27 March 2014. Uniting Green Updates are for those who strive to live sustainably and exercise responsible environmental care as a legitimate expression of their Christian mission.
Greetings,
Great to see congregations in Clermont and Rosewood taking local action and it was fun to find David Weddell’s blog. Feel free to submit information and invite others to receive this email at .
Every blessing
Bruce Mullan
Uniting Green Liaison
EVENTS
Earth Hour this Saturday 29th March 8.30 to 9.30pm. Earth Hour supporters will get together at small and large gatherings around the country – find an event near you – or just turn out the lights for an hour.
TO READ
The ABC reports on a drafts of a report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change due to be released next week. Scientists predict Australia will continue to get hotter with the possibility of widespread and permanent damage to the Great Barrier Reef, more frequent flooding, unprecedented rising sea levels, bushfires more frequent heatwaves and temperatures may lead to increased morbidity - especially among the elderly.
A recent paper by Matt Grudnoff from The Australia Institute public policy think tank argues that there is little for Australia to gain by rushing into an expansion of CSG operations. Fracking the future: busting industry myths about coal seam gas says the gas industry has been prolific in putting out exaggerated claims about CSG’s economic benefits while at the same time staying almost completely silent on the health and environmental risks.
Check out the Convenient Solutions blog by Uniting Church member David Weddell for a variety of helpful climate change snippets, tips for reducing carbon emissions, news about renewable energy and transport, plus charts and diagrams, reviews of helpful books and DVDs, and some fun video clips.
Another great website is The EcoTheo Review (ETR), a non-profit environmental advocacy organization seeking to create links between ecological and faith communities. Through writing, arts, and education, ETR serves as an incubator for ideas, discussion, and action o unite people from different backgrounds in the collective action of environmental stewardship.
CONGREGATIONS
In a letter to the Queensland Premier the Clermont congregation of the Uniting Church has condemned the proposed to establish the “Galilee Basin State Development Area.” Read about it on JourneyOnline or read the letter. Gregory Congregations (Capella, Clermont and Moranbah) minister Rev Dr David Ferguson made a formal submission to the Co-ordinator General of the proposed Galilee Basin State Development Area objecting to the proposal.
At a declaration ceremony declaring Rosewood to be a “Gasfield Free” community supply minister Rev Dr Marian Zaunbrecher offered the following prayer:
God of life, the planet’s biodiversity faces many grave threats and we pray for is protection.
We pray for an end to: habitat loss, over-exploitation, climate change, destruction by introduced species, pollution and loss of genetic diversity, species and ecosystems.
We pray for our leaders, that they might see the value of biodiversity and have the courage to act with wisdom.
We pray for this district, its natural riches, its communities, its elected representatives and for partnership by all in planning its long-term future.
We pray for ourselves that we might have the courage to see beyond our own interests to the goodness of the whole.
Lord, fill us with your spirit and guide us as we walk this journey. Amen.
POLITICS
The Federal Government has applied to have sections of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area delisted by the United Nations claiming is not pristine forest. ABC Fact Check which determines the accuracy of claims by politicians, public figures, advocacy groups and institutions engaged in the public debate has reported that the claim doesn't check out.
The Queensland Government's move to streamline the mining lease notification and objection process has some producers worried it will diminish their rights against mining companies. The discussion paper has been sold as a way to limit the avenues which green groups and unrelated community groups can complain against an application for a mining lease.
The NSW government has announced a six-month freeze on processing new applications for coal-seam gas exploration licences, and the cost of applying will soar from $1000 to $50,000, in the latest shake-up for the industry. Premier Barry O'Farrell told Parliament on Wednesday the freeze until September 26 would allow an audit of existing coal-seam gas licences and pending applications to be carried out before a new assessment-and-allocation regime was put in place.
119 NSW Northern Rivers communities have declared themselves 'Gasfield Free', with an average “yes” response of 95% (27,000 respondents). They conduct a thorough survey of people in their locality, asking “Do you want your roads and lands Gasfield Free?” After reaching majority decision, they declare themselves Gasfield Free.
Australia’s environment minister could soon be above the law. Earlier this month, a Senate inquiry paved the way for the Parliament to give Environment Minister Greg Hunt legal immunity against future legal challenges to his decisions on mining projects. If it passes the Senate, the move will protect the government from being taken to court over environmentally contentious development in Australia.
Air pollution ‘is single biggest environmental health risk’ linked to around 7 million – or nearly one in eight deaths in 2012 – according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The new figures are more than double previous estimates and suggest that outdoor pollution from traffic fumes and coal-burning, and indoor pollution from wood and coal stoves, kills more people than smoking, road deaths and diabetes combined.
Religious leaders from diverse faiths, including Rev. Professor Andrew Dutney, have converged on Canberra this week to collectively challenge Australia to do its fair share in solving the climate crisis. They met with the nation’s leaders, including Environment Minister Greg Hunt, and make their views public. Read their open letter.
REPORTS
The Final Report of the Climate Change Authority’s Targets and Progress Review has been released and recommends stronger targets calling for a minimum reduction of 15 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions – compared with 2000 levels – by 2020 (This would represent a significant tightening of Australia’s existing commitment to reduce emissions in 2020 by a minimum of 5 per cent) and beyond 2020, Australia should aim for emissions reductions of between 40 and 60 per cent below 2000 levels by 2030.
SUBMISSIONS
UnitingJustice has also made an excellent Submission to the Senate Standing Committees On Environment And Communication. UnitingJustice reports it does not believe that the Government’s Direct Action Plan in its current form has the capacity to deliver significant and real emissions reductions does not find the economic modelling used by the Government in their Direct Action Plan realistic or sustainable.
TO WATCH
The coal and gas industries are expanding but what is the human cost of this? Find out by watching this short film (16 mins) about the Human Cost of Power. Produced by the Climate and Health Alliance and Public Health Association of Australia.
OTHER SYNODS
Victoria/Tasmania Synod divests from Fossil Fuels. The Standing Committee resolved that the Synod existing Ethical Investment Policy provides for the exclusion of companies that cause unacceptable damage to the natural environment and asked UCA Funds Management not to directly invest in companies involved in mining and/or exporting thermal coal or extracting and/or exporting unconventional gas (shale gas, coal seam gas) that involves fracking.
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