Local solutions for global issues

Great Southern Star
Tuesday 3/4/2007 Page: 4

MORE than 60 people gathered at Inverloch's Angling Club Hall to watch a presentation of Al Gore's climate change message recently. This was delivered as part of the South Gippsland Conservation Society's AGM. Attended by society members from throughout the region, together with interested visitors, the meeting addressed issues that are fast-becoming mainstream in our society.

For most of us, the unprecedented water restrictions currently in place in South Gippsland have prompted new approaches to living in a sustainable way, such as installing rainwater tanks and recycling water. It is possible that the increased public discussion about energy options for the future, could have the same effect.

Addressing issues such as these is not new for members of the South Gippsland Conservation Society. Particularly John Gunson, the society's vice president, has been an active member for almost 20 years. He says that while he was not always involved in conservation, activism has always been a central focus of his life.

"We cannot fight every issue, because there's so much going on in the world, but I've always done what I can at the time for whatever issues were surrounding me," John said. Conservation became his focus when, with wife Shirley, John moved to South Gippsland in 1989.

"We started out as members of the Foster branch where, after about five years I became president;' John said. "During the Kennett years, as the leader of the branch, I played a major role in struggles such as Hands off the Prom, and Pacific Oyster Aquaculture in Corner Inlet.

"Winning the Hands off the Prom battle was quite unusual because we were up against the premier of Victoria, who was dedicated to major tourism, and establishing a hotel at Tidal River. "Such a development at Wilsons Promontory would have spoiled a lot of vegetation" John says that this period of time offered him a great deal of experience in conservation. "During the Hands off the Prom issue I was involved in countless radio and television interviews;' John said.

"Even though I was new to conservation at that time, I'd already had a lifetime of activism during my many years living in Melbourne." John says he has always believed in support to local issues as heavily as global issues. "I believe in the saying 'think globally, act locally'," John said.

"Whether it's an issue relating to whaling, or even old growth forests, there's only so much we can do locally, so I've always paid my membership fees for the international societies, knowing that every little bit helps." John and his wife Shirley are long-time members of the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Victorian National Parks Association, Environment Victoria, and supporters of groups such as Trust for Nature, Greenpeace, Bush Heritage Fund, Wilderness Society and the National Trust.

Mainstream
In a world he describes as being driven 'largely by economics and advertising at every level', John says he can understand why people have difficulty being motivated by conservation. In recent years, the society has held two public climate change forums, with about 200 people attending its most recent forum in June last year.

"I think this tells us that people are interested in finding out about what's happening and how they can help, take this year's unprecedented water restrictions for example, people will readily change their actions if directed to do so. "For this reason, I think we lack leadership from our politicians in this area" John said he felt that while the Federal Government had 'finally, and reluctantly' acknowledged climate change as a real issue, in his opinion, 'they're not doing much about it.

"People just assume that the way they're living is the best way to live because no higher regulations, in terms of energy usage, for example, exist. "I think this could be changed quite easily with a little more leadership" John says that, as far as energy is concerned, the coming 10 years are critical'.

"Clean coal will take 10 years, as will nuclear energy, and the truth is, we don't have 10 years to act, it's all about what we do now" John said. "I believe that renewable energy is the partial answer right now; while there's arguments about it being subsidised and therefore more costly, this is nonsense. "All energy is subsidised and anyway, this is beside the point if the world is going to be in trouble."

Local
The South Gippsland Conservation Society and that most people still hope someone else will take action, but there's definitely change taking place.

"It's rarely simple and straightforward;' John said. "For example, with the Bald Hills wind farm issue, we were in favour of renewable energy, however we proposed that the towers not be placed too close to the Bald Hills Wetland Reserve"

As population levels in the coastal towns of South Gippsland slowly rise, John says, membership of the society too remains steady. "I don't think the conservation movement is mainstream yet, there's no flood of people joining the movement;' John said.

"For example, every local government office now has environment workers and within the government there's a sustainability department, both of which were not in place a few decades ago" A clean-up Wonthaggi day, being organised by the secondary college's conservation group, will take place next Tuesday, April 10.

Those wishing to join students on the day should meet at the Guide Park at 10.30am, and bring plastic bags for rubbish. For more details about joining the society, call the Bunurong Environment Centre, Inverloch. on 5674 3738.