Copy
View this email in your browser

Celebrate our Seas

Let's celebrate our seas! In response to a joint media statement by Environment Centre NT, Australian Marine Conservation Society and Protect Arnhem Land, the Chief Minister has confirmed in a media statement that he will be extending the moratorium on seabed mining for another 3 years! 

Send him an email now to congratulate him chief.minister@nt.gov.au

We will continue to work with our members and partners to raise awareness of other critical threats to our seas, such as oil and gas exploration, as well as the government's proposed 'dirty' port at Glyde Point and proposed 'Nightcliff Island' development.

More information available here.


New Give Now site launched

Donating to the Environment Centre has never been easier with the launch of our Give Now website.

Help us raise $100,000 to buffer the impact of total funding operational cuts by governments.

Click the button to find out why we need your help to maintain the voice of the Territory's environment!


Fracking inquiry report released

On February 26, the NT Government finally released the long-awaited report by the independent inquiry into hydraulic fracking. 

The report identifies critical inconsistencies and gaps in the NT regulatory framework to protect the environment from the impacts of fracking - but has suggested that forming a Cabinet Sub-Committee will suffice to 'set the standard for a best practice regulatory regime' and goes outside its Terms of Reference to state that a moratorium on fracking is 'unneccessary'.

In a joint statement by the Environment Centre NT and Arid Lands Environment Centre, Anna Boustead said: “We welcome the long-awaited release of this critical independent report and look forward to examining its findings. As outlined in our original submission, we reiterate that it is inappropriate and nonsensical for the NT Government to support further shale gas ‘fracking’ development at least until the report’s recommendations have been put into place.”

"The NT Government has a clear pro-oil and gas agenda. It has run taxpayer-funded advertisements openly promoting the oil and gas industry and just last week, the Chief Minister made a curious statement promoting an application by Inpex to conduct exploration for shale gas over the Daly Waters region, before Native Title owners had been consulted, or due process had been followed to approve it. We have no confidence that this proposed 'Sub-Committee' would give proper consideration to environmental risks or damage."

Have Your Say now on the NT Government's Guiding Principles for shale gas 'fracking'
 

Fukushima: Four Years On

March 11 marked four years since the triple nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi reactors in Japan caused heartache and devastation across the country. Since that time over 150,000 people remain displace, and clean up and recovery efforts have cost over $30 billion, with many communities too contaminated by radioactive fallout for residents to every return home.
 
To mark the day PeaceBoat, an organisation the Environment Centre NT co-hosted last year's national speaking tour with former-Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan, launched a multi-lingual book with an overview of the ongoing disaster and its impacts from the perspective of the local community.
 
The booklet can be downloaded as a PDF here: fukushimalessons.jp/en-booklet.html
 
Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation also released a statement expressing Mirarr Traditional Owners continuing sadness that uranium dug up on their country from Ranger uranium mine has become nuclear fallout in Japan.
 
Mirarr Traditional Owners hosted a visit by former Prime Minister Kan during last year's Facing the Fallout tour, to show and discuss the impacts of uranium mining at Ranger. Mr Kan was Prime Minister of Japan when the Fukushima reactors failed and, though previously a supporter of nuclear power, is now a passionate advocate for safe renewable energy sources and was instrumental in a large scale solar and wind power roll-out in Japan following the disaster. 

See the full statement here.
 

Free Home Energy Checks for Low-income Earners

With close to 200 homes already booked in and works underway to deliver fully-funded energy retrofits,, Darwin and Palmerston residents are encouraged to contact the COOLmob Smart Cooling in the Tropics team to check their eligibility for assistance.

Eligible householders will be provided with a free home energy audits and complimentary services and products to reduce their energy use.

Contact the COOLmob team at smartcooling@ecnt.org to check your eligibility for assistance.

We still need your support!

Please show your continued support by

making a DONATION OR

joining us as a MEMBER

UPCOMING EVENTS


THE SEA & ME

In collaboration with Venture North and Sea Darwin, Top End Sea Life presents the Northern Territory premiere of The Sea & Me.

You are all welcome to join us for the free screening!

When: 6:30pm. Tuesday 17 March 

Where: the Darwin Museum Theatre
19 Conacher St, Fannie Bay

About the Film: The Sea & Me has documented stories of Australians whose work and dedication is improving our understanding of the abundant seas around us. Hang around after the screening for a drink, nibbles and to hear about the latest on protection and management of our Territory seas. 

Get in early as seating is limited! 
Please make sure to Register Here for your free ticket! 

Supported by the Environment Centre NT.

*************

Smart Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Territory

On March 26, the Environment Centre NT will host a discussion on the science of climate change and sustainable energy solutions for the Territory.

Keynote Speaker:
Dr Mark Diesendorf, UNSW,
author of ‘Sustainable Energy Solutions for Climate Change’


With guest panel speakers, followed by a forum discussion and local music.

When: 5:30pm. Thursday 26 March

Where: Darwin Railway Club
17 Somerville Gardens, Parap

Entry: $5 ECNT members/ $10 Non-members*
Donations to ECNT encouraged.

Drinks and homemade meals available.

Buy your tickets online now

*Individual membership costs $10 + $25 optional donation. Join Now!

Supported by Darwin Railway Club.

****************

PRIDE - fundraising screening

Support the Environment Centre NT by coming to our screening of Pride — at the Deckchair Cinema. Hanuman's will be selling food on the night and Danny Saunders will play some tunes.

When: 6pm .Thursday 21 May

Where: the Deckchair Cinema
Jervois Rd, Darwin

About the film: Based on a true story, the film depicts a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners' strike in 1984, at the outset of what would become the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign. 


******************

Gasfield-free NT Roadshow
March 22 - April 6

The Environment Centre NT is supporting the first Gasfield-free NT Roadshow which will launch in Katherine on Tuesday March 24 from 5.30pm at the Old Tick Market Site. The roadshow will kick off with a family-friendly event featuring speakers from fracking impacted communities in the NT and QLD, entertainment by live local musicians, short films and BBQ. 

Afterwards the roadshow team, including environmental, public health and legal experts, Traditional Owners and pastoralists, will hit the road for two weeks visiting communities, local councils and civil society groups along the way to talk about fracking, answer questions and share information on how to make your community gasfield-free. 

What: Gasfield-free Communities Roadshow

Where: Old Tick Market Site, Lindsey Street, Katherine

When: Starts 5.30 – 9.00pm, Tuesday 24th March. 

Visiting: Between March 22 and April 6 the roadshow tour will visit Jilkminggan, Katherine, Mataranka, Daly Waters, Borroloola, Robinson River, Ngukkur, Roper Bar, Adelaide River and smaller communities and homesteads by request.

If you'd like the team to stop in at your place get in contact here.

Email: frackfreent@gmail.com or phone Lauren on 0413 534 125 or Charmaine on 0488 195 415.
Copyright © 2015 Environment Centre NT, All rights reserved.
www.ecnt.org

Our mailing address is:
GPO BOX 2120 DARWIN NT 0801

unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences