Response to Discussion Starter 5 by the Burnie Tasmania group, June 2001.

We would like to thank the organisers of Now We The People and all participants who have bothered to become active in this project. It is hoped that through such a process changes will begin.

A Global Debate
Q1 - We felt that the strengths of international environmental polices lay in the determination of official environmental protection organisations, and the great numbers of concerned and aware people around the world supporting the organisations and urging their governments to use their powers and influence to bring about the positive outcomes needed. On the other hand, the weaknesses of international (and national) policies are largely centred upon the demands of business and trade. This fact allows and condones practices harmful to the environment, eg Shell activity in Nigeria, extracting oil without due regard to the environment or the people who live there. One of our group members commented that if it is cheaper to pollute than to find sustainable alternatives, companies will continue to act accordingly. The glaring weakness is thus most evident in government support for such conduct.

Q2 - Few national governments, with the exception of a few Scandinavian countries' administrations, appear to be able to curb the widespread excesses of multi-national corporations in relation to environmental protection and sustainable development. We agreed unanimously that an international organisation with the 'clout' of the World Trade Organisation should be made available as an international court of law, to deal specifically with offenders against international environmental policies. This implies the setting up of international laws, enforceable through prescribed penalties. It was felt that national governments alone would be unable to deal with this matter.

Q3 - The enactment of universal laws underpinning international environmental policies, in combination with a court of international law, able to enforce such laws, would need to be supported by universal education. An educated and informed public would then have greater ability to elect representatives who would be more likely to represent their views and needs in government and in all areas of involvement.

Q4 - Sustained and continued activism by the grassroots environmental protection groups in Australia, and relentless lobbying of politicians (in spite of hostile media that tends to support government environmental policy and big business interests), should eventually bring about better outcomes.

Ecological Sustainability and Economic Rationalism
Q1 - If tradeable pollution rights such as those provided by so called 'carbon sinks' were to be recognised and regulated by the kind of universal international laws referred to above, then they could be acceptable, provided that the purchaser of the rights was still required to enforce anti global warming regulations in addition. We felt that the present system appears to recognise the purchase of pollution rights just that - a license to pollute the atmosphere still further.

Q2 - National governments should have legal means to enable effective intervention in any situation where economic instruments, such as purchased pollution rights, would undoubtedly be damaging to the national environment. A universal Environmental Health Agency would be in a position to regulate and advise upon all national government action in this regard. This would ensure the active participation in, and support for universal environmental protection.

Q3 - Various companies pursue the philosophy of sustainable ecological development through their products, which are popular with a buying public supporting this general philosophy. Examples include 'The Body Shop' 'Tri Nature' The all Organic Shop' 'Choose Cruelty Free', and various means to make ethical investments. The establishment of fish farms and zoos focussed on the breeding of endangered species could also be inclined in this question of market schemes linked with ecological sustainability.

Q4 - Unless a way can be found to suppress the production of carbon dioxide when fossil fuels are burned in order to generate electricity, the use of coal-firing must become increasingly unacceptable. Fortunately, the industry is now being dragged kicking and screaming into the new world of the production of renewable energy, by the means of solar power, wind power mad tidal power in particular.

Q5 - With the right amount of political will, government would be able to legislate to provide incentives, e.g. tax advantages, to encourage industry to move more effectively into greater use of renewable energy. In the car industry, manufacturers could be 'persuaded' to speed up the development of cars designed to minimise the use of fossil fuels. In the building industry, house buyers could be given greater financial inducements to require the installation of solar cells etc.

Q6 - If mankind is to survive on this planet, then it is of vital importance that people should develop an understanding of the need for radical change in attitude to our natural environment. There could be no greater need for change in the entrenched and stubborn attitudes that continue in many people against any kind of environmental protection, especially when human interests conflict, for example, in regard to unwise land development. Again, the need for universal education, and understanding, at all levels, is paramount.

Workers and the Environment
Q1 - Examples quoted from the experiences of group members include: a) Burnie members of the Maritime Union supported a Green's demonstration on the Burnie wharves against the importation of pulpwood from Indonesia. b) Members of various trade unions supported the S11 demonstrations in Melbourne against the dictatorship of unelected corporatists who use 'neo liberal' economics to increase their profits, exploiting workers and the environment. c) Farmers and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) have been increasingly concerned and involved with the implementation of Land Care.

Q2 - It could be argued that more obstacles stand between workers and 'bosses' than between workers and environmentalists on the subject in question. Many workers, especially those on the individual contracts, or in casual or temporary positions, would be reluctant to query management on environmental issues, for fear of being 'allowed to leave' the company. Any political obstacles that stand between workers and environmentalists, for example forest workers animus against 'greenies' - for fear of job losses in a different context - can only be dealt with positively by negotiation on the proverbial 'level playing field'.

Q3 - The question is almost tantamount to an acceptance that human nature can undergo a complete change. So much environmental damage is being done by profit centred businesses and corporations, that it seems impossible to imagine that change. Yet, hopefully, some businesses are now seeing that observing environmental needs and actually working towards fulfilling them can continue or expand profit making without recourse to downsizing etc. France, for example, has bucked international practice by adopting the 35hr week against existing industrial opinion. Reports indicate that profits continue to grow and unemployment is reduced. So much more international and national understanding and cooperation is vital.

Q4 - 'Trade-offs' and cooperation can become 'win-win' situations if positive outcomes can be agreed and assured between the parties involved. But if 'trade-offs' and the appearances of cooperation result from the use of power tactics and exploit the possibility of mutual satisfaction.

Indigenous Peoples and the Environment
Q1 - We came to the basic conclusion that the attitudes of indigenous peoples and the invaders in Australia are totally different. The earlier indigenous inhabitants used almost all their endeavors to adapt themselves to the environment within which they could find and ensure food and water supplies. Whereas the 'invaders' have basically maintained the attitude that the natural environment had to be changed, in order that agriculture, land clearance for building and urbanisation, could be affected often regardless of, or in ignorance of, the environment.

Q2 - The only other examples we could think of more or less mirrored the situation as between Australian aboriginals and invaders was the North American Indian example. The Indians of North America regarded their land in the same spiritual way, doing as little as possible to cause environmental damage and as much as possible to dispose the environment to nurturing them. The obvious conclusion to draw from the two examples is that man survives on this planet more efficiently by conserving the environment than by trying to manipulate it beyond natural limits.

Some major environmental problems
Q1 - Australia could reach targets properly aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, if the Federal and State governments summoned up the courage and exercised the political will to listen to widespread demands by people to achieve. Australia's manipulation of the Kyoto agreement left no doubt however that Federal and State governments were more committed to satisfying the demands of big business, coal exporters, oil companies and that part of the electorate that is stubbornly determined to drain environmental rescuers without thought for the future. Yet, with more official encouragement, Australia could make a significant contribution to the worldwide aims of the Kyoto Protocol.

Q2 - With full government of research into existing possibilities related to renewable energy and careful management of positive outcomes, a phased evolution of the application of new technologies could exist. Such new technologies as the hydrogen fuelled car, electricity generation incorporating renewable energy sources and exploring new, radical possibilities that have been smothered by oil companies (to name one industry) could lead to the reduction of greenhouse gases without undue negative outcomes over time. It is difficult to foresee how job security during the period of 'evolution' could be achieved satisfactorily without transparent agreements between industry, trade unions and government.

Q3 - As a group we struggled to find a satisfactory definition of the 'precautionary principle' in the context of this question in relation to the two preceding questions. We can therefore offer no reasonable response.

_________________________
Group members contributing to this discussion: Cheryl Nebauer, Neville Charles, Ute Mueller, George Sanders, Ian McFarlane and Arnold Rowlands.