CAN News August 2011

CAN Newsletter August 2011 - please forward!

CAN meets every 1^st & 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:30 pm at the Hunter Community Environment Centre (HCEC), 169 Parry Street, Hamilton East. We hope to see you there.

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Coming Up in August (for details see below)

Supporting action on climate change: send a submission in support of the carbon price package (by August 22), contact your local MP, host or join a local activity

‘Hunter Valley Climate Challenge' launch: join the challenge and save energy, your money and the environment! 10 am Friday 12 August, Hunter Wetlands Centre

Rally at NSW Minerals Exploration and Investment Conference: Enough is enough on coal seam gas and coal extraction! 12 noon, Thursday 18 August, Phillip St Sydney

Climate change presentation & Climate Change and the Hungry Tide: documentary about climate change impacts on Kiribati. 5-8 pm, Thursday 25 August, Newcastle Uni 

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Australia Says YES to action on climate change

Make a submission

Last week, the draft legislation for the carbon price was made available for public comment. See: http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/clean-energy-future/our-plan/

Please make a submission to the draft legislation (deadline August 22). The naysayers and fear mongers will be sending many, so it's crucial that we counter those claims and support the legislation. (you don't need to write much!) For submissions see: http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/consultation-open-legislative-package/

If you'd like help making a submission, then get in touch with Climate Action Network Australia (by email: g.woods@cana.net.au)

Contact your local federal MP

Climate change deniers are mobilising to pressure politicians not to support a price on pollution: make sure to make an appointment with your member of parliament so they hear from you this fortnight. If you can't make an appointment, send a letter or an email or make a phone call.

To contact your MP go to http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/mi-alpha.asp, find their name in the list, and call their electorate office number today to make an appointment.

(If you're not sure who your MP is, follow this link -- http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/ -- to find your electorate, then go to www.aph.gov.au to find their contact details).

Fortnight of Action 

You can help spread the word about the need for action on climate change, by getting involved in local activities in the next fortnight. Click here to start an event in your local community, or RSVP to an existing event

Modelling by Treasury shows that the carbon price, in conjunction with the other policies that have been announced, like replacing coal fired power stations, investing $10 billion in renewable energy, and implementing energy efficiency programs, will cut pollution and will be the first step towards action on climate change. This is something we can do together to be part of the global effort to avoid dangerous climate change.

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‘Hunter Valley Climate Challenge' launch

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW and Companion Credit Union have partnered to bring you the Hunter Valley Climate Challenge, which will be launched next week.

What: Hunter Valley Climate Challenge Launch

When: 10 am Friday 12 August

Where: Conference Room, Hunter Wetlands Centre, 412 Sandgate Rd, Shortland

RSVP: landrew@nccnsw.org.au Ph: (02) 9516 1488  

If you live in the Hunter region then this is your opportunity to reduce your household greenhouse gas emissions- helping the environment and saving your wallet!

The Community Climate Challenge was developed to inspire household and community action, facilitate ongoing behaviour change and promote more sustainable communities. Since 2006 the Challenge program has been successfully delivered to six regions in NSW and one municipality in Victoria, resulting in real reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

For more information and to register your interest, see the website HERE

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Rally at the NSW Minerals Exploration and Investment Conference
Join farmers and community members from across NSW and QLD at this public rally to highlight the true costs of coal and coal seam gas expansion. Say enough is enough! to the government and industry support for the destruction of our land, water, climate and health.

Where: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 61-101 Phillip St Sydney
When: 12 noon, Thursday 18 August

For more information see the Lock the Gate website or the Rising Tide website for updates in the next few weeks. Facebook Event here

See the conference agenda and see maps here of the mining and petroleum projects across over 70% of NSW

Let's stand together and say Enough is Enough!

The NSW Government is sponsoring a $900 a head NSW Mineral Exploration and Investment Conference next month in Sydney. The two-day event (18/19 August) will see government and industry players coming together to discuss how to carve up NSW for coal and gas mining, despite the harm these industries have on communities, the climate, the environment and the agricultural potential of the state.

Rising Tide, along with the Lock the Gate Alliance are inviting communities groups who want protection for NSW to come to Sydney and present the other side to the impacts of mining. Climate Action Newcastle members and supporters will also be attending.

Please help spread the word!

Food and water security, protection for our communities and climate must come first.

For more information email risingtide@risingtide.org.au or rally@lockthegate.org.au 

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Climate change presentation and screening of ‘Climate Change and the Hungry Tide'

What: a presentation on the current climate science from Al Gore-trained Peter Thrift followed by Climate Change and the Hungry Tide, a documentary film that investigates the wrath of climate change on the Pacific nation of Kiribati, which is positioned only meters above sea level. Maria Tiimon is a Kiribati woman living in Sydney who is determined to raise awareness of the crumbling sea walls, tides sweeping into villages and the impact this has on her family back home.

When: Thursday 25 August 5-8 pm

Where: Life Sciences Lecture Theatre (see University map here)

RSVP: (for complimentary refreshments) on Facebook page or email Farrell@newcastle.edu.au)