Refugees – ‘What would you do in their shoes?’ – 9 August 2010

That was the question put by students from Kilbreda College, Mentone, today in an action organised by the Refugee Action Network on the steps of the old GPO in Bourke Street. They mimed the arrival of a boatload of asylum seekers, followed by their reception, processing and eventual fate. At the same time, volunteers from the ASRC and others handed out fact sheets to passers-by, and Pamela Curr went on to recount some recent case histories and set out some facts to counter the current widespread misinformation in the community.

Supporting the homeless in Melbourne - 4 August 2010

With as many as 200 people sleeping rough in Melbourne's CBD on any given night, a group calling itself Homelessness Front - Stop the Suffering organised a protest outside the Smith Street office of Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne.

Related: Youtube Video

Melbourne launch of Nuclear Freeways 2010 - 30 July

Dave Sweeney, Nuclear Free campaigner with the Australian Conservation Foundation, was one of the speakers at the launch of Friends of the Earth Nuclear Freeways 2010. The site chosen was the Preston office of Energy and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson, currently driving plans for a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty in the Northern Territory against the wishes of Traditional Owners (see post for 26 July: Muckaty traditional owners visit Office of Martin Ferguson).

Related: photos on Melbourne Protests | More photos | Youtube Video | 2nd youtube video

Muckaty traditional owners visit office of Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson - 26 July

A group of Traditional Owners from Muckaty are currently in Melbourne in connection with a court challenge to Government plans to build a nuclear waste dump on their land. This morning they attended the launch of a billboard in Northcote funded by supporters of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and this afternoon they followed this up by joining members of Friends of the Earth ACE collective and others outside the office of Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson. They wanted to deliver a letter for the Minister, but the office was locked…

Climate activists protest Julia Gillard over ALP climate change policy

ALP policy on climate change action has been strongly criticised by environment and climate action groups with protests at Julia Gillard's climate change policy launch in Brisbane, and protests at Julia Gillard's Werribee electoral office and her Melbourne Treasury Place office.

Related: Climate activists lock on at Gillard's office to protest pathetic ALP policy | Photos at Treasury Place protest | Environmentalists: Fuel Emission reduction policy well behind world's best practice

Sleep out protest at Moreland Council doorstep - July 14th

Anthony Arthur and his dog Princess were left homeless and have been sleeping in Moreland parks since June 2nd after a council inspection led to the closure of their Brunswick rooming house. The operator of Tony’s rooming house chose to shut up shop rather than comply with council orders. “I went to Hume-Moreland housing but as soon as you tell them you have a dog, they say we can’t help you,” said the 46-year-old.

Victoria targets solar energy as new report shows renewable energy potential

Victorian Premier John Brumby has announced a feed in tariff for large scale solar thermal power plants to start the transition from coal-fired power to renewables as part of its forthcoming policies for action on climate change. The target of 5 per cent of the state's electricity from solar by 2020 is in addition to the 20 per cent power from wind by 2020. The announcement comes as a new report confirms that Victoria could supply more than 100 percent of it's electricity from renewables. Friends of the Earth, Environment Victoria and the Greens have all welcomed the changes.

Kennon Auto Community Protest

Update: Kennon Auto dispute is now officially over. With the help of their union, broad trades hall support and Workers Solidarity Network the strike ended with total victory for the Kennon workers at 4:30 Monday afternoon. They were out for 19 days but after 7 full days of total blockade, nothing in or out, Kennon's sole buyer - Toyota - demanded that Kennon management end the dispute on any terms necessary. Not only did the workers win a return to all prior conditions but also secured a much needed pay rise.

Warrnambool jumps racing protest 11th July, 2010

The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses was there both to monitor the jumps races and to continue spreading the message that jumps racing must be banned. It received coverage in the Warrnambool Standard and made the news on WINTV in country Victoria.Many thanks to the 10 volunteers who gave up their Sunday to be there. 3 jumps races were run. There were no falls or deaths recorded. However, one horse, STOP THE TRAFFIC, was bleeding from both nostrils. Several others landed awkwardly.

Replace Hazelwood NDA – Belgrave Protest

As part of the July 17th National Day of Action calling for the shut down and replacing of Hazelwood Power Station in Latrobe Valley , Australia’s dirtiest, 40 people gathered outside the office of Victorian ALP Cabinet member James Merlino’s in Belgrave. Uniting under the call that “renewable is doable” the group demanded the closure of Hazelwood and its replacement with 100% Renewable energy as laid out in the recently released Beyond Zero Emissions Report. Its time for this privately owned carbon spewing monstrosity to go!
Photos of the event