Laura Brearley celebrates the transformative power of collective action in Bass Coast.
By Laura Brearley
WORLD Environment Day is happening this Sunday. It’s the day the United Nations established 50 years ago and this year they have returned to their original theme, ‘Only One Earth’. The 2022 campaign is calling on us to celebrate the planet through collective environmental action.
There is a lot of collective environmental action happening right now in our Bass Coast community. People are coming together in multiple ways through different networks. Alliances are forming and critical connections are being made. People are sharing knowledge and pooling their expertise, creating collaborative communities with an ecological focus.
WORLD Environment Day is happening this Sunday. It’s the day the United Nations established 50 years ago and this year they have returned to their original theme, ‘Only One Earth’. The 2022 campaign is calling on us to celebrate the planet through collective environmental action.
There is a lot of collective environmental action happening right now in our Bass Coast community. People are coming together in multiple ways through different networks. Alliances are forming and critical connections are being made. People are sharing knowledge and pooling their expertise, creating collaborative communities with an ecological focus.
Examples of these collective actions can be found in the broad alliance working on the Save Western Port Woodlands campaign, the partnership to protect Western Port from industrialisation into the future, the newly formed Phillip Island Land Alliance (PILA) and the educational and community groups that comprise Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI).
“While our individual consumption choices do make a difference, it is collective action that will create the transformative environmental change we need, so we can advance to a more sustainable and just Earth, where everyone can flourish.” | Phillip Island Conservation Society and the South Gippsland Conservation Society are supporting each other’s work in raising funds and awareness of coastal erosion issues, restoring ecosystems along creeks such as The Mighty Ayr (as Ed Thexton calls it), repatriating Aboriginal artefacts, and providing strategic advice on campaigns such as Save Western Port Woodlands. All of these collective actions are being undertaken in the context of Bass Coast Shire Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency in 2019 and the development of its Climate Change Action Plan 2020-30. |
Twenty-one allied groups are listed on the Save Western Port Woodlands website, a testament to the campaign’s public profile and wide-ranging community support.
Watch Terry Melvin's short film of the School Strike 4 Climate The recent ‘School Strike 4 Climate’ in Cowes was a strong and creative collective action that brought together primary and secondary students, teachers, parents, politicians and community members. Joey Thompson, a Year 9 student from Newhaven College, organised the event. The children were in charge and the community was there to support them.
In the film, Joey says: ‘This is so great having all the people together who show we all agree that this is what we need. It was a lot of work getting it all organised but it’s so worth it to have everyone here supporting climate action.’
Zoe Geyer is the Coordinator of Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI) and, like Joey Thompson, is a highly skilled community networker. Collective environmental actions are central to Totally Renewable Phillip Island. Recently TRPI, in collaboration with local author/artist Meg Humphrys from Westernport Water, organised a community screening of Damon Gameau’s new environmental film ‘Regenerating Australia’. Paul Patten, local Gunnai musician and Aboriginal Liaison Officer at Bass Coast Health, sang a powerful rendition of ‘Solid Rock’ and people were moved to tears.
In the film, Joey says: ‘This is so great having all the people together who show we all agree that this is what we need. It was a lot of work getting it all organised but it’s so worth it to have everyone here supporting climate action.’
Zoe Geyer is the Coordinator of Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI) and, like Joey Thompson, is a highly skilled community networker. Collective environmental actions are central to Totally Renewable Phillip Island. Recently TRPI, in collaboration with local author/artist Meg Humphrys from Westernport Water, organised a community screening of Damon Gameau’s new environmental film ‘Regenerating Australia’. Paul Patten, local Gunnai musician and Aboriginal Liaison Officer at Bass Coast Health, sang a powerful rendition of ‘Solid Rock’ and people were moved to tears.
Zoe Geyer In her opening remarks at the event, Zoe Geyer said: "Our aim is to be carbon neutral by 2030. We haven't come here alone today. We come here with a whole lot of community groups and organisations with similar views and similar desires’. Zoe acknowledged Bunurong Country and the neighbouring Gunaikurnai Country, paid respect to their Elders, and said: ‘As we look to a positive regenerative future it's impossible to move forward without walking the path of reconciliation."
Over the last few days, we have been coming together for Reconciliation Week 2022. The theme this year is ‘Be Brave. Make Change’. The Reconciliation Australia website highlights the need for collective relationship and community-building. "We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures."
Over the last few days, we have been coming together for Reconciliation Week 2022. The theme this year is ‘Be Brave. Make Change’. The Reconciliation Australia website highlights the need for collective relationship and community-building. "We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures."
Uncle Ron Murray plays didgeridoo at the Shearwater Festival. Wamba Wamba musician, artist and story-teller Uncle Ron Murray is visiting Bass Coast this week and is working with children in local primary schools. He has visited Bass Coast over many years for the Shearwater Festival and the Island Whale Festival. You might have also seen him on top of the MCG playing his didgeridoo at the opening of the AFL Dreamtime matches. Uncle Ron understands the importance of listening to each other and to Country.
In his words:
"For Aboriginal people Deep Listening comes naturally
It’s about walking on the land
Softly, quietly
And listening to the stories around the campfire
Listening to the Elders
Listening to the teachers
Respect for Elders and respect for all people
And giving everyone the time
We’ve got to listen to the wind in the trees
Listen to the birds
It’s the feeling of a gift
A gift always comes back."
Both World Environment Day and Reconciliation Week share core ideas about mutual respect, responsibility and relationship with Country. Having the courage to make a difference lies at the heart of both reconciliation and collective environmental actions. Listening respectfully to the wisdom of First Nation Peoples is a vital part of caring for Country.
In a week where, at last after five years of waiting, we know there is going to be action on the Uluru Statement of the Heart, we can respond to the generous invitation which ends the Statement: “We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.’”
In his words:
"For Aboriginal people Deep Listening comes naturally
It’s about walking on the land
Softly, quietly
And listening to the stories around the campfire
Listening to the Elders
Listening to the teachers
Respect for Elders and respect for all people
And giving everyone the time
We’ve got to listen to the wind in the trees
Listen to the birds
It’s the feeling of a gift
A gift always comes back."
Both World Environment Day and Reconciliation Week share core ideas about mutual respect, responsibility and relationship with Country. Having the courage to make a difference lies at the heart of both reconciliation and collective environmental actions. Listening respectfully to the wisdom of First Nation Peoples is a vital part of caring for Country.
In a week where, at last after five years of waiting, we know there is going to be action on the Uluru Statement of the Heart, we can respond to the generous invitation which ends the Statement: “We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.’”
The power of people … celebrating victory in 2021 after a three-year campaign to stop
AGL’s gas import jetty in Western Port.
AGL’s gas import jetty in Western Port.