5 Principles for a Just Covid Response and a #JustRecovery
Climate Action Moreland has joined a global call on response to addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, and also called on the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers for no evictions.
We ask that all governments, and the MPs and Councillors that represent our community, use these principles as the basis for decisions they make in coming months as the crisis unfolds.
The Choices we make today will shape our society, economy, health and climate for decades to come. Climate justice also requires socisl justice and health justice.
The organisations who have signed on call for a united global response to this COVID-19 pandemic that ensures a just recovery and transition to a better future for those most in need in the wake of this crisis.
An ad will be placed in the Financial Times on Thursday 26th of March. Over 250 organisations have already signed the statement in just a few days.
The Open Letter
The COVID-19 pandemic demands swift and unprecedented action from national governments and the international community.
Choices being made right now will shape our society for years, if not decades to come.
As decision-makers take steps to ensure immediate relief and long-term recovery, it is imperative that they consider the interrelated crises of wealth inequality, racism, and ecological decline – notably the climate crisis, which were in place long before COVID-19, and now risk being intensified.
This is a time to be decisive in saving lives, and bold in charting a path to a genuinely healthier and more equitable future through a Just Recovery.
We, the undersigned organisations, call for a global response to COVID-19 to contribute to a just recovery. Responses at every level must uphold these five principles:
- Put people’s health first, no exceptions.
Resource health services everywhere; ensure access for all. - Provide economic relief directly to the people.
Focus on people and workers – particularly those marginalised in existing systems – our short-term needs and long-term conditions. - Help workers and communities, not corporate executives.
Assistance directed at specific industries must be channeled to communities and workers, not shareholders or corporate executives, and never to corporations whose actions exacerbate the climate crisis. - Create resilience for future crises.
We must create millions of decent jobs that will help power a just recovery and transition for workers and communities to the zero-carbon future we need. - Build solidarity and community across borders – don’t empower authoritarians.
Transfer technology and finance to lower-income countries and communities to allow them to respond using these principles and share solutions across borders and communities. Do not use the crisis as an excuse to trample on human rights, civil liberties, and democracy.
You can read the statement at the 350 website, and sign on as an organisation or individual.
No Evictions in a health crisis petition
Climate Action Moreland has also endorsed a petition for no evictions, joining many other social justice organisations across Australia. There can be no climate justice without social justice, and this requires no evictions during the current public health emergency.
We are a community coalition made up of people and organisations who work with renters and research housing problems. The COVID19 epidemic is a public health crisis that will be made worse by evictions. We call on the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to ensure no evictions happen during this crisis.
The COVID19 epidemic is causing significant economic harm through the cancellation of events, the disruption of supply chains, and a general reduction in public activity and commerce. Many workers, especially contractors and casual workers, will suffer from lost incomes. Many will fall into rent arrears and be at risk of termination and eviction.
People facing eviction are less able to take actions required to minimise transmission of COVID19, particularly where they become homeless, and will become more vulnerable to illness.
An eviction into homelessness at this time puts great pressure on families and communities in overcrowded homes, crisis accommodation and people sleeping rough. Support services will already be struggling to deal with increased demand and as a community we cannot afford to make it worse.
We call on states and territories to put a stop to evictions.
- Police and court officers should be directed not to carry out or allow any evictions
- Public and community housing providers should immediately cease eviction proceedings against their tenants
- All relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers should make public statements calling on landlords not to begin proceedings to evict any tenant and to offer leniency on arrears
- Housing departments and councils need to work with shared accommodation providers, including boarding and rooming house operators, to ensure residents are not evicted into more severe homelessness and that their accommodation is healthy
- This would not apply to individuals removed for perpetrating violence.
A temporary eviction moratorium is a necessary measure to prevent the spread of COVID19. The economic costs will need to be shared across the community. Before the stop on evictions is lifted, governments must have a plan to ensure the whole community can recover, and not leave some burdened with debt.
Australia is in crisis. We need to come together and ensure no one loses their home.
Petition to Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers: Protect Our Communities: No Evictions During a Health Crisis
Brunswick Climate Fair postponed due to CoronaVirus
Wilson Street, Brunswick – Climate Fair location
Climate Fair event on Saturday postponed due to rapid escalation of the Coronavirus CorVid-19 public health response.
Climate organisations in Moreland have been working to organise a climate fair to be held at Wilson Avenue in Brunswick on Saturday 14 March, with the assistance and co-operation of state Greens MP Tim Read.
With the cancellation of the Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend, it is clear that major gatherings of people poses a major public health commumnity transmission risk. Social distancing needs to be employed to reduce level of virus transmission.
Slowing down community transmission of this virus is important to ensure the public health system has the resources to repond adequately to the level of demand required.
Dr Tim Read, the local state MP for Brunswick, put out a statement saying “It now seems the wrong time to bring people together for any non-essential reason.”
“While the Fair would likely be safer than a tram or a classroom, Perceptions matter in campaigning.”
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Inquiry on achieving 100 percent renewables passed by Victorian State Parliament
The Victorian Parliament on Wednesday supported a Greens motion in the Legislative Council, looking at pathways for Victoria to be powered by 100 per cent clean energy, including the economic and employment benefits of such an energy transition.
Victoria currently has a 50 per cent renewables target by 2030. Coal currently provides 70 per cent of the state’s electricity.
The Inquiry won’t start until later in 2020 or early 2021, highlighted Samantha Ratnam in breaking the news in a Facebook post.
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Climate action centre stage at Sydney Road Street Party
Peter Khalil MP public engagement issues board at end of Sydney Road Street Party. Source: Courtesy Peter Khalil
Thousands of people strolled and paraded along Sydney Road on Sunday 1st March for the annual Sydney Road Street Party. The street was closed to all traffic and trams from Brunswick Road to Victoria street. Climate Action Moreland was there with a stall, up near the Victoria street end. We provided a local climate / environment hub for Stop Adani Moreland, Neighbours United for Climate Action, Newlands Friends of the Forest, and Moreland BUG to locate and campaign with us.
Our main engagement activity was collecting signatures for our petition to City of Moreland to amend their Procurement Policy with regard to businesses that sign contracts to do work with the Adani Coal mine. If you missed us on the day, you can sign our digital version of the petition to Moreland City Council on Adani.
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Moreland plans well on track to meet Net Zero by 2050 climate target
Impact on 2020 greenhouse emissions reduction goal as part of Moreland’s Corporate Carbon Reduction Plan . Source: Moreland Council
A report by Climate Works assessing 57 of the largest municipalities and shires in Australia has highlighted that Moreland is one of three local Governments in Australia fully aligned with emissions reduction of Net Zero by 2050 climate target.
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“Grief of the burned country” – Climate Crisis Rally in Melbourne Feb 22, 2020
Front banner Climate Crisis rally, 22 Feb, 2020
Between 5000 to 6000 people gathered at the State Library on Saturday afternoon in a national day of action on the climate crisis, and marched down Swanston street, up Collins Street and Spring Street finishing outside State Parliament.
The speakers were all very powerful, Sim, a Volunteer firefighter for 20 years said “Being in a burned country is lonely and silent – all the languages are gone – there is the grief of the burned country.” Sim pointed out that these catastrophic fires are with one degree of warming. They will be far worse with another degree of warming.
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National Climate Emergency Summit highlights escalating local action
This is not a Drill
Over two days on the 14-15 February about 1800 citizens and delegates met and listened to a wide range of expert speakers and a few politicians talking on the climate emergency.
From the initial welcome to country to the final wrap the details, impacts, and organising efforts of the climate emergency were discussed in detail. There were three main outcomes of the summit: a Safe climate Declaration, Co-ordination of the next High School climate strike on May 15, and Councillors from 70 Municipal and shire councils establishing Climate Emergency Australia (CEA) to further action at municipal and shire government level.
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