FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
because you can never have too many friends
Friends of the Earth, Sydney (FoE) is a broadly-based activist environmental organisation, with groups in more than 60 countries. FoE International was formed in 1971 and FoE Sydney began three years later. In 1996, FoE International celebrated 25 years of environmental activism. Australia wide, there are FoE groups in most capital cities as well as in some suburbs and country towns. They work on local as well as wider issues and through regular communication coordinate their campaigns.
FoE Sydney has lobbied governments, councils and corporations over the years to help create a greener world. For example, in the past few years, we've had several notable achievements.
- In 1999 we alerted the world to nuclear weapon Y2K issues, resolved thankfully by the Russian and US military. Now we help coordinate via email local and global lobbying. Result? i) actual reduction of US and Russian plutonium based nuclear weapons this year; and ii) a nuclear states' pledge to "total and unequivocal elimination of their nuclear arsenals": UN, New York, 19th May 2000. We also challenge the pro nuclear Australian government.
- We assisted with the closure of Sydney's only polluting domestic waste incinerator at Waterloo.
- We helped block the sale of publicly owned electricity assets in NSW using studies of environmental and social problems experienced in the UK. We also helped create the Sustainable Energy Fund to drive use of cleaner energy.
- In 1994 we led the Sydney Water Project developing solutions to pollution. This year we helped achieve a $260,000 grant to Leichhardt Council to repair environmentally the White's Creek catchment. and reduce stormwater runoff.
- We exposed the million hectares of public forest not saved, and 100,000 ha/year of agricultural clearing of native flora under the "green" NSW Premier.
- We helped gain asylum for an African environmentalist at risk from a murderous government in bed with corrupt multinationals.
- Successfully lobbied NSW Parliament for our preferred specification for the public $1.4 billion rail link between Parramatta and Chatswood in Sydney.
We try to encourage people to embrace a sense of personal responsibility for their environment and help create an informed public debate on issues which unfortunately receive too little attention.
We believe ordinary people without large financial resources can organise to protect their environment. We rely on popular support, creativity and frugality to achieve our goals. Currently, all our work is done by volunteers. We act as a catalyst, providing a source of information, a place to meet, and a base for action.
Our work involves everything from receiving and distributing information, answering phone and mail enquiries, filing and typing right through to research, producing publications and lobbying governments and corporations.
We carry out research, education and action on a wide variety of issues including uranium mining, renewable energy, toxic wastes, forestry, packaging, public transport, air and water pollution, greenhouse, waste minimisation and recycling. We produce and distribute a variety of books and pamphlets and provide speakers for schools and community groups. And there's also our national magazine, Chain Reaction, which contains original material on environmental issues.
1974 Sydney FOE forms. Union green bans on freeways threatening Ultimo.
1975-1978 Save forest at Boyd Plateau. Uranium Moratorium. Strong anti-uranium case to Ranger Inquiry. Tour by Dale Bridenbaugh -General Electric nuclear engineer and whistleblower. Uranium contracts leaked to FoE. Publishes Red Light for Yellowcake &endash; 30,000 sold. Organise 25,000 strong anti-uranium demonstration.
1979 Government bans whaling around Australia.
1980 Sponsor Ralph Nader from the US.
1981 Phase-in lead-free petrol, and Balmain paper recycling.
1982 Hazardous waste campaign, big protests at Honeymoon uranium mine.
1983-1984 Blockades at Roxby Downs U-mine and protest at Federal Parliament. Oppose freeways.
1985 Foundation member South East Forest Alliance. Electricity Inquiry.
1986 Sewerage campaign begins.
1988 City open space. Monorail, beach pollution, genetic engineering, ozone layer issues.
1989-1990 Bill Keepin and Amory Lovins lecture tour on energy efficiency and greenhouse. Australian recycled paper. Container deposit legislation push.
1991 Create Wastebusters Day. Sound global warming alarm.
1992-1993 Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor Review, attend Rio Earth Summit. Inland rivers, waste minimisation issues.
1994 Lobby ALP conference on uranium. Sydney Water Project. Energy efficiency project with Leichhardt Council. Resist M2 tollway.
1995 Oppose French nuclear testing in the Pacific. Waste Management Act (NSW). Stormwater issue.
1996 Expose forests passed off as plantation. Start car-free CBD campaign. Organise 50,000 march on Pacific nuclear tests. Convene 'Stop Uranium Mining' to stop Jabiluka! Resist M2 tollway.
1997 Komene Famaa's Ogoni Freedom tour against Shell. Forest Protection Petition &endash; 160,000 signatures so far. White's Creek wetlands project. Close Waterloo Incinerator. Lobby for UN nuke test ban treaty. Resist Eastern Distributer tollway.
1998 NSW electricity sell-off blocked. Aluminium recycling business starts. No nukes: "Pilgrimmage Tour" by Russian victims; stop Ukraine,/resist Slovakia reactors; lobby against India/ Pakistan weapon tests; stop Jabiluka. Waste: 100,000 Low Waste Garden leaflets; Castlereagh dump closes; Extended producer responsibility (EPR) research. Forests: woodchip demo's; sand mining legal case, Manly Dam bush. Expose Multi-lateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). Bondi stall starts.
1999 Forests: expose broken electionpromises/ cyanide on Sacred Timbarra Mountain/ Manly Dam bushland destruction; join ChipStop, lobby WTO. No nukes: Lucas Heights reactor; Jabiluka U-mine; Y2K de-alert global weapons; expose Pangea waste dump. Oppose rural mega tips. Pre-Olympics: Rentwatchers; Save Bondi Beach campaign email to world.
2000 Lifesaving asylum for African activist No nukes: global lobby reduces weapons; EU/ Australian/UN resolutions on NNPTreaty; expose technical flaws of Sydney reactor. Forests: expose draconian woodchipping/clearing in NSW; Whites Creek break through. Newtown anti-pollution group BLAG. 3000 strong reclaim the streets march; $1.4 billion public transport rail link plan agreed. Olympics: Independent Media Centre set up. Genethics Sydney formed. Expose Shell's oil spill(s).
Where are we?
postal address: PO Box A474 SYDNEY SOUTH 1235
street address: I Henry St TURRELLA SYDNEY
telephone: (02) 9567 6222
fax: (02) 9567 7166
e-mail: forest@foesyd.org.au
website: sydney.foe.org.au
That's simple. To continue our work we need the support of like-minded people like you. At the moment we are campaigning for reduction in greenhouse gases, a car-free CBD for Sydney; no new uranium mines at Jabiluka and elsewhere; and an end to the woodchipping of native forests. There are other campaigns we'd like to embark upon that require activists with initiative. Other than that your donation can make a big difference.
[ ] I would like to join Friends of the Earth:
MEMBERSHIP RATES:
[ ] $40 waged
[ ] $25 student/low income
Please accept my tax-deductible donation of $ _______
My cheque/money order for $ _______ is enclosed or debit my credit card:
[ ] Bankcard [ ] Mastercard [ ] Visa
CARDHOLDER'S NAME ________________________________
NO. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
EXPIRY DATE ________________________________
SIGNATURE ________________________________
NAME ________________________________
ADDRESS ___________________________________________
___________________________________________
PHONE ________________________________
E-MAIL ________________________________
Post to: Friends of the Earth, PO Box A474, SYDNEY SOUTH 1235