Welcome to the November edition of the DCAN Dispatch.

While it was with a very heavy heart that DCAN received news of the defeat of the referendum proposal for a Voice to Parliament, we drew some comfort from the fact that 65% of the Cooper electorate supported a Yes vote. Many DCAN supporters took part in the Yes campaign. We believe that there can be no climate justice without justice for First Nations people. We look forward to working with First Nations people in their ongoing fight for justice, truth telling and treaty.

DCAN Annual Report - Hot off the Press

DCAN's annual report is packed full of information about the group's activities over the past 12 months. The report details our collective wins and the ongoing work needed to get fast action on the climate emergency: from working with Darebin Council to lobbying State and Federal pollies, working on campaigns such as getting off gas, strengthening the climate safeguards mechanism and stopping new coal and gas mines. Outreach into the community is also one of our core activities which we continue to do through chatting to people on bike paths, at markets and shopping strips or at wonderful events like the climate carnival. Our display at the Northcote library was a highlight featuring photographs of our work and included a doll's house full of toy elephants! Curious? Have a look here.

Support for a Climate Hunger Striker

On November 2nd former Ambassador and Threatened Species Commissioner of Australia, Gregory Andrews, started a #ClimateHungerStrike in front of the Australian Parliament. He explains: “The world is on the brink of climate collapse. Billions of people will die from heat stroke, starvation and fossil-fuelled disasters in our lifetimes if we don’t take real and fast action. But Australia is still digging up coal and chopping down forests."

“I want my children to have the same future and opportunities as the decision-makers in Parliament House today. That’s why I’m on a #ClimateHungerStrike until Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commits to real action.”

Andrews continues, “Join me in calling for a safe future. Please sign and share my petition.”

(More information available here).

School Strike for Climate - 1pm November 17

Let's support our kids as they strike for a safer world. You are warmly welcome to join fellow DCAN supporters at 12:45pm in the Flagstaff gardens just behind the Flagstaff metro entrance near the corner of Williams and La Trobe Street. See you there!  More info on the strike available here.

Darebin Solar Saver Information Session - 14 November 6.30pm - Reservoir Library

Shocked by your latest electricity or gas bill? Maybe you’ve started thinking about solar but don’t know where to start?
The Darebin Solar Saver Program has been running for 10 years and has helped more than 2,000 residents and businesses install solar.
Hear how solar works as well as how a system is designed and installed by Mick Harris, Manager Director of Envirogroup and local business partner of the program.

The Darebin Solar Saver Team will discuss how the program works and how easy it is to apply. They will also explain the state and federal rebates available. You can register for this free session here: Reservoir session. To find out more about the Solar Saver Program visit www.darebin.vic.gov.au/solar.

Upcoming events as part of the Move Beyond Coal week of action

Monday, December 04, 2023, 12:00 - 12:30pm.  Gathering at Ged Kearney's Office, 159 High Street, Preston, to call on her and the federal Labor government to support an end to new coal and gas approvals. Click here for more information.

Wednesday, December 06, 2023, 1:00 - 2:00pm. You are invited to visit the Member for Wills, Peter Khalil's Office, 466 Sydney Road, Coburg, together with Blinky (the giant koala) and the Red Rebels. Click here for more information.

Atlas Network -you need to know about this!

The Atlas Economic Research Foundation, founded in 1981, have supported climate science denial and have campaigned against legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Atlas-affiliated think tanks have mobilised against climate activists on several continents. Notable members of the network include think tanks such as the Institute of Economic Affairs in the United Kingdom; the Cato Institute, Heartland Institute, Heritage Foundation, American Legislative Exchange Council, Manhattan Institute and Pacific Research Institute in the United States; the Fraser Institute and MacDonald-Laurier Institute in Canada and the Centre for Independent Studies in Australia.

Atlas “strives to provide personal assistance to individuals who are starting a free-market institute”. They list 500 plus organisations, such as the IPA, that belong and contribute financially to the organisation.

Listen to the podcast by Philip Adams “What is the Atlas Network”, an interview with Dr Jeremy Walker (Broadcast 30 October 2023). Walker has written an article on the connection between Atlas and the “No” campaign for The Voice (Silencing the Voice: the fossil-fuelled Atlas Network’s Campaign against the Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians). Very worrying.

Sign on to the Climate Council's submission to the Duty of Care Bill

The Climate Council is making a submission to the Senate inquiry into the Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity) Bill 2023 (Duty of Care Bill).

By signing onto the submission and supporting the Duty of Care Bill, you can tell the federal government that they should take a duty of care to ensure current and future generations of Australians have a safe and liveable climate.

Click here to read the submission and add your name.

'Duty of Care Bill' Teacher and Student Resources

A message from Rising Tide: The People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port - November 24 to 27, Muloobinba (Newcastle) NSW

Join the Naarm/Melbourne contingent travelling to Muloobinba (Newcastle, NSW) this November for the Rising Tide People's Blockade! For months, volunteer teams in Newcastle/Muloobinba and around the country have been organising for the People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port in November. It’s shaping up to be one of the largest peaceful civil disobedience protests for climate action in Australia’s history: blockading coal ships for 30 hours, and stopping half a million tonnes of coal from being exported and burnt.

Hundreds of people from Naarm/Melbourne and Victoria are travelling to the blockade. Make sure you register to let us know you're coming to the Blockade and join the Naarm contingent Facebook page to stay up-to_date with the latest information. We’ve also put together a handy travel guide with all the info you need to get to Muloobinba/ Newcastle. Register your travel plans with us to be part of the Naarm convoy or join a carpool.

Can't make it to the blockade this time but want to help? Support students and people on low incomes to travel to the blockade by contributing to our crowdfunding campaign. If financial support might help you get to the blockade, send us an email at [email protected] by Sunday 12 November.

Got questions? Check out the Rising Tide FAQs or contact us at [email protected]. We’d love to help!

Dangerous exploration for gas we don’t need or want

"The Warrnambool council formally opposed seismic blasting recently and hundreds turned out to say the same." (Robin Sharrock, Warrnambool Standard)

DCAN is concerned about a range of serious problems presented by seismic blasting over vast offshore areas in search of new gas fields in the Otway Basin.

With hundreds of other concerned members of the public, including First Nations people, fisherfolk and some Extinction Rebellion Spirits of the Sea, DCAN members gathered in wild weather to voice our concerns.

We then got warm in the local community centre and wrote letters of protest to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, the agency considering giving approval to this awful idea.

The Spirits of the Sea will emerge again as part of the Extinction Rebellion six-days of action, 5-10th December. Everyone is welcome to attend all of the many creative pro-climate action events. Find details and sign-up here.

Facing Collapse Sharing Circle (Peer discussion)

As we increasingly face the realities of ecological and social collapse these experiences are felt deeply within us. It can feel isolating if people around us are not available for us to communicate our feelings with or we are unable to investigate our own personal coping strategies. This peer sharing circle invites you to connect in person, to witness and be witnessed, and to explore how your inner world is responding to the outer turmoil. Limited numbers and booking is required. Pay-as-you-feel cash donation on the evening with all funds going directly to keep Black Spark going. For more information click here.

To send your commitment to attend, email [email protected] (include your mobile #) and a confirmation will be sent to you.

Friday 17 Nov – Blackspark Cultural Centre, 235A St Georges Road, Northcote, 6.30 – 8pm (8-8.30pm after cuppa)

That's all for this month - thanks for reading! If you have any feedback on this newsletter, please let us know.