Queensland Election Campaigning
It’s Queensland Election Time and Friends of the Earth are campaigning for a more sustainable and less coal dependent future for Queensland.
The Six Degrees Campaign at Friends of the Earth Brisbane is campaigning to reduce Queensland’s dependence on the coal industry and ensure a transition to a sustainable society. We believe this is an essential part of taking meaningful action on climate change.
At the upcoming Queensland election, to be held on March 21, we see three key opportunities for political parties to commit to action on climate change and start putting the brakes on the rapid expansion of the coal industry:
1. To ban mining on prime agricultural land, nature refuges and potential wind energy sites
2. To legislate a moratorium on coal fired power stations in Queensland
3. To redirect subsidies from the fossil fuel industry in Queensland into funding for renewable energy and green jobs in Queensland.
We encourage you to let your local candidates know that you support these policies by calling and emailing their offices!
We have sent a letter asking the political parties to commit to these policies this election. full copy available here. Feel free to use this letter.
The following people/ organisations have signed on to the letter:
Eleanor Smith, Friends of the Earth
Wendy
and Natasha Buttsworth, Kunioon Landholders
Nevin Olm,
Coal4Breakfast, Haystack Road Farmers
Paola Cassoni, Bimblebox Nature Refuge
Rob McCreath, Friends of Felton
Steve Shallhorn, Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Marta Hardeman, Nature Refuge Landholders' Association Queensland
Patricia Julien, Mackay Conservation Council
Wendy Flannery, Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Social and Environmental Justice Group
David Lian Sinclair, Australian Student Environment Network
Kristy Walters, Brisbane Southside Climate Action Group
Emma Kate Rose, Brisbane Transition Hub
Mary Tinney, Sisters of Mercy Earth Link
John Seed, Rainforest Information Centre
Phillip Sutton, Greenleap Strategic Institute
Graeme Taylor, BEST Futures
Andy Grodecki, Logan and Albert Conservation Association of Queensland
Paul Donatiu, National Parks Association of Queensland
If your organisation would like to sign on to this letter, please email emma.brindal@foe.org.au
Take Action on Climate Refugees!
Our cyberaction to Foreign
Affairs Minister Stephen Smith about climate refugees is now on the FoE
international website.
It only takes 2 minutes to read, fill in your details and send off.
Go to: http://www.foei.org/en/get-involved/take-action/climate-refugees, and forward on to your networks!!
Australia’s first “Nanodialogues” accused of bias
Friends of the Earth accused the Qld government of unacceptable
industry bias in its handling of Australia’s first ever attempt to
involve members of the public in development of nanotechnology policy
recommendations (August 5)
The Queensland “Nanodialogues”, initiated this week, involves 12 members of the public in “dialogue” with 8 nanotechnology scientists – some of them employed by industry groups with a financial interest in the outcomes of the “dialogue”. One social scientist has been invited to participate, but there is no other representation from nanotechnology stakeholders who have been critical, eg environment, health, civil liberties, social justice groups, unions, or ethicists.
More [here]
Narangba Industrial Estate - Toxic Hotspot
In June 2006 the community living in the vicinity of the Narangba Industrial Estate began a class action against the state of Queensland over years of contamination and illness resulting from the proximity of hazardous industries to their homes.
Many locals have experienced health problems since the 2005 Binary Chemicals fire, but some have been experiencing the ill effect of the estate for a lot longer.
NEWS!
Bromelton set to be new State toxic development - community to fight
Read outline of issues by the Friends of South East QLD and Beaudesert community action team [here]
Make a Donation
Friends
of the Earth are the only environmental organsiation in Australia with
a social justice perspective on the issues. For us, the rights of
people are just as important as the need to preserve wild places: the
health of the earth is intergral to the well-being of the people who
rely on her.
Hence justice has been a driving factor in our campaigns whether it be fighting for the recognition of the victims of climate change to get them refugee status and to help adaptation in the most ecologically sound manner, or defending the people threatened by the nuclear industry, the military and toxic industries.
FoEB receives no government of corporate funding.
We rely on donations fromt he public and small grants from philanthropic organisations.
That way we stay independent and able to tell it like it is!
If you'd like to make a donation go [here]
