TREE TweedRiverEnvironmentalEcho NewsletterofTheCalderaEnvironmentCentre Vol.10,Issue1Autumn2011 50corfree
*Water Wise * !ey’re Fracking where? * How the Rally came and went * Byrrill Creek Update * A Biosphere Reserve * Stirring the Calderan * How the Tweed will cope with Climate Change *Working with Nature * Climate Denial Tweed Style * Captain Sage >=BMHKB:E In the Tweed Valley it can be disheartening that the battle to protect what we love is so un- relenting. "e work is never done and it seems that unlike other regions we can never sit back and relax, safe in the knowledge that the in- credible beauty and biodiversity of the area will be okay. Some of us may dream of moving of Greens MLC Ian Cohen, recently of another. Some of the largest %oods to a region where what we value is sued for 1 million for something he in Australian history, the largest and cherished by everyone, including said at a community event. most powerful cyclone to hit Queens- those in power. Is there such a place? land in living memory in the same 12 Oh well. We are in the incredible No doubt this kind of thing puts a month period as the worst wild !res Tweed and naturally want to protect lot of people o# taking any action to in Russian history along with their all it. So therefore we !nd ourselves stand up for their environment, but time highest ever recorded tempera- standing up to continuous waves of for some of us it still turns out to be tures, all time snowfall records for greed, thoughtlessness and outright better to do something than noth- Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, destruction in many forms - Car races ing. Despite the many sacri!ces and Atlantic City and Washington in the through the rainforest, Deathly dams disappointments there are rewards. US, record %ooding in Tennessee, in biodiversity hotspots, Develop- Sometimes we have a win, as in the Pakistan, Record droughts in the ments threatening to turn us into the case of the Unpopular Rally, or with Amazon, and so on. "e latest !gures Gold Coast and pushing out our wild- the Byrrill Creek dam. Besides this from both NASA and the US National life and so on and so on. Now we can we can feel good about how we spend Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- also add Fracking - a gas exploration our time. It’s meaningful. It matters tration have 2010 tied with 2005 as and mining process which threatens deeply. We make fabulous connec- the “Warmest Year on Record”. water supplies. tions with other people who care, and Climate deniers will say that local ex- can really feel a part of a community. treme weather events are not uncom- So we do all this campaigning because "e work we do is also o$en appre- mon, but when it’s happening all over we are familiar with the area. Many ciated. Michael McNamara re%ects the world at such great rates?? of us have travelled and some of us upon the many people thanking him have come from other places so we and others who stood up to the Rally Mother nature seems to be trying know how special it is here. Because in his article. Just the other day a guy her very best to wake us all from our of this we feel like we have to do from work told me how he thought it slumber. "e message to me seems something. And we do it unpaid, in was great that I was involved. “If you to be “please work with me rather whatever free time we have. In return guys weren’t around”, he said, “ there than against me” but we still have the many environmental campaign- would be nothing to stop the place prominent mindset of ‘nature is to be ers get attacked and vili!ed. We get looking like one big parking lot”. controlled and used’. "is is the mind- accused of doing it because we have set that puts dams on natural water- big egos when really standing up for And beyond the Tweed Valley the ways and thinks it can develop on what we love is as natural an action work that needs doing is almost crip- %ood plains and ‘conquer’ the bush in as a mother standing up for her child. pling in its immensity. Mother nature a rally car, and burn billions of tons of Sometimes we even get arrested or is literally screaming out for help at fossil fuels with no e#ect. Fortunately even sued. "e recent news of de- the moment on an all too frequent ba- a lot of us are ‘waking up’ but there veloper Bob Els suing our local hero sis. Her current communicating me- are very powerful and greedy forces Katie Milne is beyond belief. Katie has dium of choice is natural disasters and at work trying to ensure we do not. literally dedicated her life to preserv- extreme weather events - One on top ing some of this paradise for future generations and in return she gets !is edition of TREE edited by Judy Oakenfull and Christine sued by one of the richest and most Moore powerful men in the country, and Cover Photograph of Byrrill Creek by Megan Jack faces the prospect of living her life Submissions for the next edition to: in debt. And in case you think this [email protected] couldn’t possibly be successful, think TREE + :GGN:EK>IHKM?KHF
\Zf^Zg]p^gm by Michael McNamara Public O&cer of Northern Rivers Guardians and former President of No Rally Group
For anyone who didn’t know, 2009. It drew about 100 people from much fun for a protest as he zipped the Repco Rally has been all over the Tweed Shire. here and there in his wheelchair! chased out of the Tweed Valley From that meeting the No Rally- •numerous addresses to the Tweed and Kyogle areas. Late last year Group grew. So did the opposition Shire Council’s Community Access organisers decided to move the and the conviction that we would win. sessions by various NRG members rally to Co#s Harbour. I had come from a background of •countless letters to anyone and eve- While this is no great win for the trade union and community activ- ryone from anyone and everyone environment generally it is a very ism that was very structured. "e No Rally Group blew me away. It was •endless research (especially by signi!cant win for the residents and Cloud, Jules and Wendy) to make environment of the Far North Coast. anarchy in action – but it worked. We were a beautiful rabble. sure that we were presenting factual As far as I know this is the !rst time and soundly based information anywhere in the world that a World "e day Julie and I got married was the day of the !rst protest at King- •the inspirational speeches in state Rally Championship venue has been parliament by Dr Gordon Moyes and moved because of local opposition. scli#. We were unable to attend and everyone was worried that there the Greens MLCs in the debate on Our community based struggle to would be a small turnout. the state government’s special legisla- rid the area of this horrid little event tion to allow the rally to proceed started in February 2009. Sledge and Danielle arrived for our wedding at about 4:30pm and told me •the picture in the Tweed Daily News Sometimes when I look back on our that there had been over 200 people of our “delegate” on the steps of the struggle I am reminded of the Lord at the protest. It was a great success! I FIA building in Paris as she delivered of the Rings trilogy - a small diverse told Julie as we leant in to each other a 1.5kg package of documentation band of travellers on a quest to defeat at one point in the ceremony. Some from us about the rally and why it the forces of evil. I also think of the guests are still wondering why, in the should not run here. ("e e#orts of old Dungeons and Dragons role play- middle of the wedding ceremony, she Andrea, Megan, Li#y and Menkit to ing game where each player collected turned to Sledge and Danielle and get the package organised in a very skills and weapons along the way and gave them a big two handed “thumbs short timeframe were stunning) used them to best e#ect. up” and the biggest smile. •the sight of police emerging from "e No Rally Group was a bit like Judy’s “Dinosaur” poster is another a bus (parked illegally) at the Uki that. memory. "at dinosaur really got protest with full riot gear, includ- under the organisers’ skin. ing shields. "ankfully someone in "e rally brought together a diverse the police ranks had the sense to tell band of local residents opposed to its Many other memories of an abso- them to put their toys away. imposition on this area. Each came lutely hectic 20 months %ood back as with their own reasons, skills, abili- I write this – memories of the actions As with any group we had our ups ties, interests and experience. and absolute commitment of the and downs. One day we would be members of No Rally Group: convinced the rally had been defeat- Each member of the group put them ed only to have our dreams shattered to good use. •the march through Murwillumbah in the next. May, full of noise, colour and passion, Jenny Pearson (Janaki) called the !rst in which Rainer was made up as a We had our internal frictions and public meeting at Uki in February rally car. He seemed to be having too disagreements. Members joined and
TREE - others resigned, including me at "is article is far from a one point. de!nitive history of the suc- cessful struggle against the ;RKKBEE
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Man lights his tap water on "re in the movie ‘Gaslands’
TREE / While the coal seam gas process Information for this article taken DUHHOHFWHGWRVHUYHWKH$XVWUDO has the potential to threaten prime from LDQFRPPXQLW\DQGPXVWEHKHOG farmland, so far the National Party Susan Stock: http://nsw.greens.org. DFFRXQWDEOHWRDFWLQRXUEHVW has spoken favourably of companies au/content/coal-seam-gas-update LQWHUHVWV involved. "e SMH reported that Courier Mail: http://www.cou- 2XUJRYHUQPHQWVPXVWUHVWRUHWKH other NSW Nationals have been riermail.com.au/news/%awed- EDODQFHEHWZHHQUDPSDQWVKRUW busy lobbying the NSW government science-fans-doubts-on-gas-indus- WHUPGHYHORSPHQWRIRXUQDWXUDO for support for the expansion of the trys-greenhouse-gas-emissions/ UHVRXUFHVDQGWKHSUHVHUYDWLRQRI industry in NSW. story-fn7kjcme-1225995090508 WKHHQYLURQPHQWDQGTXDOLW\RIOLIH Sydney Morning Herald: http:// IRUSUHVHQWDQGIXWXUHJHQHUDWLRQV Eastern Star Gas, who are involved www.smh.com.au/environment/tox- RI$XVWUDOLDQV in Fracking, are headed by former ins-found-at-third-site-as-fracking- :HDUHFDOOLQJIRU National Party leader John An- fears-build-20101118-17zfv.html 7KHLPPHGLDWH derson, and Aston Resources, also http://www.smh.com.au/environ- HVWDEOLVKPHQWRID5R\DO&RPPLV involved, are headed by another ment/list-reveals-toxic-chemi- VLRQWRLQYHVWLJDWHDOOLPSDFWVRI former National leader, Mark Vale. cals-used-in-coal-seam-mining- 20101019-16s26.html WKHFRDODQGJDVPLQLQJLQGXVWULHV Sue Stock says, “It will be vital to Gaslands: http://www.gaslandthe- WRDGYLVHRQUHSDUDWLRQRIGDPDJH know the details of the Coalition’s movie.com/ GRQHDQGWRGHÀQHDUREXVWDQG policy on coal seam gas mining, EDODQFHGIUDPHZRUNXQGHUZKLFK if as expected they come to power WKH\ZLOOEHJRYHUQHG a$er the next State election in two DG;CL@=?9L= $QLPPHGLDWH 0RUDWRULXPRQDOOFRDOPLQLQJ months time. We urgently need to 7KH/2&.7+(*$7($OOLDQFH DQGDOOXQFRQYHQWLRQDOJDVPLQ know the views of our local Nation- LVDQDWLRQDODOOLDQFHRIFRPPX al Party representatives here in the LQJ LQFOXGLQJFRDOVHDPVKDOH QLW\LQGXVWU\DQGHQYLURQPHQWDO Northern Rivers.” DQGXQGHUJURXQGFRDOJDVLÀFDWLRQ JURXSV Whilst supporters of the industry DSSURYDOVXQWLODUREXVWOHJLVODWLYH :HDUHFDOOLQJIRUDEDODQFHGDQG may claim Fracking in Australia is IUDPHZRUNLVLQSODFH ULJRURXVUHJXODWRU\DSSURDFKWR ‘safer’ than in America, because we 7KHLQWURGXFWLRQRI SROLFHWKHGHYHORSPHQWRIWKHFRDO don’t use the same chemicals here, a JURXQGZDWHUSUHVHUYDWLRQUHTXLUH DQGXQFRQYHQWLRQDOJDVPLQLQJ Sydney Morning Herald investiga- PHQWVXQGHUWKH)HGHUDO(QYLURQ LQGXVWULHVLQ$XVWUDOLD tion stated that “A government list PHQWDO3URWHFWLRQDQG%LRGLYHUVLW\ $XVWUDOLDLVEHLQJOHWGRZQE\ of 36 chemicals used in coal seam &RQVHUYDWLRQ$FW GHÀFLHQWODZVDQGJRYHUQPHQWV gas extraction in Australia includes 7KHHOLPLQDWLRQRI ZKLFKDOORZWKHXQFRQVWUDLQHG hydrochloric and acetic acid, and IDVWWUDFNSODQQLQJSURFHVVHVIRU JURZWKRIWKRVHGHVWUXFWLYHIRVVLO naphthalene- an ingredient once WKHFRDODQGJDVPLQLQJLQGXVWULHV used in napalm as well as more IXHOH[WUDFWLRQLQGXVWULHV LQDOO6WDWHOHJLVODWLYH$FWV mundane items such as mothballs – 7KLVLVDWWKHORQJWHUPFRVWRIRXU 7KHLQWURGXFWLRQRI and many other hydrocarbons.” Ac- ZDWHUIRRGVHFXULW\DQGRXUFRP FRPSUHKHQVLYHQDWLRQDOIRRGVHFX cording to the SMH gas producers PXQLWLHV)RVVLOIXHOH[WUDFWLRQKDV ULW\OHJLVODWLRQWKDWSURKLELWVFRDO have detected toxic chemical con- DGHWULPHQWDOHIIHFWRQWKHKHDOWK DQGXQFRQYHQWLRQDOJDVPLQLQJRQ tamination in Australian drill sites 3 RISHRSOHDQGWKHHQYLURQPHQW SURGXFWLYHDJULFXOWXUDOODQG times in 2010. What they found was $QXQGHPRFUDWLFSURFHVVKDV /RFDOJRYHUQPHQWV evidence of a solution called BTEX, GLVHQIUDQFKLVHGWKH$XVWUDOLDQ WRKDYHDVWURQJDFWLYHUROHLQ which contains benzene, toluene, SHRSOH GHWHUPLQLQJLIZKHUHZKHQDQG ethylene and xylene. (QRXJKLVHQRXJK KRZWKHVHPLQLQJDFWLYLWLHVVKRXOG $XVWUDOLDQFLWL]HQVDUHWKHULJKWIXO SURFHHG Citizens concerned about Fracking FXVWRGLDQVRIWKLVODQGQRWJRYHUQ say that even discounting the use of PHQWV chemicals, Fracking is still a seri- For more information $XVWUDOLDQFLWL]HQVPXVWKDYHD ous threat to our water supply. For drop in to the CEC shop YRLFHLQGHFLGLQJZKHQZKHUHDQG example methane, salt water and or visit: chemicals already underground can KRZRXUUHVRXUFHVDUHH[SORLWHG also contaminate water supplies. 2XUJRYHUQPHQWUHSUHVHQWDWLYHV http://lockthegate.org.au/
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"e Caldera Environment Centre Inc (CEC) invites local community groups and individuals to form an a&liated coalition to lobby Australian governments (at all three levels) to nominate the Border Ranges biore- gion as a UNESCO Bio- sphere Reserve.
"e UNESCO Biosphere Reserve con- cept provides an aspirational model/ template for a worldwide web of reserves. "ere are currently 564 bio- spheres reserve sites in 109 countries local people cooperate in developing What are the functions of Bio- worldwide, and 15 in Australia. "e a model program for managing land sphere Reserves? Border Ranges and Noosa Biosphere and water to meet human needs while Each biosphere reserve is intended Reserves could provide green belt conserving natural processes and to ful!ll 3 basic functions, which are bu#ers/lungs at either end of the ur- biological resources. complementary and mutually rein- banized strip we call the Moreton Ba- • Finally, each biosphere reserve is a forcing: sin megalopolis, centred on Brisbane symbol of voluntary cooperation to • A conservation function - to but including the Sunshine Coast and conserve and use resources for the contribute to the conservation of the Gold Coast. Approximately 250 well being of people everywhere. landscapes, ecosystems, species and kilometres of concrete and bitumen. genetic variation; Give us a break. Give peace a chance. How did the Biosphere Reserve • A development function - to foster concept start? economic and human development What is a Biosphere Reserve? which is socio-culturally and ecologi- • A biosphere reserve is a unique "e origin of Biosphere Reserves goes cally sustainable; concept which includes one or more back to the “Biosphere Conference” • A logistic function - to provide sup- protected areas and surrounding organized by UNESCO in 1968. "is port for research, monitoring, educa- lands that are managed to combine was the 1st intergovernmental confer- tion and information exchange related both conservation and sustainable use ence examining how to reconcile to local, national and global issues of of natural resources. the conservation and use of natural conservation and development. • Each biosphere reserve conserves resources, thereby foreshadowing the examples of characteristic ecosystems present day notion of sustainable de- What are the Biosphere Reserve of one of the world’s natural regions, velopment. "is conference resulted zones? managed for their protection and in the launching of the UNESCO study. “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB) Biosphere reserves are organized into • It is a land and/or coastal/marine Program in 1970. One of the original 3 interrelated zones: area in which people are an integral MAB projects consisted in establish- component, and which is managed ing a coordinated ‘World Network’ of • "e core area for objectives ranging from complete sites representing the main ecosys- • "e bu#er zone protection to intensive yet sustainable tems of the planet in which genetic • "e transition area production. resources would be protected, and • It is a regional centre for monitor- where research on ecosystems as well Only the core area requires legal ing, research, education and training as monitoring and training work protection and hence can correspond on natural and managed ecosystems. could be carried out. "ese sites were to an existing protected area such as a • It is a place where government deci- named as “Biosphere Reserves”, in nature reserve or a national park. "e sion makers, scientists, managers and reference to the MAB program itself. zonation scheme is applied in many
TREE 1 A biosphere reserve is a representa- di#erent ways in the real world to ac- tive in order for the local community tive ecological area with 3 mutually commodate geographical conditions, to better respond to external politi- reinforcing functions; conservation, socio-cultural settings, available legal cal, economic and social pressure, sustainable development and logistic protection measures and local con- which would a#ect the ecological and support for scienti!c research and straints. "is %exibility can be used cultural values of the area. Hence it education. Collectively, all biosphere creatively and is one of the strong- is necessary to set up an appropriate reserves form a World Network est points of the biosphere reserve governance mechanism, for instance linked by exchanges of experience concept, facilitating the integration of a committee or board, to plan and and knowledge. "ey are part of a protected areas into the wider land- coordinate all the activities of all the UNESCO scienti!c program, gov- scape. actors concerned, each within their erned by a ‘so$ law’, the Statutory own mandate and competence. Usu- Framework. ally a biosphere reserve coordinator What are the bene#ts of Bio- Natural World Heritage sites must be is named as the contact person for all sphere Reserves? of outstanding universal value in ac- matters dealing with the biosphere cordance with the UNESCO Conven- reserve. "e biosphere reserve concept can tion on the Protection of the World be used as a framework to guide and Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972). reinforce projects to enhance people’s Who pays? E#orts to enhance local development livelihoods and ensure environmental and to promote scienti!c understand- sustainability. UNESCO’s Everyone; the level of funding de- ing are means to ensure the protec- Recognition can serve to highlight pends on the nature and extent of tion of the natural World Heritage and reward such individual e#orts. the projects and activities under- values. "e designation of a site as a bio- taken. O$en, additional funding is In some instances, a core area of a sphere reserve can raise awareness not needed: existing budgets can be biosphere reserve can meet World among local people, citizens and aligned to meet shared goals. Indus- Heritage criteria: the usually larger government authorities on environ- try, tour operators, charitable foun- biosphere reserve can therefore serve mental and development issues. It dations, research funding agencies, as a complementary means to protect can help to attract additional fund- governments, local municipalities the integrity of the World Heritage ing from di#erent sources. At the can all help, Continual support from site. national level, biosphere reserves can government - even if only moral and serve as pilot sited or ‘learning places’ technical - ensures good connections Please email or visit the CEC to ob- to explore and demonstrate approach- with national policy and international tain a form letter and help lobby the es to conservation and sustainable e#orts related to sustainable develop- Government to nominate this region development, providing lessons which ment. UNESCO can provide advice can be applied elsewhere. In addition and occasionally seed funds to initiate For more information on Australia’s they are a concrete means for coun- local e#orts; these can help broker Biosphere Reserves go to: http:// tries to implement Agenda 21, the projects or to set up durable !nancial www.environment.gov.au/parks/bio- Convention on Biological Diversity mechanisms. sphere/ (for example the Ecosystem Ap- proach), many Millennium Develop- What is the di$erence between Drop in to the CEC Shop to pick up a ment Goals (for example on environ- a Biosphere Reserve and a form letter. mental sustainability), and the UN natural World Heritage site? Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. In the case of large natural areas which straddle national boundaries, transboundary biosphere reserves can be established jointly by the countries (states) concerned, testi- fying to long-term cooperative e#orts.
Who is in charge?
UNESCO does not require any change in law or ownership: each biosphere reserve has its own system of governance to ensure it meets its functions and objectives. "e man- agement system of a biosphere reserve needs to be open, evolving and adap- TREE 2 AHPMA>MP>>=PBEE PBMA
Frank Stadler, Tweed resident and Sea level rise is making matters worse. Research Coordinator at the National Severe storms, such as East Coast Climate Change Adaptation Research Lows, usually increase sea surface Facility (NCCARF), gave a public height. "is higher than usual sea presentation to the Tweed Climate level adds to the tidal level and the Action Now group on 11 November phenomenon is known as a storm 2010 where he introduced some of the tide. "e narrow continental shelf o# major climate change impacts the re- the coast means that these storms also gion can expect and explained which produce large waves with devastating adaptation options could be employed consequences for the sandy coast line. to cope with this change. Sea level rise will add further to the overall height of the storm tide, with Regardless whether one accepts major consequences. climate change or not, there is no Conventional %ood defence infra- denying that carefully planned and A recent CSIRO study of coastal structure such as the levy along the implemented adaptation has many inundation in south-east Queensland Tweed River in Murwillumbah is ef- co-bene!ts that extend far beyond suggests that a 20 centimeter sea level fective, but it is also costly to establish climate change. Careful adaptation rise will mean a catastrophic 1 in 100 and to upgrade. It would be cheaper measures can increase the sustainabil- year storm tide of 2.5 m at Moreton to avoid exposure to damage in the ity of human activities, make social Bay, is likely to recur about every 61 !rst place. and natural systems more resilient, years, and recur every 38 years if sea contribute to food security, provide levels rise 40 centimeters. Options include zoning and planning for livable cities and enhance our measures that limit or prevent devel- quality of life. Sea levels are predicted to rise 20 cen- opment in %ood prone areas, building timeters by 2030 and 40 centimeters codes and design standards for new With climate change, coastal northern by 2050 which means that very soon, infrastructure and housing stock to NSW and south-east Queensland are even low intensity storms could cause ensure that it can handle inundation likely to experience more extreme signi!cant erosion. for short periods of time and clean- storms more o$en. Projections also up is facilitated. Existing vulnerable suggest that tropical cyclones will Because there is a high residential housing and infrastructure might also reach further south with the poten- turnover along the coast the majority need to be altered. tial to cause much destruction in our of coastal residents may never have In order to cope with the conse- region. experienced a severe storm event quences of sea level rise and greater with coastal inundation and dramatic coastal erosion all adaptation options Severe storm systems, known as East beach erosion. need to be considered. "is includes Coast Lows, have caused signi!cant traditional approaches such as tempo- destruction in the past. "e latest hit While storm events can not be pre- rary sand bagging, longer term beach the region in May 2009. East Coast vented, it is possible to prepare for nourishment and permanent sea walls Lows mainly occur during autumn their impact. More frequent and more and dune protection infrastructure. and winter and bring gale force severe inland and coastal %ooding However, planned retreat strategies winds, heavy rainfall and %ooding. and coastal erosion will challenge the for such properties that are simply too "ey also cause heavy swells and way we plan, develop, and protect our costly or too di&cult to defend may severe coastline damage. infrastructure and natural assets. also need to be considered.
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We can hear older people talking unions and anti-pollution lobbyists. written a detailed account of how about how hot it was when they were More recently it is interesting to see these organizations work, with a young and this is nothing new, so how science itself is one of the main focus on how they use the same therefore climate change is baloney. things under attack. discredited scientists and bogus argu- We can hear plenty of complaints ments each time. She mentions Fred about a price on carbon and what it "e nature of science is that it is Singer as one name that regularly is supposed to do to us. Just recently based on objective empirical observa- appears. In 1983, Singer argued that I heard someone in the context of tions. "e problem is that sometimes evidence of acid rain damage was denying climate change, saying how it these observations show that the lacking and that much acidi!cation was the !rst time in December they’d products corporations make money was natural and potentially bene!cial. ever had to wear a jumper. In these from are not always so good for us. Singer also argued that ozone deple- conversations the ‘weather’ o$en gets "e classic example here is Tobacco. tion was a natural variation being confused with ‘climate’. "e science on the health e#ects of exploited by scientists wanting more smoking was clearly not good. "is grant money. He also denied the Uncertainty and questioning about was a rather large threat to Tobacco carcinogenic e#ects of second hand what’s happening in our world is not company pro!ts therefore they spent smoke. Today Singer writes articles uncommon and generally a great a fortune trying to discredit the sci- attacking the validity of climate thing in a democracy. Usually we ence. "eir tactics included setting change. He and several other ‘scien- turn to reason and logic and - dare I up think tanks, false experts and fake tists’ such as Patrick Michaels, and say- Science and experts in the !eld ‘grass roots’ organizations. "ey used here in Australia Bob Carter and Ian to help us sort things out and work the best PR companies to cast doubt Pilmer use the same kind of argu- out the best course of action to take. on the links between smoking and ments. "ese consist largely of “there cancer. "ey promoted discredited is no evidence and is no consensus”. "e problem here is that peoples’ scienti!c studies. "ey did stu# like "ey say it’s all a conspiracy and may uncertainty about climate change is predict dire economic consequences even be bene!cial, and human impact being fed by a multimillion-dollar if regulation came in, and ignored is too small to have an e#ect. Oreskes campaign that is speci!cally designed cost bene!ts for the health system. says “All the same arguments were to obscure and confuse. Also millions being repeated over and over... by the of dollars and the best PR companies Over the last few decades’ corpora- same people.” It’s these arguments we are being employed by big energy to tions have also challenged the link can hear on the streets of the Tweed attack the science and thousands of between CFCs and the ozone hole, today along with claims it’s caused by individual scientists who have done asbestos and cancer, DDT and envi- volcanoes, sunspots, cosmic rays and the work and know what they are ronmental degradation along with even aliens. talking about. O$en this kind of stu# many other ‘inconvenient truths’. By is sent around peoples email net- the time Climate change came around "e aim of all this is not to convince works, and can be found on thou- they were absolute experts at these people of their arguments 100 per- sands of blogs and websites. tactics. Institutes like "e Heartland cent. "ey have actually done their Institute, "e George C Marshall job if they manage to confuse people Why do big energy companies do Institute and PR Companies like Hill enough, so that action is delayed this? "e heart of it is that any action and Knowlton were and continue to or prevented. "ese tactics delayed governments take on climate change be heavily involved in all of this. "ey action on smoking and CFCs. Now will most likely limit their ability to are largely funded by Big Corpora- action on climate change is being make huge pro!ts. Big corporations tions, though increasingly they get delayed. have a long history of !ghting tooth donations from conservative citizens and nail against anything that may as well. Here in Australia we have "e As well as a strong interest by compa- impede their ability to make lots of Institute of Public A#airs. nies in their bottom line, it is a strong money. Historically they have fought ideological belief which is behind all just about everything that has the po- In ‘Merchants of doubt’ Naomi of this, and it is this belief that drives tential to threaten pro!ts, for example Oreskes and Erik M. Conway have politicians and ordinary citizens to
TREE ** promote the false messages of big badly unless they are in the top few instead of spreading the message that energy. "is belief could be described percent. climate change is a socialist plot, they as Neo Conservative or simply are talking up the conspiracy that Right Wing. Essentially it is based Whilst those on the right of politics climate change is a plot devised by on a strong faith in the economy of are always the !rst to argue for Law big business to make more money out which big energy is such a huge part. and order on ordinary citizens, any of us all, or a way for big business to Some follow this line as they have such ‘law and order’ on corporations have even more control over us. "ey personal wealth themselves, perhaps is opposed. As Orekses writes, “any question the motives of people like Al with shares in fossil fuel companies. time the government steps in to ‘pro- Gore and organizations such as 350. Some have jobs in energy or mining. tect’ us from harm, then we’re on the org asserting links with big money in For example they may be engineers, slippery slope to socialism”. Of course the US. I guess it’s just a conspiracy geologists or work in coalmines. And one of the main conspiracy theories theorist thing. I !nd it all rather fas- some simply hold on to the idea that about climate change is that it is just cinating, though a little sad that these an unrestricted economy will be good a ‘socialist plot’. Amusingly, this senti- people are also helping out big energy for everyone and everything and ment is clearly expressed in some of by spreading this stu# around. provide jobs and a good way of life the climate denial letters in our local for all. "is is the argument that these papers. So readers take your pick. Is climate guys most o$en push in the main- change a socialist plot to enable world stream media but while it may sound Recent experiences in the Tweed takeover, or is it a plot by big business nice on the surface for some, I do not make me wonder if big energy has to make more money? Or is it even think it really holds up to scrutiny. found yet another ingenious way remotely possible that it could actu- It can easily be seen that it is only in to !ght climate change regulation. ally be happening? Will you take your countries with strong governments as Industry propaganda seems to have information from industry-funded well, that most citizens are able to en- found its way into the arguably lobbyists, conspiracy theorist blogs joy economic prosperity. In countries more le$ leaning conspiracy theorist or from the thousands of climate with weak or corrupt governments, websites and magazines. Some people scientists, physicists, environmental where corporations are allowed to do that would normally consider them- scientists, biologists and others in the what they like, unimpeded by regula- selves ‘green’ are also expressing skep- !eld doing the actual work? tion, then citizens usually fare very tic views. From what I can gather,
TREE *+ Greetings lovely ones. ing, we have to give a big hug to ard and stored in a 20,000 litre tank the Tweed Echo. What an amazing under the building. "e toilets are Well we’re positively thing it is to have a slice of the media vacuum system (like aeroplanes) which tells us what’s actually going which means they only need half a !zzing with hope and on. litre of water per %ush, as opposed to delight here. Okay I’ll stop frothing now. Maybe. the minimum four and a half litres Our other piece of good news is the in normal systems. "e grey water "e best news around right now Pixel building in Melbourne. "is is goes to a pit with a live !lter in it, is the resurgence of decent people then on to a “living edge” system of standing up for the planet. You greenery which cools and shades could say the Tweed’s been a bit the workspace. Not totally perfect, apathetic for a while, but the No because the partly treated remains of Rally Group (now Northern Riv- the sewage (everything they couldn’t ers Guardians) has changed all that. squeeze out for their own use) ends "ey’ve been leaping about, gather- up in the sewer. But it’s all quite ing good energy and spreading it far amazing non the less. and wide: rekindled lots of hopes and girded many a loin. "eir cam- Other features include the concrete, paign to stop the rally was successful which contains half the usual em- not only in itself, but in waking up bodied carbon, and the wood, which lots of sleepy people and showing us is all either recycled, or sourced from the power we can have. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) an o&ce building, housing eighty approved areas. "ere’s heaps more. people, which is carbon neutral. It Even Caldera Environment Centre Google it supplies all its own water and pow- is having a bit of a surge. Lively, . er. It’s got some sweet innovation, respectful, productive meetings "e architect, Dylan Brady from like harvesting the methane from make for more good energy and on Studio 505, says the aim is to prove the toilets and using that energy to it goes. "ere’s still the dam loiter- it can be done, and the more peo- heat the hot water for showers and ing in the background, King’s Forest ple who opt for these life a&rming sinks. "ere are wind turbines and and Cobaki Lakes monstering the methods, the cheaper and more at- solar panels on the roof, the panels immediate future, and any amount tainable they become. actually turn to face the brightest of other interesting times ahead, but bit of the sky and follow it about. we’re all the better for this renewal. It’s good to see a bit of sanity creep- Sincere thanks to everyone involved. ing into the mainstream. Who "e water is collected from the knows where it might lead. roof, it’s treated to potable stand- Speaking of brilliant and life a&rm- Glory in it, Consuela
CANCER: Relax, no one is accusing SAGITTARIUS: "e ethics of air travel ;9HL9AFK9?= you of being a neat freak, Cancer, we might chisel away at your conscience, but just wish you would do it when we’re there’s nothing ARIES: "ere is no need to stress out not around. quite like a gin & tonic at 30,000 feet. trying to make a good impression, but running a comb LEO: What is the point of me warning CAPRICORN: Lucky colour red, lucky through your hair once in a while you about Mercury in retrograde when I number 3? Come o# it, Capricorn, if wouldn’t hurt. know you aren’t you want easy answers you better look going to take the slightest bit of notice? elsewhere. TAURUS: Travel broadens the mind, Taurus, but why not consider a destina- VIRGO: Go on, Virgo, make a fool of AQUARIUS: It’s OK, we know you’re tion a bit more yourself. At least then you’ll get it out of a greenie at heart, so don’t fret too much adventurous than Tweed City? your system. about that new cappuccino machine.
GEMINI: Yes, yes, we all know you are SCORPIO: When the going gets tough, PISCES: "ere’s more to style than vetting our calls with your digital display the tough get going, but try aiming for colour-coordinates, but no one wants to phone, but it’s nice something more bring you down, to know your failing eyesight makes it a heroic than ordering in pizza when the Pisces – we all know you’re trying. hassle. fridge is empty.
TREE *, PHKDBG@PBMAG:MNK> A PERSONAL VIEW by Ian Herscovitch In 2003 Friends of Wol- !ne examples here in lumbin Landcare Group the Tweed Valley. "is visual impact inclines commenced work regener- us to a sense of urgency, ating a 700 metre strip of that the job has to be land at Byangum, between done as fast as possible. the Tweed River and Kyo- We sometimes liken it to waging a war. We want gle Road. Formerly used for quick results. Resort- cattle grazing, the site was ing to chemical control a mixture of pasture on the seems like a fast and higher ground, and weeds e#ective strategy. It is true that we need to and native trees along the repair and restore native river. "e project was un- ecosystems, but it is dertaken with the speci!c very important that we intention of encouraging strive to see the big picture here. and undramatic journey. But Natural processes o$en take a long slow and gentle may be the way native regeneration without time. Native vegetation is strong that most closely emulates natural the use of chemicals. and resilient, and native forest processes. makes every e#ort it can to repair I do not want to talk much about An enthusiastic group of volun- itself. Instead of being held cap- chemicals here. It is worth not- teers attend monthly workdays tive to our ideas of what should or ing, though, that Monsanto has on site, sometimes half a dozen, shouldn’t be there, and instead of been convicted by the French sometimes twenty or more on imposing our notions of time on Supreme Court for falsely claiming planting days. "e regularity of these natural processes, it is some- that glyphosate is bio-degradable. these workdays has been crucial times better to take a step back A$er four months more than half to the success of the project. An and look at how mother nature the applied glyphosate was found ongoing tree-planting program does things. to be still present in agricultural over the past seven years has spec- Weeds are a kind of scar tissue. soil. A$er one year glyphosate was tacularly transformed much of "ey rush in to colonise degraded still found in food crops at harvest. the pasture area close to the road. land, protect soil, and o$en pro- It is known to be lethal to many Now attention is being directed vide habitat and food for birds and bene!cial insects, earthworms and more at dealing with weeds along animals. "ey replace something fungi. Yet this is the chemical most the river bank. "e Environment that has been lost. Like unruly favoured in the bush regeneration Centre is currently administer- teenagers, weeds can run rampant, business. And of course nobody ing a grant which was awarded to and this is what scares us. Even so, can say for sure what the long Friends of Wollumbin to continue they are doing important work, -term e#ects might be for frogs, this work. though sometimes it may be hard birds, insects and countless other What I would like to do here is for us to appreciate. Consequent- species involved. o#er a few personal thoughts on ly, weed control should not be If we are serious about restor- chemical-free bush regeneration. focused on elimination for its own ing natural habitats, how can we In our e#orts to repair dam- sake, but on encouraging the na- entertain the idea of introducing aged native habitat, it is easy to tive species to displace the weeds. poisons into these very environ- be discouraged by the task at And this takes time. ments we seek to protect? In bush hand. We feel overwhelmed when Bush regeneration, I believe, is regeneration we make decisions confronted by luxuriant weed- about shi$ing the balance in fa- that a#ect the whole array of scapes, of which there are many vour of natives. "is can be a slow plants, animals, insects, birds and
TREE *- soil %ora and fauna. If the inten- tion is to help out all these species, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful why do we in%ict toxic chemicals lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” on them? More o$en than not it’s — !e Lorax, Dr Seuss because we are time-driven, over- taken by that sense of urgency. It is not a good enough reason. able to a scenario where one huge able to fast, toxic and risky. Sometimes the non-chemical e#ort is made for a month, then In the end, it really comes down to solution is not only friendlier, but it’s forgotten about for ages. a duty of care. "at means doing also more e#ective. Ringbarking of Sometimes people will say “I don’t the best we can by all the plants camphor laurel is easy and clean, like to use chemicals, but…”, de- and animals that populate these and the resulting slow decline of scribing herbicides as a necessary areas in our care. Not to mention the tree over several years means evil in getting the job done. "ey duty of care to our fellow humans. a gradual introduction of light are, more accurately, an unneces- Friends of Wollumbin welcomes to the ground, nurturing native sary evil. everyone to our landcare workdays seedlings. We all know the poisons are at Byangum. Next one will be a I o$en liken weed control to wash- harmful , maybe a little bit, maybe planting day on Saturday March ing dishes. You do a bit every day, a lot –no one really knows for sure 5th, from 8 am. Shared morning not let it pile up for a year and - and we know that weeds can be tea under the shade of our older then decide it’s impossible. In controlled without them, even if planted trees is always a highlight. native bush repair a project spread it takes longer. It seems to me that You can contact me on 66795441 steadily over many years is prefer- slow, clean and safe is far prefer- for information.
P:M>KPBL> Hop.E. Hopkins.
"e most damaging %oods, the they are extremely costly in dollar long term) and assisting the mega ones that change landscapes and and environmental terms. coastal developers in the short destroy property, are the one in In an area of very high rainfall like term. one hundred and one in !$y year the Caldera, the no-brainer option very high rainfall events. During is to harvest roof and storm water But the biggest lesson of all for these relatively rare occasions, for on-site and local precinct governments arising from the dams are of little consequence use. Government rebates make record breaking and deadly weath- because of the huge volumes of rainwater tanks quite a#ordable er events from around the world water involved. Witness the recent and householders do not have to – blizzards, bush!res, %oods and %ooding of the Wyvenhoe Dam ingest chlorine or other harmful droughts in both the Northern and catchment and beyond to Bris- chemicals like sodium hypochlo- Southern hemisphere, is the need bane. In mega events, releases are rite. Combined with on-site gray to immediately adopt radical strat- made to safeguard the dam, or the water treatment and household egies to tackle global warming. Is water soon reaches a level where it by-product composting and with it responsible for Council to spend spills over the spillway. appropriate landscaping and millions on unsustainable projects plantings, residents can partly free like new dams, beach replenish- "e prudent course of action for themselves from the shackles and ment, unnecessary ‘beauti!cation’ Tweed Shire Council would be sheckles of Council rates. and unwanted high rise schemes to heed the engineer’s advice and when whole environmental and repair/modify the spillway of the Water and sewerage consumes ecological systems are unraveling Doon Doon Dam. half of Council’s budget. Half of before our eyes? your rate contributions. Dams are also subject to siltation Head in the sand Ostrich leads to and blue/green algae growths and "e push for a dam on Byrill death like Dodo and mown down are not the panacea for %ood relief creek is all about making money Moa. or water storage that some coun- for Tweed Shire Council (in the cilors seem to imagine. Above all
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