Sydney Nannas have spent the last week at planning meetings for future actions and in court to support the North East Forest Alliance against the Forestry Corporation of NSW.
Our letter writing team has received some interesting responses to our letters to government ministers, so we’re keeping the written conversations going. We also made a submission about a proposed gas peaking plant at Dubbo, and in the process found out a lot about peaking and firming of the energy grid, and also about the Orana Renewable Energy Zone.
North East Forest Alliance vs Forestry Corporation
Nannas Marie and Bron attended the Land and Environment Court on Thursday 7 September to support the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) in their case against the Forestry Corporation of NSW. NEFA legend Dailan Pugh explained that the case concerned Braemar and Myrtle State forests which were both extensively burnt in the Black Summer fires. Forestry NSW has begun logging the remaining parts of these forests even though they are refuge habitat for koalas and other endangered wildlife.
The NEFA website says “NEFA has argued that the logging operations are unlawful for several reasons – because the operations are not ecologically sustainable, because Forestry Corporation failed to consider whether they would be ecologically sustainable, and because the proposed use of ‘voluntary conditions’ is in breach of the logging rules. NEFA is asking the court to declare the logging approvals invalid and to restrain Forestry Corporation from conducting the operations.”
The case concluded on the day (ironically Threatened Species Day), but judgement won’t be handed down until some time in the future. The one advantage of the long waits common in the court is that logging can’t recommence in the interim.
Coalition for Climate Ambition
Nannas Kathy and Marie attended the first Coalition for Climate Ambition meeting on Zoom on Friday, an initiative of The Australia Institute, which is based in Canberra.
The national Coalition is being developed to support organisations that are fighting to protect our climate and raise Australia’s climate ambition. It was great to see up to 70 representatives of climate groups come online to hear about the initiative.
The Coalition is based on the following principles, seen as the minimum requirements for restricting the worst impacts of climate change:
- Ban all new fossil fuel development in Australia
- Cease all fossil fuel subsidies
- Preserve and restore Australia’s ecosystems and stop all native forest logging
- Reject the idea that carbon credits can offset fossil fuel emissions.
The Institute wants to help bring the research on climate change and biodiversity loss together. Governments subsidise fossil fuel projects and the logging of native forests. Currently, a halt to logging in one area can be a carbon credit for a fossil fuel project in another area.
The vision for the Coalition is to assist members by providing:
- Research challenging misleading economic and climate claims made by the fossil fuel industry and governments
- Expert speakers for community group events and community group participation in Australia Institute events
- Media and communications support regarding the economic and environmental consequences of fossil fuel expansion
- Access to a range of polling on community attitudes
- Assistance to community groups so that they can engage more effectively in the political process
- Regular meetings to discuss opportunities to work together.
There are 110 new fossil fuel projects seeking approval, and the federal government’s new legislation isn’t protecting us from the climate harm of expanding gas and coal mining.
Sydney Nannas will be joining this new alliance for climate ambition and welcome the opportunities for collective actions it will bring.
Rising Tide forum: Disruption to End Climate Destruction
The forum included an update on the plan so far for the blockade of Newcastle coal port on 24-26 November. Nannas were there to hear from great speakers:
- Ian Dunlop – Australian Security Leaders Climate Group and former chair of Australian coal association. The shocking facts about the global climate emergency and how critical the next few years are.
- Rev. Moni Taumoepeau – Uniting Church Minister from Western Sydney. Global heating in Western Sydney and the Pacific.
- Clover Moore –Sydney Lord Mayor. A strong statement of support.
- Jenny Leong – Greens member for Newtown. She’ll be on the water.
- Alexa Stuart – 19-year-old climate activist from Rising Tide Newcastle. The goal is to stop the coal port by 2030. We need big numbers of activists to win.
Updates re the Newcastle’s Coal Port blockade 24-26 November:
- Family friendly event – children’s activities.
- Rising Tide is organising many kayaks and other crafts for those who do not own their own.
- Aim is to block the coal port – the largest in the world (!!) – day and night across the weekend
- There will be actions for those who want to avoid arrest, and actions that could potentially lead to arrest.
Rising Tide were very happy with the event and signed up new volunteers on the night.
Sydney Climate Coalition Meeting
Sydney Nannas are part of this coalition, the main purpose of which is to build the public movement for climate action through organising and supporting rallies and forums. The plan for the rest of the year includes
- support for the Save the Pilliga and Liverpool Plains rally this Thurs 14 September
- strategy meeting 24 September
- help with organisation of the Student Strike 4 Climate rally on Friday 17 November
- support for Rising Tide blockade 24-27 November
- organise a major rally in Sydney to coincide with COP28 on 2 December.