Protected: Coordinator’s Report 2010
AGM Sat 17 Dec 10.30am
Dear everyone
It’s not just Christmas time – it’s time for an end of year Friends of the Earth Kuranda AGM!
Pat and Donna have kindly agreed to host this gathering at their place.
It will take place on Saturday 17th December from 10.30am. Feel free to bring a plate if you expect to be hungry. The meeting will probably take an hour or so.
Thanks to everyone who’s put in time and effort over the year – especially to retiring committee members Sarah, Nadine and Di.
There’s plenty of opportunity for new blood in FoE Kuranda to make a difference, so if you know anyone who’d like to come to the meeting, please invite them too and/or ask them to call Pat or myself.
Best wishes to all
Syd Walker
4093 8384
___________________________________
Pat Daley’s address where the meeting will be held is
37 Scrub St., Myola (ph 4093 8509)
Stop Wongai Coal Mine near Charlotte Bay, Cape York
Please contact Minister Burke, Federal Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, PO Box 6022,House of Representatives,Parliament House,Canberra ACT 2600, ph (02) 6277 7640, fax: (02) 6273 6101, email: Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au and tell him you oppose the underground coal mine proposed for Wongai, 150km NW of Cooktown on Cape York. 
(Quote Reference:Aust-Pac Capital/Mining/150 km NW of Cooktown, QLD/QLD/Wongai Underground Coal Mine Project, Qld, EPBC Reference Number 2011/6092.)
Feel free to use the following points:
It is highly likely that if the mining project proceeds, it will
- cause grave damage to the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef Marine Park,
- impact negatively on both endangered and migratory species listed under the EPBC act,
- carve up Kalpower Nature Refuge
- have a detrimental socio-economic effect on the local population.
Given the multiplicity of current threats to the Great Barrier Reef, which collectively have become so grave they are now attracting international concern including the attention of UNESCO itself,we believe this proposal must not be approved.
The northern areas of the Reef represent the last relatively undisturbed parts of this World Heritage ecosystem. Approval of such a risky project north of Cooktown would be tantamount to banging the final nail in the coffin.
Threat to Great Barrier Reef 
The concept plan shows this proposal to be within Kalpowar Nature Refuge and to require the building of a conveyor and loading facility that would be visible from the Great Barrier Reef.
The proposed barge route would then run through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) / World Heritage Area. Any shipping accidents, with the potential for toxic spillage, would pollute currently pristine waters and damage the Great Barrier Reef.
We also consider the development highly likely to impact on water quality as it involves changes to flow and hydrology of wetlands and associated waterways. This is likely to impact negatively on the fishing industry as well as non-commerical wildlife values.
Negative Impact on Marine Life
Loggerhead turtle
Development is likely to impact on a variety of highly significant biota, including but not limited to:
- the endangered Loggerhead Turtle,
- the Vulnerable Green Turtle,
- five additional threatened species of turtle,
- two threatened species of whale
- the dugong,( a listed Marine and Migratory species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
We have already noted potential damage to the existing fishing industry in the northern Coral Sea, which is already under considerable stress. We note in addition that ports and shipping impacts on dugongs are listed as HIGH in the GBRMP Outlook Report 2009.
Socio-economic impacts
We have concerns that, as has been the case in other areas of the world where fossil fuels have been mined, both short and long term socio economic impacts on the local populations may actually prove to be negative. Pollution and industrial accidents can impact negatively on local health. Few well paid mining jobs are likely to be filled by the local population, with most of the mining staff flown in. We note that there are already reports of opposition from some of the traditional owners such as Muundhiwarra clan elder Bernie Hart.
Crucially, we believe that it is time for the Labor government to demonstrate the political courage to facilitate renewable energy projects and, in the interests of mitigating the worst impacts of climate change, to halt all new fossil fuel mining projects. In areas such as this of exceptionally high biodiversity, coal mining projects such as these should not even be contemplated.
Thank you for your help!
BatReach Working Bee
September BatReach Working Bee
Come and help us at BatReach and learn more about flying foxes and other Australian wildlife. Place and time to be arranged but will be in September.
Places are limited so to register your interest and get further details, please email info@foekuranda.org , post a comment or phone Syd Walker on 4093 8384
Planning for a Future
Section from article submitted for August Kuranda Paper:
Planning for a Future
How many people can Kuranda carry?
The FoE Kuranda group is very disappointed about the contents of a letter sent out recently by Brian Millard of Tablelands Regional Council. This stated, that despite assurances made by local MP Steve Wettenhall and the State government, council considers “the Myola zone to be an area intended for future urban purposes”
In regional NSW and Victoria many communities over the recent past have been faced with similar plans being imposed on them for the greater good and have spoken with a collective voice, NO .
NO to the destruction of their unique lifestyle, to the environmental degradation that urbanisation brings, to being disregarded by their elected representatives and to dramatically changing their communities,and YES to a sustainable future.
It’s only by speaking with a collective voice that their views have prevailed and the plans to change their communities into growth hotspots have in many cases been shelved.
The people who choose to live in Kuranda do so for a variety of reasons, including the region’s beauty, rainforest environment, tranquillity and wildife. Whatever the reason we live in Kuranda, we can collectively become active and involved, to prevent the growth lobby prevailing and what we value most being destroyed.
Friends of the Earth Kuranda identifies sustainable population as one of the major issues in Far North Queensland. We believe that simply adding to environmental pressures by increasing human numbers before a sustainable way of life has been developed would only accelerate environmental damage.
Better ways of living
It is important to locate infrastructure and housing in appropriate places where it impacts minimally on the biodiversity of our region- and to work creatively together as a community so that our buildings are energy and water efficient, attractive and made of renewable materials.
What can be done?
ACTION:
- We are proud to support the recently launched, positive initiative Recharge Kuranda, part of the global Transition towns (and rainforest villages!) movement. All Kuranda invididuals and groups are invited to join- email Sjoerd at rechargekuranda@gmail.com
- Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) are currently devising a community plan and new planning scheme so make sure you have your input. See-http://www.trc.qld.gov.au/tablelands-community-plan and say NO to developing Kuranda as a dormitory suburb of Cairns and YES to improving the environmental impact and quality of life of our village.
Overcoming Fukushima’s Nuclear Crisis – Creating Nuclear Power Free Asia Pacific region
The following statement was made by Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific at the FoE Asia Pacific meeting held in Seoul, Korea.
Several months after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, we are beginning to get a sense of the likely long-term impacts.
Radiation has spread across much of the northern hemisphere and parts of the southern hemisphere. Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency estimates the radioactive release at 770,000 terabecquerels in the first week of the crisis. Total radiation releases will probably fall somewhere between 10?40% of those from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Radiation releases have not been stopped and will continue for some months.
The long-term cancer death toll will probably be somewhere between several hundred and several thousand. For comparison, a reasonable estimate of the Chernobyl death toll is 30,000.
Allowable radiation dose limits in Japan have been thrown out the window, both for emergency workers and for the general public.
Estimates of the economic costs of the disaster range from $50 billion to $130 billion ? but it wouldn’t be surprising if the true costs are considerably greater.
Between 100,000 and 150,000 people cannot return to their homes because of radioactive contamination. Some may be able to return before the end of this year but permanent relocation is a likely outcome for those who lived in the most contaminated regions. Legal and political battles will take decades to play out.
Globally, the nuclear power ‘renaissance’ has taken a big hit. Germany, Italy and Switzerland have decided to abandon nuclear power in favour of renewable energy sources. Plans to introduce or expand nuclear power in many other countries have taken a big backwards step.
Nuclear power has no part in building a climate-friendly and sustainable future.
A large and growing number of scientific studies have detailed the wide range of energy supply and energy efficiency options that can be deployed to meet energy demand while sharply reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The claim that nuclear power is a necessary or desirable part of the fight against climate change must be rejected. Nuclear power is at most a very partial and problematic response and presents unresolved and unacceptable problems.
Uranium is the first link in the toxic nuclear fuel chain, and is the primary source of radioactive materials used in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Many uranium mines have had serious adverse impacts on the environment and the communities that live near them.
Nuclear power plants around the world have already experienced many problems caused by phenomena which are likely to become more frequent and more severe as a result of climate change ? as seen in Japan. The nuclear industry has been very slow to address these problems. Meanwhile the nuclear power industry continues to survive because of huge taxpayer subsidies.
Hazardous radioactive wastes are generated at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. There is not a single permanent repository for spent fuel or high-level nuclear waste anywhere in the world.
In addition to the risk of accidents, nuclear power reactors are vulnerable to disasters from sabotage, terrorism, or the use of conventional forces to attack nuclear facilities during war.
Nuclear power is the one and only energy source with a direct and repeatedly-demonstrated connection to the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Doubling nuclear output by the middle of the century would require the construction of 800-900 reactors to replace most of the existing cohort of reactors and to build as many again. These reactors would produce over one million tonnes of nuclear waste (in the form of spent fuel) containing enough plutonium to build over one million nuclear weapons.
These are some of the very clear reasons why we MUST reject the nuclear industry.
A clean energy future, based primarily on renewable energy and energy efficiency and conservation measures, is viable, safe and affordable.
Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific is calling for Government’s in our region like Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Australia to transition into nuclear free societies.
Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific region will pursue a nuclear free world as a region and in our individual countries.
We urge the citizens of Asian Pacific region to join us in taking action to build a nuclear free world.
Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific
Thursday 30 June 2011
Seoul, Korea
Radioactive by-products of Australian uranium spew out from Fukushima
“Radioactive by-products of Australian uranium have been spewing into the atmosphere from Fukushima” reported Natalie Lowrey of FoE Australia at the recent FoE Asia Pacific meeting in Seoul, Korea.
“BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto export uranium from Australia to TEPCO’s Fukushima nuclear power plant from the Olympic Dam and Ranger mines in Australia, respectively. Heathgate Resources, operator of the Beverley uranium mine in South Australia, has probably also supplied TEPCO.
“Approximately 70% of uranium used in nuclear reactors are sourced from the homelands of Indigenous minorities worldwide, this is no different in Australia. Aboriginal communities in Australia have publicly announced their sadness at the uranium that has be taken from their lands without their consent and resulted in the nuclear disaster in Japan. These Aboriginal communities know too well that the nuclear industry has lead to sickness, divided communities and contaminated land.
“On 6th April in a letter to Ban Ki Moon the Secretary General of the UN, Yvonne Margarula of the Mirrar people, Traditional Owners of the land that the Ranger uranium mine is located on in Australia, expressed solidarity with the people of Japan and much sorrow that uranium from the land of the Mirrar was used in the Fukushima plant.
“Yvonne like many people around the world believe that the Fukushima disaster is a dire warning of the risks posed by the nuclear industry. Production and exports from Australian uranium mines have averaged 9600 tonnes of uranium oxide (8140 tU) per year since 2004.
“Australia exports uranium to both Korea and Japan. As a major uranium supplier, Australia could have played a role in breaking the vicious cycle of nuclear safety breaches, data falsification and cover-ups in Japan over the past decade by making uranium exports conditional on improved management of nuclear plants and tighter regulation.
“But the mining companies and state/territory governments did nothing. And they continue to do nothing.
“The Fukushima disaster has not changed the situation for uranium mining in Australia, but it has had some effect. Public opposition to uranium mining has strengthened in Australia. A recent poll found 50% opposition to uranium exports compared to 44% support.
“This heightened opposition has had flow-on effects such as the Western Australia Labor Party’s reaffirmation of its no-uranium-mining policy at its state conference last week. Uranium is the first link in the toxic nuclear fuel chain, and is the primary source of radioactive materials used in nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors. Uranium mining adversely affects Indigenous peoples, our global environment and health, and when enriched for use in nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors, threatens our security and survival.
“The nuclear-free world envisioned by Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific will require an end to uranium mining. The nuclear option does not make sense on any level: economically, environmentally, politically or socially. It is too costly, too dangerous, too slow and has too small an impact on global warming.
“We MUST turn off the toxic tap with an end to uranium mining. We MUST challenge the green washing of governments and the nuclear industry that nuclear power is a solution to climate change. We MUST bring an end to the deadly and toxic nuclear cycle that results in poisoned lands, sickness and the potential for nuclear weapon proliferation.
“Friends of the Earth Australia joins our colleagues in South Korea, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Japan, and all our brothers and sisters in the Asia Pacific region to build a nuclear free Asia Pacific and create a clean energy future for the next generations.”
Natalie Lowrey Friends of the Earth Australia Thursday 30 June 2011 Seoul, Korea
Happy 40th Birthday to FoE
An Inspiring Message from the Chair of FoE International
Dear friends,
Today marks 40 years since our Federation came into being. it is asignificant date and we can rightly say that we are part of a necessary change…and change process.
It is our week of celebration and the crises around us should not stop our sharing moments to look back at the years gone by and to encourage each other. Just ask the simple question: what would the environment of the world have been like if there was no FoEI…if you were not an environmental activist?
FoE
As I salute your courage and fights today, I urge us to share and use the materials that our communications folks shared to help in the marking of this epochal date. Let’s keep the drums sounding all this week and all this year. If you don’t blow your vuvuzela or trumpet perhaps no one may help you blow it.
Today, I will be addressing a press conference in Lagos, Nigeria, and also making some TV appearances. we are also having a mobilization tomorrow at Badagary, near Lagos, against the West African gas pipeline and the gender injustices associated with the project. other events are taking place inthe Niger delta. We will share reports… I’m sure you will also share
what you are doing …
Let me state here how proud I am of you all in this great Federation. the battles may be tough, the roads may be rugged and long, but we have our sights firmly set on a just world where the dignity of peoples and the rights of nature are respected.
In whatever way you celebrate the day, let joy and determination to press on shine through. there is no better federation to be a part of!
Congratulations! Solidarity! Hasta la victoria siempre!
Nnimmo Bassey
Chair
Why are dangerous pesticides still used in Australia?
Other countries got rid of them.
In Australia, there’s no requirement for the manufacturers of old pesticides to prove they are safe in accordance with current standards. That means the pesticide industry gets the benefi t of the doubt, while pesticides not allowed in other countries and suspected of causing cancer and other health problems remain on the Australian market. The facts show that:
• At least 17 pesticides registered for use in Australian agriculture are suspected carcinogens, and 48 are potential hormone disruptors
• 8 chemicals with known safety risks have been under review by our regulator for more than 13 years, some for more than 15 years
Prominent Australians and organisations, including FoE Australia, are lending their support to the World Wildlife Fund campaign for regulatory reforms that will better protect the health of Australian farmers, families and wildlife. We need your support to stand up for safer pesticide laws.
Find out more at wwf.org.au/pesticides and add your name to a long list of concerned Australian organisations and individuals including Ian Kiernan AO Chairman, Clean Up Australia Ltd Professor Tim Flannery Scientist, explorer and conservationist, Australian of the Year 2007 Erin Brockovich Environmental crusader Dr Linda Selvey CEO, Greenpeace Australia Pacifi c Julie Goodwin MasterChef Australia 2009 winner, cook and mum Peter Cundall AM Horticulturalist and television personality Dr David Shearman Secretary, Doctors for the Environment Ronni Kahn Founder and CEO, OzHarvest, Australia’s Local Hero 2010 Judy Lynne Executive Offi cer, Sunfi sh Queensland Inc. The Hon. Rod Welford Former Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage The Hon. Desley Boyle Former Queensland Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women Professor Matti Lang Director, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (EnTox) Dr Caroline Gaus Senior Research Fellow, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (EnTox) Mara Bun Former Board Member of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) Dr Harry Gibbs FRACP FCSANZ Director of Cardiology, Lismore Base Hospital Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Sydney Dr Liz Hanna, RN, RCCN, BA, MPH, PhD, FRCNA Fellow, National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health, Australian National University Dr Kay Double PhD Associate Professor, Neuroscience Research Institute Dr Alison Bleaney GP (MB ChB FACRRM) Break O’ Day Catchment Risk Group Dr Denis Saunders AM President, WWF-Australia and Former Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology Holly Vyner General Manager, Biological Famers of Australia incorporating Australian Certifi ed Organic Teresa Cutter “The Healthy Chef” Jon Brodie Research Scientist, Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research Dr Dedee Woodside PhD Member of the Board of Directors, WWF-Australia Dr Richard Denniss Executive Director, Australia Institute Rebecca Jancauskas Coordinator, Environmental Justice Society Ben O’Donohue Celebrity chef Darren Kindleysides Director, Australian Marine Conservation Society Dr Sarah Lantz PhD Author of Chemical Free Kids Dr Andrew Burbidge PhD Member of the Board of Directors, WWF-Australia Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith Co-Chair, International POPs Elimination Network The Hon. Dr Andrew Lohrey Former Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly and Minister for Environment Miriam Lyons Executive Director, Centre for Policy Development Helena Norberg-Hodge Founder and Director, International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC) The Hon. Richard Jones Former Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council David Whitehill Television presenter Dr Jamie Pittock Crawford School of Economics and Government, Australian National University Sarojeni Rengam Executive Director, Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacifi c Toby Hutcheon Executive Director, Queensland Conservation Council Jeff Angel Director Total Environment Centre Pepe Clarke CEO, Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales Tim Kelly Chief Executive, Conservation Council of South Australia Cam Walker Campaigns Coordinator, Friends of the Earth Australia Dr Meriel Watts Coordinator, Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand Bruce Lourie Author of Slow Death by Rubber Duck Bob Phelps Executive Director, Gene Ethics Narelle Chenery Founder and Creative Director, Miessence Certifi ed Organic Skincare Dorothy Bowes President, Allergy, Sensitivity & Environmental Health Association Qld Inc. (ASEHA) The People’s Watchdog choice.com.au …
Transition Town Kuranda meeting Sunday 12th June 3-5pm
Sjoerd at Recharge Kuranda forum
Friends of the Earth Kuranda supports the aim of making Kuranda a Transition Town , working towards a future in Kuranda that is “energy- lean, less stressful, happier and healthier”
We call on local people and local groups to be part of the exciting Recharge Kuranda initiative.
Come to a meeting at the community hub, the Original Markets on Sunday 12th June 3-5pm.
Help create a community map of individuals and groups who share the Transition Town goals so everyone can work together to develop a resilient community .
For further details, phone Sjoerdon 0457129516, Robert on 40930987or email Robert@realfoodnetwork.com.au . Re-Charge Kuranda is also on Facebook.
Friends of the Earth Kuranda supports the aim of making Kuranda a Transition Town , working towards a future in Kuranda that is “energy- lean, less stressful, happier and healthier”
We call on local people and local groups to be part of the exciting
Recharge Kuranda initiative
Recharge Kuranda: Choosing our Future
What would a world without fossil fuel look like? Is 100% renewable energy possible? How can we start using less energy and have a good standard of living? There was much energetic discussion about these and other questions in the recent Recharge Kuranda forum where a crowd of more than 35 people, ranging from toddlers to more seasoned campaigners, participated in this first forum organised by the RealFood network together with Friends of the Earth Kuranda. Topics debated included the National 100% Renewable Energy campaign, outlined by Anna McGuire, CAFNEC sustainability officer; how we as a community can act to protect Australian wildife and bees from the hazards of pesticides especially the insecticide Strike Out; sourcing clean drinking water, uncontaminated by pesticides and other positive actions inspired by the global Transition Towns movement. Janet Millington of Transition Towns Cairns, a permaculture author, teacher , co –founder of the first Transition Initiative in Australia and a wealth of information and experience commented “This is a good time to get the message to council while they are doing their community plan and to drive the change we want through a responsive council asking for direction.” At the end of an interesting and informative few hours, and a shared lunch of delicious market food and home-made snacks, Sjoerd Aadema summed up by saying “Recharging Kuranda is going to be an all inspiring happening and a long-term project for positive change. “Through the RealFood network we plan to bring real organic and biodynamic certified produce from the Tablelands to the Kuranda original markets and to use this stall as a community hub for forums, workshops and social gatherings. There is no end to what we can achieve when we all work together as one community” ” For further information on
- the next Recharge Kuranda Forum ph Sjoerd on 0457 129 516 or Robert on 4093 0987 email robert@realfoodnetwork.com.au. Re-Charge Kuranda is on Facebook too.
- the RealFood network and to order a weekly local fruit and veg box email chris@bigmam.com.au ph 4055 2666, mob 0414 608 234
- the National 100% Energy campaign ph Anna on 4032 1746 email climate@cafnec.org.au
Transition Towns
Vision a positive future
- If we can’t imagine the future we want we won’t be able to create it
- Things are going to change – our choice is a future we want and one which happens to us.
Inclusion – everyone is needed
- In a successful transition project every skill is valuable because there is so much happening.
- We need good listeners, gardeners, people who like to make and fix everything, good parties, discussions, energy engineers, inspiring art and music, builders, planners, project managers and more.
- Bring your passion and make that their contribution – if there isn’t a project working in Kuranda, create one!!
Resilience – building strong local communities
- Resilience is the ability of a system to absorb change and still function.
- In most communities in the past – a generation or two ago –there were people with basic skills needed for life such as growing and preserving food, making clothes, building with local materials.
- We used to create the cake locally and import the icing. Now we import the cake and only produce the icing locally.
Transition makes sense – the solution is the same size as the problem
- Many of the solutions to our problems lie at the local level – we don’t need to wait for others.
- It proposes changes in proportion to the problem.
- Many films or books who suggest that changing light bulbs, recycling and driving smaller cars may be enough. This causes a state called “Cognitive Dissonance” – a trance where you have been given an answer, but know that it is not going to solve the problem you’ve just been given.
Transition Towns FNQ An Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP) gives regional communities a ‘planned way down’ the descent of oil supply. It works on the theory that while we have no choice in the fact that peak oil will be put upon us, we do have a choice in how we manage the situation. It also addresses ways to avoid dangerous levels of climate change. It inspires people to feel empowered – to see a better future and to see their role in taking their community there, to get them to see the opportunities of a positive and uplifting future. EDAPs demonstrate workable partnerships between the community, key stakeholders and local Councils’ commitment to finding solutions to climate change and peak oil.
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