Clarence Environment Centre Newsletter Summer2005 Update from Jess and Av

CEC – UPDATE FROM WFTD PARTICIPANTS
– Jess Bowden and Avelindo Robertson

Its been about 4 months since Ave and I started our work for the dole projects here at the CEC. This is just a quick summary of projects and activities to date.

1st week back in the CEC fold I attended a Water Committee Meeting – I unfortunately haven't been involved much in the past with the water project and was a bit out of my depth. However I took notes and they are available at the CEC for any interested members to have a look at. Their next meeting should be coming up soon. The water project office is still located in Skinner St. Sth. Grafton if anyone has any questions or would like to know where the project is up to. John Edwards and crew are still very active in regards to the Shannon Creek Dam proposal.

Next the Greens campaign in the Federal Election – handing out how to votes and supporting the incredible need for change in our political system.

Keeping in touch with the email correspondence/communication has been one of the most valuable things – Much communication was happening especially around election time – discussing all sorts of environmental and social issues affecting us all.

Updates come in regularly from the likes of Nature Conservation Council, North Coast Environment Council, Environmental Defenders Office and NEFA crew.

It was via this process that I came across proposed changes by the NSW Carr Government to Threatened Species Legislation and used information from NCEC and NCC to write a submission on behalf of the CEC. I then came across a campaign via Dailan Pugh and certain Byron Councillors to help protect Cape Byron Marine Park. So again using information posted via email and websites I wrote a submission on behalf of the CEC supporting them and it.

I have also been trying to follow up on petitions that have been filled out ages ago and needed to be sent off.

One of the last things I have had input into is the Draft Native Vegetation Regulations 2004. I used information from a submission done by Carmel Flint/NCC and put one in personally and Ave did one on behalf of the CEC using Carmels points. Its excellent to have access to information already researched and thought out by people within the movement that I know, love and respect. Submissions were extended to the end of Jan 05'. Quite a few of the CEC members attended a workshop held at the Emporium at the end of Nov. 04'. Reps from the EDO, NCC and DIPNR were there to present the new regulations and answer questions. Consideration of submissions usually goes on for 6-8 weeks – I rang DIPNR on 18th Feb. They have heard that veg regulations are meant to be finalised and out by April 05', but the process has been dragging on for so long they did not know exactly when. T he pollies want the legislation dealt with as soon as possible. The proposed new native vegetation regulation 2004 can be viewed at the DIPNR website at: www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au

The submissions we have done are available for anyone to read – I will endeavour to put them all in one spot in the CEC library.

While all the above has been going on Ave Robertson has been working away on painting signs for the CEC – the centre now has 3 big signs for op shop, gift shop and CEC, with logos and all, as well as a new message board with a colour logo (upon consultation with the original designer of course), Chris Jones. I really appreciate Ave being in the shop as I have been able to write when I needed to and when he has been consistently working on the signs I have been at the front desk. I came to appreciate what is involved in signwriting/painting and the unforseen construction, design of where the signs were to go. We have both been keeping the front desk personed and organising the op shop, general cleaning up, etc - - giving other volunteers the opportunity to do their own thing a bit more for eg. over Christmas and new year. Unfortunately I have become acutely aware of the effort, resources and time required to organise and execute effective environmental campaigning and as I knew my position was only going to be until the study year started I avoided taking on anything too much – I realised I was not going to be around to follow up – and not having specialised knowledge to comment on issues leaves you vulnerable as a campaigner. Networking with others to understand the gamut of issues was my solace. Therefore supporting other peoples efforts was what I decided to do – and is also one of the CEC's focuses in general - funds being raised @ the CEC are going to people already working on established campaigns and have expertise in the areas they are canvassing for. Well just a quick round up, there are always issues to be looked at locally, nationally and globally and I am glad I have a place that at least provides resources, networks and information so I can find out for myself and contribute via email or letters to support various campaigns submission writing. I will finish off with a little overview of some of the information resources we have received at the CEC from Oct 04'-Jan 05'

State Forests Harvest Plans continue to be posted to us – last one received end of Jan 05' Compartments 166/167/228 Chaelundi SF.

NPWS - Hortons Creek Management Plan

National Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan - Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council

2004-2007 - including (Background, Objectives, strategies, actions and Implementation.) This report is available here

NCEC Newsletter – Jan 05'

The Colong Bulletin – Jan 05'

Waves Vol. 10– The Marine and Coastal Community Network newsletter – Summer 2004 - 05

Chain Reaction Issue 92– National Magazine of Friends of the Earth – (always a good read) – Summer 2004 – Towards a Global Environmentalism. (Binnie O'Dwyer helped with this issue – yay Binnie.) subscription enquiries – here

CSIRO Sustainability Network Update – check out – www.bml.csiro.au/sustnet.htm, the SustNet website is maintained by Lyndon Hirst at CSIRO's Black Mountain Library – comments and suggestions welcome – contact Lyndon here

Climate Change issues are currently heating up due to the signing of the Kyoto Protocol recently and Australia's lack of commitment to date. Representatives from organisations and peoples' movements from around the globe came together in Durban, South Africa in Oct. 2004 to discuss realistic avenues for addressing climate change. The group emerged from the meeting with this call for a global grassroots movement against climate change. To sign on to this statement please send an email or visit – see also the website of the World Rainforest Movement

More recently a Conference was held at the University of Sydney – Wesley College – on 18th & 19th Nov 2004. The 2004 CANA Conference called ‘Turning up the Heat – Increasing the Impact of Climate Change Campaigns’ would have outcomes published. Hopefully the Nature Conservation Council will post something via their email newsletter on these outcomes.

Well signing off for now – onto the music course – take care one and all. The bees nest is being stirred and poked more and more by our current socio-political climate – may the peoples movement once again be ready to strike.

Peace & Love - Jess xxoo