[Pil-pc-oceania] 2020 Reflections

[Champagne]

Thanks David,

Having read the article by Michael Lardelli on the Energy Bulletin web 
site, its a sad but true reflection of how Governments operate. In the 
article I noted the Queensland State Labor Minister Andrew McNamara 
having an understanding of Peak Oil and lobbying his colleagues about 
its importance.

Another politition with an understanding and I guess a bit more clout, 
is our local Labor Federal Member for Eden Monaro, Mike Kelly.He 
defeated the Liberal Garry Nairn and has been appointed as Secretary to 
the Minister for Defense. Mike Kelly has a military background and 
resigned due to opposition of Australian involvement in Iraq. Kevin Rudd 
personally head hunted him and pulled a lot of strings behind the scenes 
to get him up as Labors candidate for Eden Monaro.

During the election campaign, Mike Kelly held a meeting in Bega to show 
the film -'Crude Awakening'. I couldn't believe it.....so went along. He 
spent a lot of time in the Middle East and understands global oil 
politics very well.He began his introduction with the words - ' I may be 
a naive future politition about to shoot himself in the foot, but this 
issue of Peak Oil is really important." He went on for the next 15 
minutes straight off the cuff, no notes with an intimate knowledge of 
the problem.

He showed the film then asked for questions. Raising my hand 
immediately, asked the obvious one, ' so what ideas do you have to solve 
this problem". In typical political speak, he waffled on a bit but gave 
nothing concrete. I introduced myself to him after the event.....let him 
know I'm a permie...told him about BEND and that as a movement we have 
focused on this issue for 30 years.Even invited him to attend my next 
PDC...wishful thinking.

My thoughts are that they know there is a grave looming problem and its 
in their interest to focus on Climate Change and not Peak Oil. With an 
agenda of continued economic growth, they have no solutions and it would 
scare the pants of the Australian public if they officially announced 
the reality of Peak Oil.

While permaculture in Australia fumbles its way to having a 
representative national voice, we do have power at the grassroots. We 
can all lobby where we live...at council level, state and federal. We 
can continually write Letters To The Editor in our local papers to force 
the issue to bubble to the surface.

Yes David, it is frustrating that after 30 years of solutions worldwide, 
no invitation to the 2020 summit yet a one year wonder - Get -Up, have 
several representatives going.It says a lot about politics in this country.

Anyway.....The Bega Valley is holding its own Ideas Forum on the same 
day as the Canberra event inviting 100 folk to participate and I have an 
invitation. Australians 2nd Transition Town .....look out!

kind regards
John
Mumbulla Bioregion.