2023-11-03
By the Green Issue Editors
The next annual UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28, will be held at the end of November in the UAE, a country whose economy largely depends on the extraction of oil and gas. Inevitably, it will be a continuation of the tussle between those wanting to hasten the phase out of fossil fuels to prevent climate catastrophe and those wanting to prolong fossil fuel use for reasons of profit and ideology. Peter Newman points out that this is basically a battle between verifiable scientific fact and opinion unencumbered by facts, reminiscent of Donald Trump’s campaigns.
Australia is another major fossil fuel exporter desiring to host COP 31 in 2026. Rob Delves weighs up the pros and cons of supporting Australia’s bid, considering that it is intended as a joint bid with Pacific nations most vulnerable to climate change and critical of Australia’s fossil fuel addiction.
One manifestation of climate change now apparent all around the world is increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires. In Australia, bushfire management is reliant on prescribed burning but Tamsyn Heynes points out that this practice has devastating consequences for natural biodiversity. She argues inflammable undergrowth can be managed while protecting biodiversity by learning from a practice used by First Nations Australians over millennia, cultural burning.
The 14th October was a sad day for those who had supported a Voice to Parliament for Australia’s First Nations People, as a step towards closing the socio-economic gap. Chris Johansen digs down to seek the reasons for rejection of the Voice by over 60% of voters. Senator Dorinda Cox reflects the sadness of Voice supporters but suggests ways ahead towards truth-telling and treaty(ies).
September marked the 50th anniversary of the brutal military coup in Chile. Senator Jordon Steele-John relates the role of the US, with covert support from Australia, in this attack on democracy (which the US continually claims to be standing up for!). But since that event US attempts at regime change have continued apace, blindly participated in by Australia, invariably with disastrous outcomes. Senator Steele-John thus argues for a more independent foreign policy stance for Australia and a more measured relationship with the US.
With the explosion of homelessness across Australia, with which the various social welfare agencies are being overwhelmed, Damian Brennan gives practical suggestions of how to prepare and distribute care packs to hapless individuals on the street.
Finally, we are encouraged to think of planet Earth as a wonderful gift. Bobby Bostic, who spent 27 years incarcerated in Missouri for crimes he committed as a teenager, and became an author, questions why are we plunging headlong into despoiling that gift.
And, last but by no means least, we have comprehensive reports on the prolific activities of our MPs over the previous two months – from Senator Dorinda Cox, Senator Jordon Steele-John and Dr Brad Pettitt MLC
Header photo: At Melbourne Global climate strike on Sep 20, 2019. Credit: John Englart, Flickr CC 2.0