Dear Northern Rivers Guardians
Sorry for the delay in our Newsletter, but there’s heaps of news so we probably need two this month anyway!!
All the best from Suzanne 4th April 2011
CALENDAR DATES
- NRG East Enders discussion meeting Friday April 8th, 3-5 pm Sheoak Shack, Fingal Head. Food/coffee available. This is not only for those who live near the 2487 postcode but is a great alternative if you can’t make the monthly meeting.
- NRG Monthly Meeting SUNDAY April 17th, at the Murwillumbah Services Club, 1-3 pm.
Food available at the bistro. Those who wish to participate in the “business” end of the meeting, please be there and ready to start at 1 pm sharp. About half an hour dedicated to this with Campaign discussions/activism from 1.30 pm.
MORE SCREENINGS OF GASLAND. Spread the word!!
- Tara resident Dayne Pratsky will be taking part in a post-film Q&A sessions when Gasland screens next Tuesday, April 5, at the Dendy in Byron Bay; on Wednesday, April 6, at Ballina Fair Cinema; and on Thursday, April 7, at Birch Carroll & Coyle in Lismore. All sessions start at 6.45 pm. http://www.echonews.com.au/story/2011/03/31/act-on-gas-now-oryoull-be-sorry/
- April 13 6.30pm Gaslands screening as part of www.lifechangingdocos.com film series. (Check them out anyway they show brilliant health/enviro oriented docos once a month.) Paradise showroom at the Gold Coast Arts Centre in Bundall. Tix $15 online & $20 at the door. I have a code for those who book online via me (Suzanne) type in YOGA for a discount.
- Lock The Gate – National Action – TARA 2011: 30th April – 3rd May
- See Lock The Gate Rallies for details.(www.lockthegate.org.au) Please try to join the blockade in Tara even if just for a day. There is a base-camp where all are welcome to set up a tent and stay awhile. Please see the Western Downs Alliance website for more details. Nimbin Environment Centre has a bus going to Tara.
- EAST ENDERS http://yoursaytweed.com.au/kingscliffpark This is quick reminder to let you know that the Kingscliff Central Park Concept Plan online discussion will be open for your comments and ideas until 5.00 pm, 12 April 2011. The online discussion forum is located at http://yoursaytweed.com.au/kingscliffpark, so please, check out the concept on video, take a look at the plans in the library and have your say!
Your thoughts and ideas are important!
100% Renewable Campaign
- Saturday 30 April – surveying
- Saturday 28 May – National Doorknock Day
- Friday 26 June – National day presenting survey results to local MPS
GENERAL NEWS
It was great to see a statewide swing to the Greens of 2% in spite of a landslide to the Coalition, it shows more and more people are interested in the environment and sustainability! Tweed member Geoff Provest is on the front page of the Echo calling for people to keep him accountable. I think that’s an invitation folks!! He indicated in talks that he only considers an issue important if people are communicating with him, either by mail, or walking through his door. I think we should keep him aware of the issues like CSG on an ongoing basis!!
Lismore MP Thomas George has tried to claim the election as a referendum on Byrill Creek. Maybe we need to let him know that in the districts that the dam would effect the vote went heavily to the Greens and Labor showing a “referendum”result against the Byrill Creek dam. The polling booths of Kunghur and Uki are the closest to the proposed dam and therefore include those most affected by it. Those two polling booths voted overwhelmingly for The Greens not the Nationals. In Uki for instance, Greens received 45% of the vote and ALP, who also opposed the dam, received almost 13%. Nats received 33.7%. A similar result was received in Kunghur and again, a clear majority was given to we candidates who opposed the dam. Any community consultation always places more weight on those most affected
CSG (Coal Seam Gas) campaigns have been gathering momentum with 1200 attending a protest rally in Sydney and about 400 in Lismore. Brisbane was also well attended. Membership Officer Julie MacNamara has received a flood of applications to join NRG.. She now says that any member can sign up new members. The forms are available on NRG web site (or Phone Julie 66 793 013 )
NRG is joining Lock The Gate as a community group, and John Thompson of LTG has urged everyone to tell friends, family and neighbours to signal their support by signing up as a Lock The Gate supporter. The website is www.lockthegate.org.au
One of our members has supplied another website with some great info and links http://www.otfordeco.com/Documents.html
About 2/3 way down this page is a link that you can E-sign in support of a moratorium on CSG mining. Thanks Steve!
We also have CSM info on our website www.northernriversguardians.org.
I have also attached the LTG Newsletter at the end of this one, for your interest.
On the flipside (down with CSG, up with Renewable Energy) NRG is now also group in the 100% Renewable campaign www.100percent.org.au . They have started a campaign to collect 20,000 signatures by June 24, with the hope that MP Rob Oakeshott will table them in parliament. He has strongly advocated renewable technology for some time.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
- Our website is still under construction and we are calling for website savvy volunteers to take on a campaign page to administrate. We also could use an email administrator. These volunteers would have to be full members of NRG. Please contact Julie Mac juleroo54@yahoo.com to find out how to become a member. NRG members have more active roles in the running of campaigns. If you want to become more involved in protecting our region, becoming a member is a great thing to do.
- Danielle is involved in catering for the Nimbin Environment Centre’s movie night once a month. If you live in the area and would love to give her a hand, email demelle@bigpond.com .
- Sledge is selling his great “Don’t Frack with me” t-shirts for only $15. A great way to get the word out there and help raise funds as well. We are looking into women’s t-shirt styles as well, YAY! Tell Daniele if you want a round neck cotton shirt. Email sledge1947@aapt.net.au
- Calling for volunteers to survey for 100% Renewable energy. The survey can be run at stalls, roaming through local growers markets, at people’s doors or at train stations or bus stops. It is a very brief survey that only takes a few minutes. It is also a great way to get conversations started within the community and build a network of people interested in renewable technology. NRG is a member group of this campaign. It only takes a couple of hours at a time, on a few occasions to get the numbers needed. Please contact Suzanne yoginisuz@hotmail.com if you would like to be involved, even if just to get your friends and family to complete the survey. Every bit helps and this is a powerful grassroots campaign that could bring about real change. Tweed CAN is also involved.
CAMPAIGN ACTIONS
John Thomson of the Lock the Gate Alliance has sent this request.
Two action items have emerged for all you to consider. We need as many people to respond to these opportunities as possible to help bring them into reality:
1. GetUp.org
GetUp.org is a grass-roots organization helping to raise awareness to a number of issues facing us here in Australia. They are running a poll to determine their upcoming campaigns. Coal Seam Gas mining is on the list and currently ranked 11th. If you are interested, please take the time to register and cast your vote in support. Everyone is permitted multiple votes on the issue. http://suggest.getup.org.au/forums/60819-campaign-ideas/suggestions/1512631-stop-the-fracking-coal-seam-gas-industry
2. SBS Insight
SBS Insight is a one-of-a-kind news talk show that engages a wide community in debate on a number of issues. It is time for the issues relating to coal and coal seam gas mining get the air-time they need. Please take the time to post a suggestion on the show’s website to have these issues the subject of an upcoming show: http://news.sbs.com.au/insight/suggest
Suzanne