I've had an elegant sufficiency and any more would be a superfluous .... Sam Alexander of The SImplicity Institute speaks at Castlemaine on Degrowth

Nov 2, 2015Posted by Samuel Alexander on Nov 2, 2015 | 4 comments

What is Degrowth? Envisioning a Prosperous Descent

This is a transcript of my keynote address presented at the ‘Local Lives, Global Matters’ conference in Castlemaine, Victoria, 16-18 October 2015.Other keynote speakers included Rob Hopkins, David Holmgren, and Helena Norberg-Hodge.

Introduction

Thank you for that introduction, Jacinta, good morning everyone. I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of this land and to recognise that these have always been spaces of teaching, learning, sharing, and conversation. It is a real honour to be part of this conversation today.

When I was a boy, if ever I were amongst a group of people congregating at 9am on a Sunday morning it was because I was at Church. For better or for worse, I am now a lapsed, or rather, I should say, a collapsed Catholic, although I remain a seeker. But as I look around the world today, especially from my Western perspective, it seems clear enough that God, if he is not yet dead, as Friedrich Nietzsche declared, is, at least, increasingly absent. There seems to be a tension between our spiritual sensibilities and the cultures and systems within which we live. As the poet-musician, Tom Waits, would shout in the voice of a husky wolf: ‘God’s away on business.’

But the absence of God should not imply an absence of religious thinking in our culture or cultures. In fact, I would argue quite the opposite; that our Western religiosity has become ever more intense in recent decades, and what has happened is that we simply switched idols, no longer worshipping the God of Christianity, and instead worshipping at the alter of growth, singing praises to the God of GDP, our saviour, for only in growth will we find redemption. Our high priests now take the peculiar form of neoclassical economists, bankers, and national treasurers. Daniel Bell once wrote in his landmark text, The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism: ‘Economic growth is the secular religion of advancing industrial nations.’

Since the industrial revolution this faith in growth has been unshakable. Today, however, we find ourselves at a moment in history where this faith is beginning to crumble, where the ideological ground beneath us is beginning to move – and opening up before our very eyes is a space, at last, for something new, a space where we are being called to think and live differently. What I would like to talk about this morning is something that has been emerging in recent years within the ever-widening cracks of capitalism, a new story, of sorts, or a new book of many different stories.

But I am not here to try to replace the god of growth with a new God. I will not pretend to be the next iteration of the high priest, nor am I about to pontificate about a new Doctrine or Dogma to which everyone must subscribe. As the anti-capitalist slogan goes, there may be one No, but there are many Yeses. So today I am going to talk about one of the yeses, which I hope can enrich the multitude of overlapping yeses we have all been exposed to this weekend, just as they have enriched me. To all those who have been part of the collective ‘yes’ this weekend, I thank you and I salute you.

The vocabulary I am going to focus on today revolves around the emerging ‘degrowth’ movement, which calls for planned economic contraction of developed or overdeveloped nations. I will get into details soon enough, but the basic case for degrowth is surprisingly simple:

1. The existing global economy is already in ecological overshoot, driven by the expansion of high-impact, Western-style consumer lifestyles and the structures of growth that often lock people into those lifestyles.

2. Great multitudes around the world do not have enough to live with dignity.

3. And, we have a population of 7.3 billion that is still growing.

Based on those three simple but extremely challenging premises – ecological overshoot, global poverty, and population – it follows that the richest nations must give up the pursuit of ‘more’ and find ways to flourish on less – much less. Less energy, less resources, less waste. And that means less consumerism, less globalisation, and ultimately, less capitalism.

But degrowth is not just a movement in opposition. Perhaps more than anything else degrowth is about embracing the abundance of sufficiency, it is about knowing how much is enough, and creating the necessary cultures, structures, and systems within which the entire community of life can flourish.

Continue reading what Sam has to say here.

It's all a numbers game - everyone counts - and if the numbers aren't right then nothing else is

Picture from here

It is early on a Thursday morning in late May.  As I write, it is pitch black outside but soon I will see another sunrise over the mighty Murray River.  Yesterday it was at Swan Hill.  To-day it is at Robinvale.  The drive between Swan Hill and Robinvale is a lesson in Australian geography, sociology and economics. 

I am in Mallee country. Mallee is a species of eucalypt with many bracts or trunks.  It inhabits arid and semi-arid areas of southern Australia.  In the late 19th century and early 20th century, many would-be farmers broke their hearts and their backs trying to clear mallee scrub for agriculture.  

Picture from here

See more text and photos about mallee scrubs here

Description from The Argus of 6 February 1909

of trialling a traction engine to clear mallee scrub

The drive from Swan Hill to Robinvale across the mallee country is an entree to the fruity riches of Sunraysia.  While there are many vegetable crops along the way, it is the orchards - of citrus, of olives - and the grape vines that are the attention getters.  Thousands upon thousands of hectares planted in the straightest of straight lines, undoubtedly due to the wonders of GPS.

I did come across, though, mass destruction of citrus trees. Perhaps someone can enlighten me why this destruction was taking place.  Firstly, I came across huge bonfires of cut down trees.  Further on, I saw a whole section of uniformly dead citrus trees, starkly grey compared to the usual dark green glossy leaves.  Further on, ploughed fields on which the ashes of fire were still present.  

I know there are farmers who are or will be destroying their trees in the Goulburn Valley area of Victoria because of the SPC Ardmona cutbacks - but does this impact on growers this far west?  Perhaps the destruction was of trees which were past their use-by date and no longer as productive as once they were?  Perhaps the destruction was the result of a commercial decision to destroy a section of citrus to plant other crops such as olives or grapes?

As I came closer to Robinvale, white plastic was on many of the vines. This was to keep the birds away from the grapes underneath.  In one area, I saw pickers at work and trucks loaded with boxes. Harvest was in full swing.

Which brings me to what I really want to talk about ... the people.

Particularly since World War II, both sides of the Murray River - in New South Wales and in Victoria - have developed multicultural populations.  Large Italian communities are evident but there is quite a mix.  Family farms have become agricultural corporations.  In some cases, not only is fruit produced it is also processed at an industrial level locally.  Wineries abound.  Those thousands of hectares of GPS-ploughed fields represent huge financial investments and some thick wallets have been developed in communities either side of the NSW-Vic border.  

But in the end, there is a harvest and that fruit - whether it be citrus, olives or grapes - has to be picked.  In come the pickers, the casual workers.  Who are these people? Young, old - single, married, in relationship - educated, uneducated, undereducated - male, female - Australian born - foreign born Australian citizens - illegal immigrants.  What does it matter, some might think, as long as the job is done; the fruit is picked; the fruit gets to market, to the processors.  

People have to live.  People have to have shelter; health care; schools for kids; public services such as police, fire brigades, ambulances.  In these days of ubiquitous technology, people need access to computers, phones.  Those with no English or basic English need language classes.  Sometimes strangers need people to talk to.  How can all this be managed?

Communities have a way of managing. We have governments at federal, state and local level with a mix'n'match - and, sometimes, mismatch - of responsibilities in service delivery.  Since around the 1970s, communities have found that less formal services than those provided by bureaucratic government departments are needed to plug holes, fill gaps, communicate.  To do this work, across the nation numerous NGOs have sprung up, assisted by government funding, to meet specific and even non-specific community needs.  There are Welfare Committees, Neighbourhood Houses, Community Networks, Housing Co-operatives, Hospital Auxiliaries .......

What NGOs - and even local councils - have found is that there has to be thought, organisation and planning even at volunteering levels to get done what needs to be done.  Funding comes from on high it would seem - particularly if you live far from a state capital, let alone far from Canberra.  Application for funding and succeeding on obtaining sufficient funding can be quite a skill - particularly when people operate more informally and more collaboratively at the local level and then have to learn the ways of bureaucratic operation to find a pathway through the morass of forms as well as build linkages with departmental contacts.

For Local Government and NGOs to get funding, they have to substantiate their case.  Anecdotes and reporting of experience won't do.  Proof, facts are required.  The basic turn-to for such proof, facts is the Australian Bureau of Statistics. And the basic turn-to is the regular Census statistics. The last Australian Census collection was in 2012.  However, it is a bit difficult for the ordinary citizen to find useful and detailed statistics relating to their town. In short, it is not easy to find an online breakdown of census statistics for Robinvale either as a town or as a district.

Robinvale is in the local authority area of Swan Hill which has been deemed, in somebody's wisdom, a 'rural city'.  Now from my community studies training "rural city" is a bit of a contradiction in terms.  

The long and short of this is that it is quite clear that the citizens of Robinvale have no confidence in the population statistics for their town and believe that various departments and bureaucrats have not been doing their job well.  A visit to the Information Centre in Robinvale will get you a very useful booklet called Official Visitors' Guide - Robinvale Euston - Victoria Australia.  On Page 1 of this booklet under the title of this is robinvale euston, the third paragraph down makes for interesting reading:

Our vibrant townships on the Murray River comprise over 22 different nationalities, and according to the 2011 census data, has a resident population of around 4,500.  Although as many of the locals will tell you, this is severely understated. They believe a more accurate figure is between 8,000-10,000 people, due to the seasonal employment nature of the area and many residents being missed at data collection time. None the less, Robinvale Euston is one unique multicultural melting pool.

 I went shopping at the local IGA Supermarket between 5pm and 6pm yesterday evening, and I can assure Networkers that this didn't seem like a town of 4,500 people.  I've lived in small towns, tiny towns, regional cities, and capital cities across the eastern seaboard and in the Northern Territory and I reckon the supermarket test give a reasonable feel - on all sorts of levels - of a town, its population, and its social demographics.

So, I reckon I agree with the people of Robinvale.  The true population and its needs are not currently reflected in the official figures.  It would be good to have some way for politicians and departmental bureaucrats to recognise this so that more precise information can be available to local government and NGOs as well as giving the aforesaid politicians and departmental bureaucrats the tools to better serve Robinvale.

Social change in rural, regional & remote areas : changes brought by the car and good roads : poor mobile phone coverage

I have spent a fair slice of my life living in rural and regional areas in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory.  I can recall a time when the only Woolworths and Coles stores west of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland were in Mount Isa.  

I read this article to-day about the mooted closure of primary schools at Toobanna, Bambaroo, and Helen's Hill. 

The drive from Townsville to Cairns is one of my favourite sections of car travel.  I used to live at Bluewater Park, half an hour north of Townsville, between Halifax Bay and the Bluewater Ranges which are part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage listing.  Some mornings, on the way to work, I was quite conflicted.  Turn right for Townsville and work or turn left for a beautiful three hour drive to Cairns.

Just up the road is Ingham and along the Bruce Highway are some beautiful scattered country schools: Toobanna, Helen's Hill, Bambaroo.

While Townsville sits in the Dry Tropics, the Wet Tropics begin just south of Rollingstone.  The three schools being considered for closure are situated in one of the wettest areas in Australia.  They are nestled in a sea of green.  I loved seeing them.  In my mind's eye, I idealised them as oases of education and centres of community life and knowledge.  To know that they are being listed for closure brings sadness with it - as I am sure it does for those closely associated with the schools and the communities in which they are situated.  

However, modern life brings its realities.  Reliable family transport and a major highway make it more likely that children can be schooled in nearby Ingham or even Townsville.  The car and personalised transport have given us much and taken much.

I recall, when I was living and working in Walgett in the early part of the last decade, hearing from local residents of the impact of cars and a good road on their community.  People could now travel comfortably to Dubbo for shopping.  The pull of convenience, greater choice, and lower prices to larger centres takes a great deal from isolated and remote communities.  It takes the dollar out of town. It deadens the streets.  People do other things while they are away shopping - visiting the doctor and the hairdresser and so on.  This can mean that the smaller community might find it hard to get a doctor into town because the health business goes elsewhere.

Admittedly, in the early 21st century, we find things changing in more closely settled areas as people repopulate small villages and rural areas which are in driving distance - or are well served by public transport - of a major centre.  A pull factor in these areas is  the affordability of land and housing. These areas are seeing a rejuvenation - more kids at the local school; local markets springing up; a  somewhat different economy developing.  

Meanwhile, in remote and isolated areas the decline continues.  The rigid and anti-people orientation of mining companies to FIFO policies is working solidly and in ever-extending circles against the economic interests of inland Australia.

Australia is being hollowed out.  I know of no better example of what is happening in out-of-sight-out-of-mind remote Australia than the Telstra map of the continent showing its mobile coverage.

  Picture from here

In many places in remote Australia, Telstra is THE ONLY mobile service.  From Alice Springs to Tennant Creek is a drive of approximately five hours.  From just north of Alice to just south of Tennant there is no mobile coverage.  In Alice, Telstra is not the only provider.  In Tennant, Telstra is the only provider.  In recent times, remote Australia has been the greatest source of development, wealth, and employment - yet it still does not have the universal competitive communications service that is available in the closely settled coastal and near inland areas of the continent.

Postscript:  My inland credentials - as well as Walgett, NSW - include McArthur River Station, NT; Mount Isa, Qld; Tennant Creek, NT; and (currently) Black Hill in Ballarat, Vic.  I am currently living in my third mining town and my second gold town.  

I live at the foot of Black Hill and across the road from the Yarrowee River - a very historic part of Ballarat where they used to roll the quartz down the hill to the river to use the water to reveal the gold.  These three mining towns are the best places I have ever lived. 

Ballarat and the regions surrounding it are undergoing population growth as people move from Melbourne to a more affordable and comfortable lifestyle while living close to Melbourne with comfortable access by road and rail.  .  

Ballarat : Sustainability & Urban Wellbeing Community Forum

Sustainability & Urban Wellbeing Project  

Cherie Draper, Ballarat Environment Network 

Issues relating to biodiversity, health, water and growth. 

Challenges and creating a shared vision for the future.  

Making Sustainability Affordable  

Associate Professor Jerry Courvisanos, University of Ballarat  

There are tensions between economic, social and environmental interests. 

What are the limits of our current economic system and are there alternatives?  

Nature and Health Connections  

Matthew Ebden, Deakin University 

Matthew’s interest in the relationships between nature and human health 

has lead to research in regional Victoria and abroad. 

Matt will share his knowledge of the benefits of contact with nature 

for mental health and social wellbeing. 

Population, Growth & Sustainability

Kelvin Thomson, MHR 

Does Australia still need to ‘populate or perish’? What does population growth mean for Australia and regional communities such as Ballarat? 

More importantly, will population growth lead to an increase in prosperity?

Sustainability Indicators  

Dr Michelle Graymore, University of Ballarat

Measuring and monitoring society’s economic wellbeing, community health, 

and sustainability is increasingly important.  

The Great South West Community Report Card provides information 

on 27 indicators relating to 10 key issues. 

Click to enlarge

Dale Hess - Calendar - 20120507 to 20120927

Monday 7 May, 6 pm: Book launch: Bigger or Better? Australia's Population Debate. Join the Hon. Dr Barry Jones at Readings Hawthorn as he launches my new book Bigger or Better? Australia's Population Debate. Professor Ian Lowe - author, pre-eminent scientist and president of the Australian Conservation Foundation -  takes an objective look at the implications of increasing population growth and discusses how it affects all Australians. Bigger or Better? Australia's Population Debate provides an historic account of Australia's population growth and an analysis of the data, whilst making the complex and controversial issues around population accessible to readers. Readings Bookshop, 701 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn. Free, no bookings required. Tel: 9819 1917.

Tuesday 8 May, 4.30 pm: Vigil Against the Afghanistan War. Is Australia withdrawing from theAfghanistan war? It seems clear that our military involvement is looking at continuing for quite some time yet. So let's keep the message strong: Stop the war. When we mean withdraw, we really mean withdraw. Parliament Station, Spring Street, Melbourne.

Saturday 12 May, 11 am - 3.30 pm: Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium. What world are we passing onto future generations? Join the groundswell of global citizens waking up to the unique role we each have to play in creating a future that is worth passing onto our children and grandchildren. Venue: Glen Park Community Centre, Bayswater. Cost: $30 / $15 Concession (lunch included). RSVP / inquiries:  Contact Jane on 0416 279 811 orjanefmb7@gmail.com

Wednesday 16 May, 7 pm: Law Week Event 16 May: Debbie Mortimer SC and Jomary Ortegon from Colombia. A lawyer in Australia can stand up in court without feeling personally at risk. Sadly, the same is not the case everywhere. Lawyers in some countries are regularly subjected to threats against themselves or their families are physically attacked and even abducted and forcibly "disappeared" simply for doing their jobs. In Colombia alone, in recent times as many as 25 year lawyers have been killed each year. Join Debbie Mortimer, Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Victorian Bar and Jomary Ortegon, lawyer with CCAJAR, Colombia (via skype) for a discussion of the threats faced by human rights lawyers in Colombia and around the world, and what assistance the Australian community can offer. Find out how you can support human rights lawyers at risk. Venue: DLA Piper, Level 21, 140 William Street. Refreshments provided. Further info: 9016 3769. Website:http://www.pbi-australia...org/country-groups/pbi-australia/news-from-pbi-australia/?L=2%3FL%3D2%3FL%3D0%3FL%3D0

Thursday 17 May, 6 pm - 7.30 pm: Human rights, protest and police surveillance:

a forum on intelligence gathering and monitoring of public protest.

Recent news reports have revealed the increasingly widespread and targeted involvement of state and federal police, ASIO and even private agencies in monitoring groups and individuals participating in public protest. In the courts, a case currently underway at VCAT* is challenging police powers to collect and retain footage of people at protests in relation to a 2010 climate change protest at Hazelwood Power Station in the Latrobe Valley. This forum brings together experts in law, human rights and surveillance, as well as individuals who have sought to protect their privacy through the courts, and asks: What kind of monitoring and surveillance techniques are currently being utilised? What are the effects of this practice from a democratic and human rights perspective? What legal protections are available and how adequate are they? The event is open to all who have an interest in learning about and addressing this critical human rights issue. Caripis v Victoria Police VCAT ref. HP21/2011. Speakers: Michael Pearce SC, Barrister and Former President of Liberty Victoria;Anthony Kelly, Executive Officer, Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre, and trainer with Pt'chang Nonviolent Community Safety Group; Anna Brown, Solicitor and Director of Advocacy and Strategic Litigation, Human Rights Law Centre; Special guests, Chris Heislers and Jan Beer, will talk about their experiences of being monitored for opposing the desalination plant and North-South pipeline and their subsequent legal challenge. Venue: Melbourne City Conference Centre Chapel, 333 Swanston Street, (Cnr Little Lonsdale and Swanston Streets), Melbourne. RSVP:castan.centre@monash.edu or telephone 9905 3327.     

Sunday 20 May, 10 am - 7 pm: Perry Street Festival Rocks Again ! Celebrating a vibrant thirty five year history in Fitzroy and Collingwood, Friends of the Earth with the support of the City ofYarra, is throwing our excellent little street festival to embrace eclectic Collingwood. In the fine tradition of a festival that is growing with each passing year, this 2012 festival is shaping up to be a pearler! Where else can you find homemade crafts and clothing. Where else will you be able to rummage through racks of second hand clothes, funky junk that are still within a cooee of the average punters pocket? Where else in one place can you find organic fresh juices and delicious vegetarian food, cakes, sweets food, books, plants and information and people to talk about issues of importance to the planet and its peoples? To set the mood for everyone to enjoy there is a fabulous array of local talent coming out of to entertain Collingwood. Music is the key to the joyful atmosphere of the day and this year’s line up is an eclectic mix of indie pop, hip-hop,  surf rock and folky tunes. Come along and enjoy the day! For more information phone Beth 9417 4382 orfood@foe.org.au. 312 Smith St. (Corner Perry Street and Smith Street, Collingwood)

Saturday 2 June, 9 am: Oases Breakfast: Sufficient for the day: a response to global warming. Dr Geoff Lacey will discuss his recent book about responding to climate change. As always can you please RSVP to info@oases.edu.au or call on 9819-3502 and leave a message. It helps us to have enough food if you do RSVP. $25/$15 (incls. breakfast). Augustine Centre, 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn.

Melbourne, Tuesday 19 June, 6.30 pm - 8 pm:  Public Meeting: US Forces in Australia: Security or Risk? Public meeting organised by MAPW and partners to discuss the expansion of US military presence in Australia and consider a campaign for a more peaceful course. There's a growing movement around Australia challenging this new direction in our foreign policy, assisting the USchange course. Main speakers are Professor Richard Tanter (on the expansion of US bases) and writer Nic Maclellan (implications for our region). As well, Maki Yohana will explain why Okinawans campaign against their massive US bases; and there will be a speaker from the Philippines and time for discussion. Trades Hall, Meeting Room 1 (enter at 54 Victoria Street Carlton). Free and all welcome.

Sunday 1 July - Wednesday 4 July: Jewish-Christian-Muslim Conference: The Prophet Motif - Meeting the Divine Challenge Today. This conference will explore the historical, social and spiritual dimensions of prophets and how we might hear God's voice and meet the divine challenge for our own times in a variety of different ways and with the unique JCMA mix of studying, discussing, praying, eating and sharing as we get to meet each other as people of faith in Australia. Venue: Conference Centre, Pallotti College, 80 McNamaras Rd, Millgrove (Melways: Map 289 A2).  Single room: $365 per person; Single sharing: $335 per person; Couple: $660 per couple Sunday Taster: $50 per person. Further information: 9650 3294; www.jcma.org.au;registrations@jcma.org.au.

Wednesday 11 July - Sunday 22 July: Olympic Dam & Lizards Revenge Tour. Anti-nuclear & Clean energy's (ACE) Olympic Dam exposure tour 2012. From the organiser's of the Friends of the Earth radioactive exposure tour, join the ACE crew for this years Olympic Dam & Lizards revenge activists.  We will travel from Melbourne along BHP Billiton's proposed path of destruction to the heart of the South Australia's semi arid landscape. Travelling to the precious mound springs, Lake Eyre, the Lizards revenge DIY music blockade, the spectacular Gammon & Flinders Ranges, plus much more. Hear first hand from the people who are fighting for their country & the people who support their struggle against the worlds largest mining company. Total cost of tour will include travel, guides, accommodation & all organic vegan/vegetarian, G.F, food provided. Contact: Tully Starr 0410 388 187 or Zin Rain 0408 165 735. Email: ace@foe.org.au. Cost: $400 conc, $750 waged & $900 solidarity.

Saturday 14 July - Friday 20 July: The Lizard's Revenge - Olympic Dam expansion music/art/festival/protest. ... Sleeping underneath the ground there is an old lizard, Kalta the sleepy lizard. The lizard ain't so sleepy anymore. BHP is mining right into that Lizards body. The government has just approved an expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium mine, making it the biggest uranium mine in the world. Kalta is angry and wants revenge. Arabana elder Kevin Buzzacott is calling the people of the world to help the lizard shut down the mine. He is calling for people to come and heal the land in the name of peace and justice for the next 10,000 generations to come. The land is being irreversibly poisoned in and around Roxby Downs by the tailings dam causing dust and ground water contamination, and contamination of its workers. Party in a Dangerous Planet with Theatre, Cabaret and Art installations. Over 20 musical acts. Solar Powered sound system extravaganza and wind powered cinema. Location: Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs gates of hell - South Australia. Contact Email: izzybrown@live.com. Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/224524544273924. Hosted by the DLF - Desert Liberation Front in response to the governments decision to expand Olympic Dam mine.

Monday 20 August - Friday 14 September: Walking for Country. Walkatjurra Walkabout is a pilgrimage across Wangkatja country in the spirit of our ancestors so together, we as present custodians, can protect our land and our culture for future generations. Walking for Country is to reconnect people with land and culture. My people have resisted destructive mining on our land and our sacred sites for generations. For over forty years we have fought to stop uranium mining at Yeelirrie, we stopped the removal of sacred stones from Weebo and for the last twenty years we have stoped destruction of 200 sites at Yakabindie. We are not opposed to responsible development, but cannot stand wanton destruction of our land, our culture, and our environment. We invite all people, from all places, to come together to walk with us, to send a clear message that we want the environment here, and our sacred places left alone.  Kado Muir, Traditional Owner, Yeelirrie. This walk will be lead by the Walkatjurra Rangers, in partnership with Footprints for Peace, Western Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (WANFA), the Anti Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia (ANAWA) and the Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA).  ALL WELCOME to JOIN for an hour, a day, a few weeks or the whole way. Email: walk4country@gmail.com. Phone: 0421 816 846 (Laura). Website: www.walkingforcountry.com  [Position open for Publicity and Communications Intern to work with the Organising Committee in all matters related to media and publicity.  The Intern would be responsible for liaising with all media in the lead up, duration and immediate period following the upcoming event Walkatjurra Walkabout - Walking for Country.  Any inquiries, 0421 816 846 (Laura)].

Sunday 23 September - Thursday 27 September: Swan Island Peace Convergence 2012.There is no end for this war in sight, and many of us feel powerless to stop it. Join us in Queenscliff,Victoria, for a week of learning about and nonviolently resisting the war: nonviolence training, community engagement, peace vigils, blockade the bridge to Swan Island military base where the SAS troops are trained for active combat in Afghanistan. Further info: http://swanislandpeace.org/and swanislandpeace@gmail...com

James Arvanitakis - Greening Xenophobia - Lifeboat Limits

Picture from here

James Arvanitakis was in Melbourne a short while ago to speak at the Melbourne Free University. I heard him speak there, although I had been in touch with James's work long before that. James is nothing if not stimulating both in delivery and ideas.  He seeks to motivate, to steer thoughts and ideas into new ways of thinking.  Classic stuff for an entity such as MFU.

He has notified through his blog and on Twitter of his most recent piece for New Matilda, Greening Xenophobia.  Imagine what your own lifeboat limit might be, Networkers!

Further reading:

Chasing the  xenophobic vote

Links to more on this topic from Crikey here

Asylum seekers facts

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

Queensland and Population Growth

In case you have been doing a Rip Van Winkle, you will know that everything from resource exploration and development to population and housing is going gangbusters in Queensland.

On Line Opinion tells us that a survey on populaton growth in Queensland is taking place.  Please have a look and notify any Queenslanders you can so that they might participate.  All growth is not good - and there are problems to be solved and worked on in Queensland.

What the people want - Population Growth

We are conducting a survey for the Local Government Association of Queensland which has been inquiring into population growth in Queensland. The survey is live at: http://polling.nationalforum.com.au/index.php?sid=76677&lang=en. (If the link will not open when you click on it, please copy and paste it into your browser address bar.) The survey will only be open until midnight Friday, June 11, 2010 EST. The results of the LGAQ research will be published on our What the people want site. It is a recognition of the quality of the feedback that you provide that we have been commissioned to do this work.

We've also posted more of the analysis from the April omnibus survey which you can read at What the people want.

Related reading

Populate & Perish: The Stresses of Population Growth in Australia

The northern population drift accelerates--Queensland, Australia's growth state.: An article from: People and Place

Mining Australia's Northern Frontier: Government, Development and Indigenous People

Further reading:

LGAQ PUBLIC INQUIRY ON THE NEED FOR A QUEENSLAND POPULATION POLICY

South East Queensland

Growth Management Summint - Qld

Capping Population Growth in South East Queensland: Unachievable, Impractical and Unrealistic?

Questions and Answers with Rob Hulls, Attorney-General, Victoria

Further to my previous post here, this is the follow up.

Here is the question I asked Rob Hulls with his reply on the Live Q&A.

2:47

[Comment From Miss Eagle] Rob, I am concerned about water trading and the way such a precious resource has now become a casino leading to haves and have nots. I understand it came about because of a COAG decision. How can we legally get out of this mess whereby we unbundled land from water and get land and water connected again?

2:48

Rob Hulls:  Water unbundling is an important reform that has given irrigators more options to manage their way through the drought, whether by supplementing low allocations, by buying more water, or selling water they don't need, or for cash flow. The drought impacts on individual irrigators would be much more severe if they did not have this flexibility. ~~~~~~~ Now I thought this was a bit ho-hum to say the least.  The response displayed no depth of understanding of the issue and was a fob-off in tune with the party line.  Here is what some others thought. That great Networker and Landscaper Ed said: It's Victorian government spin again.  The purpose of unbundling water from land is to create a new economy, using our commonly owned water for their and corporate profits.  It does not solve the real issues facing farmers, who (especially the small farm enterprisers) are price takers and not price makers. Mr Hulls' spin rides right over the issues that have put farmers in this position - He does not acknowledge Overallocation of water by the States and especially by Victoria, much of which still is held as sleeper licences still able to be activated. The disconnection between people who own water rights without owning or managing land, which necessarily leads to further misuse of water and water rights. The environmental devastation which is occurring now, land and water unbundling occurs, leading away from stewardship of our natural resources. Failure of Victorian government to initiate and continue upgrading of infrastructure which it was their charter to do under the Water Act since that infrastructure was created. Failure by Victorian government to respond in kind and in concert with the enormous advances farmers made in response to successive industry restructures in farm enterprises dependent on irrigation water. Failure by Victorian government to complement their research organisations, which had farmers striding forward with irrigation efficiency advances, so that their irrigation efficiency is just about at peak levels for the kinds of irrigation they carry out. Failure of the Victorian government to do the right thing by farmers and help pay for the next stage of irrigation water use efficiency, which is to lay drip line ($20,000/ha) under pasture and many other forms of agricultural production. Failure of the Victorian government to sufficiently insist on changing inefficient irrigation land use to the most efficient protein producing enterprises for irrigation. - The kind of land use most suitable and efficient depends on a range of conditions, such as soil type, water table levels, markets and so on. Failure of the Victorian government to do its due diligence on the level and cost/benefit of the irrigation infrastructure upgrades that they have started (only 1% or so of which is completed). Failure of the Victorian government to have independent auditing done of both financial and water efficiency targets and achievements. Failure of the Victorian government to honor its commitments to restoring the Snowy River environmental flows. Failure of the Victorian government to honor its responsibility to flush the Murray following the recent blue green algae outbreak. Failure of the Victorian government to do due diligence on the water meter issue, which has now turned to a debacle, at great taxpayer cost, because the new electronic water meters cannot function accurately in dirty water. The new water meters giving readings of water use where there is no water use happening. Failure of the Victorian government to be transparent and proactive in detailing the environment and energy costs of it big projects, e.g. North-South Sugarloaf Pipeline, Bendigo Ballarat superpipe and Waranga basin low level pumping, and water diversions from Lake Nagambie to Waranga Basin. Failure of the Victorian government to even mention or admit that it has another sizeable pipeline recently put in from the Goulburn River at Trawool to take more water out of the Goulburn River to Broadford and Wallan, and thence to the water network which will end with water going all the way to the new suburbs it is creating in the Melbourne and Geelong super metropolis. Failure of the Victorian government to meaningfully recognise that the Goulburn Heritage River system is in such a degraded condition that the extraction of any water out of it for use in coastal cities will kill the future of the river and place a series of nails in the Murray River system. Ed Adamson DipAg MEnvSc Merrijig 3723 And from the indefatigible Maria in Mildura That is the pat answer they all give when asked about unbundling! The same question was asked at the water information forum in Mildura on Tuesday and the same answer given.  They do not seem to understand that it is NOT the drought that is the issue - we can deal with drought: it is the fact that the Murray-Darling Basin water system is over-allocated and with every drop being able to be sold, the market that they so praise has caused the over-allocation to be exacerbated. Previously not all water was used and it was left in the river (thought some of it might have been used elsewhere) and sleeper licenses were not an issue. When they put the cap on the MDB they capped it using a wet year as the ill-considered reference point instead of being cautious and calculating in a drought! In fact when they put the cap on the drought was already on its way! (as we now CSIRO has said the drought has been going for 15 years-or it climate change?) He has also forgotten that with cities and urban areas getting into the market, this prevents and discourages policies and strategies and actions that encourage more environmentally sustainable options being utilized and being adopted. This is short-sighted politically motivated response instead of long-term environmentally sustainable options. As the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability has stated in his State of the Environment Report 2008 (December and summary attached): “Victoria is living beyond its resource means.” This includes water. I went to the Victorian Green paper on Climate Change info session Wednesday night and basically it can be boiled down to one main consideration: population growth. Until governments and communities understand that if we don’t curb population growth (keep Australia to 17 million-some professor was talking about this exact problem on radio National this morning) consumption of resources will only increase. How can it not? More people mean that they will demand more resources. In order to maintain a healthy natural environment we need to limit population growth world-wide as any other action such as cutting greenhouse gases etc is almost impossible if we do not consider that a glass can only be emptied and filled to a certain level before it runs out or over flows. Those are just SOME of my thoughts. Again if you don’t have a copy get a copy of ‘Water Resources Law’ by Alex Gardner, Richard Bartlett and Janice Gray (LexisNexis Butterworth 2009) which is fantastic as a resource book and explains it all. It might seems costly but think of the hours of research! Well worth it. I am finding it enlightening!

Dear Networkers,

Some items for your calendar.

Please join Archbishop Freier on Wednesday 30th of September, BMW Edge Theatre, Fed Square at 7:30am, as he discusses the increasing level of street violence in Melbourne with Chief Police Commissioner Simon Overland, and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Greg.

Click to enlarge

This is an invitation to:

It’s Vegie Time!

Melbourne Multicultural Food Fair

Official Community Fundraiser for the Parliament of the World's Religions

27th September, 11am - 3pm,
St Kilda Town Hall
Cnr Carlisle St and Brighton Rd, St Kilda.

This event is organised by the Buddhist Council of Victoria for the purpose of raising awareness of the cultural diversity within the Buddhist community in Victoria.

The event aims to raise funds on behalf of the Victorian Buddhist community towards the organising costs of the upcoming Parliament of the World’s Religions (PWR) to be held in Melbourne, 3-9 December 2009, the world's largest interreligious gathering.

The event will feature tantalising food from the vegetarian cuisines of the diverse ethnic groups within the Buddhist community of Melbourne.

The Food Fair will also present introductory talks on Buddhism and Meditation and give participants the chance to experience the tea ceremonies of Japan and China.

This will be a ‘green event’ with all food served on biodegradable, reusable containers. Participants are urged to “keep the footprint low” by coming on public transport and bringing their own clean sealable containers to take food home to share with others.

Prices at the Food Fair are low with $5 and $2 coupons exchangeable for your individual choices.

Venerable Phuoc Tan from the Quang Minh Temple is a patron of the PWR and is assisting us in organizing this event.

For more information visit PWR Melbourne Events Website

Download the Official Poster