actions planned in universities across Australia http://gofossilfree.org/australianunis/2015/04/07/this-april-22nd-were-stepping-it-up/

27 April – Frackman the movie- a must see film on the impact of coal seam gas drilling on the town of Tara in Qld. Event Cinemas Goerge St Sydney – 29 April United Cinemas Avalon Beach. http://frackmanthemovie.com/