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Progress on Moreland Council Divestment

August 30, 2014 at 2:27 am morelandclimategroup 2 comments

We are very excited to share the news that a draft divestment motion is presently being circulated amongst the councillors. It’s critical at this point in time that they know there is community support for the initiative. We have three councillors who have publicly declared support for divestment (L Thompson, S Bolton & S Ratnam). We need six votes to pass – but we want all the councillors to embrace and back the motion.

Our petition is nearing 1000 signatures but showing there’s even greater enthusiasm is important – we need your help to get this historic motion over the line! For those in Moreland, if you could take the time to contact your Councillors to let them know you support divestment, it could be the difference. For those outside Moreland please write to the councillors as well – most of you signed this petition when you were in Moreland to shop, party or visit friends/family, so you are part of our community. You can inform the councillors of your support in a variety of ways.

Use the sample text provided below or your own inspiration to write them an email.

Call/text the councillors directly

Post on the Councillor’s public facebook pages (for those that have them – see below)

Send them a tweet supporting divestment (for those on twitter – see below)

In our discussions with councillors so far, none have ruled out supporting a divestment motion – it’s important we keep all our comments positive and give councillors the encouragement they need.

Here are the contact details of the Councillors – please let them know you support divestment and they should – you can also let the three who have publicly supported divestment know that they have your support.

North East Ward Councillors

Lenka Thompson (Has publicly supported Fossil Fuel Divestment)

Phone: 9018 5261
Mobile: 0417 353 020
email lthompson@moreland.vic.gov.au
Public Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/CrLenkaThompson
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CrLenkaThompson

Sue Bolton (Has publicly supported Fossil Fuel Divestment)

Phone: 9018 5246
Mobile: 0417 583 664
Email: sbolton@moreland.vic.gov.au
Public Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SueBoltonForMoreland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sueabolton

Rob Thompson

Phone: 9018 5310
Mobile: 0409 760 436
Email: rthompson@moreland.vic.gov.au
Public Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/giverobthejob

Michael Teti

Phone: 9018 5296
Mobile: 0435 105 368
Email: mteti@moreland.vic.gov.au

North West Ward Councillors

Helen Davidson

Phone: 9018 5308
Mobile: 0403 709 948
Email: hdavidson@moreland.vic.gov.au

John Kavanagh

Phone: 9018 5257
Mobile: 0427 550 935
Email: jkavanagh@moreland.vic.gov.au

Lita Gillies

Phone: 9018 5249
Mobile: 0418 213 777
Email: lgillies@moreland.vic.gov.au

Oscar Yildiz

Phone: 9018 5263
Mobile: 0413 850 357
Email: oyildiz@moreland.vic.gov.au
Twitter: http://twitter.com/oscaryildiz70

South Ward Councillors

Samantha Ratnam (Has publicly supported Fossil Fuel Divestment)

Phone: 9018 5324
Mobile: 0433 275 434
Email: sratnam@moreland.vic.gov.au
Public Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SamanthaRatnamGreens
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CrSamanthRatnam

Meghan Hopper

Phone: 9018 5291
Mobile: 0409 694 937
Email: mhopper@moreland.vic.gov.au
Public Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/Meghan4Moreland
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Meghan4Moreland

Lambros Tapinos

Phone 9240 1222 (BH)
Mobile: 0433 419 075
Email: ltapinos@moreland.vic.gov.au
Public Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/CrTapinos
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CrTapinos

Yours hopefully,

Michael and Isabella from the 350.org / Climate Action Moreland Team

Sample letter/email to councillors

Dear Councillor ##,

I know that at the moment there is a draft motion being circulated to divest the Council’s finances from banks who lend to dirty fossil fuel projects.

As a resident, I strongly believe that my council’s money should be used in a way that reflects its values. Investing in new coal and gas mines at this time is economically irresponsible and environmentally reckless. I urge you to support the motion for fossil fuel divestment. I am proud of the Council’s leadership on social and environmental issues and I want you to take this opportunity to be Australia’s first Fossil-Free local government.
Kind Regards,

Your name here

Entry filed under: 350.org, divestment, Moreland Council, Politician education. Tags: divestment, Fossil Fuel Divestment, Moreland, Moreland Council.