Nannas are at home and on the streets, supporting grass roots community campaigns to make a better world for their grandchildren.
School Strike for Climate
Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends turned out on Friday afternoon to support the School Strikers and their goal of shifting the power in our politics and society away from fossil fuel industries.
Nannas met up in Belmore Park, joining a gathering of students and their supporters, including the Teachers for Action on Climate Change and other environmental groups.
Scientists signed a “climate doctor’s certificate” citing “elevated stress” and “feelings of despair” over the climate crisis to back students who left their classes to strike. The Guardian
We marched from the Park to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s Office in Redfern. Strikers sat in the street outside the Minister’s office listening to students from around NSW and beyond, talking about the impacts of climate change on their communities. They all stressed their disappointment in the governments’ response to the climate emergency since the elections. The message to Plibersek and the Albanese government is to act now to make a liveable future possible. #ShiftThePower
NSW Coal Watch
Sydney Nannas supported the NSW Coal Watch campaign by handing out flyers to government employees on Wednesday morning on their way to work in their city offices at 52 Martin Place. When Penny Sharpe came across the Coal Watch campaigners she said she already had one on her desk.
Employees of the Department of Planning & Environment at Parramatta received the leaflets on Monday. The schedule for the leafleting in coming weeks:
8am – 9.30am – 52 Martin Place – every Wednesday up until Christmas
8am – 9.30am – Parramatta – every Monday up until Christmas
Contact: Angela from Lock the Gate; angela@lockthegate.org
Register to get involved in the campaign.
Sunday 12 November – Rising Tide Sail4Sanity
Two grandfather retirees, Dr Simon Leslie and engineer Tom Hunt, left Port Kembla on 3 November to paddle and sail their sea kayak to Newcastle for the Rising Tide blockade this weekend. Channel 7 News covered their landing at the Opera House. Follow their trip on Facebook.
Wind Energy
After a call for help from Illawarra Nannas several Sydney Nannas filled out a government survey supporting an offshore wind project off the Illawarra coast. Offshore wind will reduce emissions and offer significant opportunities to the region.
There is a cashed up disinformation campaign opposing offshore wind in the Illawarra and the Hunter. This is part of a campaign against renewable energy by fossil fuel industries and their political supporters. They claim that offshore wind will harm marine life, which scientists say is not backed by credible evidence.
The misinformation campaign features shocking pictures of dead whales on a beach and whales on fire jumping out of the sea with wind turbines in the background. The Guardian
A federal parliamentary committee has investigated fake signatures and other unethical means used to misrepresent the level of public opposition to Illawarra’s proposed offshore wind zone. ABC News
The NSW Draft Wind Energy Guideline has just been released and most areas onshore have been declared “less suitable” for turbines. The new map provided by the state government shows only small areas in or near the five Renewable Energy Zones as potentially “suitable” for onshore wind projects.
Nanna Eury recommended “Windfall: unlocking a fossil-free future” by Keton Joshi. It unpacks the long misinformation campaign against wind power and puts forward an optimistic vision for harnessing Australia’s renewable resources.
In Court
Nannas were on the edge of their seats in the Land & Environment Court in Sydney watching EPA vs Maules Creek Coal Pry Ltd (Whitehaven). The company was defending itself against four counts of blasting violations under its EPA licence. Nannas have been witnessing the court proceedings which can be very technical. It is time-consuming but revealing. To report on what happens in court you need to be there to hear the proceedings and write down quotes.
Veteran forest protector Susie Russel from North East Forestry Alliance (NEFA) defended herself in the Forster Court last Tuesday. She was arrested in Bulga Forest in January. The Magistrate dismissed the charge of entering a forest without permission if prohibited by notice. Police failed to provide evidence to prove their case. 1EarthMedia
Join the Nannas at the following events
Fri – Sun 24-26 November: Rising Tide blockade of Newcastle coal port.
A fun family-friendly gathering, with live music and speakers and food shared by donation. Borrow a kayak, or bring your own vessel – a kayak, tinny, yacht or surfboard! Nannas from many loops will be in kayaks blockading the port and at two Nannadomes, offering Nannacare and an information service for people at the event. Lots of information on the website.
Saturday 2 December: COP 28 Rally – Act on the Climate Emergency: No new fossil fuels
12 noon to 2pm Belmore Park, near Central Station. March to Sydney Town Hall. Speakers include Arthur Rorris, Illawarra Trades & Labour Council on offshore wind, school strikers, health workers and people who have lived through extreme climate events.
The protest will be held near the beginning of the United Nations COP28 global climate summit hosted by the United Arab Emirates, a major oil and gas producer. Facebook Event
See our calendar for all the events the Sydney Nannas plan to attend.
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