National issues and contacts

As many of us are aware, the Australian environment is under attack politically and physically. In "McWorld", a system of free-market economics and globalised trading, businesspeople and many governments live and breathe vast profits. We are in a phase led by our regressive prime minister, wherein the market is allowed to be what creates wealth, with no recognition that certain areas have wealth intrinsic in themselves. Fortunately, our nation has a proud history of environmental activism and other conservation activities. In the 1960s, conservation emerged as a significant worldwide issue. The Cold War and Vietnam led to global peace and nuclear-disarmament movements.

We also have a proud history of green unions. In the 1970s, the Builders and Labourerís Federation (BLF) ensured that unions had an environmental conscience, by imposing "green bans" on projects it considered unsound either environmentally or for other social reasons, such as the planned demolition of the historical buildings in the Rocks area of Sydney. In 1971, upper-class women fought alongside the BLF to save Kelleyís Bush in Sydney. This struggle resulted in Heritage legislation and the establishment of the Lands and Environment Act. Also in that year, some folk living in the area around Nimbin saved Terrania Creek from being dammed. It was the first time that environmentalists had used the court system and won; further, it ensured that environmental-impact studies were to be used in sensitive areas. In 1984, the Franklin River, in Tasmania, was saved from a hydroelectric dam project by mass rallies and a sustained campaign.

Since 1984, there have been many campaigns, including the French nuclear-testing campaign, the 1993ó5 woodchipping campaign, and the continuing nuclear campaigns. Although attacks on the environment seem endless, we must keep our past and future victories in mind. See the OECD Environment Performance Review of Australia at

http://www.environment.gov.au/epcg/esd/intergovt_unit/OECD.html.

Uranium mining

If completed, the Jabiluka mine threatens to destroy the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. Currently, 300 sites are being explored around Australia, with over 40 mines already proposed, of which five or six should be operating within the next year. Currently there are three official operating uranium mines: Olympic Dam (Roxby Downs in SA); and Ranger Mine, in the NT; and Beverly, in SA. It is sheer madness that while the rest of the world is shutting down its reactors, Australia is firing its own up! You may like to contact:

Everyone for a Nuclear Free Future (ENUFF), on (08) 8232 8595

Nuclear Disarmament Party , contactable through their website http://www.nucleardisarmament.org.

Other groups working in the nuclear campaign area include:

Humps Not Dumps, at http://www.green.net.au/humpsnotdumps;

Friends of the Earth, at http://www.foe.org.au;

Sustainable Energy and Anti-uranium service, at http://www.sea-us.org.au.

Feral Animals

Feral animals and plants, including cane toads; rabbits; foxes; pigs; goats; fish, e.g. carp; shrimps; ostriches; exotic oysters; starfish; insects; mulberry; watercress; cacti; and common pretty flowers that have spread and now make up 30% of Australiaís noxious weeds, pose the greatest threat to our native species and habitat. This problem has not been adequately addressed by greenies in the past. To contain and eradicate species is time consuming and costly. If you are planting non-natives in your garden, make sure that they do not climb or spread and can be easily controlled. We do not need to add to the problem.

For more information on how to rid these feral species, try contacting your local environment centre, or read the book Feral Future by Tim Low.

Oil drilling in the Great Barrier Reef

If a shale oil industry were developed in the Great Barrier Reef, a new source of greenhouse pollution would be created in Queensland. Gladstone (the proposed refinery) would also directly threaten the Great Barrier Reef.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society ? http://www.ozemail.com.au/~amcs

Mining

Mining, of either minerals, or uranium, is a major issue for Australia. Areas under threat include: the Tarkine in Tasmania; Lake Cowal in New South Wales; DíEntrecasteaux National Parks in Western Australia; Timbarra in New South Wales; Yumbarra Conservation Park in South Australia; North Stradbroke Island in Queensland; the Box-Ironbark Forests in Victoria; the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland; and Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. Contact TWS, ACF or the state environment centres.

Timbarra Mining Project: a gold mine is threatening the Clarence River area (northern NSW), home to several endangered species and of outstanding conservation value. Contact Timbarra Direct Action, an alliance of students, conservationists, Aboriginal custodians, local land holders and concerned citizens on (02) 6620 3044 or (02) 6622 2882 (fax)

The Mineral Policy Institute researches the activities of Australian and Asian Pacific companies. Contact on (02) 9387 5540, (02) 9386 1497 (fax), mpi@mpi.hydra.org.au or PO Box 21, Bondi Junction NSW 2022, and see http://www.hydra.org.au/mpi.

Forest groups

Around Australia our native forests are being logged at alarming rates. There are incredible amounts of woodchipping around Eden Monaro, and blockades in North East forests. Contact these groups:

Sydney Forest Activist Network (Nature Conservation Council of NSW) ? Contact Therese on (02) 9247 4141, (02) 9279 2855, f_a_n98@hotmail.com, write to them at PO Box 599, Ashfield, NSW 1800 or see http://www.nccnsw.org.au/forests

North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) ? Contact on (02) 6622 4737 or 123 Keen Street Lismore 2480 or see the website http://www.pip.com.au/-glenn/nefa/index.htm

Otway Ranges Environment Network (OREN) ? http://www.oren.org.au and see Boycott section for companies who have been involved in logging this area.

Rural issues

People on the land are having a terrible time with salinity from rising water tables; algal blooms due to pesticide use; chemicals used to support crops not designed to be grown in Australia; mass erosion due to the introduction of hard hoofed animals, and others, many of whom have turned feral, like brumbies, pigs, camels and buffalo. You can make some contribution to overcoming these problems by working with one of the environmental volunteer groups listed in the "how to get outside & dig" section of the first part of this guide.

The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

There is a natural greenhouse effect which allows us to survive on the planet. Since the Industrial Revolution, we have been putting more greenhouse gases into the ozone layer, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These can come from natural means (digestion in animals like cows, which is not helped by large scale animal farming), and from human intervention, including burning fossil fuels (eg gas, coal and oil). Deforestation also contributes by destroying plants which absorb carbon dioxide. The increase in human produced greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to a greenhouse scenario. This will lead to an increase in global warming - the effects of which are strongly debated. Everyone can do something about the greenhouse effect. The Australian government however, has refused to do anything, arguing in Kyoto that Australia should be exempt from greenhouse targets due to our unhealthy reliance on fossil fuels - mining and mineral processing.

The final outcome of Kyoto is that Australia will be able to increase greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2010. Australia is the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. With the limits being set, one of the scariest things is that carbon trading will occur, whereby countries can purchase another countryís forests to balance their own emissions, which may be too high. This could result in forests being classified and valued in terms of their carbon dioxide retention value. If this were so, old growth forests would be seen as worthless. It also allows countries to avoid reducing their greenhouse gas output. We, especially the Howard government should be doing more, not less to reduce our greenhouse gas output. The official site for Australian information on climate change is through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at http://www.dfat.gov.au/environment/climate/index.html

Things you can do include: choose a fuel efficient car when buying; use ëgreení energy; use alternative transport; buy energy efficient appliances (five or six stars); compost, and refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle; reduce the amount of water used; switch to gas, LPG, or electric reverse cycle air conditioning for heating, and replace an electric hot water service with solar or a high efficiency gas one.

Other important issues and general groups

Port Hinchinbrook Development Project is a major tourist development threatening mangroves and dugongs, and is the subject of a long running dispute. There are many other places under development or with problems from pollution, tourists and other causes.

Australian Bush Heritage Fund ? People give donations to buy fragments of bush to preserve for wildlife. Write to PO Box 101, Hobart, TAS 7001, fax (03) 62232680 or phone (03) 622 32670

Australians for an Ecologically Sustainable Population (ASEP) (ACT) ? Contactable through Bogong Environment Centre or PO Box 3345, Manuka, ACT 2603; 62865425 (fax) or email: crsett@ozemail.com.au

Earth First! ? Militant environmental group into monkey wrenching and direct action. Contact through the Rainforest Information Centre (below) or write to EF! Australian Community at Lot 9 Halliford Road, via Dalby, QLD 4405 Alternatively see the website http://www.enviroweb.org/ef or search the internet under Earth First!

Rainforest Information Centre, Lismore on (066) 218505, PO Box 368, Lismore, NSW 2480

Australian Youth Parliament for the Environment ? Environmental education project for 12-18 years old. Contact through Claire Crocker on 0417 483 909 or write to LPO Box A 259 ANU Canberra ACT 2601.

The Wilderness Society (National Campaign Office) ? Contact Julie McGuiness by email at campaign@wilderness.org.au, by phone on 6249 6491 or fax 6249 1002, visit the office at 1^st Floor, Baileyís Corner, 131-157 London Circuit, Canberra City. Write to PO Box 188 Civic Square ACT 2608. Website: http://www.wilderness.org.au.

Australian Conservation Foundation (ACT Branch) ? Meet 1^st Wed/month 7.30pm at Environment Centre, Kingsley Street Acton GPO Box 2699 Canberra ACT 2601 Contact Julia Richards (Convenor) on 6231 8617 or email: richards@webone.com.au

State Contacts

Total Environment Centre ? Solutions to toxic chemicals in your environment. Contact on (02) 9247 4714 and (fax) (02) 92477118 or 1/88 Cumberland Street Sydney NSW 2000 and see http://tec.nccnsw.org.au

The Environment Centre NT ? (08) 8981 1984 (08) 8941 0387 (fax) GPO Box 2121 Darwin NT 0801

Queensland Conservation Council ? Contact on (07) 3221 0188, (07) 3229 7992 (fax) qccqld@powerup.com.au or PO Box 12046 Elizabeth St Brisbane QLD 4002

The Conservation Centre, 120 Wakefield Street Adelaide SA 5000 or call on (08) 8223 5155 (08) 8232 4782 (fax)

Environment Victoria ? Contact on (03) 93489044 or director@envic.org.au

Conservation Council of Western Australia ? (08) 9220 0652 or 79 Stirling Street Perth WA 6000

Western Australia Environment Centre ? an environmental information and resource centre for Western Australia. They publish a Resource guide which is on their web site. Email: ecswa@ecswa.asn.au; phone (08) 92254103 PO Box 7375 Cloisters Square Perth WA 6850 or see http://www.ecwa.asn.au
 

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