Welcome to this month's edition of the DCAN Dispatch, featuring election reflection, South Australia's climate emergency declaration, and other important news!

A new national Government brings renewed hope

MasterChef Emma Dean showed us how to cook delicious meals on an induction cooktop at a recent DCAN event.  Emma cooked Vegan Pho, Crispy Chickpea and Harissa Burgers.  A recording of the induction demo can be found here and the mouthwatering recipes here.

Emma showed how easy it was to regulate the temperature of the cooktop with the touch of a finger. She also explained how much quicker and safer it is to use an induction cooktop which are very energy efficient - using only half as much power as a gas or electric stovetop.   Lachlan Hensey from the Metro Community Power Hub (MCPH) was also on hand to answer questions on the technical aspects of installing induction cooktops and about his work in helping communities switch to cleaner energy.  Visit the Hub to find out more about the range of solar and all-electric home programs on offer.  

Candidates vying for the Federal seat of Cooper spoke to a full house at the Cooper Climate Election Forum organised by DCAN and the Darebin Climate Alliance. It was a great night with each of the five candidates talking passionately about why they are seeking to represent the seat of Cooper and what actions they will take on the climate emergency if elected.

Emma will show us how an induction cooktop, using electromagnetism, outshines gas - giving superior temperature control and faster cooking times while using half as much energy!  Lachlan Hensey, Community Energy Project Officer at the Metro Community Power Hub (MCPH) will also be on hand to answer questions about induction cooking and talk about his work in helping communities switch to cleaner energy. 

Find out more and register for this online event here.

With the imminent election we would like to get as many house signs up as possible. If you live near a polling booth, train station or tram stop and would be happy to put a sign up we are particularly keen to hear from you, so please get in touch. The signs are a great way to reach out to neighbours and shape the election narrative. Email Katherine on [email protected] to get a sign.

In January, the Resolve Political Monitor asked a nationally representative sample of voters about the four main policy options for emissions reductions being put to the upcoming federal election.

• 24% of all voters backed the Greens policy of Net Zero by 2035, with a 75% emissions reduction target for 2030;
• 18% supported Labor's policy of Net Zero by 2050, with a 43% emissions reduction target for 2030;
• 16% supported the Coalition policy of Net Zero by 2050, with a 26-28% emissions reduction target for 2030 (with 35% forecast)
• 10% supported One Nation's policy of withdrawing from international climate agreements and not setting any binding targets
• 10% did not support any of these options
• 21% were unsure or felt all options were acceptable

While noting the high proportion of voters who were unsure or felt all options were acceptable, DCAN are encouraged by these results. We are committed to our goals for 2022 to:

1. Build understanding of the interconnections between the Climate Emergency and other crises
2. Grow community support for Climate Emergency action
3. Grow number of Climate Emergency leaders/champions
4. Influence Darebin Council, State & Federal Governments to act on the Climate Emergency
5. Campaign effectively in the Federal and State elections
6. Build an active & diverse DCAN membership as part of an integrated, active Darebin Climate Emergency movement

Long term friend and supporter of DCAN, Michael Staindl, is about to lose his family home due to a legal battle with his federal MP, Josh Frydenberg, the Member for Kooyong.

Michael has been campaigning for urgent action on the climate crisis for many years. DCAN supporters have had the privilege of rubbing shoulders with Michael at numerous events where we have also seen him take on leadership roles such as speaking at protests, delivering street performances and even dressing up as a dinosaur for regular Frydo Friday events outside Frydenberg’s office in Camberwell.

DCAN understands that it was Michael’s frustration and despair at the lack of action from Frydenberg on the climate emergency that led him to mount the legal challenge questioning whether Frydenberg was a dual citizen and therefore ineligible to sit in federal parliament. Michael hoped to bring about a by-election which would enable the voters of Kooyong to show they wanted genuine action on the climate crisis.   

Michael’s legal action was unsuccessful and he has been ordered to pay Frydenberg's costs of $410,000. Frydenberg’s lawyers, Arnold Bloch Liebler, who reportedly earned more than $100 million from federal government contracts in the past year, may have acted pro bono for him.

This can mean that they would absorb Frydenberg’s costs. However, now that the court has found that Michael must pay Frydenberg’s costs, Frydenberg has served Michael with a notice of bankruptcy in order to recover the $410,000.  Frydenberg has made it clear he intends to have Michael’s wife’s house, in which they both live, sold by the bankruptcy trustee.

Frydenberg has the power to stop this travesty of justice. He can simply forgive the debt, or request that the Attorney General declare the case a matter of public interest and have the government pay the costs as it did in all the other dual citizenship cases.

As citizens concerned about democracy and climate change we want Frydenberg to stop his punishing bankruptcy proceedings now, forgive the debt, and respond effectively to the climate emergency. You can read more details about the case here.   

Please join us to help Michael and Kay save their family home and get natural justice.

How you can help:

• Phone Frydenberg’s office on (03) 9882 3677 to ask him to stop the bankruptcy action and forgive the debt. He needs to know that people care and will not forget about this.   
• Write to him c/- his Kooyong office - 145 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East, 3123.
• Volunteer - help letterbox and/or talk to local people about the issue.   
• Sign this petition and share it with others via social media and email. 
• Donate - Please chip in to support Michael and leave a comment about why you are giving your support.

Photo credit: Julian Meehan

DCAN acknowledges that there can be no climate justice without justice for First Nations peoples. To achieve this, we need to put an end to the brutal impacts of colonisation and racism. Traditional Owners have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years. They continue to inspire us with their strength, resilience and resistance - leading campaigns to protect Country and sacred sites from the destructive practices of fossil fuel mining companies.    

Today marks the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and the beginning of the colonisation, dispossession and violence that has continued to the present day.  We stand in solidarity with First Nations Peoples on this day of mourning and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. We especially acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the traditional owners of the land that we carry out our activities. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and commit to working alongside First Nations Peoples as we chart a shared path toward a sustainable future.

Listen
To the stories, experiences and journeys of First Nations people - NITV /SBS are dedicating a whole day of programming today. You can watch here: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/channels/nitv

Learn
About First Nations people and history, which is the history of Australia. The Aboriginal Tent Embassy just celebrated 50 years, learn more about it here: https://theconversation.com/a-short-history-of-the...

Sites like the Colonial Frontier Wars detail the violence that has been perpetrated against First Nations Australians: https://c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/colonialmassacres/

Learn about the custodians of the land and water you are living on from AIATSIS: https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia

Learn about incredible First Nations leaders who have contributed to our communities, our country and the world who have been recognised with a National NAIDOC Award: https://www.naidoc.org.au/awards/winner-profiles

Act
Support First Nations organisations, initiatives and campaigns:

• Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation - protecting, managing and enhancing environmentally and culturally significant places on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country.
• Seed Mob – Australia’s first Indigenous youth climate network, building a movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island young people for climate justice.
• Country Needs People – a growing group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people campaigning for Indigenous Ranger and Protected Area programs.
• Wangan and Jagalingou Cultural Custodians – working to protect a vast area of land in central-western Queensland, including the site of Adani's destructive coal mine.
• Original Power - building the power of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to protect country.
• The Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council – protecting the sacred river, the Mardoowarra in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and representing Traditional Owners of the entire river catchment.
• Olkola Aboriginal Corporation – Olkola Aboriginal Corporation now holds and manages 869,822 hectares of its Traditional Lands, making it one of the largest landholders in the Cape York Peninsula.
• Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation for whom the struggle to return and protect their ancestral homelands took nearly 100 years.  
• Mirarr people via Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation – the Traditional Owners of land in the north of the Northern Territory. They are powerful advocates against uranium mining, speaking out in the famous Jabiluka campaign, and for Kakadu.
• Firesticks alliance - aims to re-invigorate the use of cultural burning by facilitating cultural learning pathways to fire and land management. 
• Australian Nuclear Free Alliance – formed in 1997, the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance brings together Aboriginal people and civil society groups concerned about nuclear developments in Australia, particularly on Aboriginal homelands
• Pay the rent - support grassroots causes and campaigns focused on protecting First Nations rights and practical support. 

*With thanks to information provided by the Australian Conservation Foundation, #StopAdani and Fair Agenda. 

Have you caught up with the shocking news that Powershop has reportedly been taken over by fossil fuel giant Shell? GetUp! and Environment Victoria have already severed ties with Powershop, and thousands of Powershop members are switching to other providers. If you are looking for an alternative ethical energy retailer to switch to then check out CoPower.  CoPower is 100% community owned and democratically managed. Their mission is to “tackle poverty, take action against the climate crisis and build community.” For more ideas on green energy alternatives have a look at this article in The New Daily.

A new climate network for Darebin groups and residents is off to a flying start. Thirty six locals, representing over 25 local groups, came together recently in an online meeting hosted by Darebin Climate Action Now. The main item on the table was to look at how groups can support and amplify each others' work on climate related issues. Those attending the meeting expressed excitement about the opportunity to bring diverse groups together, share skills and resources and promote each others’ events and projects. The network is open to all local groups and individuals who would like to connect with like-minded groups and get support for their work on climate. If you would like to know more about the aims of the network please contact [email protected].