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From the Newsletter - 'Fractured' by Peter Maddock

28/2/2018

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Recently watching NTIV on SBS I was fortunate to see the film Fractured Land, which is about a young
indigenous leader and lawyer in British Columbia confronting the fractures within his community and himself as he struggles to reconcile traditional teachings with the law and protect the land from fracking.

Fractured Land is still available On Demand on SBS:
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/ video/668019267941/fractured-land.

In the film Caleb visits the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. An association representative
comments that it is our choice as humans, a very difficult choice of how we are going to use the
resource gifts we have been given, for good or potentially for evil. The answer she believes is balance. She thinks that to some degree we are all fractured within ourselves trying to balance the choices we make with our concerns for the environment.

Caleb’s response to the observation that deep down we are all fractured is to question how we deal with
two different world views in value systems and ideas existing in our behaviour. This troubles Caleb a great deal and he has a profound difficulty in remaining true to himself knowing his education in law is in part funded from the petroleum industry as he hopes to use this education to curtail the activities of this industry.

As someone concerned about climate change along with many other pressing environmental issues, largely related to our overuse of resources I am also somewhat fractured in the consumption choices I
make each day. The fractures run deep, and despite my concerns I am unable to make all the logical
consumption choices which reflect my concerns about the environmental impact of my activities.

Our environmental impacts seem far off in daily life.The Australian Conservation Foundation some time ago showed that only about 25 to 30% of our emissions are direct or generated at home. The balance of our emissions arise from our consumption expenditure. For most of us everything we consume relies on oil and coal to mine harvest and make, and then to get it inside our homes. Modern agriculture uses 10 calories of oil to produce one calorie of food.

​But then again, listening to Tom Switzer interview Johan Nordberg on Radio National perhaps I have no
need to feel fractured in trying to reduce my environmental impact.

The segment was titled A Prosperous World? Johan says we are living in a golden age.

Peter Maddock
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Barjarg Flat coupe logging -  Strathbogie State Forest, it's Greater Gliders and Powerful Owl need your help

14/2/2018

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Dear BSFG members and supporters,

Most of you will be aware that early last year, Vicforests carried out logging at the Parlours Creek coupe in the Lima East area of the Strathbogie State forest. The so-called single tree selection logging resulted in the destruction of around 80% of the coupe, resulting in the loss of habitat for large numbers of the critically endangered Greater Gliders, as well as numerous other forest dwelling animals and birds.
Now, Vicforests are at it again, but this time the situation is even more desperate!

The Barjarg Flat coupe on the corner of Barjarg and Tallangalook Rds is twice the size (around 60 hectares) of Parlours Creek coupe, but more importantly, independent surveys carried out late last year by the Arthur Rylah Institute, included the highest ever recorded density in Victoria of Greater Gliders, and in addition, a Powerful Owl has been detected in the same area.

These facts should trigger a red flag alarm for the Environment Minister to intervene and stop the logging, at least until an extensive assessment of the area has been completed. Powerful Owl Management Areas (POMA) were established over 20 years ago in Victoria, based on information then available, but now out of date. A POMA requires an automatic logging exclusion zone of 500 hectares, and for this to happen at Barjarg Flat, we need to get the minister to listen and act.

The problem is – she is just not listening!

We, and the Gliders and Owls need your help.

Please phone and/or email the minister’s office over the next few days to express your URGENT concerns – logging was supposed to have commenced 2 days ago, but thankfully, no equipment is on site yet.

The contact details are listed below, and also for Jaclyn Symes, the Labor member for Northern Victoria in the Legislative Council.

Lily D’Ambrosio (Environment Minister) Ph:  96379504 Email:  lily.d’ambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au
Jaclyn Symes (MLC Northern Victoria) Ph:  57832000   Email:  Jaclyn.Symes@parliament.vic.gov.au

Thank you, in anticipation of your support.

Yours sincerely,
​
Peter Holmes   Ph:  0438625638   Email:  chrispeth@bigpond.com

Editor's Note:   For further information - https://strathbogiesustainableforests.wordpress.com/
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New Benalla Community Vegetable Garden Gathering - Thursday  22 February 6 pm Uniting Church - before BSFG meeting at 7.30pm

10/2/2018

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The Benalla Uniting Church and the Benalla Sustainable Future Group are collaborating to develop a Community Vegetable Garden on the Uniting Church site near Coles. 
 
Initiated by Tanya Walker, BSFG and Benalla Food Coop member, a gathering is being held to enthuse people with the idea of a Community Vegetable Garden on the grounds of the Uniting Church; to share information and ideas and to form a Committee to organise and set up the garden.

The gathering will start at 6.00 pm on Thursday February 22nd, the night of BSFG's next General Meeting, which commences at 7.30 pm, Come a little earlier to hear about Tanya’s enthusiastic initiative to commence a Community Vegetable Garden at the Uniting Church.

Email Tanya Walker on  tanyanwalker@yahoo.com.au if you would like further information.

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General meeting Thursday 22 February at 7.30 pm - guest speaker Bertram Lobert from the Strathbogie Sustainable Forest Group

10/2/2018

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​Our next General Meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 22 February in the Meeting Room, Benalla Uniting Church, opposite the Coles car park.

​Our guest speaker is Bertram Lobert from the 
Strathbogie Sustainable Forest Group.  Bertram will speak about the activities and achievements of the group and has sent us a synopsis.
“The community campaign to improve both forest management and community appreciation of the Strathbogie State Forest began over four years ago. Since then we've organized 22+ forest walks and numerous community engagement activities. We've undertaken fauna and flora surveys including: spotlighting, camera trapping, fungi surveys, mothing nights and habitat assessment. The group has also put significant effort into forest advocacy and political lobbying, with mixed success so far. We've come a long way, but we're not done yet.

Our biggest achievement has been to attract many hundreds of people and thousands of eyes, to take an interest in our little forest – the forest that no one in DELWP or the Government took much notice of before we all started jumping up and down and organizing. And all those people talk to friends and return-visit, or can picture the forest when they hear or read about it. The cat is out of the bag – the Strathbogie Forest is now recognized by locals, regional government departments and by government policy, as an important natural assets in NE Vic. And that awareness isn’t something that can be switched off – and that is powerful!”
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​This is a good opportunity to hear firsthand about the activities and advocacy work of the Strathbogie Sustainable Forest Group.

A light supper will be served after Bertram’s presentation.

​
Peter Maddock
Secretary
0418 135 330
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'Benalla Grow Your Own' wicking bed project joint winner of Vic Health 'Promoting Health Equity' Award

9/2/2018

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Last year BSFG member Val Dunin presented on behalf of 'Benalla Grow Your Own' project at a BSFG general meeting.   It was wonderful to hear recently that  the 'Benalla Grow Your Own' project was  a joint winner of a 2017 Vic Health Award in the category 'Promoting Health Equity'.    

Benalla Grow Your Own – Engaging Disadvantaged Families with Wicking Garden Beds
St Vincent de Paul Society of Benalla, Benalla Health and Beechworth Corrections Centre.

"This project piloted the installation of wicking garden beds in the backyards of at-risk families, to support them to grow their own fruit and vegetables. It also aimed to improve community connectivity and increase people’s knowledge, confidence and skills to grow their own food.

Designed by prisoners at the nearby Beechworth Corrections Centre, the garden beds are raised with built-in reservoirs at the bottom. This type of garden bed was chosen for its water saving capabilities, and the cost of watering this type of garden is substantially less than a regular garden.

In total, 48 families (including 72 children) now have wicking garden beds. This has led to an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption, spending more time outside and improved self-reported mental health"

Congratulations to Val (pictured here holding the award) and all involved in the 'Benalla Grow Your Own' project!

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Cathy McGowan - Supporting Renewable Communities & BSFG

8/2/2018

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"Federal Independent Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan has acknowledged the work of those groups using recycled materials to make Boomerang Bags and create a sustainable alternative to plastic bags."  Published February 6, 2018
'It's time to unleash the power of communities to address local energy needs and security'  Member for Indi Cathy McGowan introducing the Renewable Energy Legislation Amendment (Supporting Renewable Communities) Bill October 2017 ​

"Cathy McGowan has told parliament it's time for the government to do its bit supporting community energy, supporting communities to be self reliant and self-sufficient in their energy use."
Pubished August 16, 2017
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​Benalla Sustainable Future Group acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we live, work and meet, the Taungerang and Bpangerang people
​of North East Victoria, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
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