Another busy month has passed, and we are filled with gratitude for the amazing people in our community doing great things. From those who got their gloves dirty on Clean Up Australia Day, to those who swam for our rivers and those who have come together to stand up for our trees. You are what inspires us!

Some good news to come out of this month...

Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon announced the 56ha expansion of Girringun National Park, to protect more habitat of the endangered Mahogany Glider. This has been a long time coming, but we are so glad this time has come!

Queensland has also announced a ban on many single-use plastics that will come into effect from September this year. Yay!

Well done to everyone whose advocacy has contributed to these decisions!

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  • Clean Up Australia Day
  • Swim for Our Rivers
  • Tree Vigil for Change
• Coming Up: 
  
  • Green Drinks
  • Postcard Art Exhibition
• In Other News...
  
  • Tour de Carmichael
  • Pint of Science: Online
  • Have Your Say, Townsville

For us, February kicked off with World Wetlands Day, followed by a lovely Green Drinks gathering, a mention in Wild magazine, a temporary Facebook ban and the registration of our first teams for our Swim for Our Rivers fundraiser. What a month! 

We look forward to your support as we launch into March! There are a few fun ways to get involved this month: participate in our Clean Up Australia Day event, get creative for our Postcard Art Exhibition and of course, get behind our Swim teams as they raise money and are put to the test on Saturday 20 March!

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  • World Wetlands Day
  • Green Drinks 
  • Wild Magazine: Luxury Lodges = Wilderness Lost
  • Treasurer Position Available
• Coming Up: 
  • Clean Up Australia Day
  • Swim for Our Rivers
  • Postcard Art Wanted
• Online Activities:
  • Tell Siemens to Reject Adani
  • Resources Dept. Community Information Session

How has your November been? After such an impossibly long year, it's hard to believe 2020 is beginning to wrap up at last. We hope you enjoy our latest updates and a round-up of some interesting news stories and local activities.

In this edition:

• November News Overview
• State Election Update
• Smart, Clean Futures Roundtable
• Bushland Beach Clean-Up
• Trivia Night
• Green Drinks in 2020
• Our Islands, Our Home Virtual Town Hall & Townsville March
• Liz Downes: Queensland Volunteer of the Year
• Krissy Regan with The Koala Who Lost His Heart

With the state election upon us, it's been a pretty hectic time! We've been busy advocating for the environment in meetings with MPs and candidates, producing our Environment Report Card and even joining a colourful media launch behind QCC's "Power Up Queensland" Report! 

While the next few years of Queensland's environmental policies hang in the balance this weekend, we know that we have a lot of work to do, regardless of the outcome. Luckily, we have a broad and powerful network of supporters in people like you.

You can show your support in a number of ways, such as participating in some of our events! There are some exciting things coming up in November and we hope that you can get involved in some way.

Please enjoy this edition of Paperbark...

In this edition:

• NQCC News:
  
  • Qld Environment Report Card
  • Power Up North Queensland
• Upcoming Events 
  • Bushland Beach Clean Up
  • Fundraising Trivia Night!
  • Final Green Drinks of 2020
• Local Activities:
  • Climate Quiz & Solar Farm Tour
• Online Activities:
  • Community Organising Training

You may be wondering why you're reading your September Paperbark in October. The answer is quite simple - with so much happening in the lead-up to our AGM, we thought we'd hold out until the Official Business was over before sending you our monthly update. Apologies for the suspense!

There has been a staggering amount of environmental news to report on over the past several weeks, but as this edition of Paperbark is a little longer than usual (jam-packed with updates, opportunities and other interesting stuff), we'll dive right in. 

In this edition:

• NQCC News:
  • Our AGM 
  • Annual Report
  • Membership Drive Update
  • Burdekin Basin Seminar
  • Green Drinks
  • Trivia Night announcement
• Local Activities:
  • Solar Citizens yard signs available
  • GBR Clean-Up: Hinchinbrook Island
  • Save the date: Quiz and Solar Farm Tour
• Online Activism Opportunities:
  • QCC's Power Up Queensland Vision
  • Townsville Alliance Assembly
  • Victor Steffensen's Cultural Fire Webinar
• Interesting Things:
  • Research survey: exploring the psychological impacts of climate change
  • Umbrella Studio exhibition: "Final Curtain"
  • Compost with your neighbours through ShareWaste

August has certainly had its ups and downs as far as the environment is concerned. Here's a quick recap of what has happened this month:

The 22nd of August was World Overshoot Day - that is, the date when humanity will have used "all the biological resources that Earth can renew during the entire year". 

Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners delivered Adani an eviction notice and are standing their ground to enforce the eviction, while a second major Korean brokerage announced it would be withdrawing financial backing from Adani's coal projects. 17 global insurers have refused to work on the Carmichael project already, but British firm Aon is brokering a last ditch effort to insure the project. You can tell Aon what you think of this decision by signing this petition or sending this electronic letter.

Into some more positive news, we were excited by the announcement by the Queensland Government regarding their three Renewable Energy Corridors. You can read more about what benefits this announcement has for Queensland in QCC's media release. 

Other great things that have come out this month include Radio National's "Rear Vision" radio excerpt entitled "Threat of extinction - how Australia's environment law failed" and the ABC's engaging new series, Fight for Planet A (featuring Craig Reucassel - the guy from "The Chaser", "War on Waste" and "EcoFiesta 2019").

Jealous, anyone?

In this edition:

• NQCC News:
  • State Election Campaigning - volunteers wanted!
  • Membership Drive Update
  • 2020 AGM announcement: Wed 30 September
  • Green Drinks 
  • iMac for Sale
• Online Activism Opportunities:
  • QCA Civic Academy online
  • North Queensland Waste Strategy
  • Our Islands, Our Home
  • Power Up Queensland
  • Reef 2050 Review
• Local Activities:
  • A Walk on the West Side with MINCA 

May seems to have disappeared in a flash, but there has been no shortage of environment-related political discussion circulating. In the same month that the Townsville Bulletin reported  (for subscribers only) on a study that found "big potential for growth" in North Queensland's timber industry, we learned that logging of native forests likely worsened the summer bushfires. And while many economists have demonstrated the viability of growth in renewables in our country's pandemic recovery, the Federal Government remains loyal to fossil fuels and land is released for coal and gas exploration in Queensland.

Now for the good news: one-third of Rio Tinto's investors have called for tougher climate change targets; Australia's Reserve Bank has called for a post-pandemic renewables push; a group of young people are taking Clive Palmer to court over his coal mine; Australian researchers are leading the way in solar panel technology development; and Yallambie residents in Mt Isa demonstrate how communities can take charge of caring for their environment.

Needless to say, our job is bigger and tougher than ever before. We're fired up, passionate and we've got our wits about us. To show your support, we ask that you join or renew your membership and consider donating or becoming a monthly donor if you can. Every name and every dollar helps us to face the challenges ahead. 

In this edition:

• Updates from the team
• NQCC news:
  • Environment Day Members' Workshop!
  • Award-winning volunteer celebrations
• Online events & activism opportunities
• Other news and events

Well, it's been a March like no other. COVID-19 has changed life as we know it and thrown many families into tough times they weren't expecting. Our thoughts go out to those in our community experiencing hardship and we encourage you to reach out if you are in need of any kind of support.

The impacts of this pandemic cannot be overstated. But, as we come together as a global community to protect those most vulnerable to this virus, we are learning valuable lessons about what it takes for governments and citizens to make big changes. These lessons will serve us well in our fight for climate justice. 

While our year ahead is clouded with confusion and uncertainty, we will use this opportunity to encourage a paradigm shift to ensure that the future we build when the dust settles is the kind of future we have all been working towards - one where our environment is valued and sustainability is key. For an inspirational take on the situation, as well as some points about the importance of the EPBC Act Review, read this article published in The Guardian on the weekend.

Thank you in advance for your support during this time. Stay connected, stay healthy and stay at home if you can.

In this edition:

• Farewell from Tarquin
• Climate Conversations Project
• What you can do about single-use plastics
• EPBC Act Review
• (Virtual) Green Drinks
• Member of the Month

The start of this new decade has brought with it some truly catastrophic weather, which has all of us deeply concerned for the communities, landscapes and wildlife that have been impacted.

We at NQCC are so grateful to all those who have contributed to the rescue and recovery efforts - from donating to the organisations on the front lines to spreading education and awareness around wildlife care or climate change - thank you. 

If the past few weeks have driven you towards becoming more involved in environmental protection and tackling the climate crisis, consider joining us. Our members strengthen the voice that represents North Queensland's environment, and our monthly donors increase our capacity to take on more environmental battles.

Whatever actions you take to help you come to terms with the impacts of the climate crisis, know that we stand with you in the hope of creating a better, safer world for the future, and we won't let climate change-denying politicians get in our way.

If you are looking for a resource to support your personal resilience, take the time to read this collection of ideas from Psychology for a Safe Climate.

In this edition:

• New Committee Member welcomed
• Boomerang Bags Coordinator wanted
• Magnetic Island residents declare a war on waste
• Zero Waste Workshop
• Green Drinks is back!
• Member of the Month
• Religious leaders come out against climate change
• Wildlife carer grants now available

President’s Report

Some of you know me as the political independent anti-Adani candidate for Townsville, others as a teacher and artist, but for those of you who do not know me, I am a passionate advocate for the future of this planet. As always the continuous assault on the environment means that organisations such as NQCC have our work cut out for us trying to hold back the tide, whether the destruction of marine or land based habitats or the major issue of our time - addressing the causes of climate change.