Individuals Making a Difference
May 2007
As WFCA surpasses its 6 month anniversary May’s newsletter reflects the positive achievements that its members and networks have achieved. It will also highlight some extremely important campaigns that are underway, that I wanted to bring to the attention of the WFCA family.
1) How much CO2 have we saved. Under the Green Footprint Programme 50 members have switched to accredited green energy and some of those have reduced their footprint even further by making their homes more energy efficient and purchasing wind farm generated offsets to reduce their footprint, see www.climatefriendly.com/wfca. Those members that have switched to green power, applying an average household use would mean that we have saved at least 325 tonnes of CO2 on a rolling 12 month period. This is equivalent of 14500 wheelie bins per week of CO2 not being emitted into the atmosphere.
Congratulations to each and everyone of you that has made the switch. It may seem small but it all counts and is the first step on the wonderful sustainable journey. For those of you that have not yet switched please take the time to call your electricity supplier, but be sure to only subscribe to 100% accredited Green Energy www.greenpower.gov.au or even easier visit Climate Friendly on www.climatefriendly.com/wfca and switch to their fully accredited Emerald Power.
2) Ali and Lizette’s wonderful personal stories of their household change
As many of you are aware I received a great response from Alex Duchen’s story last month, so this month I want to welcome two new great stories from Ali Carter and Lizette. The theme that resonates so strongly with all these women is how much fun and how good they feel after making the changes. Personally I can not wait to have my water tanks installed. Yes at the willowy heights of Bondi Junction, I am installing 10,000l of water tanks, which will have the capacity to make our beautiful 120 year old cottage water sufficient. This means I am left with just the photo voltaics, which although not necessary would make a great contribution to making Lawson Street a sustainable home. Please Read Ali and Lizette’s Inspiring Stories: Ali's story— Lizette's story
3) WFCA “Toys for Towns’ Appeal. Another story that shone brightly this month was Vanessa Steele’s story of Springwood Toy Hospital near the Blue Mountains. Under the guidance of some great volunteers, Springwood has been collecting good quality, non soft toys for children aged between 0-12 years, which are packaged and distributed to the drought ravaged towns across NSW. Vanessa’s story of climate victims, the children and how we could help by donating and recycling old toys, was too heartfelt and compelling to ignore. I hope for those of you that have children you can support this appeal. See Appeal Article here.
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| Nicholas Ecuyer has donated his Thomas the Tank Engine wooden set towards the appeal. |
An important campaign that WFCA is supporting:
I wanted to bring this to the attention of WFCA members. As you may recall, as an investor, I expressed my concern about Perpetual’s investment in Gunns,. I now want to explain the reasons why I am so concerned as many of us are not fully informed about what impacts deforestation can have on CO2 emissions, thus contributing to Climate Change, as well as how a company like Gunns is seeking to obtain approval about its very controversial pulp mill.
WFCA is very concerned that Gunns has been able to bypass the independent review process by the accredited Tasmanian Resources and Planning Development Commission (RDPC). Surely all companies must be held to account over independent reviews to establish the viability of the projects and it is our incumbent Minister Mr. Turnbull who as Federal Environment Minister who must protect the independent review process.
It has long been known that forests play an important role in our climate and consequently climate change. Yet, the major contribution logging has made to climate change and the need for forest protection has only been brought to the fore recently. A report release this May in the UK reiterated this point:
“We cannot avoid dangerous climate change without action on deforestation, which causes 18-25% of global carbon emissions – second only to energy… Forests offer the single largest opportunity for cost-effective and immediate reductions of carbon emissions. This is confirmed by the Stern Report of 2006, and the McKinsey and International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Reports of 2007.”
Yet, in rewarding Gunns Limited for abandoning the independent assessment of its proposed pulp mill the Federal Environment Minister has set up a new, far less rigorous assessment which does not include the impact of the mill on Tasmania’s forests.
In the first 25 years of operation Gunns figures show their pulp mill will consume over 32 million tonnes (about 2000 km2) of Tasmania’s native forest. Based on very conservative figures the logging of these forests will release at least 110 million tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. This is equivalent to all transport of Tasmania’s roads for the next 80 years!
But, it is not just the contribution to climate change by logging for Gunns’ proposed pulp mill which is being ignored by Mr. Turnbull’s assessment. Impacts on water catchments, wildlife, wilderness areas, air pollution and other industries such as tourism and fisheries are also being ignored.
If you would more information please read May’s Monthly magazine or contact Paul Oosting at the Wilderness Society www.wilderness.org.au/pulpmill. As I am awaiting a response from Perpetual with regard to my letter I am unable to publish it at this stage. However we will be drafting a pro forma letter for Mr. Turnbull in the foreseeble future which I hope you all take the time to read and send.
Thank you all for your support. Please tell your stories to your friends, families and work colleagues and our CO2 emissions saved reflects we all can make a difference.
Danielle Ecuyer
President WFCA
