Dear CEFE members and supporters,
Welcome to the last CEFE newsletter for 2008. I’m glad it is full of good news about energetic leaps forward around the Clean Energy traps, as we are ‘living in interesting times’. Today’s announcement on Interim Targets is a long way from what is needed. Please let me know if you missed October’s newsletter (climate torch, fashion parade, bike ride etc), as the email lists faced a few technical hurdles. As ever, also tell me if you’d like to be removed from the list.
Best wishes to all for a happy Christmas and a rejuvenating break before a safe, peaceful and productive New Year.
Philippa
See below for:
· A fond farewell to Liane, our irreplaceable Admin Officer
· Bega CEFE Christmas Party
· Emission Trading Scheme White Paper or Whitewash?
· Climate Action Groups Summit in Canberra in February 2009
· Solar Farm Project Managers appointed for Feasibility Study
· Bermagui Walk Against Warming
· Shoalhaven CEFE off to a flying start!
· Renewable Energy Meetings in Bega 5th and in Berridale 6th November
· CEFE wins a Regional Achievement and Community Awards
A Vote of Thanks to Liane, our irreplaceable Admin Officer
Friday 12th December was the last official day of work for Liane Shields . Liane has worked tirelessly for CEFE for the past 18 months, well beyond the call of duty and certainly well beyond her paid hours. Thankfully, it doesn’t mark the end of our reliance on this tower of strength, for she has kindly offered to continue on in a voluntary capacity, most crucially as our esteemed bookkeeper responsible for keeping our increasingly busy and complex financial transactions above board and ready for the auditors and tax office. All credit is due to Liane for pushing the CEFE Executive through the long and arduous hurdles towards DGR status – an acronym for deductible gift recipient, the ability for CEFE to receive tax deductible donations, big or small.
Thank you, Liane – from all of us!
CEFE Christmas Dinner/Party
Our fond farewell to Liane will be held in conjunction with the Bega CEFE Christmas Party at the Tathra Beach Front Café from 6.30pm on Saturday 20th December.
Dinner is $25 per head, with coffee and cake available afterwards – vego available on request
Please RSVP to woodlando@optusnet.com.au by COB Wednesday if you’d like to join us.
Emission Trading Scheme White Paper or Whitewash?
Monday’s Federal announcement of a 5-15% emission target by 2020 came as no surprise to some but a great disappointment to many. Despite winning government on the back of a wave of community support for strong action on climate change, it’s not hard to fathom why the courage appears to have seeped out of the rhetoric… Our more ambitious target of 60% by 2050 will be harder to reach if we start out on a weak trajectory, ignoring earlier warnings from Stern AND Garnaut that early intervention on climate change will be less expensive and more effective than a delayed reaction. I’m reminded of the old Irish response to a query on how to reach Dublin , in broad brogue “Ahh Begorrah, well, I wouldn’t be starting from here!”
Thankfully, CEFE members and groups have a history of not waiting for governments to lead before taking creative, strong action in our own lives and communities. Read on!
Climate Action Groups Summit in Canberra in February 2009
Monday’s wishy-washy emissions targets make it even more vital for CEFE members to participate in the climate action groups summit, being held in Canberra in February 2009 to culminate on the first sitting day of the new Parliament. This is an opportunity for climate action groups (CAGS) from around the country to join together for robust discussion on a possible common platform for active lobbying in 2009. The purpose of this is not to reduce the diversity among climate action groups, but to strengthen it. Across Australia there are many groups doing amazing work in their local communities. The idea behind a national network and national campaign is to provide a way to link your unique engagement in your community into a strong, unified demand from climate groups across Australia for immediate political action for a safe climate. The network will also be a way of sharing skills and resources throughout the movement.
Come and get involved in Australia's Climate Action Summit – the national grassroots climate movement conference in Canberra from the 31st Jan – 3rd February 2009.
Solar Farm Project Managers appointed for Feasibility Study
Wednesday 5th Nov 2008 marked a watershed for CEFE as Nott and Philippa Rowland signed a contract for $100,000 from the Federal Government’s Green Precincts Program before a Channel 7 camera. Two weeks later, four candidates were interviewed for the position of Project Manager. Two project managers with complementary skills but both highly competent, professional and enthusiastic have now been appointed, one from Sydney and one from Tanja – effectively ‘walking the talk’ of urban-rural partnerships.
Andrew Bond brings a wealth of experience in natural resource management, national parks and wildlife, rural fire service and managing country projects on sustainability for the World Bank. Deborah Burt has extensive background in human resource management and finance, most recently for Zurich Financial Services Australia.
Before Christmas, they will run a workshop to map out a busy work schedule for the Solar Farm for paid staff and volunteers alike. By early April we aim to be in the running for a further $1million from the Federal Government for construction. Watch this space as Clean Energy for Eternity rapidly makes the transition from talking about renewable energy to putting it in place.
Contact Deborah Burt on deburt@pacific.net.au and Andrew Bond on ah.bond@bigpond.com
Bermagui Walk Against Warming
On 15th November Bermagui CEFE joined a Walk Against Warming that saw people walking from corner of Scenic Drive and Wallaga Lake Road to the headland off Pacific Drive to hear guest speaker: Greens Upper House MP, Lee Rhiannon. The walk started in the forest to highlight the one of the national themes for this year’s walk is an end to land clearing and logging of old growth forests.
Shoalhaven CEFE off to a flying start!
David Penny and son Samuel joined by hundreds of other locals at the human sign on Mollymook Beach, December 6.
(see austcom.org.au/cefeshoalhaven.html for more photos and info on Shoalhaven CEFE)
On 6th December our newest and renewed CEFE chapter gave the people of the Shoalhaven a chance to show their support and to urge Council and community leaders to make decisions to encourage new ‘clean’ renewable technologies. Over 500 people of all ages from schools and community groups formed the words ‘PEOPLE POWER’ on Mollymook Beach . Shoalhaven City Council Mayor, Paul Green, announced $8000 towards funding the Mollymook Lifesaving Energy project, while Milton & Districts Community Bank contributed $6000. Local supplier, Barker Electrical/Sunlord Solar, has donated a wind turbine and will install the solar system at a great price in 2009, in conjunction with other building works on the surf club.
Renewable Energy Meetings in Bega 5th and in Berridale 6th November
Good turn outs in Bega RSL and Berridale Community Hall showed that community interest in solutions to climate change is still running high in Eden-Monaro. These meetings not only gave food for thought, they also provided a last opportunity for our local communities to comment on the government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The Berridale meeting, which attracted 165 people from Cooma, Jindabyne and surrounds, voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting 50/50 by 2020 as a community target across Eden-Monaro. To quote Antia Brademans from Cooma CEFE, “Real solutions that reduce GHG emissions and safeguard our children’s future ecologically, socially and economically are needed to tackle climate change, and the forum demonstrated that we are well placed to do so. Look out in future CEFE columns for more detailed information on Community Renewable Energy Farms.”
To end on another positive note, CEFE was recently awarded a Mumbulla Foundation community grant of $2000, to assist with the running costs of our 2009 Renewable Energy Expo.
CEFE wins a Regional Achievement and Community Award
On 8th November 2008, CEFE won the Environment and Landcare category for the 2008 NSW/ACT Regional Achievement & Community Awards in Coffs Harbour . The Award, sponsored by Prime Television and the Commonwealth Bank, acknowledges individuals and organisations that show a proven passion and dedication to reducing environmental impacts in rural and regional areas. Award judges recognised CEFE for its catalytic role in inspiring community action on climate change, demonstrating commitment to innovative local solutions to a global challenge now recognized as a major risk to the security of people around the world.
CEFE founder Dr Matthew Nott, received the award saying; “This recognition is a great reminder of what local communities can achieve in Australia if they take courage and exercise leadership. Climate change is a priority issue in our rural Shires, where major economic keystones are tourism and agriculture. Our local community in south-east New South Wales was stirred into action because we realised that normal, everyday people could make a difference to the threat that climate change poses to our livelihoods and those of future generations.”
Philippa Rowland holding our Award- and Yes! That’s an Elvis impersonator
