Help make Jura anarchist bookstore in Sydney solar powered

Many people in the Jura community are actively fighting climate change and building the grassroots movement for a sustainable planet. Recently some of us went to Newcastle and (along with hundreds of other people) successfully blockaded the world's largest coal port and stopped the coal ships for a whole day.

Now we want to make Jura solar powered. We believe that community-owned and controlled renewable energy systems are part of the solution to the climate crisis. We would like you to join us in owning a renewable energy system.

The Jura Collective wants to install a grid-connected solar panel system on our roof. Together with efforts to reduce our energy use (for example by using less heating in winter - our main problem area) this will be a significant contribution to reducing carbon pollution. It will also reduce our electricity bills for years to come - making Jura more stable and able to focus on grassroots political organising.

We realise that a solar system is just a small step towards reducing emissions. We also know that the NSW renewable energy policy is compromising and limited. For example there has been a 'multiplier' policy that applies to the renewable energy installed in NSW so that the energy counts for an inflated amount (5 times as much) under the Renewable Energy Target. That’s right – some of NSW’s climate policy is literally hot air! We are sceptical about this policy and are happy to see its end as the multiplier is phased out.

We see a solar system at Jura as only a step, but nonetheless a valuable step, in transitioning society towards principles like sustainability and decentralised collectivism. We are opposed to capitalist, state-run systems of carbon trading - they cannot solve the climate crisis and are deeply unjust. Instead, we invite you to join us to support and get involved in grassroots organising that will take us towards justice on climate change. One great way you could do this is to come along to the community-run 'Climate Action Summit 2011: From the ground up'. It's in Melbourne, but if you'd like to travel down with friendly folks from Jura, just get in touch.

We need to raise at least $2000 to put solar panels on our roof. (If we raise more, we will get a larger system.) If you have ever wanted to put solar panels on your roof but can't because you're a renter or can't afford a whole system, this is your chance to join with others to own a community-controlled solar power system.

Please donate now to help Jura buy solar panels for our roof.

-> The best way to donate is to go to your internet banking and make a direct deposit into the Jura Bank account:
Account name: Jura Books Libertarian Labour
BSB: 062 193
Account Number: 1020 4881
-> Or donate by credit card or paypal account by clicking on the button below:

-> Or donate in person at Jura, anytime we're open
-> Or donate by posting a cheque or money order made out to 'Jura Books' to Jura Books, PO Box N32, Petersham North, NSW 2049.
-> Or send us an email telling us you can help. We will get back to you and discuss the best way to contribute.

Every donation large or small is appreciated. Each person who donates $50 or more will receive a gift pack with political goodies in it. Just email us (jura[at]jura.org.au) with your address after you have made the donation.

Address: 440 Parramatta Rd, Petersham, Sydney, Australia. | Phone: 9550 9931 | Email: Jura[at]Jura.org.au

Jura Books is an anarchist bookshop and infoshop located in Sydney, Australia. The shop was named after the Jura federation. It has operated since August 1977, first on King Street, Newtown, before moving to Petersham.

http://www.jura.org.au/make-jura-solar

Geography: 

Comments

$51.51 in your account :D

don't understand what you have against the feed in tariff/multiplier, seems like a great way to encourage everyone (or more specifically land owners) to invest in solar panels.

Thanks heaps for the donation! :)

Just to clarify that the multiplier policy is different to a feed-in tariff, which (as you'd alluded to) has been very effective in driving the uptake of renewable energy in a whole bunch of other countries that have much better RE policies than Australia. The problem with the multiplier is that it artificially inflates the amount of actual RE installed, to count for 5 times as much under the RE target. So it looks like NSW is meetings its (still low) RE target (of 15% by 2020), when actually its the multiplier policy, not actual RE installation! I hope this clarifies Jura's concern with the multiplier policy; in a broader context of unfortunately very limited NSW (and federal) RE policy!

Cheers,
CP
from Jura collective

Come check out this talk at Jura!:

Thursday 5 May
6.30-8pm
@ Jura Books
440 Parramatta Rd Petersham

Jura welcomes Nicky Ison for a special presentation on practical community action towards a climate just world.

This presentation will:
- Highlight exciting stories of European community energy projects;
- Discuss the social change benefits and challenges of community renewables in responding to climate change and creating a more just world;
- Provide an overview of what is happening with community renewables here in Australia; and
- Enable space for all present to discuss what we can do together to develop community renewable energy projects, with a particular look at the role of anarchists, activists and interested people.

Bio: Nicky is a climate change and renewable energy activist, practitioner and researcher. She has recently returned from a study tour of 28 community renewable energy projects and organisations across Europe. Nicky is a founding member of the Community Power Agency, a new social enterprise designed to support the set up of community renewable energy projects in Australia. Currently, the Community Power Agency is supporting the development of a proposed community wind farm in New England, NSW.

Thursday 5 May
6.30-8pm
@ Jura Books
440 Parramatta Rd Petersham