Election: Less than three weeks to go. ...Two of the three major parties are set to reduce environmental protection if they get in. Grass roots groups (like SERCA, EEG and MyEnvironment) have been flat out trying to get the environment up as an issue. Lib-Labs are loathe to put a spotlight on the environment because it’s too politically painful for them. It reeks of ruthless destruction and shameless corruption. The carbon price is the nearest we seem to get. Join the protests every Friday night at 437 Bourke St, Melbourne.
Below are a few stories EEG has managed to get a small amount of media exposure on. Also – tomorrow’s ABC radio program AM (7am RN, 8am local ABC), should have another story on the environment and threatened species. Listen out for it.
We need everyone who cares to help push the environment whenever you can – letters to editors, responses to media stories and asking for environment policies from your local reps/candidates.
The recent leak of a diabolical ‘secret’ report on the loss of our native wildlife is very damning and damaging (see below) but a good foot in the door for the media’s election stories.
Report and correspondence from Jill Redwood, Environment East Gippsland
Join the protesters at 437 Bourke St, Melbourne city every Friday night
For two months VicForests head office has been targeted every Friday. The level of public support has been amazing. Thousands of pamphlets have been handed out describing VicForests impact on our forests and their shocking financial history. As it gets dark, movies are projected showing the destruction of our forests. If you can come down to join in the fun please do so. Drinks and pizza afterwards.
MyEnvironment will be harassing VicForests every Friday. Please get along if you can.
Napthine shovels threatened wildlife into extinction pit
A suppressed state govt report is telling us that our wildlife is fast being tipped into the pit of extinction – knowingly!
Entire wildlife species are still being sacrificed for the greed of corporates. In this instance the logging mafia demands access to hundreds of thousands of ha of public native forests to shred for woodchips! (and the Liberal party doesn't mind the odd political donation).
Both the Long-footed Potoroo and the Leadbeaters Possum are mentioned. The secret report says that existing reserves are pathetically inadequate and more forest needs to be protected from logging.
Govt says the report will be released sometime in the near future - and we suspect it will be after they have gone through and totally sanitised it.
See the Age article from 16th August 2013.
Possum needs more room to survive
After ABC's PM program ran a story on the plight of the Leadbeaters Possum's on 14th Aug, the government refused an invitation to respond, instead referring the journalist to the logging lobby group, VAFI!
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2013/s3825739.htm
So Napthine is now putting the logging industry up to publicly speak about the management of threatened species that they are wiping out - can this lot get any more crazy?
Bushfire Commission monitor - 5% target questioned
This just shows how expendable our natural ecosystems and wildlife are in exchange for cheap political expedience.
This quote is taken from the latest report of the Bushfires Royal Commission’s independent monitor, Neil Comrie(p.63). Thousands of people, including scientists and biologists have been saying this since day one.
For Recommendation 57 which covers impacts on biodiversity, Comrie says (p. 65) that the DEPI report that was due in October 2012 is still ‘in progress’. He says that he has ‘a particular interest in biodiversity impacts reported in the DEPI 2012-13 Annual Report on their Planned Burning Program’. He seems to have put DEPI on notice re the impact of these burns on native species and biodiversity. That report is due in a month or so. From what we can tell, the ecological impacts are not monitored.
Neil Comrie’s report can be downloaded here.
Koalas to die as forests burned for fuel
The O'Farrell govt in NSW is planning to open the doors wide open to cut down and burn native forests. If it gets up it will be the template for other states to follow suit. Please send a message to O'Farrell here http://nccnsw.org.au/take-action/stop-burning-forest-for-energy
Even if you don’t live in NSW.
Carbon trading scheme endangers wildlife; biodiversity funds cut
Why the new carbon trading scheme will endanger wildlife and the env – biodiversity fund projects now to get the chop.
The new threat to Australia’s forests are getting a funding boost to progress the insane plan, thanks to the Tassie “Peace deal”.
http://theconversation.com/bioenergy-a-burning-question-for-tasmanias-forests-15623?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+25+July+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+25+July+2013+CID_fb2e18df5823e29d17ebb566fca9943b&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Bioenergy%20a%20burning%20question%20for%20Tasmanias%20forests
Add comment