Friends of the Earth Australia

Friends of the Earth Brisbane Co-op Ltd is a member of Friends of the Earth Australia. 

Friends of the Earth (FoE) Australia is a federation of independent local groups working for a socially equitable and environmentally sustainable future.

FoE Australia campaigns on local and global environmental justice, positive solutions, a nuclear free future, indigenous land rights, climate justice, regional trade, and global action!

FoE Australia was founded in 1974 at a meeting on French Island in Westernport Bay, Victoria, which was then the site for a proposed nuclear reactor. Over the last 35+ years, FoE has evolved into a diverse and vibrant network of groups that are working at the local, regional, national and international level.

Environmental justice

FoE sees that pursuing environmental protection is inseparable from broader social concerns, and as a result uses an environmental justice perspective in its campaigning. A strong social perspective means FoE is well placed to develop alliances at the grassroots level with other organisations and communities.

Indigenous land and rights

FoE supports Indigenous sovereignty and works at both the local level with specific Indigenous communities as well as participating in debates and campaigns at the national level.

Positive solutions

FoE believes in working for a sustainable and empowering future. To this end, many FoE groups are working now to create the type of world we want: one that will be based on healthy communities and healthy ecosystems.

A number of FoE groups operate businesses and other ventures that act as practical examples of sustainable business. In 1999 FoE Brisbane initiated the Reverse Garbage re-use centre, which finds community uses for industrial discards which would otherwise go to landfill. The Bicycle Revolution (which finds and fixes up old pushbikes) also operates from FoE Brisbane. FoE in Melbourne has been running a large food co-operative and a bookshop for over two decades and, more recently, an organic cafe.

We place great emphasis on working in partnerships with other organisations and communities to achieve positive and practical outcomes. A listing of our partnerships and networks can be found here