Yarra Climate Action Now!

Some good feedback for a change

Climate campaigner Al Gore saluted Australia's new commitment to addressing climate change as he collected the Nobel Peace Prize today, saying it was time to make peace with the planet.
The former US vice-president shared the 2007 prize with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, whose head, Rajendra Pachauri, told leaders at a UN climate conference in Indonesia to heed the wisdom of science.

"Without realising it, we have begun to wage war on the earth itself," Mr Gore said in his speech. "It is time to make peace with the planet."

In his speech at the presentation ceremony in Oslo, Mr Gore praised Australia's Rudd Government and several other countries as he urged the US and China to join the fight against global warming.

Mr Rudd's first act after taking his oath of office on December 3 was to ratify Kyoto.
"I salute Europe and Japan for the steps they've taken in recent years to meet the challenge, and the new government in Australia, which has made solving the climate crisis its first priority,'' he said.

"But the outcome will be decisively influenced by two nations that are now failing to do enough: the United States and China."

See today's Age for the full story

YCAN! Meeting:

Wednesday 7th November, 6:30pm
Kindness House
288 Brunswick St
Fitzroy.
**Please meet out the front by 6:25pm or call Shannon on 0417 301 694 if late.

I hope as many people as possible are able to make this meeting. With a very exciting federal election just 3 weeks away there is still much to do!!

We are working hard to raise awareness around climate change and the policies the political parties are committing to. If you haven't already please take time to have a look at http://www.voteclimate.org.au/FED07-Policy-Analysis

This shows all the major political parties climate change policies at a glance.

We will also be planning our attendance at the Walk Against Warming, which is shaping up to be HUGE. If there is one event you should attend this year this is it! Come, be a part of sending the strong message to our leaders, that the people of this country want serious action on climate change.

Of course these topics are just a part of what will be discussed. So we hope to see you on the 7th November!

From the New York times October 1

This year saw a record-breaking loss of Arctic sea ice.

click here for the full report and images

A public forum being held 7:00 pm this Wednesday on the subject of what a carbon-constrained Australia might look like.

Lindsay Tanner MP (Shadow Minister for Finance Federal Member for Melbourne) will be addressing Labor's vision for the role of government in achieving 'deep cuts' to Australia's carbon emissions. Please see the attached flyer for more details.

What does a carbon-constrained Australia look like? - A community forum hosted by the ALP North Melbourne branch

When? Wednesday 26 September 7 - 8:30 pm
Where? North Melbourne Library Upstairs Meeting Room, 66 Errol St, North Melbourne (Melways ref: 2A, J10)

YCAN! General Meeting
Wednesday 19th September

6:30 pm
Kindness House
288 Brunswick St
Fitzroy.

All are welcome to attend and find out what we're up to and what we have planned.

We look forward to working together to create a sustainable community!

Kooyong Electorate Climate Change Forum

when : Monday 3 September, 7:30 p.m.
where : Hawthorn Town Hall

Hear the candidates for the federal electorate of Kooyong explain their climate change policies. Learn about the latest science and strategies on climate change and how to reduce your carbon footprint from Environment Victoria.
Opened by the Mayor of Boroondara.
Public question time included.
Gold coin donation. Enquiries contact: enquiries@lighterfootprints.org


Free public forum series - Balancing the scales with China

when : Monday, 3 September 2007 6.30pm – 9.00pm (Registration 6.00pm)
where : Howard Florey Institute, Ground Floor Lecture Theatre Corner Grattan Street & Royal Parade, University of Melbourne (enter via Gate 11, Royal Parade)

To ensure a seat please RSVP at [0423 113 385] or info@freechina.org.au
Hosted by Free China Inc. www.freechina.org.au
International experts discuss current issues that have global repercussions Australia and the world are looking to China with both excitement and fear. The Olympic Games have shone the spotlight onto China and inevitably, issues related to its human rights record, its political and economic systems. Foreign investment is boosting the Chinese economy with eager anticipation, yet the quality of consumer goods, increasing military buildup and unceasing reports of human rights abuses are among a range of growing concerns. The need to understand China, is becoming essential for all Australians. Join a panel of international experts who will present rare insights into contemporary China, offering ways to negotiate balanced, sustainable responses to change taking place there today and into the future. Speakers Include:The Hon. David Kilgour Esq., Former Canadian Cabinet minister and Crown ProsecutorDr Wang Juntao, political scientist and key Chinese pro-democracy figure Erping Zhang, Executive Director of the Association for Asian Research (USA) Dr Elliott Fan, Research Fellow, Australia National University

A partnership between Tulele Peisa Incorporated ("Sailing the waves"), Friends of the Earth Australia and Oxfam Australia
local partners: Aid/watch, Mineral Policy Institute, Greens senator Kerry Nettle, Sisters of Mercy

The Carteret Islanders are amongst the world's first 'climate refugees'. An entire cultural group is facing relocation due to the impacts of climate change. The islanders have fought for more than twenty years against the rising ocean, building sea walls and planting mangroves. However, storm surges and high tides continue to wash away homes, destroy vegetable gardens, and contaminate fresh water supplies. On November 24, 2005, the Papua New Guinean government authorised the evacuation of the islands, 10 families at a time, to Bougainville. The evacuation started in early 2007 and this could continue up until 2020, depending on how inhabited the islands remain. However, it has also been estimated that by 2015, the Carteret Islands could be largely submerged and entirely uninhabitable.
This situation is but one example of the impacts being felt in our region. It highlights the need for rich countries like Australia to stop harming, by significantly reducing their emissions, and start helping, by supporting adaptation and resilience building in climate affected communities.


The tour aims to:

-Raise awareness amongst key stakeholders in Australian society about the plight of Carteret Islanders and others to the impacts of climate change
-Raise awareness of, and resources for, the culturally sensitive relocation of the Carteret Islanders to mainland Bougainville.
-Raise awareness in Australia of the reality of human displacement due to climate change and the need to respond accordingly in terms of appropriate mitigation (reducing our greenhouse gas emissions) and support for adaptation measures in affected communities.


Melbourne
Public Forum : Wednesday September 19th
Venue :TBC
Contact: Cam Walker cam.walker@foe.org.au

From the Age today:

Wind farm proposal dropped

"Energy giant AGL has formally dumped a controversial $140 million wind farm in South Gippsland.The company originally put the 48-turbine Dollar wind farm on hold last October and yesterday confirmed it was pulling out altogether. AGL said the project was less financially attractive than others under consideration. The project would have contributed 79 megawatts to the State Government's target of ten per cent renewable energy by 2016.
The decision was purely a business one, AGL said."

To read the full article click here.

Will decisions ever be made for environmental or social reasons instead?

Time is flying by, July is behind us and August is here! This month will bring more discussion, more media hype and more political banter about climate change. For YCAN! August will bring action.

We all need to stand up and be counted. Now is the time to let our voices be heard. The federal election is looming and we still do not have a candidate that understands what everyone else in the country does - we need real carbon reductions NOW! That is, we need to go to zero emissions as soon as possible - not 60 years down the track.

August is for Action, what will you do??

Check out http://www.myfootprint.org/ and calculate your carbon footprint on our planet. Learn and then take charge of your situation.

Write or even telephone your/our local federal MP and ask them what they're doing about climate change. Let them know we want immediate action on the issue.

We all have choices and decisions to make. Climate change is a complex issue, but if we all start by looking at ourselves we can make a difference. As the saying goes, 'Think Globally and Act Locally'

We have a chance RIGHT NOW!!!!

YCAN! is having its regular monthly meeting next Wednesday evening. Please come along and play a part in getting our community to a zero emission one! All are welcome to attend and join in projects and activities.

Wednesday 8th August
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Kindness House
288 Brunswick St
Fitzroy

Please contact me if you have any questions or queries regarding YCAN! or the meeting.


So I throw you the challenge, make a change in your life this month. Start down the path of a sustainable future.

For more information on what you can do see; www.sustainability.vic.gov.au

Darebin City Council is the latest Victorian council to set strict targets to reduce its greenhouse emissions in order to become “carbon neutral”.
A new climate change action plan adopted by Darebin City Council has set a target for its organisation to become carbon neutral by 2020. Under the plan, the metropolitan Melbourne council expects to achieve by 2009 its goal to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 20% from 1995 levels.
The City of Port Phillip and the Shire of Yarra Ranges recently adopted their own highly stringent targets to reduce greenhouse emissions.
As part of its plan, Darebin expects to use green power to supply electricity to all the council’s facilities by 2008/2009. The council also plans to design any new municipal buildings to be carbon neutral.
Darebin City Council Mayor, Marlene Kairouz, says council buildings’ energy use, street lighting, vehicles and waste management are the four key areas where the council can cut its greenhouse emissions.
The council has identified the replacement of current mercury vapour streetlights with more energy-efficient T5 street lights, as well as the incorporation of more environmentally friendly vehicles in the council’s car fleet, as future actions Darebin could take to reduce its greenhouse emissions.
The climate change action plan defines the priorities for Darebin’s energy use. The first priority is to only use the amount of electricity necessary to conduct council operations; the second is to use available technology to make the council’s operations more energy efficient; and the third is to purchase GreenPower-accredited renewable electricity.
The council will also seek to offset greenhouse gas emissions through measures such as investing in tree planting programs or other energy efficiency technology. To contact Darebin City Council phone (03) 8470 8888.

Air travel is becoming as controversial as wearing a fur coat or smoking in pregnancy. But do we need to feel guilty about flying? Tom Robbins reported in the Guardian Weekly last week

We still have time, but not for long - it all comes down to us now. There is no doubting the seriousness or sincerity of the protesters putting the final touches to plans for a campaign of direct action next month.
Sometimes their communications even assume a biblical tone: "Should we not change our ways, we'll see forests burn, soils decay, oceans rise and millions of people die." Their methods, including a huge protest camp and co-ordinated civil disobedience, echo those of past campaigns against the Vietnam war, nuclear weapons and oppressive regimes abroad. But this time, the mission is not to stop wars, bombs or torture, it's to stop people going on holiday.
Thousands of activists are expected to descend on London's Heathrow airport for a week in mid-August. There will be workshops on issues from carbon offsetting and biofuels to campaign strategy and skills for direct action, and the camp will climax with a day in which demonstrators will try to disrupt the airport as much as possible.
Never before has flying been so controversial. In the space of two years, the environmental damage done by planes has gone from being an issue quietly discussed by scientists and committed environmentalists to one that grabs headlines no one can ignore. Politicians are pilloried in newspapers for flying to meetings. Travellers checking in for domestic flights are confronted by Greenpeace campaigners urging them to take the train instead. Travel agents' shops are daubed in protesters' paint and travel magazines get hate-mail.
Even those who fly once or twice a year on holiday can't help but feel a growing sense of guilt, while those opting for trips by car, train or ferry have a self-righteous spring in their steps. Now, however, the backlash is beginning. The tourism and aviation industries are mobilising, setting up lobbying groups, and pointing out some awkward facts. Did you know, for example, that some ferries emit far more carbon dioxide than some planes? That driving can release twice as much carbon as flying? A report from the British Airlines Pilots Association (Balpa) even claims flying can be better than taking the train. And at last month's Paris Airshow, Airbus unveiled its own solution to climate change - promising to "save the planet, one A380 at a time". That's A380, as in the vast double-decker airliner about to enter service. So whom do you believe?
One thing on which all sides agree is that aviation is booming. There are about 17,700 commercial aircraft in the world. Over the next 20 years, manufacturers expect to deliver 25,600 new planes, with massive growth coming from China, India and Russia as economies develop and flying is deregulated.
"Aviation is here to stay and will grow faster than people expect," said Praful Patel, India's civil aviation minister. "India is a country of 1.1 billion people and fewer than 10 million fly even once a year."
It's an unpalatable argument, but even if everyone in Britain were to stop flying tomorrow, in less than two years the total number of passengers worldwide would still be rising. This year there will be 2.2 billion air passengers worldwide and the number is growing by 4% a year, according to International Air Transport Association forecasts.
Airbus predicts the UK will buy 1,282 airliners over the next 20 years, while America, China and India will buy 10,492. UK passenger numbers are expected to grow over the next four years by 4% per year on international flights and 3% on domestic flights, but India and China are predicted to grow by 8% on international flights and 23% and 12%, respectively, on domestic flights.
Perhaps Britain can lead by example and so influence the world to cut back on flights too. Britons took 234m flights last year. Discounting the 20% in the population who never fly at all, this works out at about five per person. To hit the government's target of a 60% drop in carbon emissions by 2050, Britons simply need to slowly wean themselves down to two annual flights - one return trip. Maybe, if planes get more efficient, it could be two.
And yet the kind of mass change in behaviour that would make this work still seems to be a long way off. Recent surveys have suggested that 3% of Britons have already stopped flying and a further 10% have cut back, but people seem slow to practice what they preach - Ryanair says it has yet to notice any effect and has not cancelled a single flight as a result of such concerns. (It could be lying, but then why would it have 30 new planes on order?) Even if a route from the UK became unviable due to boycotts by green travellers, the airlines, loath to give up a landing slot, would simply switch to a new destination - likely to be one further afield in a developing economy where demand is growing fastest.
Moreover, with China building two power stations per week, mostly coal-fired, it's easy to wonder if it's worth agonising about whether you should go for that long weekend. According to last year's British government-commissioned report by economist Sir Nicholas Stern, power stations account for 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions, shipping, train and road transport account for 12.3% and flying accounts for just 1.7%. Compare this with deforestation, which accounts for 18% (half of which is attributed to the destruction of rainforests in two countries: Indonesia and Brazil).
That's not to say we're damned anyway, so let's get on the plane and keep partying till the world goes up in flames, but it does put the issue into balance - should we devote nine times more effort to fighting deforestation than flying? And being aware of the balance should steer us away from extreme positions - refusing to fly at all or ignoring the issue - towards taking practical, realistic steps to a solution.
A return flight from London to Barcelona, for example, emits about 260kg of carbon dioxide per passenger. Insulating an average loft can easily make up for this - it will save, on average, 1,500kg of CO2 per year. Replace 10 ordinary bulbs with energy-saving ones, and that saves 380kg. Chuck out a plasma TV and save 404kg. Even turning off appliances instead of leaving them on standby will save 173kg - easily enough to allow a return flight from London to Paris or Amsterdam with a clear conscience.
"Dark green" environmentalists argue there is a bankrupt logic in this kind of carbon offsetting - you are doing the equivalent of donating to an animal charity so you can keep kicking your dog, as the saying goes. You could, after all, take all those carbon-saving steps, and still cancel your holiday.
Except that assumes tourism is a frivolous, self-indulgent activity, which is as pointless as leaving a TV on standby. Even putting aside the benefits to the tourists themselves, this is clearly not the case. Tourism employs about 231 million people, and generates 8-10% of world GDP.
While the campaigners plot their Heathrow action, in Kenya plans are being drawn up for a very different camp. Looking out from an escarpment over the deserts of Samburuland is the Ol Malo Eco-Lodge. Revenue from its few visitors has allowed 2,000 hectares around it to be transformed from over-grazed cattle ranch to a pristine conservation site, but that is just the start. The tourist-funded lodge provides infrastructure and backup for a range of community work. About 100 women are employed in the workshop making traditional beadwork for export, and the children come along to paint for fun.
More impressive still is the Ol Malo eye project. Up to 80% of adults in the area suffer sight loss, caused by the infectious and preventable disease trachoma, so the Ol Malo Trust runs surgical camps, bringing doctors from the UK. In January, the camp gave 102 people back their sight. "It's very simple - all of our visitors fly here," said Julia Francombe, the trust's founder. "If they stopped coming, it would kill us."
Captain Mervyn Granshaw, Balpa's chairman, says: "Our message to all air passengers is to stop feeling guilty about flying," he said. "We are now going to debunk the myths about air travel and spell out the facts."
However, getting the facts is a nightmarish task.
"Passengers going by high-speed train to the south of France would be responsible for emitting more carbon dioxide than if they had flown there," Granshaw said.
The report quotes Roger Kemp, professor of engineering at Lancaster University, in support of this statement. However, he disputes the claim. "No, actually that's completely untrue," he says. "France generates about 80% of its electricity using nuclear power, so if you wanted to go to the south of France, by far the best way to go is by TGV." But he goes on to say that plane travel is not always automatically the worst choice environmentally. "The worst way to get to the south of France is to take a car ferry then motorail, where you can end up with a diesel engine hauling a huge train with cars on wagons."
A full plane can sometimes compete with a car too. Paul Upham, a research fellow at the Tyndall Centre, calculated that travelling from Manchester to Guernsey on a full Saab 200 turbo-prop plane produced 103kg of carbon dioxide per person, compared with 226kg for a Nissan Micra carrying one person the same distance. He was quoted as concluding: "Planes aren't the evil things relative to cars that people imagine."
Ferries clearly cannot claim automatic green superiority. "I have to admit that I rather enjoy ferry travel," says Kemp. "But if you start to do the analysis of that, it starts to look rather unattractive too, because of the power used to move not only the people, but the cabin, space for their car, the bars, nightclubs, and so on. I don't think there's much in it between taking the plane and taking the ferry."
Analysing how modes of transport compare is fiendishly complex. Some trains are worse than others (faster trains consume up to four times as much energy, and diesels can emit more than twice the carbon dioxide of electric trains). Some high-speed ferries use double the fuel of conventional ships, making them several times worse than planes for carbon emissions. Ultimately, experts admit that given the right circumstances, any method of transport can be made to come out on top. On average, though, a car carrying several occupants is usually better than a plane and trains are almost always the best of all. The UK government's calculations suggest a long-haul plane emits 110g of carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre, a medium-sized car with two occupants the same, while the train emits 60g.
However, as the pollution from planes is emitted high in the atmosphere, its effects are far worse and vapour trails (or contrails) lead to the formation of cirrus clouds, which stop heat escaping from the earth. Most scientists agree that this "radiative forcing" effect is real - and point to the cooling in America after all planes were grounded on 9/11 - but few agree on the scale of its effects. Estimates are that before comparing a plane's emissions to those of a car or train, you would first have to double or triple them. "The big problem is that there is no consensus on this and people seem to be becoming split along ideological lines, with NGOs accepting the multiplier and industry not," says Upham.
His Manchester to Guernsey calculation has made him the unwitting poster boy for the pro-aviation lobby, but his actual views are different: "Taking into account the contrails, flying is usually about nine times worse than taking the train, and three times worse than a car with two passengers."
Given the world's apparently insatiable appetite for flying, and accepting it is seriously damaging for the environment, it becomes crucial to develop less polluting aircraft. Already, there is some progress: the Boeing 747-800, which will enter service in 2009, is 16% more fuel efficient than its predecessor, while the 787 "Dreamliner", which enters service next May, uses light carbon composites to cut fuel use by 20% compared with the 767, and 70% compared with the 727 launched in 1963. Airbus's claim that it can save the world with the A380 may be far-fetched, but its "gentle giant" plane is far more efficient and quieter than those of 20 years ago and Virgin is even planning to test fly a 747 on biofuel. Moves to reform air-traffic control so planes are not stuck in circling patterns are also vital. In Europe, this would cut carbon emissions by 12%.
Some environmentalists, however, scorn these advances, saying such measures are a "delusion", "like holding out for cigarettes that don't cause cancer". "The aviation industry is prone to vastly overstating the gains that can be made from technological improvements but sadly a climate friendly plane isn't on the horizon," says Emily Armistead of Greenpeace. "The only way to deal with aviation's impact is to limit its expansion."
So should we stop flying? If no one set foot on a plane again, it would undoubtedly help to stop climate change - though at the expense of killing off the tourism-based economies of many of the world's poorest countries. But in the real world, surely we have to take a more sophisticated approach: to choose airlines with greener, newer fleets, and thus encourage plane makers to prioritise environmental performance; to travel to destinations that help local communities; to take the train where possible; to reduce carbon emissions at home; and, above all, lobby politicians to tackle deforestation and to switch to green forms of energy. Do all this, and we can start to cancel flights in the knowledge that it really will make a difference.

General Meeting

11th July, 6:30pm

Kindness House
288 Brunswick St
Fitzroy

Please come along! Hear about what we are already doing within our community and what we have planned - as well as share your own ideas and concerns!

We can all make a difference by acting NOW!

Burning Forests for Electricity? Are you serious?
A Public Forum with Senator Bob Brown
Local Federal MP, Martin Ferguson, is backing the woodchippers plan tohave our native forests logged, chipped and then burnt for electricity.
At the State level, the Bracks government broke their election promiseand passed laws to allow this. The Greens understand that our precious, majestic old growth forest is more valuable as a carbon bank than a shipload of woodchips, not to mention the greenhouse gas emissions from burning them for electricity.
Protected forested catchments provide us with our scarcewater supplies.

When: Friday 13 July at 6:30pm.
Where: Northcote Town Hall, in the main hall.

Guy Pearse’s revelations about Australia’s ‘greenhouse mafia’ made headlines all around the country. Many of you will have read an extract in last weekend's Age. In High & Dry, this Liberal Party insider shows why John Howard’s climate change policy is reckless, how it came about, and who is behind it. In this damning account, Liberal Party member, lobbyist and former Howard government advisor Guy Pearse takes us behind the rhetoric he once helped write. He reveals that the government has no plans whatsoever to reduce Australia’s emissions, and explains why this is bad for Australia’s economy. He exposes a prime minister wilfully blind to Australia’s real interests – a man who has allowed climate change policy to be dictated by a small group of Australia’s biggest polluters and the lobbyists they fund.
Tuesday 10 July, 6.00pm for 6.30pm
Readings Hawthorn.
Free, but bookings essential: 9819 1917.
for more info go to http://www.readings.com.au/BookWeb/html/events.html0

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH - CLIMATE CHANGE FORUMS
George Monbiot: What Australia Should do to Stop the Planet Burning

Date: Tuesday 3rd July 2007
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Law GM15 Theatre, Law Building
Melbourne University Parkville campus
* On the corner of Leicester and Pelham Streets.

George Monbiot Live via climate friendly videoconference

George Monbiot (www.monbiot.com) is an internationally renowned journalist, acclaimed author, academic and environmental and political activist in the United Kingdom who writes a weekly column for The Guardian newspaper. In his most recent book 'Heat', George presents compelling arguments about what we need to do to prevent runaway, catastrophic climate change. George will deliver his presentation via an interactive video conference link-up where attendees at the Melbourne University venue will be able to ask George questions after his presentation. He will focus his talk on what we need to do internationally and in Australia to work towards a liveable future for our children.
Seating is limited so arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Entry by gold coin donation
Organised by:- Friends of the Earth, Melbourne- Melbourne University - School Social and Environmental Enquiry- Melbourne University Student Union Environment Department
Supported by:- City of Yarra
For more information contactemail: globalisation@foe.org.au
phone: AU +61 394198700 www: www.foe.org.au

ZERO EMISSION NETWORK CONFERENCE

The Zero Emission Network two day conference "TARGET ZERO" is on this coming weekend.

OverviewThe first day will be a foundation building day, focused largely on the solutions needed to implement a fast transition to a Zero Emissions Minus future.
The second day will consist of campaign skills training, workshops, Zero Emission Network AGM and a series of strategic planning meetings around different campaign focuses.
Date: June 30 / July 1 Venue: Casey Plaza Theater - Rear Bld 10 - Bowen Lane - RMIT - Melbourne See map H6
Who should come?Members of climate action groups, people campaigning on zero emissions, people wishing to find out more about climate change solutions, people who believe a "zero emission minus" goal is not achievable and are willing to be convinced otherwise.
Registration: Please register by emailing bookings@zeroemissionnetwork.org .
If emailing please use the subject "Target Zero Booking"
Costs are a suggested donation of:
$20/10* for the weekend.
$10/$5* for a day
which can be paid on the day (cash only).
*Part employment, concession, student etc.

For full details see the Zero Emission Network website: http://www.zeroemissionnetwork.org/Event-Zero-Emission-Conference

YCAN! has had a great and successful few weeks. We have been working with the Yarra Council to encourage and urge them to adopt a Zero Net Emissions Policy.
At the last council meeting (19th June) recommendations were passed from the report we called for - Reducing Yarra's Greenhouse Emissions. These included the commitment of $225,000 dollars in the 07/08 budget for action on climate change issues and further consideration of the zero net emissions policy, in conjunction with the Environment Strategy (being undertaken by council at the moment).This is fantastic news and we congratulate the City of Yarra Council for understanding the urgency required for action on climate change and providing a platform for this to occur immediately.

In other news, on the 13th of June we held a community meeting focusing on community outreach issues. The meeting stimulated some interesting discussion and produced some clear projects to begin work on. These included - development of material for stalls and holding informative stalls at local events, running some local based forums within schools and business, and further developing a federal election campaign. If you are at all interested in these projects or have some further ideas please do not hesitate in contacting us. We believe this will be the start of putting our community on track for a zero emissions future.

Our next general meeting will be:
11th July, 6:30pm
Kindness House,
288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy.

President Aims for Carbon Neutrality

The race is on.
In perhaps his boldest environmental move yet, President Oscar Arias announced that Costa Rica will be carbon neutral by 2021 – and hopes to be the first in the world to reach the green benchmark. That means bulking up on forest cover and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions, according to experts. The deadline may be new – but Costa Rica's fundamental commitment to the environment isn't, President Arias said in a speech at the Wharton Global Alumni Forum on Business and the Environment at the Real-Intercontinental Hotel in the southwest Central Valley town of Escazú June 7. “While other countries were cutting down their trees, Costa Rica was planting for our future, creating a 10% gain in the amount of territory blessed with leafy vegetation,” he said. The President's announcement came at the tail end of San José's notorious evening rush hour, when thousands of Costa Ricans flee the city for suburbia in cars and old buses belching fumes on heavily congested roads. Despite the honking horns and clouds of exhaust just outside the hotel's windows, Arias reminded his audience that hydrocarbons – including gasoline and diesel – bear a heavy tax burden in Costa Rica, making fuel here more expensive than in any other country in Central America. Three percent of these taxes fund Costa Rica's cutting-edge payment for environmental services program, called the National Forest Financing Fund (FONAFIFO), which compensates landowners for growing trees. The program doles out almost $15 million a year to more than 8,000 property owners (TT, May 25). “Today Costa Rica is the only developing country to have adopted a tax on hydrocarbons,” Arias said. “An ounce of prevention is worth a gallon of crude.” On World Environment Day last week, Environment and Energy Minister Roberto Dobles announced the country's intentions to promote hybrid vehicles and encourage use of public transportation to cut down on emissions, as well as a tree-planting campaign to continue the reforestation process (TT, June 8). Dozens of the world's most respected leaders in climate change research and economics at the Wharton event applauded the country's commitment, heralding it as the kind of bold initiative required to stem global warming.

To read the full article follow the links below:
All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life (Published by the Tico Times, 6/15/07)
http://www.ticotimes.net/topstory.htm By Dave Sherwood dsherwood@ticotimes.net

Has to make you wonder what the response from other countries will be. After all if Costa Rica can do it - Why can't we??

The Zero Emission Network Zero Emission Conference TARGET ZERO is going ahead soon.
The Conference has two parts.
The first day will focus on the solutions needed to implement a fast transition to a Zero Emissions Minus future.
The second day will consist of campaign skills training, workshops, Zero Emission Network AGM and a strategic planning meeting.
Date: June 30 / July 1 Venue: Casey Plaza Theater - RMIT - Melbourne
Speakers/registration will be confirmed in the coming 1-2 weeks.
Costs will be kept as low as possible.
Sponsor inquiries welcome.

Contact Adrian[at]zeroemissionnetwork.org.au and keep a look out for registration details in the coming weeks at http://zeroemissionnetwork.org.au

Public Forum: GE-free - why Victoria should stay that way
When: Thursday, June 21, 6 - 7.30pm Where: The 60L Building, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton
Cost: Free More info: truefood@au.greenpeace.org

The forum will be hosted by Greenpeace and GeneEthics and includes the following speakers:
Dr Judy Carmen: Epidemiologist, biochemist and Director of the Institute of Health and Environmental Research
Dr Maarten Stapper: former CSIRO scientist and organic farming expert
Julie Newman: former vice president of WA Farmers Federation Grains Council and National spokesperson for the Network of Concerned Farmers

(also a great chance to check out 60L - one of the best examples of commercial green building in Australia)

YCAN! has been busy on a number of fronts over the past few months. We have begun lobbying the Yarra council to move to a Zero Net Emissions policy, engaging the state and federal government on no new coal fired power stations and general climate change issues, compiling a submission for the Eddington inquiry and attending various community events.

It is now time to begin and launch our community outreach projects. We have some ideas, but really, we want to hear from you! What do you need to begin and further address climate change within your life? How can we as a community work together to achieve a sustainable future!

Please come along to our next meeting and tell us what you and the community needs. We're excited about the difference we can all make, here and NOW!

When: Wednesday, 13th June
Where: Kindness House, 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Time: 6:30pm -7:30pm

From GRIST news

A Jury Of Your Pyrrhus
G8 climate deal is failure or triumph, depending whom you ask

Thursday last week the G8 agreed to a climate deal it's been fine-tuning for weeks.
It notably did not commit to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's goal of cutting greenhouse-gas emissions 50 percent by 2050, but it did say countries would "consider seriously" adopting such a goal. Thanks, George! The agreement also endorses Bush's plan to bring developing countries to the negotiating table, but confirms that the U.N. is the best place to work out future climate treaties.
Many observers were outraged that the U.S. had once again purple-nurpled the world, but others tried to look on the bright side. "While Europe has been itching on the starting blocks for the past decade, Bush has been sulking in the changing room," said one European policy adviser. "At least he is now on the track." Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, chief climate adviser to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, offered this take: "The United States is now on a bandwagon they cannot stop."

for more updates from G8 summit check out Grist.

Far from the desired target of 'zero emissions now', the PM has again taken a less than proactive role in the fight against climate change.

John Howard says Australia will set a carbon emissions target next year.

Speaking at the Liberal Party's Federal Council today, Mr Howard laid out the Government's policy to tackle climate change.He has given the Government until 2012 to introduce a carbon emissions trading scheme, which would be national in scope and "as comprehensive as practicable".

He also worryingly repeated his belief that nuclear energy had an important role to play in Australia's response to climate change.

For the full article see today's Age here.

An alarming article regarding the consequences of waste
Plastic Ocean

Presented by the Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society (ACSIS), University of Melbourne, in association with the Institute of Environmental Studies, UNSW

Wednesday 30 May 2007, 5.30-7.30 pm
Public Lecture Theatre, Old Arts Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville

Global warming is arguably the most dangerous environmental problem and the most difficult political issue to be faced by the world in the 21st century. This symposium discusses sustainable energy technologies and the policies needed to implement them at federal and state government levels. The two speakers are actively engaged in developing, teaching and advising on greenhouse and energy policy.

Dr Mark Diesendorf’s new book presents the case that a mix of efficient energy use, renewable sources of energy and natural gas (as a transitional fuel) offers a clean and feasible energy future for Australia.

The symposium is open to the public and there is no need to book.

Speakers:

Dr Mark Diesendorf teaches and researches ecologically sustainable development and greenhouse solutions at the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) at UNSW. Previously he has been a Principle Research Scientist at CSIRO, Professor of Environmental Science at UTS and Vice-President of the Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics. He will speak on renewable energy technologies and policies.

Alan Pears is an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University and a Director of the environmental consultancy, Sustainable Solutions P/L. He has worked in the sustainable energy field for three decades, for governments, business and community groups. Alan's activities span policy analysis, development of programs, public education and practical projects. He will speak on technologies and policies for efficient energy use.

To get to the university, catch a Swanston Street or Royal Parade tram (Swanston Street trams can be caught from Flinders Street or Melbourne Central Stations). Maps of the university are available in the Melways, on signs on campus and online at .

The book Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy will be available at the symposium at the 20% discount price of $40 (RRP $49.95).

More information: Domenica Settle, , ph (03) 8344 4708.

Beyond Zero Emissions fundraiser at

Lentil As Anything - May 25th

Would you like to learn more about YCAN?

Come along to our next general meeting:

When: Wednesday 23rd May
Time: 6:30pm - 8pm.
Where: Kindness House,
288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy.

Please meet out the front by 6.30, otherwise follow signs.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Come along and share your ideas!


When: Wednesday 9th May
Where: Fitzroy Library
128 Moor Street, Fitzroy
What time: 6:30pm - 8pm

An interesting article from Financial Times investigations (published 25 April)

Companies and individuals rushing to go green have been spending millions on “carbon credit” projects that yield few if any environmental benefits. The investigation has uncovered widespread failings in the new markets for greenhouse gases, suggesting some organisations are paying for emissions reductions that do not take place. Others are meanwhile making big profits from carbon trading for very small expenditure and in some cases for clean-ups that they would have made anyway. The growing political salience of environmental politics has sparked a “green gold rush”, which has seen a dramatic expansion in the number of businesses offering both companies and individuals the chance to go “carbon neutral”, offsetting their own energy use by buying carbon credits that cancel out their contribution to global warming.

The FT investigation found:

■ Widespread instances of people and organisations buying worthless credits that do not yield any reductions in carbon emissions.

■ Industrial companies profiting from doing very little – or from gaining carbon credits on the basis of efficiency gains from which they have already benefited substantially.

■ Brokers providing services of questionable or no value.

■ A shortage of verification, making it difficult for buyers to assess the true value of carbon credits.

■ Companies and individuals being charged over the odds for the private purchase of European Union carbon permits that have plummeted in value because they do not result in emissions cuts.

to read the full article click here.

Heartening news : The nation's leading scientific body, the CSIRO, has undermined Prime Minister John Howard's position on climate change by advising that big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions appear to be both inevitable and affordable for Australia.
(click The Age for full story)

From both yesterday's and today's age

"Prime Minister John Howard has rejected Labor leader Kevin Rudd's claim that climate change is the overwhelming moral challenge facing Australians. Mr Howard said Australia was a minor emitter of greenhouse gases and could not influence the global climate by acting alone.

(This of course, despite the fact that Australians are the highest per capita greenhouse gas emitters in the world. (UNFCCC) )

"Maintaining economic prosperity — rather than climate change — was Australia's great moral challenge Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday, deepening the gulf between himself and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd."

Apparently the lessons from the Stern report have already worn off. Ignoring climate change will have drastic social, environmental and economic impacts. Climate change is by far the most important issue facing Australians and Howard's inability to recognise this is both short sighted and dangerous.

On Sunday 22nd of April over 2000 people made a strong statement about their views on climate change by taking part in the Human Sign on Sandringham Beach that spelled out " HALT CLIMATECHANGE NOW! ". Despite early morning rain threatening to disrupt the event, the sunshine finally prevailed and everything progressed very smoothly - a big congratulations to Bayside Climate Action Group for organising such a successful event. It was great to see so many people out taking part.

If you missed the report on ABC news Sunday night there was also an article in today's Herald Sun which you can find here.

Community Organising: confrontation vs consensus workshop

Date: Tuesday 24th April 2007
Venue : Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane Melbourne
Host :The Change Agency
Workshop: 4.30-8.00pm

In the good ol’ days, every social change group knew how to do a street protest, or an occupation, or something even more confrontational. Today, many social change groups avoid any kind of confrontation in favour of consensus models. Is confrontation really irrelevant to today's social change efforts? Are consensus models really effective? This workshop will draw on participants' experiences with confrontation and consensus processes to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of each. Then, using a political opportunity structure model, you will learn how to analyse your political contect to better decide when, where and how to use a combination of confrontation and consensus strategies.
About Randy:

Randy is the moderator/editor of COMM-ORG: The On-Line Conference on Community Organising and Development. (http://comm-org.wisc.edu/) He conducts trainings and speaks frequently on community organising and development, participatory research projects with community development corporations, community organising groups, community information technology programs, and other non-profits in North America and Australia. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin. He has a PhD in Sociology and a Masters of Science in Counselling. Randy has written extensively on community organising and development and community based research, including the books Defending Community (1994), Research Methods for Community Change (2005) and the co-authored book Community-Based Research in Higher Education (2003).

You can find his complete vita here.

Registration: $20 (unwaged); $40 (community sector); $60 (higher income)

RSVP by April 17th to Sam La Rocca m. 0424 610 038

Come along to our meeting this week!

When: Wednesday 25th April
Where: Kindness House
288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
What time: 6:30pm

On Tuesday night (17th April) Maribyrnong city council resolved various things to do with water and climate change, three resolutions were:

- That Council becomes carbon neutral by 2015 for Council’s corporate activities.
- That Council becomes carbon neutral by 2020 for Community (residential and commercial) emissions.
- That Council prepares a detailed Action plan on reaching carbon neutrality by 2015 (Council’s corporate) and 2020 for community (residential and commercial) activities by December 2007 and recommendations be referred for consideration by Council as part of the 2008/2009 Budget process.

This is a great step forward for Maribyrnong Council and we hope that it sparks a change in local councils all around Victoria (and Australia)

We need to work together at all levels of government and community to make a positive difference in the fight against climate change.

Each year the City of Yarra must prepare a budget, which is guided by the priorities set out in the Council Plan and a legal requirement for all councils. The development of the Budget provides an opportunity for members of the local community to comment on budget priorities, to make sure they accurately reflect community needs.

We urge everyone in Yarra to take part. Download the survey here and make your concerns heard.

Please return the survey by Friday 27 April to Reply Paid, Marc Giglio, Executive Manager Finance and Information Services, City of Yarra, PO Box 168, Richmond 3121, or simply drop it in to Collingwood or Richmond Town Hall.

Four Corners Report Monday 16th April 2007 (will be repeated Wednesday 18th around 11.35 pm and also on ABC2 digital channel at 9.30 pm Wednesday and 8 am Thursday)
or watch it online

The 3rd Melbourne Social Forum will be held this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the 20th, 21st and 22nd of April.

This year's theme is "CHANGE THE POLITICAL CLIMATE: TURN UP THE HEAT!"

The mission of the Melbourne Social Forum is to create open public spacesto discuss, share and act on ideas for sustainable social and ecological justice. To do this the MSF hosts events, in public and on-line, which bring together progressive individuals and groups from within civil society in the Melbourne area and beyond. The Melbourne Social Forum is a dynamic open space for addressing the 21st century's most pressing local and global challenges: fair trade, labour rights, environmental sustainability, global peace and human rights issues.

Ticket pre-sale will be available at two locations:
-Friends of the Earth on 312 Smith Street Collingwood
-The New International Bookshop in Trades Hall, Carlton South

for more information about events and costings visit www.melbournesocialforum.org

Unsurprisingly news from COAG (in this morning's Age)

Premiers, PM fail to agree on climate
Mr Howard rejected a proposal by the states to set up a national carbon emissions trading scheme by 2010, with a target of cutting emissions to 60 per cent of 2000 levels by 2050.

Despite the impasse, Prime Minister John Howard described the meeting as "successful", but that view was in sharp contrast to that of Victoria's Premier Steve Bracks. "It could have been a great day, but it wasn't," Mr Bracks said at a news conference after the meeting had concluded. Mr Bracks said the meeting had achieved "about 8.1 of the 10-point plan" for national reform. "Today was a good day but not a great day in terms of the opportunities to put in place a national carbon-trading scheme."

The Victorian government has approved a 160-megawatt wind farm to be built on farmland at Mt Mercer, about 30 kilometres south of Ballarat.
It is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 73,000 homes.

Please feel free to come along to our next meeting

when: Wednesday 11/04/07 at 6:30 pm
where: Kindness House
288 Brunswick St
Fitzroy 3065.

for your interest:
follow this link to see a transcript of the 7:30 Report from 31st of January this year.

Interview with David Mills,one of Australia's leading solar innovators, regarding the lack of interest in his technology from government and energy associations in this country.

Not strictly an environment issue, but it is important that everybody concerned about climate change votes in the upcoming Federal election.
Some recent changes made by the government may affect your eligibility to vote.
The changes made by the Howard Government have made it harder to enrol to vote and harder to update your details. These changes will come into force sometime in April. So if you've moved recently you may find it much harder to get your details updated. These changes will also affect you if you are not enrolled correctly, you're a first time voter or if you've been enrolled but taken off the electoral roll.
Under the changes, those people enrolling or updating their details will need to meet the following proof of identity requirements: A driver's license or if you don't have a license, a prescribed identity document such as a passport; or alternatively You must get 2 witnesses, who are not related to you, who have known you for longer than 1 month and who can confirm their identity with a driver's license (or a prescribed identity document).
Just as importantly, the electoral roll will close earlier, disadvantaging first time voters in particular. The roll will be closed 3 days from the time the election writs are issued to update your details - BUT - you'll only have until 8pm on the day the writs are issued to enrol if you've been taken off the roll or enrolling for the first time. The new rules come into force in April so be quick and check your enrolment details at https://oevf.aec.gov.au/

if you're new to this issue you might be wondering what you can do to make small differences at home as well - check out Greenpeace's 12 steps to save electricity (and help the planet) for practical information and tips.

Along with the Human Sign project at Sandringham, there is also another important event on the 22nd of April. The Coalition for Peace and Justice Presents two time academy award nominee David Bradbury's:
A HARD RAIN when: 2pm Sunday 22nd April
where: Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) Federation Square

The film is released officially on April 13 - David has worked around the clock to get the film ready before the April ALP conference where a critical vote will be held to determine the future of Uranium Mining in this country. For more information about the documentary and details about getting a free 20 min cut of the tape see here.

again in the Age today
Business counters PM to back emissions targets
"AUSTRALIA'S top companies say the country must set concrete targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years as the centrepiece of policies to combat climate change."
This is in response to Howard's recent attack on emissions targets as proposed by opposition leader Kevin Rudd. (60% by 2050) Howard continually opposes such targets saying they will damage the economy but clearly acceptance by the business community for the necessity of targets is a step towards possibly changing that stance.

In todays Age - US ruling hailed by climate change activists.
we can only hope this is a sign of positive things to come both for the US and ultimately for ourselves

Come down and be part of creating a 'human sign' as part of the Bayside Sustainable Living Expo on Sunday April 22. Over 3,000 people are needed to form the message HALT CLIMATE CHANGE NOW for an aerial photograph. Bring your family and friends to raise awareness about global warming and promote sustainability.

Everyone is encouraged to use public transport or ride your bikes - leave the car at home and enjoy being outdoors!

when: 10:00am (sharp) Sunday 22nd April 2007
where: Sandringham Beach
accessible from Sandringham train station - Sunday supersaver tickets are only $2:50
trains leave Flinders St station at 8:52 and 9:32 am.

for more information refer to the Bayside City Council website here or call (03) 9599 4444 or contact the Bayside Climate Change Action Group directly.

(event will go ahead rain, hail or shine - so don't let a few clouds deter you)

Welcome to the page of YCAN!!


This blog will be a place for us to talk about Climate Change issues, exchange ideas and work together to make both big and small changes in our community.

Grass roots action can make a difference!