200809

Winners and Losers

When confonted with such huge problems as climate change and peak oil, it is easy to bury your head in the sand and get on with life. It is easy to think that if one person can make only a small contribution to the problem, then no-one is going to notice if you do nothing. It is easy to say that this is someone elses problem to fix, and easy to say that the problem is too expensive to sort out, so leave it unsorted. There are so many excuse to do nothing. I hear them every day.

Clean Energy For Eternity is an organisation that is run by a bunch of people who have decided that enough is enough. The volunteers from Clean Energy For Eternity have been working hard for two years to do something about the enormous challenges that confront us. All the behind the scenes work, manning stalls at events, organising meetings, paper work, fundraisers, selling lottery tickets, networking, meeting week after week, and running web sites, takes its toll on people who are working day after day to try and make a difference.

Why do all the people at Clean Energy For Eternity continue to plug away in the face of such an overwhelming problem? I’m sure that all of us have our own reasons, but in the world of climate change and peak oil there will be winners and losers. It is a very exciting time, because we as a community have the ability to choose on which side of the fence we will sit. I think most of us at Clean Energy For Eternity feel that our region can be a winner, and I think that is probably what keeps most of going.

I would like to thank all the unsung heroes at Clean Energy For Eternity.
Their dedication and tireless work have made our organisation what it is today.
Matthew Nott

Clean Energy For Eternity continue to push hard.

Our web site at www.cleanenergyforeternity.net.au has just been revamped and is worth a look. All 17 short movies produced by Clean Energy For Eternity are on the web site. They include; a mysterious snow sign, The Bega LifeSaving Energy Big Swim, the Nimmitabel Primary School wind turbine human sign, CEFE on the 730 Report, the Tathra human sign (May 2006), slide shows of all the images taken from the Tathra human sign, the combined School Human Sign (a classic), the Broulee LifeSaving Energy human sign (another classic), a mysterious water tank, Warren Yates from Mosman CEFE, the Manly LifeSaving Energy human sign, the Nott boys talk about school human signs, and CEFE on Catalyst. All movies are less than 10 minutes long and take only a few minutes to download.

On 27 Sept there will be a fashion parade at the Bermagui Community Centre to raise money for solar panels and a wind turbine for the Bermagui surf club and pre school. Doors open at 130pm and tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children.

On 5/11/08 CEFE will be hosting the second annual Renewable Energy Expo at the Bega RSL. The expo will start from 1200 o’clock and will feature renewable energy technologies available from the region. At 6pm, there will be a public forum, where the thrust of the discussion will be to present progress made on attracting large renewable energy projects to the Bega Valley. The exciting stuff will be a discussion about a large scale community owned solar farm which, if we can get it up and running quickly, will be Austarlia’s largest solar farm. Also up for discussion will be the prospect of setting up a modest community owned wind farm, and Mike Kelly will be there to let us know what is on offer from the Federal Government. There will be a representative from the Federal Dept of Climate Change and Water talking about what help we can expect in getting these major projects off the ground. Professer Mark Deissendorf from the Uni of NSW will present the latest science on climate change. This promise to be a huge and exciting meeting.

CEFE will be hosting the same meeting in Berridale on the following day (6/11/08) where the same issues will be discussed.

The LifeSaving Energy Big Swim series was a huge success in 2008 with 4 surf clubs set up with renewable energy (Tathra, Jindabyne, Moruya and Narooma) and a wind turbine about to be installed at the Tathra primary school. LifeSaving Energy Big Swims for 2009 will include a repeat of the Jindabyne, Moruya and Bega swims, with a 24hr relay at the Narooma pool, a Big Swim in the Brogo Dam to raise money for solar panels for the Anglican Church in Bega, and a swim from the Merimbula wharf to the Pambula surf club to raise money for renewable energy for the Pambula surf club.

LifeSaving Energy is about to be launched as a national campaign in Bronte on 12/10/08. There are 4 surf clubs in SE NSW set up with renewable energy, 3 surf clubs at Manly/Stein beaches, and the Bronte surf club. That leaves about 299 surf clubs to go! It can be done! Surf Life Saving Australia are looking at hosting a national LifeSaving Energy Big Swim series in early 2009.

There are many more activities planned for the near future, so keep an eye on the www.cleanenergyforeternity.net.au web site for details. You can become a member on-line. Matthew Nott
CEFE fashion parade-stepping out in style….

Bermagui’s Clean Energy for Eternity Chapter has worked hard this past year to raise funds to pay for installing renewable energy (solar and wind) on the Bermagui Surf Club and Pre-School. Many people purchased raffle tickets at their stall at the Seaside Fair, and attended the earlier meeting at the Country Club. Spurred on by their energetic coordinator Prue Kelly, Bermi CEFE is now hosting what promises to be an amazing CEFE Fashion Parade on September 27 at the Bermagui Community Centre!

There is complimentary champagne or fruit punch on arrival at 1.30 pm, with time to check out our gorgeous Silent Auction items donated by Gulaga Gallery, Passionfish, Reva Jewellery, Colour Flash and others.

Action on the catwalk begins at 2.00 pm, with local models (of both sexes) presenting Fabulous Pre-Loved Fashions donated by our community. All garments in this Section are very sensibly priced and for sale on the day. This is CEFE’s main fundraising part of the Parade and we hope our guests will find something lovely to take home with them.

Sapphire Coast Producers’ Association are catering and delicious fingerfoods will be served for intermission at 2.30pm, and our licensed Bar will be open.

The Boutiques Showcase starts at 3.00 pm, presenting garments from:
Bermagui:Ruby Vivant Boutique, Beauty & the Beach, The Pineapple House, Pretty Mermaids;
Cobargo: Sunflower Fashions, South Coast Leather (RM Williams) and Cobargo Bazaar; and
Central Tilba: Gulaga Gallery

Bids on our Silent Auction will be finalised by 3.30 pm, followed by the hotly contested Wearable Art Competition, in which local artists and designers will have their garments paraded and a prize for the Best in Show will be presented at a Grand Finale.

TICKETS are $20.00 adult, $10.00 children (12 & under) and on sale at Ruby Vivant Boutique, The Pineapple House and Beauty & the Beach in Bermagui, South Coast Leather and Sunflower Fashions in Cobargo, and Passionfish in Central Tilba.

We hope this Fashion Parade will become an annual event, growing bigger and bigger, to showcase just what our Triangle area has to offer. We look forward to seeing you on September 27 at the Bermagui Community Centre.

Prue Kelly

Where to live?

After spending the last 2 years reading about climate change, I’m starting to think that I should really be planning for the worst-case scenario to ensure the best future for my family. Assuming that I want to stay in Australia, where would be the best place to live?
To make that decision, I need to take into account rainfall patterns, temperature, rising sea levels and risk of bush fire.
The northern half of Australia seems set to experience good rainfall, whilst the Southern half of Australia dries out. Maybe moving to somewhere near Darwin might not be too stupid. Rising sea levels will be an issue for Darwin, so somewhere inland like Palmeston could be perfect.
Perhaps the Atherton Tablelands could be a wise decision, with good rainfall and safe altitude above sea level. What about Tasmania, which would be cooler? Drought has had a significant impact in Tassie, but surely an island state is always going to get some rain.

The problem with all of that is that I really like living in SE NSW. I live in Tathra where rising sea levels will eventually be a real problem, and rainfall is a issue, but can we turn our region into one of the best places to live in Australia as climate change has more and more of an impact?

I think the answer to that question is yes, which is why I’m not planning to move anywhere. It will depend on us attracting new industry, which will insulate our regional economy from the worst effects of climate change and rising petrol prices. Attracting renewable energy business to our region will make our part of the world a better place to live, and will give our children a more optimistic future. That is what is so exciting about developing wind and solar farms in our part of the world; it creates hope and optimism, generates jobs and income, brings in tourists, and makes our region a better place to live.

Local government has a huge role to play in helping us fight for a better future, which is why I think it is important to consider a sustainable future when voting in upcoming council elections.
Matthew Nott

A big thanks

The Clean Energy For Eternity campaign has been running for almost 2 years and the CEFE crew would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported our campaign.

There are 50/50 by 2020 bumper stickers right around the region, we are in the process of getting 6 surf clubs in SE NSW set up with renewable energy, schools have become a powerful driving force for change, community pressure has generated a 50/50 by 2020 target for the electorate of Eden Monaro and we have a growing number of members.

Our big push from this point onwards is to set up some large-scale renewable energy projects across our region. A solar farm for the South Coast will be the first of these projects, and hopefully a replicable model will allow us to roll out solar farms right across the region.

We plan to have Bega supplied by 100% home grown renewable energy within 5 years. We aim to use a solar farm, a wind farm, and bio mass generation from the dairy industry to achieve that goal, and have made some great progress in behind the scenes negotiations.

If you think that a 100% renewable energy target for Bega town is too challenging, or too expensive, come along to a public meeting that will be hosted by CEFE at the Bega High School in the near future. We will be trying to convince you otherwise.

If it is possible in Bega, then it is possible for Moruya, Cooma and Jindabyne, and why stop there.

Clean Energy For Eternity have been meeting each fortnight for 2 years without a break. We will continue to do so, but would love some help. For anyone who is interested in becoming a member or coming along to our regular meeting, we would love to hear from you. Check out our web site at www.cleanenergyforeternity.net.au

Our campaign is not about saving the world; we are about providing opportunity for our region at a time when we most need it. It is all about regional rejuvenation, keeping our local economy lively in order to cope with the challenges ahead.
Matthew Nott