New environmental organisation the AEF was launched today in Tenterfield. For more information see the website www.aefweb.info.
I was at the launch. While the official proceedings lasted perhaps 40 minutes the audience was so intrigued by the issues raised it more-or-less refused to move on to the next venue for food, tea and coffee. So the event dragged on for perhaps another hour as AEF spokesperson Kersten Gentle stood amongst a crowd in the same venue where Henry Parkes gave his famous federation speech and answered question after question mostly from local landholders.
I understand that Michael Duffy is interviewing Kersten on radio national at 4pm tomorrow, Monday 6th June 2005.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
Hard to tell from the website what the AEF is about but the fact that Kersten Gentle is Victorian State Manager for Timber Communities might give an indication of her environmental credentials. Maybe more will be revealed in her interview with Michael Duffy.
Rossco, I reckon Kersten may know a thing or two about forests and knowing something about what you want to save has it’s advantages, see my take on this issue at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3535 .
It is hypocritical and ludicrous that popularist environmentalism pitches metropolitan concern for the bush against an implied impropriety of non-metropolitan impacts. Indeed, it is as absurd as country Australia uniting in opposition to metropolitan prosperity.
Australians that choose the remote lifestyle do so for many reasons including the greater value they place on a lifestyle within a natural environment. For the metropolitan masses to contend that country Australians vacate suburbia to destroy the natural vales that attract them is nonsensical.
However, this new Australian Environmental Foundation is not solely appropriate to disenfranchised Australians. Indeed, such an alternative has long been necessary to re-establish Australia’s international environmental obligations and its own national legislative responsibilities.
Humanity, we are told, stands at a defining moment in history. We are confronted with a worsening of poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems on which we depend for our well-being.
Agenda 21, adopted at the “Earth Summit” – in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, sets out actions that Australia and other signatory states can take to contribute to the goal of global sustainability in the twenty-first century.
Communities of Australians, living within a diversity of rural, remote and even wilderness circumstances, are entitled to benefit from inclusive approaches to the fulfillment of Australia’s various obligations.
Principle 1 of the RIO DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, states: Human beings (including country Australians) are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.
Principle 22 states: Indigenous people and their communities and other local communities have a vital role in environmental management and development because of their knowledge and traditional practices. States should recognise and duly support their identity, culture and interests and enable their effective participation in the achievement of sustainable development.
Agenda 21, Chapter 15, states: Urgent and decisive action is needed to conserve and maintain genes, species and ecosystems, with a view to the sustainable management and use of biological resources. The participation and support of local communities are elements essential to the success of such an approach.
Agenda 21, Annex III, Principle 5(a), states: National forest policies should recognize and duly support the identity, culture and the rights of indigenous people, their communities and other communities and forest dwellers. Appropriate conditions should be promoted for these groups to enable them to have an economic stake in forest use, perform economic activities, and achieve and maintain cultural identity and social organization, as well as adequate levels of livelihood and well-being, through incentives for the sustainable management of forests.
Local communities regard the natural and cultural values of their lands and reserves as inherent assets that form the foundation of their socio-economic potential. Popularist environmentalism invariably seeks to separate these assets from the local communities and has been unrelenting even when reminded of Australia’s Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment, which provides a policy framework that advises all levels of government that those best placed are to develop their own solutions and responses to environmental problems to maximise benefits and/or minimise costs.
Hi Jennifer,
I read in a news article on the abc news website today that AEF and IPA share the same address. Can you confirm this? Could you provide details of any formal or informal links between the AEF and IPA, if they exist.
Thanks, Steve
I note with amusement the silence following steve’s request … I wonder what inference we can draw from that?
Steve made a similar comment on my post of 9th June. It was answered there. You may want to read the blog post as well – go to post of 9th June about the AEF Poll.
PS I may not get to answer all queries immediately, but I usually do within 24 hours. Sometimes I am travelling and someone else is “looking after” this site.