This week Nannas have some positive feedback for Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and the NSW Police – while we call out governments and police when they’re not acting in the public interest there are times when we need to give credit where it’s due. See the stories about the Conga Line and more.
Footprints EcoFestival
The Nannas’ week started on Sunday handing out leaflets promoting the forthcoming Coal Watch Conga Line Rally at the Footprints EcoFestival at Annandale.
Photos were taken of many people in our Climate Justice frame, including D’harawal saltwater knowledge keeper, Dr Sharon Foster, founder of Eco Styles, Nina Gabor, and NSW Green MP Kobie Shetti and Ismet Tastan, a Greens candidate for the Inner West Council.
Costa was the MC and we learnt a lot from the panellists – Sharon spoke about First Nations perspectives and the circular economy, and Nina is a sustainability educator.
Nannas had lots of conversations with people who were shocked to hear about the conga line of 18 proposed coal mines that look like they are about to be waved through by the NSW Minns government. They happily signed the petition, especially when told there are no decent guidelines to save critical habitat and address the pollution.
Nannas were pleased to work with our friends Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle in raising the importance of quickly phasing out fossil fuels if the impacts of climate change are to be reduced. While people are generally on the same plane, they often aren’t aware of the facts. Handing out leaflets with the facts enables them to digest this information and share it.
The Knitting Nannas were so happy to be at this very positive event.
Lock the Gate’s Coal Watch Conga Line Rally
Fantastic event! Over 60 people joined a conga line on Wednesday morning to deliver a petition signed by 5,000 people calling on Chris Minns to stop 18 coal mine expansions. If approved these will spew greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 17 years of NSW’s annual emissions.
The conga line was a very effective way of getting people’s attention to listen to speeches and to take photos. Nic from Lock the Gate handed over the petition in person to a Minns’ staffer, which was very effective, as Nic clearly outlined the points of the petition to the crowd.
When NSW Police attend protests, they tell us that they are there to look after us, and this week they did. One of the Nannas fainted and the police escorted her and a friend, to the front of the line at the nearby Sydney Hospital where she was seen immediately. Luckily, she has recovered, with the exception of a cut on the nose and some bruising.
Police were also very helpful when we were trying to get a big group photo in front of parliament – police quickly stopped the traffic for the minute it took for the photographer to get us all in!
Budget Estimates in NSW Parliament
After the conga line event, Nannas went through Parliament House security wearing their Sydney Nanna t-shirts, but a guard at the entrance to the room where Budget Estimates were being held made them pause until the head of security arrived. Nannas took advantage of the wait and asked the guard to take this photo.
The head of security said Knitting Nannas are “known” to have misbehaved before in “this place”. He asked us, “Are you going to behave today?” and we said yes and were allowed in. We have only been tossed out once when we sat knitting and unveiled some signs about koalas. The security boss mentioned locking on but that was Nanna Clare from the Northern Rivers eight years ago! She’ll be pleased to know she is remembered!
Upper House committees are questioning Ministers and public servants during Budget Estimates until 11 September. Sessions coming up that deal with our topics are:
Natural Resources – Thursday 5 September – Courtney Houssos to appear
Water – Monday 9 September – Rose Jackson to appear
It’s good to show we’re watching by attending the hearings in Parliament House, but it’s not necessary to go to Parliament. Nannas can watch the webcast live online or watch a recording posted the following day on the NSW Parliamentary YouTube channel. We can also access transcripts of each session.
BBF Forest Vigil
While leafletting for BBF’s campaign for our promised Great Koala National Park, we met Larissa Zimmerman who has listed 54 acres of her land on a Biodiversity Conservation Trust Agreement in perpetuity. Larissa is crouched in front on the right in this photo.
Landholders wishing to permanently protect and conserve biodiversity on their land can apply to enter an in-perpetuity conservation agreement at any time. A wildlife refuge agreement is an option for landholders who wish to protect their land but do not want to enter a permanent agreement.
At the vigil the NSW government’s new Independent Forestry Panel was discussed. NSW Government Media Release
The chair, Peter Duncan, presented the 2004/2005 Annual Report of Forests NSW when he was Chief Executive; former ALP MP Mick Veitch was a founding member of the Parliamentary Friends of Forestry group and is a well-known forestry advocate; former NSW Chief Scientist Mary O’Kane declared that the risks from coal seam gas could be managed.
These are not the people the Nannas would have chosen. Where is the forest ecologist? The panel is reviewing forestry in NSW and consulting until the end of the year. You can have your say here.
Plibersek blocks tailings dam on sacred spring in the headwaters of the Belabula river
This week Nannas celebrated the news that Tanya Plibersek had stopped the construction of a tailings dam by the McPhillamys gold mining project at the headwaters of the Belabula river. Her decision was in response to a submission under Aboriginal Heritage legislation that the site was sacred to the Wiradjuri people.
This is an important decision because tailings dams are notoriously toxic and risky to waterways and the Belabula river is a tributary of the Lachlan river. The Minister was fiercely attacked by mining interests, the federal opposition and media outlets for blocking the mine. She argued back that she is not blocking the mine, only the position of the tailings dam which can be relocated. The Guardian
Premier Chris Minns joined the criticism of the Minister’s decision and said he would look for ways to ensure the mine is developed, and fast-tracked.
What is not being widely reported is that the fears of contamination of the sacred spring and the Bellabula river are serious and have very wide implications.
Nanna Tracey has gone to Blayney this week to offer support to Wiradjuri elder Nyree Reynolds and the group of traditional owners who lodged the Section 10 objection under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. We will report further next week.
ABC news reporting
Last week Nannas were cross with the ABC because of poor reporting on the tailings dam. This led to discussions about the decline in the quality of news reporting and the sad demise of The Drum. We’re still pining for The Drum. One Nanna recommended watching the one-hour news programme at 6 o’clock on the ABC News Channel 24 – Joe O’Brien does short interviews about what is happening.
Friends of the ABC have a place on their website to make comments for the new ABC Chair. Go to ”Do you trust the ABC’s news coverage?” and “Tell us what you think” mini-survey. We recommend you give specific feedback. Be precise about criticism, as th ABC still has a lot of excellent, in-depth reporting.
Fire Ants
Some Nannas attended the Invasive Species Council’s webinar on fire ants last week. Australia has had eight infestations of fire ants and we have managed to eradicate seven of them. The infestation in South East Queensland persists, but is being suppressed with the help of state and federal funding and the cooperation of the community in not moving high risk materials out of the area.
Fire ant suppression is controlled by insecticide baits and experts say eradication is eventually possible. Their sting is very painful and can be fatal for anyone allergic and without an epi pen. You only know you are allergic when you have been stung!
If not controlled, fire ants will have terrible consequences for some of our native species and how liveable outdoor environments are for us. Billions of dollars will need to be spent on insecticides across the country. In the US, where fire ants are out of control, baits have been found to be the least risk to humans and pets, compared to contact pesticide. People there buy liquid and dust pesticides in supermarkets and do not have training to use them properly.
Nannas are watching
The Assembly – Autistic journalism students, mentored by Leigh Sales, learn their craft and interview well known Australian personalities including the PM. ABC iview
Margaret Wertheim: The beautiful math of coral (and crochet) – April 2009 TED Talk
Forthcoming Events