Most of the forests and woodlands that existed prior to European invasion in the lands now known as NSW are gone. Numerous threatened species, such as gliders, owls, koalas and quolls, are at heightened risk due to logging. Bushfires are becoming more severe because of climate change, and logged native forests are more flammable than unlogged forests. Native forest logging mostly produces woodchips and pulp rather than higher value sawn timber and operates at a loss to the taxpayer.
Jan de Voogd was a Quaker peace activist, musician, teacher, sailor and boat builder who lived in Sydney. Born in Japan to Dutch parents, Jan spoke several languages. His work for peace spanned more than 50 years.
October 29 marked the inaugural International Day of Care and Support. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly this year, this day aims to...
Over ten days in late March and early April, people from diverse religious traditions took part in almost 50 peaceful protests across Australia against...
“Citizen scientists” are saving forests through their interventions by identifying illegal logging and preventing the clearing of remnant native vegetation – directly influencing the future of our native animals like the tiger quoll and koala.
Faith communities in South Sydney and Australia-wide “sounded the alarm” on March 11 for climate justice. One hundred and thirty-five events – some making...
Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a global movement that uses nonviolent civil disobedience and regenerative culture to attempt to drive political change to address the...
Fifteen paintings, the largest of which is 150 centimetres by 150 centimetres, fill a gallery at Mary Mackillop Place, bringing the diversity, and desolation...
“You might think it looks lovely, but all I see is misery.” These were the words that Uncle Darrell Sumner, a Ngarrindjeri elder, used to describe the state of the Coorong.
Never after the South East Forests campaigns can you say that a natural environmental protection issue wasn’t absolutely mainstream to the Australian psyche.
In the final days of 2016, communities around Australia witnessed something special – the first ever Indigenous crew to attempt the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in its 72-year history.
"Every little thing that somebody does makes a difference. But if one person does something, then encourages another person to do the same thing, and that person gets somebody else on board and so on, that will ultimately change the world. Just by loving one other person we can make the world a better place. It's not simple, but in some ways it is."
We need tools to help us navigate our way in a complex world. One of these is rational calculation – where we weigh up benefits and disbenefits of a certain course of action, and then make decisions on the basis of where the balance lies. When faced with difficult decisions, I have been known to write up lists of advantages and disadvantages – although typically I am then left in a situation of not knowing how to compare the pros and cons.
After years of trying to influence government policies on carbon emissions, coal and coal seam gas projects and renewable energy, climate change campaigners are increasingly targeting the money behind the fossil fuel industry.
April saw a series of colourful events across Sydney and beyond, highlighting the problem of litter and waste. The tour started with the dumping of 4,000 drink containers in Martin Place (with the support of City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore). It continued to a number of community “can kicking” events in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, and finished with an attempt to net and remove waste from Darling Harbour which was thwarted by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.
Redfern resident and PhD candidate in the Department of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Sydney, Tariq Abuhashim, was recently awarded for his part in a multi-disciplinary project to improve the control of locust plagues.
REDFERN: A much-needed new aged care facility has opened its doors in Redfern to people who have experienced significant social and financial disadvantage, including homelessness.
It was predicted to be a hot summer. And hot it has been indeed. Temperature records have tumbled across Australia – including the hottest day, the longest heat-wave, and the hottest four-month period.
On Sunday October 14, people from a diversity of religious backgrounds came together at Christian Brothers High School in Lewisham to spend an afternoon exploring the ecological, social and economic issues associated with Australia’s mining boom.
October is Buy Nothing New Month, a month-long challenge to buy nothing new with the exception of essentials like food, hygiene and medicine. The campaign started in Melbourne in 2010 and is spreading throughout Australia and to the Netherlands and the USA. It is supported by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Sacred Heart Mission, the Ian Potter Foundation and Maddocks legal firm.
