Good news and highlights from 2007

Friends of the Earth (FoE) is mindful of the fact that hardly any environmental victories are the result of the actions of a single organisation; it is alliances and collaborations between different sectors and groups that brings about both short-term victories and long-term change. With this in mind, the following are some of the victories we have helped achieve and good news from our campaigns in 2007.

FoE has continued to work through the Forest Stewardship Council to ensure there are robust, credible and well supported independent certification schemes for logging operations in Australia

FoE continued to monitor logging operations in the Barmah forest (VIC), identifying nine logging breaches which include the potentially illegal logging of old growth Red Gums, crucial habitat for hollow-dwelling species such as the threatened Squirrel Glider, Brush-tailed Phascogale and Superb Parrot. It identified instances of illegal harvesting in a Superb Parrot Special Protection Zone at Grinters Ridge in the Barmah forest. This resulted in a State government investigation and changes to the way coupes are marked for protection of endangered species

After almost a decade of campaigning, FoE played a key role in the creation of a new 8,000 hectare reserve in the Strezlecki Ranges, just south of the Latrobe Valley (VIC). This is the first time there has been a major reserve protecting the remnants of the cool temperate forests that once covered most of this range

nuclear and energy

We maintained a national, funded network of positions in Alice Springs, Darwin, and Melbourne concerned with the nuclear fuel cycle, renewable energy, and sustainable energy futures

We continued to host the national network of environmental and indigenous groups concerned about nuclear issues (re-named the Australian anti nuclear alliance in 2007).

We worked with a number of organisations to host an inspiring east coast speaking tour of traditional owners from three of the four proposed nuclear waste dump sites in the NT

rated political parties on nuclear issues and carried out a major community education campaign during the federal election, including the creation of the Vote Nuclear Free website. Distributed more than 350,000 vote nuclear free postcards

organised a major tour of northern SA to visit arid zone regions, consider the impacts of the nuclear fuel cycle, and make connections with indigenous communities in the region

organised a tour through western NSW to raise awareness of the threats posed by the transport of radioactive waste materials and the benefits of sustainable energy futures

generated support from local councils in NSW on question of energy futures

helped host national tour of a photographic exhibition called Inhabited which looks at the experiences of remote communities of the nuclear and mining industries

community outreach

organised a large number of public forums, meetings and workshops on the themes of renewables, energy policy, nanotechnology, trade, food production, and biodiversity in QLD, SA, NSW, Victoria and Victoria. Highlights included:

• Towards a Low Carbon Society – Energy, transport and lifestyle solutions to address climate change [Brisbane]

• "Technology: the new, the nasty and the needed" - forum which considered the issues of nanotechnology, nukes and renewables [Adelaide]

• In Melbourne, FoE and the City of Yarra ran a very well received series of public forums called 'living sustainably in a globalised world' which featured a range of impressive speakers including journalist George Monbiot and Tom Athanasiou from the US-based Eco Equity group

with the ACF and Poola Foundation, FoE produced a booklet called empowering change which provided information on sustainable energy options for Australia (more than 80,000 copies distributed)

climate change

FoEA released a major report looking at the impacts of climate change on low income communities in Victoria

FoE and Oxfam hosted an east coast speaking tour of people affected by climate change from the Carteret Islands near Bougainville

we continued our involvement in the Climate Change Development Roundtable (CCDR), which brings together a range of environmental and aid and development organisations. The CCDR was formed in recognition that developing countries are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and to highlight the need for international aid and development agencies to consider the implications of climate change for their programs and advocacy. The CCDR released a major report produced by the CSIRO called Australia responds: helping our neighbours fight climate change, on the likely climate change impacts on the Asia Pacific region

FoE and City of Yarra hosted the Solutions to Climate Change Community Festival in Melbourne

a strong FoE contingent lobbied within the climate change negotiations in Bali in December 2007 as well as arranging a vast number of parallel and external events outside the conference

Community businesses:

FoE continued to operate Reverse Garbage, a not-for-profit co-operative in Brisbane that collects high quality industrial discards, diverting them from landfill to sell them at low cost to the general public

FoE continued to operate its food co-operative and bookstore in Melbourne, aiming to provide low cost, sustainable and ethical food and other products to the local community

nanotechnology
released report: "Nanomaterials, sunscreens and cosmetics: Small particles, big risks", which details the use of nanoparticles in sunscreens, moisturisers, soap, toothpaste, shampoo and cosmetics. The report reviews the scientific evidence so far of risks to the health of people using these products, workers who manufacture them, and the environmental systems into which waste products are ultimately released

FoE has called for a moratorium until there is a better understand the risks posed by workplace exposure to nanoparticles, and a regulatory system in place to protect workers' health. It was involved in government inquiry's on this issue

initiated a sustainable food campaign which draws together community members passionate about contemporary food issues. It campaigns both on national and global issues of agriculture and trade policy, as well as supporting practical, community food production. It launched the Urban Orchard homegrown fruit and vegetable exchange, in collaboration with the Goodwood Goodfood Co-op in Adelaide, which is working to initiate partnerships with local restaurants and farmers’ markets.

with a range of other groups, launched a consumer campaign which is calling on Australian consumers, retailers and manufacturers to play a key role in curbing massive deforestation in South-East Asia for palm oil plantations.

While FoE continues to grow internationally, we also saw this trend locally, with new affiliate members in the Blue Mountains (Katoomba-Leura Climate Action Now) and Western Australia (Sustainable Energy Now).