Welcome to the October edition of the DCAN Dispatch.

Darebin Council elections

It's been a very busy time for the DCAN team. For the next 4 years, we want a Council that is strongly committed to strong climate leadership and action, and is able to work effectively using democratic processes. So this election we have focussed on testing candidates' commitments to both climate emergency action and stronger local democratic processes, which we see as two sides of the same coin. We developed a survey to elicit candidates' beliefs and commitments, held a very successful candidates' forum (with 20 candidates and five breakout rooms based on wards), developed a scorecard for 9 wards and letterboxed two wards!

Don't forget to vote!

Voting closes 6pm Friday 25 October 2024 so please make sure to post your vote before then! The DCAN climate scorecards for all wards in Darebin are up on our website. You can find the climate scorecard for your ward here. We assessed the candidates against three key criteria: climate emergency leadership, support for strong council climate action and support for accountability and democratic processes. In developing the scorecards we took into account the candidates' official statements, survey responses, responses at the forum and information on their websites. If you would like to read the candidates' responses to our survey please see here.

Candidates Climate Forum

Many thanks to all the candidates and residents who attended the forum, and also a big thank you to the facilitators and note-takers for the five breakout rooms. The feedback from the forum has been very positive. Participants have reported back to us that they felt they "really got to know their candidates" and "it will help me make up my mind on how to vote".

Letterboxing scorecards

As the elections will be a close contest, we chose South East and West wards to letterbox. A very big thankyou to the volunteers who responded with very short notice to letterbox these two wards over the weekend. We are also using social media and our website to promote the scorecards for all wards. Please share these to help inform late voters. You can find all the scorecards on our DCAN Facebook page.

Donate

If you can spare a few dollars towards covering the cost of layout and printing of scorecards it would be greatly appreciated! You can donate here.

Your voice can help stop fracking in the NT

Right now fracking for gas in the Northern Territory threatens water, country and our climate. Gas companies have just started drilling gas wells in the Beetaloo Basin south of Darwin, and plan to frack them in the coming months during the wet season. Victoria has banned fracking to protect its water and agriculture. Now it’s time to demand the same for the NT. Our Federal Labor MPs in Victoria can help make this a reality. Add your voice to the petition calling on Victorian Federal Labor MPs to take action to stop fracking in the NT. To learn more check out this video and head to this link.

SAVE THE DATE: Don't Frack the NT
Coburg Town Hall - Saturday 23rd November, 2.30-4.00pm.

This important meeting will include a panel discussion with NT Traditional Owners, medical professionals and community members about the proposed gas hub at Middle Arm in Darwin. Middle Arm would receive gas from environmentally disastrous and climate-wrecking fracking projects in the Beetaloo Basin and elsewhere in the NT. The meeting will discuss how we in Melbourne can support frontline communities in the NT. There will be a smoking ceremony and performances by Aboriginal Elders.
Please save the date now, and invite friends and family to come along too.

DCAN AGM & Guest speaker - Market Forces

Please join us for a cuppa and talk with special guest Kyle Robertson from Market Forces. Market Forces believes that the banks, superannuation funds and governments that have custody of our money should use it to protect, not damage our environment. Kyle’s research at Market Forces focuses on Australian banks and the financial sector’s ongoing investment in the fossil fuel industry. Kyle has a Master of Environment and Sustainability from Monash University. He will talk to us about their current campaigns and how we can get involved. When: DCAN AGM 7pm, 14th November. Where: The Bridge Darebin, 131 Shaftesbury Parade, Thornbury.RSVP here.

Thinking of upgrading your hot water service?

Are you planning to upgrade your hot water system? This is your chance! Energy Freedom Homes (EFH) are offering 20 exclusive spots for testers to try out a new online course - normally priced at $20 - completely free!

Energy Freedom Homes (EFH) were DCAN's partners in the highly successful home electrification masterclass which ran in February this year. Since the masterclass, EFH have been working on a new approach to help homeowners who would like to upgrade their hot water systems with energy efficient systems.

Choosing a hot water service? We know how overwhelming it can be - so many options, confusing information and the risk of choosing the wrong product or installer. But with this course, you can avoid those mistakes. You can follow a simple process with clear videos, interactive tools, and expert, independent guidance to help you make confident decisions.

Ready to upgrade? Email Jay at Energy Freedom Homes today to secure your free spot and make upgrading your hot water system easy.

The People’s Blockade and Canberra Wave, November 19-28

Described as one of the most significant climate uprisings on the planet, this year the People’s Blockade will be in two parts:
Part 1 at Nobby’s Beach, Newcastle from November 19 - 28 and Part 2 at Parliament Lawn, Canberra from November 26 - 28.

For more information and to register your interest go to the Rising Tide website.

Suggested Reading: "Highway to Hell, Climate Change and Australia's Future"

In this powerful essay, esteemed Australian climate scientist and lead author for the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report, Joëlle Gergis, depicts our likely future in vivid and credible detail.

Working from the science, she discusses the world’s and Australia’s efforts to combat climate change. She outlines how far Australia is from keeping its promises to cut emissions. She takes aim at false solutions and the folly of “adaptation” rather than curbing fossil fuel use. This is an essay about government paralysis and what is at stake for all of us.

Read an extract here.