The HDC keep you updated on Copenhagen

Delegates from around the world as well as scientists, NGO representatives and interested spectators have descended upon Copenhagen as the world attempts to plan how to tackle climate change. The Hump Day Crew keep you updated with our weekly interviews.

Click here to listen to David Hood of Greenpeace discuss the conclusions of the Copenhagen summit.

Click here to listen to what's happening in the first few days of the talks with Jonathan Larkin from the WWF.

Click here to listen to Luke Chamberlain discuss the other aspect of the Copenhagen talks getting less media attention then emissions reductions ie. saving world forests.

Click here to listen to Jonathan Larkin discuss the lead up to the Copenhagen talks.

For further information, please visit http://www.wwf.org/, www.greenpeace.org and http://www.wilderness.org.au/

350.org prepares for an International Day of Action on 24th Oct, '09

Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 390ppm, and that unless we are able to rapidly return to 350 ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt.

There are three numbers you need to really understand global warming, 275, 390, and 350.

For all of human history until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide. Parts per million is simply a way of measuring the concentration of different gases, and means the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide molecules per million other molecules in the atmosphere. 275 ppm CO2 is a useful amount—without some CO2 and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in our atmosphere, our planet would be too cold for humans to inhabit.

The 24th October, 2009 has been chosen as an international day of action for Climate Change in which 141 countries will participate in various activities to increase the attention deserved by Climate Change.

Luke Chamberlain, Forests Campaigner for The Wilderness Society speaks about 350.org and gives an update on logging in Victoria's Brown Mountain area. Click here to listen.

For more information, please visit http://www.350.org/ and http://www.wilderness.org.au/

The Wilderness Society Update - Environment East Gippsland sues VicForests for illegal logging

Today, Environment East Gippsland commenced proceedings against VicForests in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

A writ was filed with the court this morning and has just been served on VicForests.

“We ask the Court for a permanent injunction to stop VicForests from logging Brown Mountain” said Jill Redwood, Coordinator of EEG. “We also ask the Court to declare that the logging of Brown Mountain is unlawful”.

Brown Mountain is known habitat for at least five species of wildlife listed as vulnerable or threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.

Click here to hear the latest from The Wilderness Society's Amelia Young.

To find out the latest news from The Wilderness Society, please visit http://www.wilderness.org.au/

An Update from The Wilderness Society in Bonn, Germany - 6.6.2009

Gemma Tillack, Climate Change and Forests Campaigner for The Wilderness Society is currently in Bonn, Germany where representatives from countries around the world are meeting to draft and prepare agreements for the upcoming meetings in Copenhagen.

Click here to listen to the interview.

For more information, please visit http://www.climaterally.org/ and http://www.wilderness.org.au/

The Wilderness Society Update - 25th and 28th May, 2009

The Wilderness Society is a community-based environmental protection organisation. They work to safeguard our sources of clean water and air, to tackle devastating climate change, to create a safe future for life on Earth, and to give a better world to our children. The majority of our work is in Australia, with a strong focus on natural environments and the role they play in keeping our world safe.

They were born in 1976, and our first major victory was Australia's most famous environmental campaign - saving the Franklin River. Since then, with the support of thousands of concerned people across the country, we've worked to protect millions of hectares of our greatest wild places.

Click here to listen to Adam Barralet hosting Heating Up and talking with Scott Alderson
Click here to listen to the final show of All Natural with Adam Barralet talking with with Amelia Young.

For more information on The Wilderness Society, please visit http://www.wilderness.org.au/

The Wilderness Society Update

The Wilderness Society is a community-based environmental protection organisation. They work to safeguard our sources of clean water and air, to tackle devastating climate change, to create a safe future for life on Earth, and to give a better world to our children. The majority of our work is in Australia, with a strong focus on natural environments and the role they play in keeping our world safe.

They were born in 1976, and our first major victory was Australia's most famous environmental campaign - saving the Franklin River. Since then, with the support of thousands of concerned people across the country, we've worked to protect millions of hectares of our greatest wild places.

Click here to listen to the latest from The Wilderness Society with Amelia Young.

For more information on The Wilderness Society, please visit http://www.wilderness.org.au/

The Wilderness Society Update

Amelia Young from The Wilderness Society came into the JOY studios to give an update on happenings over the last two months.

The update includes:

• The success of the Warburton Rally


• How logging affects our Water Storage Areas


• The East Gippsland Forest Campaign


• Brown Mountain


• Successful Action on the steps of Parliament


• Long-footed potoroo – endangered species


• Old-growth forests are our richest and safest carbon banks – but only if we don’t log them


• International work – Their campaign delegation has just returned from Posnan, Poland, latest round of climate talks


• A chat with Gavan McFadzean, The Wilderness Society’s Victorian Campaigns Manager who has just returned from the climate negotiations in Posnan.


• TWS Christmas Gifts online
  

Click here to listen to the interview.

For more information, please visit http://www.wilderness.org.au/

Saving The Red Gums along The Murray

Along the Murray and its tributaries are the world’s largest stands of river red gum. This merging of forests and wetlands is one of the most unique and highly threatened landscapes in Australia.

The independent Victorian Environment Assessment Council was asked by the Victorian government 3 years ago to make recommendations on how to protect the remaining river red gum ecosystems along the Murray.

VEAC has now recommended over 100,000 hectares of New National Parks, improved environmental water flows and the historic first for Victoria of Indigenous Co-management for places like Barmah Forest.
The recommendations also include and end to cattle grazing on public land, reduction of logging by 70% and a reduction in areas available for duck-hunting.
Locals and tourists alike will still be able to camp, fish, four wheel drive etc. Campfires will also be allowed – except during high fire danger period.
Premier Brumby has only a few months left to officially respond to the recommendations – we’re expecting he will do so before Christmas.

Click here to listen to the interview with Jess Abraham, Victorian Community Campaigner for the Wilderness Society.

After listening to the interview, please contact Victorian Premier Brumby:
By mail:
Office of the Premier
1 Treasury Place
Melbourne
Australia 3000

By telephone and fax:
Ph (61 3) 9651 5000
Fax (61 3) 9651 5054

Please note to receive a formal response all queries need to be made in writing.

By email:
premier@dpc.vic.gov.au

For more information, visit http://www.saveredgums.org/

The Wilderness Society

There is a lot focus on reducing our carbon footprint. By cutting our power usage, walking rather than driving, etc we are releasing less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere thus reducing global warming. However there is the other side of the cycle that gets less attention. Trees reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere by converting it into oxygen as well as storing it as a "carbon bank".

By logging our forests we are eliminating this side of the cycle. The Wilderness Society is a community-based environmental protection organisation. They work to safeguard our sources of clean water and air, to tackle devastating climate change, to create a safe future for life on Earth, and to give a better world to our children. The majority of our work is in Australia, with a strong focus on natural environments and the role they play in keeping our world safe.

Click here to hear the interview with Amelia Young, Acting Forest Campaigner from The Wilderness Society.

What can you do to help?

1. Visit http://www.wilderness.org.au/
   
2. Attend the Rally in Warburton, Sunday 23rd November, 2008, 11:45am at the rotunda Warburton Hwy., Warburton
   
3. Attend the Forests & Climate Change Action Forum, Thursday 27th November, 2008, 7pm at Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, 1 Gardenia Street, Blackburn
   
4. Email: john.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au and CC: gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au and john.lenders@parliament.vic.gov.au
   
5. Write to The Age, The Herald Sun and online publications about your opposition to logging old growth forests.
   
6. Visit the JOY 94.9 studios at Level 9/225 Bourke Street, Melbourne and pick up The Wilderness Society postcards that you can mail to PM Kevin Rudd and your State Member of Parliament
   
7. Become a volunteer of The Wilderness Society

Amelia Young can be contacted on (03) 9038 0888 or amelia.young@wilderness.org.au