With the political parties' election campaigning well underway, we hope you've been having some productive conversations with family and friends about the things that matter to you.

There are some opportunities coming up this week to come together with others to take meaningful action! On Thursday evening you can join AYCC for letter writing or attend an online screening of "Regenerating Australia", followed by small group actions, facilitated by Climate for Change. Then on Friday, you can volunteer with our stall at the Strand Night Market, where we can have climate conversations face-to-face. In another week's time, we can come together to recharge our batteries with some of that vibrant Green Drinks energy!

Some handy resources you might like to share with your friends and family in the lead up to the election:

• Vote Climate One's Traffic Light Election Guide
• ABC's Vote Compass
• Solar Citizens' Renewable Energy and Clean Transport Scorecard

We also recommend approaching the candidates of your electorate (at community events or online) to let them know that you want to see action on climate change, along with specific examples of why it matters to you and what you'd like to see happening in/for your electorate. If you'd like help with that, please get in touch with us!

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Strand Night Market (helpers needed!)
  • Green Drinks
• Opportunities & Actions:
  • AYCC letter writing
  • "Regenerating Australia" online screening
  • Yellow crazy ants: take action
  • Be a Litter Hero
  • Add your climate story
  • Tour de Carmichael
  • Free community organising training

NQCC UPDATES

Strand Night Market

Join us this Friday afternoon/evening at Strand Park, where we will be giving away Climate Action Now signs and having critical conversations with North Queenslanders, encouraging them to put our climate first this election!

We are looking for volunteers to assist anytime from setup at 4pm to pack down at 9.30pm. If you would like to help out, reply to this email or let us know on the Facebook event page. We'd REALLY love to have your company!

It was a smaller Green Drinks crowd for Earth Day, due to some wet weather and other events occurring on the same night, but we still had a lovely time! 

The next Green Drinks will be held at Grill'd in South Townsville from 6pm on Friday 13 May. Here, we can discuss all things climate, environmental, political or just fun! For those campaigning or advocating for environmental causes in the lead up to the federal election, this could be a great opportunity to recharge your batteries for the final push. 

To receive reminders and updates, sign up to our Green Drinks mailing list here and consider joining our Green Drinks Facebook group!

OPPORTUNITIES & ACTIONS

AYCC Letter Writing Event

Want to write powerful letters to let everyone know what young people are standing for this election? Join local AYCC (Australian Youth Climate Coalition) volunteers at Strand Park this Thursday from 6pm - snacks provided! For more information, contact Amaya at [email protected].

Regenerating Australia: Online Screening

Climate for Change is hosting a special hybrid screening of Regenerating Australia, followed by an opportunity to take action! RSVP to receive the Zoom link and join in from 6.30 - 8.30pm this Thursday (5 May). 

This 17-minute short film, directed by Damon Gameau, is a hypothetical news report based on interviews with a diverse group of Australians who were asked about their hopes and dreams for the future.

Take Action Against Yellow Crazy Ants

Yellow crazy ants are poised to take over Queensland’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area – the world’s second-most-irreplaceable natural world heritage area. The window to eradicate these acid-spraying ants from Cairns and Townsville before we lose control of their numbers is rapidly closing.

The Invasive Species Council is calling for $3.2 million annually over 6 years to control yellow crazy ants in Townsville. Can you add your voice? Submit your email quickly and easily using a template prepared by the Invasive Species Council.

Be a Litter Hero

Tangaroa Blue are on the hunt for some local heroes to assist with the Litter Heroes campaign at Queensland Country Bank Stadium for some upcoming events!

Last year the Litter Hero and Ditch the Flick team had great success, reducing cigarette litter at the stadium by up to 71%.

Please email [email protected] to express your interest or ask any questions.

(Note: admittance to the game in which you are volunteering will not be provided as the Litter Heroes campaign is run on the external perimeter of the stadium).

The Litter Hero team will be present at the following games if you would like to register your interest to volunteer:

- Saturday the 7th May 7-9.30pm
- Saturday the 21st May 5-7.30pm
- Friday the 10th June 7.30-10pm

Together We Can: Add Your Story!

We agree Australia needs to commit to a safe, healthy future and new jobs, by cutting Australia's climate pollution by more than half this decade.

Every voice is powerful. Over 24,000 people from around the country have shared their climate story by joining the Together We Can movement. Share your story on their website and they will share our collective voice with our leaders!

Register Now for Tour de Carmichael

You are invited to Wangan and Jagalingou Country for the Annual Tour De Carmichael – Cycle for Country on Monday 23rd to Friday the 27th May.

Tour De Carmichael is not a protest but a guided cultural tour on pushbikes. Come and learn about significant sites including Twin Hills, the Belyando and the sacred Doongmabulla springs and how they relate to Wangan and Jagalingou people.

Cultural workshops will be held at different campsites at the end of each day and ending the tour at the Waddananggu ceremony – where the sacred fire has been burning for more than 200 days and nights.

Everyone is welcome to come. If you can’t ride, there are plenty of volunteer support roles.

Community Organising Training

The Queensland Community Alliance is offering FREE Community Organising Training in May this year, in Townsville.

The training will be held in person on Saturday 28 May and Monday 30 May, from 9am to 5pm each day, at a Townsville venue to be confirmed. Attendees must attend both sessions.

Topics at the two-day Foundations training include:

• Community Organising: based on the history and tradition of our religious, union and community organisations
• Relational Organising: individual relational meetings, listening assemblies, research, negotiation and action
• Strengthening our Organisations: building a culture that is relational, action oriented and reflective/learning
• Using Relational Power in the public sphere to take collaborative action on common issues

There is no cost to attendees, except for a $10 contribution towards lunch on each day.

Thank you for everything you do. Please remember that you are never doing it alone.

Yours naturally,

Crystal and Tiff
North Queensland Conservation Council