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Gov rejects solar gift – again

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Gov rejects solar gift – again

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Jody – Common Grace <info@commongrace.org.au>

8:15 AM (22 minutes ago)

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Dear Neville —
Despite almost 1000 of you urging the Government to #acceptthegift of Solar Panels for Kirribilli House, we learned this week that the Abbott Government has again rejected our gift.

Obviously we are disappointed. We figure that if they are going to spend $200,000 a year on keeping the gardens clean at Kirribilli House¹, why not accept the chance to clean up its energy too?

We are concerned that our current Government has shown itself to be unwilling to lead in caring for God’s creation and is out of step with the rest of the world. While the world as a whole has added more new renewable capacity than fossil fuels and nuclear combined in 2013 and 2014², here in Australia, large-scale renewables investment has plummeted by 88% in 2014³.

But if the PM won’t show leadership on renewables, then who will? We’ve given Mr Abbott two chances to accept the gift – perhaps it’s only fair that we give Bill Shorten at least one.

Tweet Bill Shorten and ask him if he will commit to install the solar panels gift on Kirribilli House if elected

As Christians, we take caring for God’s good creation seriously. We have a unique perspective that our elected representatives need to hear. Our world is a gift to share not a resource to exploit.

For us, this isn’t about partisan politics – it is about love, justice and wisdom. This is putting into practice our calling to care for God’s world and to show love to the world’s poor who are most affected by climate change.

Will Mr Shorten accept our gift as a symbol that Labor is ready to show real leadership on renewables? Let’s tweet him and ask!

The Labor Party is set to make critical decisions about their climate justice targets at the Labor conference in July. If Labor commits to stronger renewables and emission reduction targets, it will pressure the Government to do the same and help to position renewables as a major issue at the next Federal election.

Let’s make sure Mr Shorten hears the message loud and clear – Christians want to see a clean energy future.

Click here to ask Mr Shorten to #acceptthegift

From Jody, Byron, Kylie and the whole Common Grace team.

P.S. Please continue to pray for PM Abbott, Mr Shorten, and all of our political representatives. Let’s pray that they will realise their potential to create a more just and sustainable world and lead with courage.

P.P.S If you don’t have Twitter, that’s OK. Share this graphic on Facebook from here.

References:

1. Government to spend $200,000 a year on Kirribilli House gardens, figures show, The Guardian, 03/05/15

2. The Global Renewable Energy Boom: How Australia is Missing Out, Climate Council, 20/3/15

3. BNEF: New Clean Power Capacity Passes New Fossil Fuel Capacity … Never Turning Back, Clean Technica, 25/04/15

Common Grace
http://www.commongrace.org.au/

7 May, 2015

Our gear – make it here! Victorian Trades Hall

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Our gear – make it here!

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Victorian Trades Hall

5:01 PM (8 minutes ago)

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Dear Neville

URGENT CALL FOR SUPPORT – SAVE 80 TEXTILE WORKERS’ JOBS!

Sign the petition
Join the protest tomorrow 7 May 12:30pm Corner Sunshine Road and McArthur Street, Footscray

The Federal Government has stopped orders for Australian defence uniforms at the Workwear Group in Footscray, Victoria. This puts over 80 workers’ jobs at risk.

The factory, which has been a leading supplier of combat and work uniforms to the Australian Defence Force and State Government Emergency Services for decades, will close within weeks without orders for defence uniforms.

Sign the petition

But that’s just the beginning. There are only two clothing companies capable of producing the gear in Australia. If either of them close, the other is more at risk. That will enable the Federal Government to offshore manufacturing entirely.

We need to send a message to the Federal Government to secure ongoing defence orders at the Workwear Group’s Footscray site. This will not only save Aussie jobs and ensure Australian Defence uniforms are made here, but when more combat uniforms are needed, we have the skills and the industry to make our gear here!

Petition the Federal Government – Make our gear here!

Victorian Trades Hall Council
http://www.weareunion.org.au/

6 May, 2015

Subsidising Big Coal: Handouts to Australia’s biggest coal mining companies through the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme and our budget submission Budget ’15 gives the government a stark choice: back big polluters or the people.

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Fifteen billion reasons

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Kelly O’Shanassy, ACF Unsubscribe

3:32 PM (57 minutes ago)

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Hi NEVILLE

Five bad ideas and five good ideas — what’s your pick?

Every year, our government hands out billions of dollars to big polluting companies through tax breaks and subsidies.

While the rest of the world takes steps to cut pollution, our government lets these giants pollute with abandon. Even worse, it actually pays them to pollute.

Right now, Joe Hockey is busy looking for ways to save the government money. Next week he’ll hand over the Federal Budget.

Five really bad ways to spend public money in the Federal Budget:

Pay Glencore Xstrata $109 million to pollute.
Pay BHP Billiton $93 million to pollute.
Pay Peabody $58 million to pollute.
Pay Rio Tinto $57 million to pollute.
Pay Anglo American $49 million to pollute.

Cutting handouts to Big Coal and other polluters will save the Budget $15 billion over four years.

Fifteen billion goes a long way. Just think of all the ways that money could make Australia a better place:

Five really good ways to spend public money in the Federal Budget:

Cut pollution with smart rules that make polluters pay and invest in clean energy.
Fund Indigenous rangers to look after country.
Protect the water catchments that provide our drinking water.
Create a threatened species recovery fund.
Formally require governments to consider the environment in decision making.

Fifty thousand reasons to speak out and not stay silent at budget time

Our government has a duty of care to protect life. 42,859 people have already signed our petition with one simple message to Treasurer Joe Hockey: Put an end to big polluter handouts. Let’s make it 50,000. Will you add your name NEVILLE?

Sign the petition:

TO: Treasurer Joe Hockey

“Put an end to big polluter handouts.”

sign the petition in one click

Thank you,

Kelly

Kelly O’Shanassy
CEO
Australian Conservation Foundation

P.S. Want all the details? Read ACF’s research: Subsidising Big Coal: Handouts to Australia’s biggest coal mining companies through the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme and our budget submission Budget ’15 gives the government a stark choice: back big polluters or the people.

5 May, 2015

You know what? Abbott was right.

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You know what? Abbott was right.

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Mark – GetUp!

3:17 PM (1 hour ago)

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Dear NEVILLE,

After delivering a Budget that attacked everyday Australians last year, Prime Minister Abbott said, “you can’t block the Government’s economic action strategy without one of your own”.¹ And you know what, NEVILLE? He was right.

That’s why GetUp members teamed up with the best policy brains in the business to develop a suite of rigorously modelled budget alternatives, built on one principle: A fair go for all Australians. This week, our efforts have paid off.

The Australia Institute’s report on ideas for a Brighter Budget maps out 8 fair revenue raising polices, endorsed by leading economists.² It targets wasteful tax breaks and loopholes for big business and the wealthy — from superannuation tax breaks for the wealthy to fossil fuel subsides for industry — building an irrefutable case for reform.

By fighting back last year, we helped prove that just because the Government puts something in the Budget, doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Now, with the 2015 Federal Budget just one week away, these Brighter Budget policies will be critical in defeating both new and continuing unfairness, including a disastrous $80 billion cut to our schools and hospitals.³

As economic policy is fiercely debated in party rooms and across the media landscape, help lead the charge for a Brighter Budget by getting this report into the halls of Parliament and out in the public arena.

Click here to check out the Brighter Budget report, then send it on to your local MP.

The 2015-16 Federal Budget will be released next Tuesday, but don’t think for a second the story ends there. Our Brighter Budget polices can play a pivotal role in drawing the battle lines for the year ahead.

They give every politician who wants to stand up for the fair go — including the crucial senate crossbench — credible policies to counter the Government’s cuts to our schools, hospitals and essential services. And by providing up to $40 billion per year of revenue alternatives, they demolish any claim by the Government that theirs is the only way.

These next few months will be critical. In July, the Labor Party will set their policy agenda at their national conference and state premiers will enter a special retreat to address the $80 billion in cuts to our schools and hospitals. And from next week, the Abbott Government will be trying to convince the Senate and the voting public of its new Budget, following last year’s fiasco.

The storm we create now in politicians’ offices, and in media rooms around the country, can set the tone for the year ahead – not to mention the 2016 Federal Election. Will you stand up for a fairer future by getting this report into the office of your local MP, and then contacting your local newspaper?

https://www.getup.org.au/brighterbudget

Over the coming months, GetUp members will be on the front foot, leading the debate on fair economic reform. At the same time, we’ll use our policies as viable alternatives to cuts and policy changes that hurt ordinary Australians. There’s no need to agree with every policy in the report. There are more than enough options to unwind the Abbott Government’s harmful cuts and help the Budget bottom line. Just champion the policies that speak most to you.

We’ve got big plans to execute a tried and tested public media campaign to put our progressive vision before Australians – but it all starts here, with you putting it in front of our leaders. Click here to email your MP now.

Thanks for leading the charge,
Mark, Nat, Evan and Georgina, for the GetUp team

PS – The Australia Institute’s report: “It’s the revenue stupid: Ideas for a brighter budget”, was funded by the generous donations of thousands of GetUp members. Thanks to all those who made this policy research possible by stepping up to the difficult task of reform.

Check out the report infographic, below, for a concise summary of 8 key reforms for a brighter, fairer future:

References:
[1] “We will pass reform budget, says Tony Abbott”, The Australian, 4 July 2014
[2] “Budget 2015: $80 billion savings forecasts on health, education still stand, Joe Hockey says”, ABC News, 27 April 2015
[3] “It’s the revenue stupid: Ideas for a brighter budget”, The Australia Institute, May 2015

5 May, 2015

Celebrate World Environment Day with us

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Hunter Community Environment Centre via sendgrid.info

2:09 PM (22 minutes ago)

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Hunter Community Environment Centre

Dear Nevile —

We hope this email finds you safe and dry and that you have recovered from the storm events of the month. Our hearts and thoughts are with those who have endured loss and sorrow.

We’ve had a busy month at the Hunter Community Environment Centre (HCEC) working on protecting communities against the expansion of fossil fuels, the leading cause of climate change.

Thanks to all of you who support us in our work. To keep our campaigns running, we rely on donations from people like you. If you’d like to make a donation, click here.

Last week, Premier Mike Baird visited the Hunter region to learn more about the impacts of the coal industry on communities in our region. He met with horse-breeders near Denman, and residents of Bulga, both under threat by invasive coal mining. While this is encouraging, our Premier also has a lot of meetings with coal companies. The HCEC and other groups will need to keep working hard to achieve wins against this powerful industry lobby group.

A recent report released by the Climate Council, reminds us that most of the world’s fossil fuel reserves must be left in the ground, unburned, to keep global temperature rise to no more than 2°C.

Read the full report – click here.

If you have time to get involved this month there are plenty of opportunities. Read through our list of events below, and email the HCEC coordinator if you find something that interests you.

coordinator@hcec.org.au

PEACEFUL DIRECT ACTION WORKSHOP – Saturday 9th of May – FREE workshop.

Following on from the rally in Sydney on the 20^th of April, where hundreds of concerned people delivered the Bulga Declaration to Minister Rob Stokes, Minister for planning, we’re offering a free workshop.

Peaceful direct action is a powerful tool used by communities around Australia desperate to protect their land, water, and people from invasive mining projects.

The Bulga community has fought for five years to protect their town from Rio Tinto’s proposed Warkworth coal mine expansion. While the NSW Government has apparently abandoned them, thousands of people have pledged to join local residents, businesses, and traditional custodians in the battle to Save Bulga.

Don’t miss this exciting event!

Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association is hosting this full-day workshop to train up local people and their supporters in the philosophy and practice of Peaceful Direct Action.

RSVP the coordinator.

10am to 4pmBulga Hall

TAKE ACTION – Wednesday 20th May

This month we’re collaborating with our friends at Climate Action Newcastle and 350.org for a week of action. We’ll be taking part in the “Raise the Heat” campaign and applying pressure to the Commonwealth Bank.

We’ll be calling on them to publicly rule out funding for the Galilee Basin coal mines and Abbot Point port expansion. These projects would have dire impacts on climate, water, country and the future of the Great Barrier Reef.

Come along and help us show the Commonwealth Bank that customers and communities right across Australia don’t support mega coal mines in the Galilee Basin nor massive coal ports in the Great Barrier Reef.

For further information, or to find out how you can be involved, visit our facebook event page or email the coordinator

SURVEY – Door-to-door, Sunday 24th May

Join with us as we survey community attitudes to coal in the Hunter Valley. You don’t have to be an expert, we work in small teams and go door to door to ask simple questions for an anonymous survey. Will you join us for this great day of action? Full training and transport will be provided. Email the coordinator for more information and registration.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATION AND FUNDRAISER – Friday 5th of June

Celebrate with us, the planet we all work so hard to protect.

It’s World Environment Day and we’re celebrating at the Great Northern Hotel.

We’ll have live music, dancing, a fundraising auction and some local campaigners from the HCEC to give some campaign updates. This will be a great opportunity for an enjoyable night out with like-minded people and, for our new supporters, a perfect introduction to the HCEC and ways you can be involved in our campaigns.

Some of Newcastle’s most talented artists, along with generous business owners have donated amazing products and works of art for our auction so, please come along and do some bidding, catch up with friends and make some new ones.

We’re still taking donations for the auction, so if you’d like to contribute, let us know.

We’ll send more details closer to the event, but please register your interest now, as numbers are limited. Email the coordinator for more information and registration. coordinator@hcec.org.au

VOLUNTEER JOB OPPORTUNITIES THIS MONTH

Stalls Coordinator/s

The Hunter Community Environment Centre is recruiting for a volunteer or volunteers to assist with the planning and coordinating of stalls in the Hunter region.

Duties of the position will include researching potential markets and events in the region; approaching supportive performers to request stalls at their events; recruiting other volunteers to help run stalls; and liaising with HCEC staff to determine any required training needs that need to be met. We estimate that the initial start-up position would take 4 hrs per week and then depend on the amount of stalls you would like to commit to.

Please Email Ness for more information on coordinator@hcec.org.au

The Hunter Community Environment Centre relies on support from our members and the wider community to do our work. We really appreciate your support and involvement, let us know if there are other ways you’d like to be involved, or if you would like to make a regular donation to our campaigns. Donate Here

With thanks,

Ness and John
Coordinators

Hunter Community Environment Centre
http://coalterminalactiongroup.nationbuilder.com/

4 May, 2015

Celebrate World Environment Day with us /Hunter Community Environment Centre

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Celebrate World Environment Day with us

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Hunter Community Environment Centre via sendgrid.info

2:09 PM (12 minutes ago)