11 April 2014. Uniting Green Updates are for those who strive to live sustainably
and exercise responsible environmental care as a legitimate expression of their
Christian mission.
Greetings,
I am always proud to be part of a church which in its first public statement in 1977
expressed what would be an abiding concern with the wellbeing of the planet for the
rights of future generations. In part, the Statement to the Nation read: “we are
concerned with the basic human rights of future generations and will urge the wise
use of energy, the protection of the environment and the replenishment of the earth’s
resources for their use and enjoyment.”
Every blessing
Bruce Mullan
Uniting Green Liaison
NEWS
Europe is unhappy with Australia's decision to drop climate change from the G20
agenda and is lobbying the Abbott government to reconsider. European Union
officials say Australia has become completely “disengaged” on climate change since
Tony Abbott was elected in September last year. The EU has a long-running
emissions trading scheme which was going to be linked to Australia's market. Mr
Abbott has said he doesn't want the G20 agenda “cluttered” by topics that would take
the focus from his top priority of economic growth.
The Drum reports on The generation gap on climate change. Most startling is the
generation divide - scepticism about the science of climate change is concentrated in
the over-55s, with young voters overwhelmingly endorsing the view as prosecuted by
the IPCC that there is no doubt the Earth is warming and humans are responsible.
It seems concern about climate change is directly related to the amount of time a
person has left on the planet. Our polling can't tell us why, but perhaps older voters
don't want to see what their generations are leaving behind.
TO READ
In his General Audience on 5 June 2013 last year Pope Francis talked about a
“culture of waste”. He said: “This culture of waste has also made us insensitive to
wasting and throwing out excess foodstuffs, which is especially condemnable when,
in every part of the world, unfortunately, many people and families suffer hunger and
malnutrition. There was a time when our grandparents were very careful not to throw
away any left-over food. Consumerism has induced us to be accustomed to excess
and to the daily waste of food, whose value, which goes far beyond mere financial
parameters, we are no longer able to judge correctly. Let us remember well,
however, that whenever food is thrown out it is as if it were stolen from the table of
the poor, from the hungry! I ask everyone to reflect on the problem of the loss and
waste of food, to identify ways and approaches which, by seriously dealing with this
problem, convey solidarity and sharing with the underprivileged.”
David Weddell in his Convenient Solutions blog points us to the increasing efficiency
of electric cars. He points us to the Australian Government’s Green Vehicle Guide
which rates new Australian vehicles based on greenhouse and air pollution
emissions. The rating is calculated using data provided by manufacturers from
testing the vehicle against Australian standards.
TO WATCH AND LISTEN
Check out Keeper of the Home a site dedicated to naturally-inspired living for
homemakers. Informative and engaging information from an alternative perspective,
natural home and herbal remedies, tips for living a wholesome lifestyle, practical
solutions for organizing your household and schedule, resources for the gardener
and backyard homesteader, and thoughts on living the simple life.
As the relief effort continues in Solomon Islands, questions remain about what role
climate change played in the flood disaster. Emeritus Professor Roger McLean at
the University of New South Wales was a coordinating lead author of the chapter on
small island states in the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change. Professor McLean says while the effects of climate change are real and
can no longer be ignored, there is hope for the Pacific Islands, because they can
adapt as part of a wider development strategy. ABC Radio National audio 4 minutes
TIP
Buy an inexpensive reusable water bottle, and stop buying plastic disposable bottles.
Then watch The Story of Bottled Water, a 8 minute video clip about the bottled water
phenomena.
UNITINGCARE SUSTAINABILITY
In 2012 UnitingCare Queensland developed its sustainability principles with its vision
“to act responsibly through innovative and meaningful stewardship of energy and
resources, as we respect the environment, protecting it for the communities in which
we work and future generations. We will seek to embed sustainable practices, to
balance growth and social conscience, and to meet our goals without compromising
our values, our people or the planet.” In its second review period report to the
Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program (December 2013) it identified
savings for fleet vehicles and lighting upgrades across a number of sites. The
UnitingCare calculated changes to the mix of vehicles to more efficient models
estimated a savings to fuel costs at $187 000 per year. At the Wesley Hospital
savings in electricity consumption were identified at $40 000 annually by changing
the lights to more efficient types.
OTHER ADVOCATES
The number of Australians struggling to pay their power and gas bills is increasing
due to prices rising steeply. Energy, however, is a special category of commodity,
an essential service. It is needed to keep people healthy and comfortable, and able
to participate actively in the life of their communities. The impact is being felt by
more people than ever, but especially by already vulnerable groups. Uniting Care is
observing, from its service agencies and research, that the rising cost of energy is
creating hardship for more people in the community. UntingCare’s Uniting for
Change Energy Poverty project says energy needed to live a decent life should be
affordable and not a source of financial stress and hardship.
Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) was formed in 1988 by people who felt that
the issue of population numbers was overlooked, or regarded as too contentious, by
many of those striving to preserve Australia's ecological heritage. SPA aims to
contribute to public awareness of the limits of Australian population growth from
ecological, social and economic viewpoints and promote awareness that the survival
of an ecologically sustainable population depends on its renewable resource base.
A recent study has revealed that about one third of all food production world-wide
gets lost or wasted in the food production and consumption systems, amounting to
1.3 billion tonnes. In industrialized nations, retailers and consumers discard around
300 million tonnes that is fit for consumption, around half of the total food
squandered in these regions. This is more than the total net food production of SubSaharan Africa and would be sufficient to feed the estimated 900 million people
hungry in the world. Addressing such issues is the The Think.Eat.Save campaign of
the Save Food Initiative,
TO HELP
Another impact of a changing climate? On Friday 4 April flash floods tore through
the Solomon Islands’ capital and the Guadalcanal Province after days of torrential
rain, strong winds and rough seas. In Honiara the Mataniko River burst its banks,
resulting in the destruction of homes, infrastructure and properties. Other rivers in
Guadalcanal Province also burst their banks, resulting in widespread floods, while
strong winds and rough seas blew five ships ashore along Honiara coastline. It is
estimated 49,000 people have been displaced from their homes. UnitingWorld has
launched an appeal to assist with emergency relief efforts
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