By Ed Thexton
Last week the Dutch came to town. Well, just two of them, and not really to town, more to the Inverloch Surf beach. No ordinary citizens, but a producer and sound and camera recordist working for Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands. They have been going around the world producing short videos on how groups are responding to climate change. Our story was the beach erosion. The South Gippsland Conservation Society has led the research, documentation and agitation for action on our beach, ably supported by Friends of the Earth Melbourne.
Last week the Dutch came to town. Well, just two of them, and not really to town, more to the Inverloch Surf beach. No ordinary citizens, but a producer and sound and camera recordist working for Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands. They have been going around the world producing short videos on how groups are responding to climate change. Our story was the beach erosion. The South Gippsland Conservation Society has led the research, documentation and agitation for action on our beach, ably supported by Friends of the Earth Melbourne.
But that’s not the full answer. As you know from popular media, beach erosion with climate change implicated is not unique to Inverloch. It’s not even uncommon in Australia and certainly not globally. Why come all this way? The answer is that it’s bigger than Inverloch. It’s as big as the world.
Friends of the Earth (FOE) is reputed to be the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation with 73 national member groups and millions of members and supporters around the world. Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands is famous in environmental circles because they took on Shell and won.
Friends of the Earth (FOE) is reputed to be the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation with 73 national member groups and millions of members and supporters around the world. Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands is famous in environmental circles because they took on Shell and won.
In 2018, with 17,379 co-plaintiffs and six other organisations, they started a lawsuit against Shell, arguing that the fossil fuel giant should align its business plan to the goals of the Paris climate agreement. I was told the lawyer count for Shell was about 250 and for Milieudefensie 20. On May 26, 2021, FOE won.
Of course, Shell is appealing against the verdict. It argues.
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The judge’s verdict
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In the meantime, Shell must immediately start its greening efforts.
Our video, and others from around the world, will be used by FOE in the appeal, which takes place in early April. The verdict is expected five months later.
You might wonder how a group that has been going for about the same length of time as the South Gippsland Conservation Society, from a country of just 17.5 million, can afford this. Again, from the FOE website, Milieudefensie has over 110,000 members and donors and over 200,000 change makers support their work with time and money. The contributions of members and donors make up 61 per cent of funding. Of each euro received, 92 cents are spent directly on FOE’s objectives. The Amsterdam office has 125 paid staff, 67 office volunteers and 17 trainees.
Still, why here? It comes directly from their mission and vision. “A decent life for all people on the planet, now and for generations to come. We opt for just solutions – solutions without adverse effects for the Global South or for generations to come.”
In summary their mission is climate justice: a decent life on a healthy planet for all, regardless of how much you earn, who you are or where you live.
The South Gippsland Conservation Society and others like us may be bit players in the conservation/environment game but, as with this example, we have a supportive role to play. Our work on the Inverloch Beach provides a local perspective of global significance at a pivotal juncture in holding big oil to account.
At the other end of the spectrum from FOE is 16-year-old Joey Thompson, one of three students who unfurled a banner in the Victorian Parliament last month calling for faster action to end the use of fossil fuels. Before being escorted from the chamber, they sang “Which side are you on”.
At SGCS, we have no doubt which side we are on. We stand in solidarity with Joey and our other local young and brave who will join the school strike for climate this Friday.
Ed Thexton is president of the South Gippsland Conservation Society, which is a member of FOE’s Frontline Climate Alliance.
Our video, and others from around the world, will be used by FOE in the appeal, which takes place in early April. The verdict is expected five months later.
You might wonder how a group that has been going for about the same length of time as the South Gippsland Conservation Society, from a country of just 17.5 million, can afford this. Again, from the FOE website, Milieudefensie has over 110,000 members and donors and over 200,000 change makers support their work with time and money. The contributions of members and donors make up 61 per cent of funding. Of each euro received, 92 cents are spent directly on FOE’s objectives. The Amsterdam office has 125 paid staff, 67 office volunteers and 17 trainees.
Still, why here? It comes directly from their mission and vision. “A decent life for all people on the planet, now and for generations to come. We opt for just solutions – solutions without adverse effects for the Global South or for generations to come.”
In summary their mission is climate justice: a decent life on a healthy planet for all, regardless of how much you earn, who you are or where you live.
The South Gippsland Conservation Society and others like us may be bit players in the conservation/environment game but, as with this example, we have a supportive role to play. Our work on the Inverloch Beach provides a local perspective of global significance at a pivotal juncture in holding big oil to account.
At the other end of the spectrum from FOE is 16-year-old Joey Thompson, one of three students who unfurled a banner in the Victorian Parliament last month calling for faster action to end the use of fossil fuels. Before being escorted from the chamber, they sang “Which side are you on”.
At SGCS, we have no doubt which side we are on. We stand in solidarity with Joey and our other local young and brave who will join the school strike for climate this Friday.
Ed Thexton is president of the South Gippsland Conservation Society, which is a member of FOE’s Frontline Climate Alliance.