November Forum: Music for a Warming World Fire: Australia plus Melbourne/Bayside Warning BCCAG News: Bayside Council - considers Declaring a Climate Emergency/
plus Name Change BCC Information: Have your say on waste: Lid change of colour Events: #Climate Change Solidarity Sit-Down News Items
November Forum - This is our last Forum for 2019, and will be an end of year celebration. We invite you to remain for drinks, nibbles and a chat.
Together We Will . . . .
A visually stunning, emotional and entertaining environmental concert with original music and large scale visuals.
This event is focused on promoting a step-change in Australia’s cultural narrative about our climate future and committed to providing reflection and emotional support to all those with the courage to face this challenge.
The program has evolved following performances to 3000 people over three and a half years, from major music festivals, universities, and concert halls to house concerts and climate groups from Brisbane to Tasmania.
see: www.musicforawarmingworld.org
Thursday 28th November, 7:30pm
Highett Community Centre,
2 Livingston St,
Highett Entry $5 includes wine and nibbles
The Devastating Fires in Qld and NSW
A state of emergency, the first since Oct 2013, has been declared in NSW as bush fire conditions worsen. This is the first time since new fire danger ratings were introduced in 2009 that Catastrophic fire danger has been forecast for Sydney.
In Queensland, more than 50 bushfires are active as we go to press, many in places that have previously never experienced severe fires. A state of fire emergency has been declared for the first time in Queensland history, and a total fire ban imposed on 42 council areas.
And now in WA: Catastrophic conditions are forecast on Sunday (Nov 17) in four regions of WA: east Pilbara coast, west Pilbara coast, east Pilbara inland and Ashburton Inland.
Our hearts go out to all those affected by these terrible events. At the same time, these emergency scenarios underline the importance of our work to address the impacts of Climate Change, a major factor behind the extent and severity of fire seasons not only in Australia but in so many other parts of the world.
One way you can help shake off the sadness that accompanies these catastrophic events is to actively do something about them. Support the rural QLD Fire Service or the NSW Fire Service or Red Cross .
You can also help influence decision makers to take stronger action on Climate Change by joining our active campaign team - call or write David Williams 0409 235 502, david.williams.cpi@gmail.com
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The Melbourne suburbs at risk of bushfire
Fire experts warn that urban residents living in fire-prone areas including Fairfield, Sandringham and Mount Waverley need to be as vigilant as regional Victorians in the lead-up to this fire season, and should prepare a proper fire plan. The MFB says parkland, river reserves and wooded beach fronts pose a risk for residents in urban areas. It has identified 29 Melbourne suburbs that could be at risk. For example, Fairfield, just eight kilometres from the CBD, is at risk of a bushfire in Yarra Bend Park, while Beaumaris residents face four potential fire sources, including Ricketts Point coastline and Balcombe Park. Read the full article here.
BCCAG News
Petition to Bayside City Council to Declare a Climate Emergency
Over 3000 signatories supported this petition which was delivered to Council Governance Manager, Terry Callant on Monday 11th November. Just under 2400 signatures were collected throughout Bayside by BCCAG volunteers mainly at markets and fairs with over 600 supporters coming from on-line petitions initiated by BCCAG also via Greenpeace, Change.org and Flossie Sperring’s campaign group.
A Motion was unanimously adopted, moved by Cr Evans and seconded by Cr Martin (now Mayor) that states:
“That Council receives a report at the December 2019 Ordinary Council Meeting on the proposed revision of the Climate Change Strategy that was adopted in 2012 and the merits of Council declaring a Climate Emergency.”
We will be meeting with Councillors separately over coming weeks to discuss appropriate actions to address the Climate Emergency in preparation for their December meeting on : Tues 17th Dec commencing at 7.00 pm.
Please join us at this important meeting. Wear a bit of red and join us in the Council Chambers Civic Centre 15 Boxshall St Brighton to witness the outcome of months of work.
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Bayside Sustainable Environments Grant
Our BCCAG Community Projects Group have applied for a Council grant of $3800 to fund a tree planting program in partnership with a number of primary and secondary schools in Bayside. We should know the outcome of this grant application by the end of November.
Important Notice:
On January 1, 2020 Bayside Climate Change Action Group will have a name change. Our new name will be “Bayside Climate Crisis Action Group. This amendment was voted for at our AGM in 2018 and more accurately reflects the current emergency situation.
Bayside City Council
Have your say on waste
Bayside residents, we want to hear from you Bayside City Council's new food and green waste recycling service is a significant change to the way we manage our household waste. The service is transforming Bayside's food scraps, leftovers, and green waste into compost - putting it to good use and saving it from landfill.
Prior to the introduction of the service, our garbage bins were half full of food that was thrown away. By putting it into the food and green waste bin instead, we are reducing landfill and greenhouse gases produced by rotting food while also creating a valuable resource for Victorian farmers.
We want to hear from you on how you're using the service, or the reasons why you don't have it? Please fill out this short, two-minute survey by following the link below and provide your feedback. Your feedback here
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Why did the lids change: The reason Bayside City Council changed the colour of the green bin from red to light green was to bring the Food and Green Waste bin colour in line with Australian Standards for organic waste. A red lid is often used in other municipalities for the general waste (landfill) bin. The lid changeover helped and will continue to help avoid contamination and confusion for many residents.
The change in lid colour also helped to signify the change in the service helping residents adjust to the new service i.e. placing all food waste into the green waste bin instead of the rubbish bin.
All red lids were sent to a facility where they were recycled into new bin bodies.
What you do Counts
This short video from Greta is a simple message about what is neeeded to act on Climate Change. For someone so young she has a grasp of what is required and encourages all of us to play our part.
PROTECT : RESTORE : FUND
Events
Hosted by: School Strike 4 Climate #This is Climate Change Solidarity Sit-Down – join us November 29 from 12.00 - 14.00 Parliament of Victoria, Spring Street, Melbourne.
If you want to travel in a group we will be in the front carriage of the train departing Sandringham at 11.20am
Hot Water Heat Pump Considerations:
Speaker: Tim Forcey, Energy Advisor, and BCCAG member
Presentation: Tim will explain how heat pumps capture free renewable heat, whether you should get a heat pump for water heating and the differences between the various water-heating heat pumps available on the Australian market.
If you already have a water-heating heat pump you can get tips on getting the most out of it. Bio: Tim Forcey graduated as a chemical engineer in America during the energy crises of the late 1970’s. Tim then worked in industrial energy for 35 years overseas and in Australia for firms including ExxonMobil, BHP, Jemena, and the Australian Energy Market Operator.
Thursday 28 November 12pm – 2pm
BCCAG joins the Victorian National Parks Association, the Wilderness Society, Environment Victoria, Friends of the Earth and the Australian Conservation Foundation to make this rally huge.
Starts at: Parliament steps, Spring St, Melbourne
Followed by: BYO picnic in Treasury Gardens
We want to deliver a positive message of what can and should be done in this term of government to protect nature. We will be urging for:
• New and better funded National Parks (in particular the opportunity to protect the significant forests in Victoria’s central west and elsewhere).
• Better protection for our forests, rivers, beaches, oceans and wildlife.
• Stronger laws to protect threatened species and habitats that address the size of the crisis we are facing.
Please bring a banner, sign, puppet or other craft work to represent the special place you think nature deserves in the minds of state government ministers.
After decades of work, the government must not miss this opportunity to protect the precious forests of the central west – Wombat, Wellsford, Mount Cole and Pyrenees.
BCCAG members may like to travel together in the front carriage of the train departing Sandringham on Thursday 28th at 11.20 am, changing at Richmond for Parliament.
Remember BCCAG’s end of year celebration that same evening at Highett Community Centre.
For some urban areas, a warming climate is only half the threat
A new study projects that the growth of urban areas in the coming decades will trigger ''extra'' warming due to a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect (UHI). According to their findings, urban expansion will cause the average summer temperature in these areas to increase about 0.5 to 0.6 degrees C -- but up to 3 degrees C in some locations.
BCCAG would like to thank Pixel Cube in Seaford, for their ongoing help and support hosting our Website.
BCCAG is located on Boon Wurrung land. We pay our respects to Aboriginal elders past and present, recognise their continuing contribution to caring for country, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.
