Jura Books is on the way to becoming solar-powered! Jura is a not-for-profit bookshop, community library and social space run by a democratic, volunteer, anarchist collective. The solar system Jura hopes to install will be a community-owned renewable energy resource in the heart of Sydney's inner west. It will be a model of community-controlled renewable energy.
Thanks to a heroic bunch of community supporters who have already donated, Jura has been able to put down the deposit on a 2.09KW grid-connected solar system. This will more than meet the space's energy needs in summer - Jura will probably even get a modest payment back for the energy supplied to the grid. This money will be used for grassroots political work. The entire system will cost Jura $6,627.72 (including installation). Jura has already raised $1554. Can you help raise the remaining $5073? Donate now at http://www.jura.org.au/make-jura-solar
Jura needs to pay for and install the solar system as soon as possible, before the government changes the rules again and makes solar panels more expensive. This will certainly happen on 30th June when the government's 'Renewable Energy Certificates' discount will disappear. But it may happen sooner.
Community-owned and controlled renewable energy systems are a vision of the future. Can you imagine a world based on the principles of sustainability and decentralised collectivism? A world where communities own their own power systems. That's the world Jura aims to model and fight for. A solar system at Jura is one step along that path. Jura opposes capitalist, state-run systems of carbon trading because they can't solve the climate crisis and are deeply unjust. Instead, Jura invites you to join in grassroots organising for justice on climate change.
In order to explore the future of renewable energy in Australia, Jura is hosting a special presentation by Nicky Ison - 'Practical community action towards a climate just world'. Nicky is a climate change and renewable energy activist and researcher who has recently returned from a study tour of 28 community renewable energy projects across Europe. She will be speaking at Jura at 6.30 on Thursday 5 May. For more details on this special event, see http://indymedia.org.au/community-action-towards-a-climate-just-world
Please make a donation now to help make the Jura solar system a reality. 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 Jura (jura [at] jura.org.au) with your address after you have made the donation.
http://www.jura.org.au/make-jura-solar
