Climate Change, Environmental Refugees, and Solutions

In conjunction with The Byron Sustainable Ventures Network, the Rainforest Information Centre in Lismore, and Community Trading Pty Ltd at The Channon, Friends of the Earth are presenting a series of information evenings on Climate Change and its human impacts.

LISMORE: Tues 23 August

Winsome Pub North Lismore, 7pm

THE CHANNON: Wed 24 August

The Channon Café, 5.30pm

BYRON BAY: Thurs 25 August

Byron Bay Community Centre, 7pm

In late July, the Howard government released details on the 'Asia-Pacific climate plan'.

The proposed alliance between Australia, the US, China, India and South Korea does not address the immediate need to cut greenhouse pollution by at least 60 per cent by 2050. Although detail on the 'secret plan' is difficult to access, it appears to contain no binding commitments.

The old adage ?an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? is a lesson to be well applied to the current debate on climate change adaptation: yet last night?s 7:30 Report highlighted the profound illogic of the IPA?s position on climate change.

IPA spokeswoman Dr Jennifer Marohasy conceded that climate change is inevitable and we should adapt to what?s coming but not reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Friends of the Earth has today announced its intention to campaign against the federal government's attempt to impose a nuclear waste dump on the Northern Territory.

FoE's national nuclear campaigner Dr. Jim Green said: "The federal government unequivocally ruled out imposing a nuclear dump on Territorians before the 2004 federal election. Evidently it was a non- core promise."

In the wake of Thursday?s tragic events in London, Friends of the Earth (FoE) Australia has called for a non-violent response by Western nations including Australia and foreshadowed the growth of the peace movement internationally.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - Climate change will be at the top of the agenda when leaders of the G8 nations meet at Gleneagles in Scotland later this summer (6-8 July).

Climate change is the biggest threat facing our planet. We are already seeing the effects - with devastating consequences. And with the growing evidence of human induced climate change, the dangers of its impacts becoming more widely known and the public becoming increasingly alarmed, it is clearly the time for action.

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH AUSTRALIA CAMPAIGN FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DISARMAMENT (CICD)

PEACE GROUPS WELCOME SENATE VOTE ON NUKE WEAPONS

Australian peace groups today welcomed a resolution passed by the Senate yesterday afternoon on nuclear weapons. Another motion is being put up today.

Friends of the Earth strongly encourages Environment Minister Ian Campbell to take his own advice to Japan on whaling and apply it to Australia’s disruption of international negotiations to prevent climate change. On radio national this morning Senator Campbell stated that Japan was obstructing the international protection of whales in the lead up to the International Whaling Commission meeting next week.

“Nuclear power is clearly not an option for meeting growing energy demand while combating greenhouse gas emissions” says Michaela Stubbs from Friends of the Earth (FoE). “A combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources is the cleanest most cost effective way to meet our needs and reducing greenhouse emissions.”

June 5, 2005 Today is World Environment Day, a day to celebrate our environment and the people around the world who care for it. Many of the great natural and cultural treasures that we enjoy today would not exist without the dedication of ordinary people who have joined together to achieve extraordinary things. Environment groups, large and small, have been central to these victories.