On ignoring a greenwash alphabet soup

Twelve days ago, Hepburn Wind celebrated the groundbreaking for its two community-owned wind turbines. Its website’s account of the event [1] is similar to its email to members, but lacks the following 84 words: The only disappointing aspect of the day was a protest organised by a group with the misleading name 'Australian Environment Foundation'. The group denies the existence of climate change and supports landscape guardian groups to target renewable energy projects, even supplying signs, banners and protesters. The protesters numbered around 20 and included few locals, and while Hepburn Wind supports the right of peaceful assembly, we believe there is no place in our community for abuse and intimidation – especially in the presence of children. The Castlemaine Independent, interviewing Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth [2], reported it well [3]. As I’ve written [4], AEF’s linked to the Institute of Public Affairs [5] and commingled with Timber Communities Australia [6]. Funded by Big Business [7, 8], IPA and TCA are climate change sceptics if not deniers. I can’t find out who’s behind Australian Landscape Guardians [9, 10] but I’ll bet it’s a greenwash organisation – as AEF is – and not a grassroots community one. It could be the brainchild of the nuclear energy industry [11]. Be this as it may, I respect the right of AEF, TCA, ALG or anyone else to protest. But not to be abusive and intimidatory in so doing. However it seems more of the same’s in store [12]. Ho hum.

farmdoc's blog post number 618

Worms. There are two types of them: good worms (e.g. earthworms. Isn’t the Daylesford Organics one in the photograph a beauty) and bad ones (e.g. computer worms, tapeworms, ringworms). You’ve probably heard of the aphorism ‘even a worm will turn’. It comes from this line in Shakespeare’s Henry VI: ‘The smallest worm will turn being trodden on’. Whilst that line and the aphorism refer to turning from good to bad, meek to angry, there’s no rational reason why a worm can’t turn the other way. Enter stage right the Institute of Public Affairs. The IPA calls itself ‘an independent, non-profit public policy think tank, dedicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of economic and political freedom’. I call it right wing. In 1992 when that right winger Jeff Kennett became Victorian premier, his legislative program was implemented so fast it must’ve been pre-planned. And I’ll bet the IPA, for all its self-proclaimed independence, was a prime mover. Including poaching the F1 Grand Prix from Adelaide in 1993, as the jewel in the crown of Kennett’s major events strategy. I’ve known from day one that this strategy’s a dud. But it’s taken the IPA 16 years to hear the penny drop. This article in last Sunday’s SMH is evidence it has. Reverting to the original metaphor, the IPA worm has turned. Surely now, finally, the days of the Grand Prix in Albert Park are numbered. Surely.