On Sunday 15 May, less than one week ahead of the 2022 Federal Election, NQCC hosted a Townsville Climate Rally to unite locals and advocacy groups who care about climate change, to demonstrate our numbers and share our stories - with each other, our community and federal candidates. 

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

The letter below was published by the Townsville Bulletin on 5/5/22.

W Wenck’s text to the Editor (Townsville Bulletin, 28/4), suggesting that Australian coal “brings billions in revenue for hospitals, schools and other infrastructure for our survival” goes to show that many of us have been misled into believing that the fossil fuel industry contributes more to our country than it really does.

Pictured: the 2021 WELA Program cohort with WELA staff and guest speaker Dr Joan Staples at Commonground, Victoria.

Women's Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA)'s National Leadership Development Program is a nine-month program that is made available to 20 women across Australia each year. Thanks to the encouragement and support of Liz Murphy-Forrester (a WELA Alumni working for QCC), I applied to join the 2021 program, and was thrilled to be accepted. 

The program involves intensive leadership development with tailored mentoring, combining online sessions with in-person retreats, with the aim to "develop skills, knowledge and networks to address your real-life challenges and transform your leadership". 

It's been a bit of a rollercoaster following the environment news of late (a mass coral bleaching event during a La Niña year, a coal exploration licence rejected by the State Government, the release of an IPCC report on climate change mitigation) - and now the election has been called for 21 May!

We have a big six weeks ahead of us, endeavouring to make #ClimateActionNow an election priority for North Queenslanders. This work will be supported by our Cool it for Climate fundraiser, which has raised over $6,600 so far! If you haven't had the chance to chip in yet, why not head over to our fundraising page now?

Thank you for supporting our fundraising efforts and campaign work at this critical time - enjoy the read and keep an eye on your inbox in coming weeks for updates and calls to action!

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Cool it for Climate Fundraiser - final days to donate!
  • Hells Gates Dam funding announcement and response
  • Member Group Update
  • Celebrate Earth Day at Green Drinks
• Opportunities & Actions:
  • #ClimateActionNow Digital Day of Action
  • Share the Results of ACF's Climate Poll 
  • Be a Litter Hero with Tangaroa Blue
  • Could Qld have an electric future?
  • Tour de Carmichael returns in 2022!
  • Foundations of Community Organising - Free Training!

This week's announcement by the Prime Minister of $5.4billion in funding for Hells Gates Dam has shaken up the political landscape in North Queensland, with supporters and opponents coming from all kinds of likely and unlikely places.

This is a proposal that NQCC has taken an interest in over several years (dating back to at least 2016), so we thought we'd share some of the main concerns we have with this project and the PM's promise to fund it.

As we swelter through yet another heatwave here in NQ, our thoughts go out to all those experiencing massive and widespread flooding further south.

We all know that we need CLIMATE ACTION NOW, and in an election year it is more important than ever to talk to our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about it. 

Things you can do:

• Contact us to pick up a "Climate Action Now" sign or sticker to display somewhere visible;
• Watch this powerful 37-minute documentary - "The Coal Miners Defending The World’s Most Controversial Coal Mine";
• Sign up to our Cool it for Climate fundraiser, running from 8th March until the 8th of April!

In this edition:

• Some Good News:
  • A new National Park for NQ 
• NQCC Updates:
  • Climate Action Townsville meetings
  • JCU Market Day
  • Climate Conversations at Cotters
  • Cool it for Climate Fundraiser - now live!
  • Green Drinks
• Opportunities & Actions:
  
  • Volunteer with Fair Bite's Coffee Project
  • Clean Up Australia Day events
  • Love Food Hate Waste Challenge
  • Fix Waratah Coal's Trademark
  • Townsville Electric Vehicle Experience
  • Women's Environmental Leadership - weekend retreat

Welcome to 2022! We are so honoured to have you with us.

Last week the Australian Government announced $1 billion over nine years to support the health of the Great Barrier Reef. While we strongly support innovation, restoration and projects that help to improve ecosystem health, we know that CLIMATE ACTION NOW is required if we are to limit the worst impacts to the Reef. This is what we'll be pushing for in this year's federal election. Want to help? Join us here!

Our thoughts are with all those in mourning following the recent passing of Suzie Smith - a beloved champion for nature in North Queensland. We encourage you to read this beautiful tribute from Wildlife Qld Townsville Branch, which highlights her commitment, her character and her legacy, which will live on through all those who knew her.

In this edition:

• Some Good News:
  • Congrats to Carolyn Dixon!
• NQCC Updates:
  • Climate Action Townsville
  • Green Drinks
• Opportunities & Actions:
  
  • Tangaroa Blue: Citizen science from your couch!
  • End Deforestation in Qld - petition
  • Have your say about an Independent EPA

Firstly, we'd like to thank you for your support throughout 2021 - in whatever form that took. Supporters like you helped us to advocate, educate and make wonderful and important connections!

Please enjoy this wrap up of some of our highlights of 2021!

Hopefully as you are reading this, you are feeling refreshed and revitalised from the festive season, and are looking towards 2022 with excitement and a sense of purpose, just like we are.

2022 is going to be a big year for us, with a Federal Election that will bring climate action to the forefront of the national conversation. We are excited by what we will achieve in North Queensland, with your continued support!

In this edition:

• Some Good News
• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Youth Response
  • Member Groups
  • Green Drinks
• Opportunities:
  • President position available with CDTLI
  • Mackay Conservation Group need a Climate Campaigner
  • Help manage the GBR with the Eye on the Reef app
  • Climate Action Now signs and stickers available
  • Return-It Recycle Regatta
  • Have your say about an Independent EPA

As November comes to an end, we're starting to catch our breath after a very busy few months! We all know that conservation issues don't disappear at this time of year, and that our environment needs us to be engaged all year round. As such, the second half of this Paperbark edition is filled with ideas and opportunities to contribute and engage, from wherever you might be!

Some good news from this month...

• Sunshine Coast Council officially declared a climate emergency. Congratulations to the wonderful people involved in this campaign!
• Townsville City Council is one step closer to grandfathering cats off of Yunbenun Magnetic Island, thanks to proposed changes to their animal management laws. Well done to MINCA for raising awareness and encouraging submissions!
• The State Government announced $125,000 over two years to support the recovery of the Mt Etna Ghost bat colony. This comes after 50 years of campaigning from conservationists in the region.

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Trivia Night and Mega Raffle
  • Environment Minister Roundtable
  • QCC's Evening with the Minister
  • Townsville Waterways Forum
  • Green Drinks
• Online Actions:
  • Tell Steven Miles to stop the Waratah coal station
  • Have your say on the future of Qld's Renewable Energy Zones
  • Provide feedback on Qld's Draft Resources Industry Development Plan
  • Join the #StopAdani end-of-year celebration
  • Get involved with "Soils for Science" - a citizen science project
  • Complete a survey about the use of drones in conservation work (or share with someone who can help)