Australia is the sunniest continent on earth. That means we’ve got the best access to solar energy in the whole world! 

And many Aussies are making the most of this sunshine to cut costs and fight climate change. Millions of Australian households have installed rooftop solar, which is quickly overtaking coal in national electricity generation.

Although we’re already powering our homes, businesses and vehicles with the sun, our transport system is still not taking advantage of this bountiful power source, but instead is still running on polluting oil.

Transport is one of the biggest sources of climate pollution in Australia – it alone counts for almost 20% of our total emissions – and it’s still growing! The need to electrify our transport system and power it with renewables like solar has never been more urgent.

Big businesses are making progress on switching to renewable energy like solar. Over 40 of Australia’s largest electricity-using companies including Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have already made a commitment to 100% renewable electricity by 2025.

So these companies are well placed to take the next step: committing to renewable-powered cars and trucks!

As part of our Electrify campaign, we’re urging Australia’s biggest companies to make the next renewable energy commitment: electrifying their cars and trucks and powering them with renewables.

IKEA is currently in poll position, but our biggest supermarkets are lagging behind, with Coles only scoring 2.55/10 in our Electrify Fleets rankings.

Thousands of customers are sending emails to Coles, Woolies and Aldi to say they want their groceries delivered by clean, electric vehicles – and you can too!

Join the electrification revolution by emailing Australia’s top supermarkets here.

See how other major companies ranked in our Electrify Fleets ranking here.

Good News! 

If you’re a fan of some of Australia’s biggest selling beers, chances are you’re likely enjoying a drink that is also good for the planet. Cheers! 

One week after thousands of Greenpeace supporters took action and called on Australian companies to switch to renewable energy, major beer brewers Lion and Asahi have committed to power their operations with 100% renewable electricity, and plan to make the switch by 2025. 

Lion and Asahi now joins other major beer company Carlton & United Breweries which aims to hit its 100% renewable target in early 2020. 

Combined, the three major manufacturers make just about every iconic beer brand under the Australian sun: XXXX, VB, Tooheys, Hahn, James Boags, Asahi, Peroni, Mountain Goat, James Squire, Little Creatures and more.

This means when you fill up your esky with beer this summer, you can feel good knowing your cold one will soon be brewed by the sun.

How are these companies switching to renewable energy?

There are two main ways large electricity users like Lion, CUB & Asahi are switching to renewable energy. 

The first is signing what’s known as a ‘power purchase agreement’. This is effectively a deal or contract with a large wind or solar farm in regional Australia, that provides the company with large amounts of clean electricity.

CUB has signed an agreement to purchase almost half the output of Karadoc solar farm in Mildura, Victoria, which officially opened in March 2019. This agreement covers more than 90% of the company’s total electricity needs. 

Meanwhile, Lion has signed an agreement together with the Australian Hotels Association NSW to jointly purchase renewable electricity which will help support the construction of the Silverleaf Solar Farm in Narrabri in regional NSW. Excitingly this deal will also be helping smaller pubs and clubs across NSW go renewable too. 

The second way these companies are making the switch is by installing solar systems on their manufacturing or brewing facilities. Asahi has installed a large solar system on its Huntingwood Brewery in Victoria. Lion has done the same on its XXXX Brewery in Brisbane and will do the same at its Little Creatures Brewery in Geelong in 2020. Carlton & United will be installing solar at its Yatala (Qld) and Abbotsford (Vic) breweries in early 2020. 

Of course, these solar investments are on top of the all-important step of reducing their electricity consumption wherever they can.

What about the crafty brews? 

If you’re a fan of craft beer, don’t worry – we haven’t forgotten about you! Craft beer breweries are doing some incredible things to make their beer better for the planet. 

If you’d like to learn more – check out this blog on what craft breweries are doing across Australia to help the planet: The Rise of Green Microbrews

Why is this important? 

The impacts of climate change, like extreme drought, unprecedented bushfires, and record-breaking heat waves, are affecting all Australians – from farmers to families, in our regions and our cities.

Rather than taking strong action on climate, our leaders have let Australian’s emissions grow. 

So we’ve worked out a way to turn one of Australia’s biggest source of domestic carbon emissions into a source of renewable wind and solar energy. 

Almost 70% of Australia’s electricity is consumed by business and industry every year, and most of this is still being generated by coal, a key driver of climate change. That’s why we’re calling on Australia’s biggest companies – like Woolies, Telstra and Coles – to publicly commit to switching to 100% renewable power.

We know that if enough big brands make the switch to 100% renewable energy, it will not only take huge amounts of dirty energy out of the grid, it will also kick-start many new solar and wind projects across Australia. 

Already many companies and brands are making the switch. Companies like CUB, IKEA, Google and the big four banks are already committed to using 100% renewable energy through the global initiative RE100. This initiative has massive momentum with over 220 companies worldwide signing up to go renewable. Companies are making the switch because it’s cheaper, cleaner and more reliable. It’s better for business and it’s better for the climate.

But there are still many companies yet to make the same commitment. And as their customers and staff, we can publicly call on them to take responsibility for their contribution to the climate crisis. 

Add your name and help tell major companies and brands it’s time to make the switch to renewable energy now.

ADD YOUR NAME

Greenpeace Australia Pacific has teamed up with champion teen slam poet and environmental activist, Solli Raphael, to create a video raising awareness about environmental destruction. Here’s Solli’s words on why he made it:

Growing up just outside of Coffs Harbour, I always found things to do outdoors, like hiking and kayaking, that helped me build a strong connection with nature. But I’ve also seen what happens when people don’t look after the land, whether it’s deforestation, commercial farms polluting waterways, councils that remove more than 100-year-old trees, or people littering, not caring that animals could eat the waste and die. Inspiration for my writing is everywhere, but not always in positive places.

Seeing what goes on around the world on the news, often makes me feel devastated about places I haven’t even seen yet. It’s pretty normal for me to spend a few hours writing about it. Poetry’s good like that.

I started writing activism-based slam poetry when I was 11, when I realised that on my own, I wouldn’t be able to achieve the large-scale changes needed to stop climate change. Bringing people together is the only way. I wanted to share my thoughts with as many people as possible so that I could hopefully inspire change. I love writing poetry and I also love nature, so putting the two together has been incredibly empowering.

At a school strike outside the local MP’s office

I thought it was time to bring the hardcore facts into my slam poetry to inform people about what’s really going on. I wish there was more I could do to help the planet, but I’m only one person, so I wrote this poem to amplify these important messages.

Writing “Let’s Make More Minutes Count” came from realising that it’s the minutes that really do count. From the minute a person chooses not to use a plastic cup or straw at a cafe, to the minute a person decides to join a protest to hold big companies and decision-makers to account. Each minute is an opportunity for positive change for our planet.

Making this video with Greenpeace made me feel empowered, and I really hope that anyone who watches it will feel empowered about the environment too. The more informed we are and the more we realise our own power, the better our future will end up.

A still from ‘Let’s Make More Minutes Count’

Young people today have already witnessed devastating environmental catastrophes. From water, land and air pollution, global warming, droughts, bushfires that are hard to control because of rising temperatures or extreme weather conditions, the extinction of species whose habitats have been ruined, the list goes on and on. When I first started performing poetry many people didn’t take me seriously because of my age, but now is the time to hear the opinions of all ages. Through the efforts of young activists across the country it seems like adults are finally willing to listen.

My generation have spent our entire lives waiting for climate action from adults. I know ‘teens’ have been stereotyped as having a lack of interest in the world around us, but from what I’m seeing that’s honestly changing. My generation is ready to be as responsible as needed, to work on repairing the environmental damage caused by older generations. I just hope it’s not too late.

Every minute counts, and to win a better future for all of us, we’re going to need everyone. Will you stand with me and join Greenpeace’s people-powered movement building a green and healthy future?

TAKE ACTION

Written by Solli Raphael.

P.S: Here’s the full video!

2018 is far from over, but what a year it has already been! Thanks to the actions of millions of volunteers, supporters and donors, Greenpeace and our allies have been able to expose environmental threats and make progress toward their solutions all around the world.

Let’s take a look at some of the successes we’ve had in recent months… 

1. Samsung Electronics – Commitment to 100% renewables (June 2018)

© Stephanie Keith / Greenpeace

Since December 2017, activists have been calling on Samsung to “Stop Fuelling Climate Change”, challenging the tech giant to take immediate action and publicly commit to 100% renewables. Come June 2018, these demands were heard, and the company committed to 100% renewables in its operations in the United States, Europe, and China by the year 2020.

In other words, the collective voice of everyday people was able to bring about significant change in a prominent and impactful tech company. Not only does this ensure a cleaner future for Samsung, but the victory also sets a precedent for other worldwide companies to consider and implement more progressive environmental policies. Read more about the full details of Samsung’s commitments to a greener future here.

2. Statoil rebrands to form Equinor (May 2018)

© Jo-Anna Robinson / Greenpeace

Did you ever imagine that your support for Greenpeace could contribute to the rebranding of a massive fossil fuel company? Think again: this was exactly the case for the formerly known company, Statoil (now Equinor), in a likely attempt to dissociate themselves from the harmful practices and dangerous consequences of oil drilling. The company can take the oil out of their name, but it will be much trickier to take the oil out of an impending, likely spill that could result from drilling in the Great Australian Bight.

This is an example of how people power can expose a company and their unacceptable environmental practices. We know that combining oil drilling and pristine natural environment is a recipe for irreversible destruction. We’re not fooled by Statoil changing their name, we still know what they stand for.

With Equinor still circling the Bight, our #FightfortheBight campaign is far from over. Our crew are continuing to pressure the Government to protect the Great Australian Bight and fight for local communities and the health of a unique marine environment.

3. Coles and Woolies Pledge to Reduce Ridiculous Plastic Packaging on Fresh Produce (June 2018)

Greenpeace Melbourne Local Group volunteers at their Plastic Day of Action. Photo by Isobel Hutton.

Our oceans, coastlines, and beaches are prized and scenic, but they are also at great risk of harmful plastic pollution. A truckload of plastic waste enters the ocean every single minute. What’s worse is the single use plastic conundrum isn’t easing up: if anything, more plastic is being produced than ever before, entering the environment as pollution.

We’ve been tirelessly campaigning against single-use plastics on produce packaging in Coles and Woolies grocery stores. This year, our volunteers, supporters and activists called out these companies and demanded change through petition signing, online campaigning and Plastic Days of Action around the country.

And our voices were heard! Just a few weeks ago, both chains released announcements that they would begin trialling reduced use of excessive single-use packaging from fruits and veggies.

This is a huge step in the right direction, but we want to make sure these aren’t just empty promises. So we’re keeping pressure on the supermarkets by keeping our plastic campaign very much alive and ready to hold these businesses to their commitments. We expect substantial, visible change in the grocery aisles in the near future.

4. Coles and Woolworths Ban the Bag (June 2018)

© David Kawai / Greenpeace

Continuing with the attack on single-use plastics, Woolies and Coles, along with some other chain stores in Australia, have listened to the call of thousands of Australians to ban the bag. Plastic bags are a large source of plastic pollution, and they are not by any means in short supply: Australians use around 4 billion plastic bags every year – that’s a whopping 10 million or so each day.

Unfortunately there are still are plastic options in stores, such as reinforced, heavy duty bags available for an additional price. Step by step we’re making progress, but there’s still a long way to go. They say change is a marathon, not a sprint!

5. Charities Get an Exemption from the FITS Bill (June 2018)

Wait, the what Bill?

FITS stands for Foreign influence and Transparency Scheme. This proposed law would establish a new global register, where anyone engaging in activities in Australia aimed at “influencing politics” that is acting on behalf of foreign individuals or entities would have to sign up or face hefty penalties. Seems legit, but the devil is in the details.

Most charities and not-for-profits that receive any kind of support or donation from outside Australia (with an exemption for “humanitarian aid” groups) would have to register in the Scheme. Greenpeace Australia Pacific is part of a global organisation–we support and are supported by a family of Greenpeace offices around the world. We would, therefore, need to register and face a huge, unnecessary increase in administrative burden.

Greenpeace and allies have been campaigning against the FITS Bill and two other equally scary bills which pose a threat to democracy and our work protecting the environment. Our crew of supporters have been activating this critical campaign, sending thousands of emails and making calls to key politicians. 

In response to lobbying from key groups and an onslaught of public pressure, charities have now received an exemption from the FITS bill. If you’ve ever felt that you couldn’t influence decisions that happen in Parliament, this is proof that your voice can be heard.

Unfortunately, our work defending democracy is far from over, as the remaining two toxic bills pose very serious threats to the work of advocacy organisations like Greenpeace, and our civil society as a whole here in Australia. Want to take action to defend democracy? You can do so here.

6. Activist Interruption of Total Oil Company’s Annual General Meeting (June 2018)

© Guenole LE GAL / Greenpeace

How do you get the attention of the fossil fuel industry and spectators from around the world? Plan and execute a bad-ass protest stunt at a Big Oil AGM, that’s how.

This month, oil giant Total’s annual general meeting was disrupted by more than 250 activists from Greenpeace and ANV-COP21. The action peacefully, yet powerfully, protested Total’s plans to drill near the Amazon Reef off the coast of Brazil. The activists hailed from 10 different countries and are backed by over two million signatories to a global petition to stop dangerous oil drilling in the area. Several climbers deployed banners from the ceiling, saying “Save the Amazon Reef” in several languages.

Actions such as these show the power in uniting under a single cause. Activists who support and spread the message of Greenpeace create a global community of progressive environmental thinking and foster an environment of genuine care for the world. This collaboration forms a strong foundation in which all our efforts build upon.

Catch the power and beauty of collective action on video here. 

7. The campaign to stop the Adani Mega-Mine (February 2018)

© Greenpeace / Abram Powell

The campaign to stop Adani’s Carmichael mega-mine is one of the most powerful movements to stop coal in Australia’s history. 

Greenpeace, alongside an alliance of allies, are helping to slowly dismantle the feasibility of the Adani mine, beginning in 2017 with CommBank breaking financial ties with the evolving project. We continue to make progress, and in February of this year rail operator Aurizon said that it had withdrawn its loan application to the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility after failing to secure contracts with proposed coal mines in the region. Aurizon joined CommBank as they walked away from the project bound to cause harm for years to come.

The Adani story is one of people standing up for what they believe in. People power has blocked the progression of the mine, and with your support people power will help to block it all together.

8. New Zealand Oil Exploration Ban (April 2018)

Photo credit: Greenpeace New Zealand

This one was huge! Earlier this year, New Zealand’s government banned all new offshore oil and gas exploration, representing a historic climate win. The ban has come after seven years of growing public protests around the country, which has sent a powerful message to the fossil fuel industry: the New Zealand public, including Indigenous communities, do not want risky oil exploration in their backyard. 

Over the past seven years, hundreds of thousands of people have marched, petitioned, and blockaded in opposition to oil exploration. There is certainly strength in numbers, and New Zealand has constructed perfect blueprints for other countries to follow suit. Watch New Zealand make a historic stand to Big Oil here. 

People power is bringing down the age of oil, but there are still critical battlefronts yet to be won. For example, the one happening right here in Australia’s pristine Great Australian Bight. 

What’s Next?

© Malcolm Pullman / Greenpeace

There’s still a mountain of vital work to be done, but luckily, we don’t give-up easily. With the help of our crew, we will continue to expose environmental abuses by carrying out non-violent actions to raise awareness of our need for protect our oceans, forests, water supplies and our climate.

Did you know that Greenpeace is 100% supporter-funded? This allows us to make independent decisions and take action on campaigns that are most critical. Financial independence keeps us true to the people and the causes that we serve. It also means we rely 100% on individual supporters like you to fund our work.

When the lights go out your EV just might be your saving grace. As demonstrated in this video, electric car owners can use their vehicles as a power source for their homes.

Nissan actually developed an electrical distribution unit that can send power from the Nissan Leaf to the home. A fully charged Leaf has 24kWh of energy on tap – enough to power the average home for about 48 hours.

2. Electric cars can drastically reduce emissions

A study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) analysed what electric sector and transportation sector emissions would look like if we electrified light-duty personal vehicles, a few medium-duty commercial vehicles like local delivery trucks, and certain non-road equipment, like forklifts.

The research concluded that carbon pollution could be reduced by 550 million metric tons annually. That equates to eliminating to the emissions from 100 million of today’s passenger cars. Pretty impressive, right?

Charge station for electric cars in Hamburg. Two cars can be charged at the same time at a station alongside a road in the city.

3. EVs are a super smooth ride

Driving an electric car is a unique experience. Unlike gas-powered cars, EVs often feel like they’re gliding along the road. The smooth and quiet quality of these vehicles is a direct result of their engine-less design.

Many people assume that electric cars don’t quite have the acceleration power of diesel-fueled cars but this is vastly untrue. Tesla’s Model S EV can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour (kph) in as little as 2.7 seconds. The Model X can go from zero to 100 kph in as quick as 3.1 seconds.

4. Electric Cars have a serious impact on air quality

Electric cars can also contribute to an improved air quality. Sherry Boschert, author of Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that Will Recharge America, found that if the use of electric cars increases it could result in as much as a 99 per cent reduction of smog-forming pollutants in our air.

According to EV World, virtually all studies are in agreement that the reduction in NOx and other local pollutants would be significant if there were more electric cars on the road.

Teenage girl wearing air pollution mask saying ‘ ditch diesel, go electric’.

5. Electric vehicles are old news

Sure, a lot of people like to talk about how electric vehicles are a thing of the future. We’d argue they are a key part of our present. But really they are a thing of the past. The first car powered by batteries was invented between 1832 and 1839. The first electric taxis took to the streets of New York City in 1897.

In fact, until the 1920s, EVs were a regular sight on the roads. The introduction of the gasoline-powered Model T and issues with electric car’s batteries lasting power ultimately pushed the vehicles to the side until recently.

6. EVs recoup in traffic jams

Being in a traffic jam is nerve-wracking enough without having to worry about whether or not your car will make it out the other end with enough juice to run. Electric cars actually relish in the stagnant nature of a standstill.

Unlike gas-powered vehicles, every time your EV slows down, it recaptures energy and feeds the battery. Fuel-drive vehicles, on the other hand, waste loads of gas to keep the engine running during rush hour traffic.

Why should Australian drivers care about electric vehicles?

Electric cars aren’t just cool, they’re really good for our environment – which is something everyone should care about.

Australia’s cars account for about 10 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, a figure set to grow without any vehicle emission standards currently in place. A shift to electric cars in Australia would result in a drastic decrease of this emission output – meaning cleaner, greener air and a much happier environment.

Interested in learning more about living a greener life? Check out our Green Electricity Guide today!

1. When it’s messing with our water

   Intensive animal agriculture is unsustainable, literally. It’s hard to keep it going. That’s why the production of meat and dairy relies so heavily on inputs like fertilisers and pesticides, as well as pulling water out of our rivers for irrigation. Not to mention the inevitable, messy end-products of animal digestion (we’re talking about poop). All of this can end up leaching into groundwater (which is what we drink) and being washed into our rivers. The high levels of nitrogen in agricultural run-off can cause toxic algae to choke out native fish and plant species. That’s not the end of it, either. Eventually rivers flow out to the sea, where the sediment and run-off from agriculture can make sea critters sick, including our beautiful Great Barrier Reef.

2. When it’s leaving koalas without a home?!

   Industrial animal agriculture is driving deforestation all around the world. In our own backyard, we can see the effects in Queensland, where millions of hectares of thriving native forest are being cleared to make way for cattle grazing land. It’s heartbreaking to know that just in the years between 2013 and 2015, 68 million native animals (like koalas) died due to deforestation in Queensland.

3. When animals don’t have what they need to live a good life

   Industrial agriculture is all about maximising profit, often at the expense of the animals involved. Cramped cages, inhumane practices and filthy conditions put our four-legged friends at risk of pain and disease, and the effects can flow on to humans, too.

4. When it’s making us sick

   Animals crammed in together in feedlots or battery cages are at high risk of catching diseases from each other. They’re often heavily medicated with antibiotics – sometimes even as a preventative measure – and germs are changing to resist even the strongest of antibiotics. This is scary news, because it means those antibiotic-resistant germs are starting to make humans sick too, with devastating consequences. Not to mention, eating lots of meat and dairy can put us at risk of things like heart disease. Changing our food system has a huge role to play in human health. Find out the full story in chapter 3 of our latest report: Less is More, reducing meat and dairy for a healthier Life & Planet.

5. When it’s wreaking havoc with the climate

   While we’re tackling coal and oil head on, a lesser-known (but still huge) contributor to climate change is industrial animal agriculture. Animal agriculture contributes 14% of all global greenhouse emissions, counting the carbon that gets released into the atmosphere when previously growing forests are cleared or burnt to make way for farmland. Not only that, but animals emit methane – a gas which is 25 times more potent than CO2.

So how do we fix the food system?

We want to see a 50% reduction in the farming and eating of animal products by 2050. It’s ambitious, and for it to work we need governments and corporations on board to make real change. The issues within our food system are too complex for any single solution. This isn’t about everyone going vegan, or farmers being hounded for trying to make a living. Farmers using sustainable practices need to be celebrated, we need stronger regulations to protect our water and forests from the effects of animal agriculture and we need to ensure that animal farming is done in a way that’s kind to all critters, no matter if they have two legs, four legs or feathers. As for what you can do – check out some simple ways to take action here:

1. Find out more! Knowledge is power, so learn all you can about about the impact of industrial meat & dairy production has on our forests, water, climate and health on our website, and tell your friends all about it. If you’re a researcher at heart, check out the full report here.
2. Support Team Plant (possibly our cutest campaigners ever) on their mission:
   
   Share the video with your friends!
3. Get inspired! Check out the successes by communities around the world who are changing their food systems locally.
   
   And of course…
4. Reduce your meat & dairy consumption:
   A little change can have a big impact, and if you’re looking some vegan recipe inspiration, check out our Greenpeace Cookbook.

From 2-10 December, at the start of the holiday shopping season, we want to invite you to make something with us. In cities around the world, makers are demonstrating online how we can unite to create unique alternatives to buying something new. #makesmthing !

We are calling all DIY mavens, minimalists, vegans and vegetarians, upcyclers, swappers, sewers, crafters and zero wasters – you’re all invited to join Greenpeace in collaboration with Fashion Revolution, Shareable and many others to inspire you to make the most of our resources.

Many of you have already started to rediscover the art, craft and joy of making: cooking, mending clothes, fixing electronics, upcycling used goods, growing your own food. You’re making your own cosmetics; cleaning with vinegar and baking soda, ditching plastic and sharing your clothes, bikes and homes with each other. MAKE SMTHNG Week is your showcase for creative, innovative and unique alternatives to shopping something new.

MAKE it happen

This movement is about much more than our organisation. Here’s what you can do:

• Download our guidelines on how to get involved and share it with your friends
• Watch out for our website where you’ll be able to find an international event calendar and other resources.
• Use our free branding toolkit to promote your own events and stories on social media, create posters, postcards and anything else.
• Follow us on Instagram (@makesmthng) and tell the world about the things you’ve made by using the hashtag #makesmthng.
• Get in touch with us by emailing makesomething@greenpeace.org if you’d like to collaborate.

Why?

Because we are buying too much stuff. There are billions of people on this planet who all shop for food, fashion and technology. To produce many of the goods we use, companies are contributing to climate change, destroying forests and polluting our oceans.

The amount of waste we create is mind-boggling. Every piece of plastic produced in the last 60 years still exists. As things get cheaper with planned obsolescence built in, we throw them away more often. In our consumerist societies, shopping counts for more than preserving things.

We buy twice as many clothes as we did 20 years ago, and wear them for half as long. It’s now cheaper to buy new things than to repair them. Even though our technology is advanced enough to instantly connect all corners of the world, we still can’t repair our mobile phones.

We need to shift from a throw-away culture to one where we value things again. We envision a world where we make the most of our resources. Each of us can take small actions in our everyday lives that together create a monumental change.

Make it last

Instead of buying fast fashion and throwing it out after wearing it a few times, we can make our clothes last by caring for them and repairing them. To turn away from mindless consumerism, we can stop supporting companies which produce phones that can’t be repaired or have replaceable elements and start fixing things again.

When we replace meat with vegan or vegetarian alternatives, we turn away from the most inefficient way of feeding the world’s population. And whenever we bring a reusable bag and say no to single-use plastic and polyester fashion, we are preventing another piece of plastic from polluting our planet’s oceans and beaches.

Help us change the story of hyperconsumption: MAKE SMTHNG!

The rise of industry-processed food has made getting quick and cheap food easier than ever before. With fast food joints at the corner of almost every street, we are bombarded with multiple options on how to get the biggest bang for our buck. While we may save on our food bills, we end up spending thousands on our health bills.

Introducing the locavore movement; where people are sustaining their lives through local production, moving away from processed packages and instead onto seasonal sustenance. The benefits aren’t just for the environment, they’re for our bodies too!

So why should you go local?

Food miles on Tokyo highway.

Power to the People

Sure, we may decrease our carbon footprint and reduce the effects of climate change since our food isn’t traveling thousands of miles, but who’s counting? Eating locally hands the power back to the consumer and allows us to monitor where our food is coming from. We end up supporting a safer food supply, one with less chances of contamination.

Ecological produce in central Paris.

Tastes Better

There’s no denying that food in season tastes better. Considering the fact that it’s grown right by you, your fruits and veggies retain their nutrients, adding to their peak deliciousness. Plus, with no need for chemicals to extend their shelf life, locally grown foods are delivered fresh to your plate.

 

Shopping at Raspail Market in central Paris.

Builds Community

Moved into a new neighbourhood? Tired of the monotony of big chain supermarkets? Buying from local farms builds community by supporting relations between farmers and consumers. Talking to the producers not only gives you insights into your food, but also into the world it comes from. These people then turn into friendly familiar faces, ones that add to your community feel.

The Better Option

It’s hard to deny the health and environmental benefits that come from eating locally. Making the transition may seem daunting at first, but taking baby steps will ease you into the process. Start small and build your way up. Before you know it, you’ll be calling yourself a locavore in no time.

 

Buying fresh produce at a farmers market in Berkeley, California.

How YOU can make a difference:

While you’re at it, don’t forget to carry your own reusable bag to seem like an expert shopper. Let go of those unnecessary plastic bags altogether and join our movement to #banthebag here:

And finally, make sure to follow us on Instagram @greenpeaceap and like us on Facebook @greenpeaceaustraliapacific to stay up to date with our latest posts and news!

It’s great for a mock pulled pork. Like in these BBQ Jackfruit Tacos ?
Have you ever tried young green jackfruit?

It’s great for a mock pulled pork. Like in these BBQ Jackfruit Tacos ?

A massive thank you to our beautiful volunteer @aveganfeed who shared this recipe with us.

Pulled Jackfruit

Serves 4

Ingredients:

500g can of jackfruit in brine *

½ cup tomato sauce

1 onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, chopped

¼ cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon paprika (smoked would be best)

½ teaspoon mustard powder

½ teaspoon chilli powder

½ teaspoon liquid smoke – optional

Vegetable oil

Salt and pepper

Method:

Drain jackfruit and rinse well or soak to remove the taste and smell of the brine. Cut the tough centre away and any outer edge bits of the jackfruit to leave the fibrous, pulled pork texture of the jackfruit. Remove the seeds from the flesh of the jackfruit. I like to give a second rinse to the jackfruit at this stage to help remove any more of the brine and can remnants. Move to the side.

Sauté the onion in a drizzle of oil until translucent. Add in garlic and cook for a further couple of minutes.

Add remaining ingredients and jackfruit to the pan with ¼ cup water, stir well and cook on medium heat. Once simmering reduce and cook on low for about ½ an hour to allow the jackfruit to take up the flavours, stir occasionally. If the pan starts to get dry add some water to keep the mixture moist.

When ready to serve cook on medium heat for a few minutes to dry up the mixture and brown it further.

These are great served in a tortilla or burger bun with avocado and homemade slaw.

My homemade slaw:

1 carrot grated

1/3 head iceberg lettuce, shredded

1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Juice of ½ lemon

Handful of parsley, chopped

Salt and pepper

Combine ingredients well.

Notes: ensure the jackfruit comes in brine not syrup if you are using canned jackfruit, as you don’t want it to be sweet. It also needs to be young-green jackfruit as this will achieve the pulled pork texture.

Seafood plays a starring role in the diets of many Australians. Just take a look at the numbers:

• The average Australian eats around double the amount of seafood that was consumed per person in 1975.
• This equates to roughly 370,000 tonnes of seafood nation-wide every year.

Australians consume heaps of seafood every year.

It makes sense, seafood is not just delicious, it’s a healthy source of protein and a traditional part of the diet for many of the cultures that make up Australia. But enjoying seafood in these massive quantities means two main things:

• We’re consuming seafood from many different parts of the world, not just Australia.
• A greater variety of fish species are appearing on our plates.

In principle, this is fine. The problem comes when the fish we buy is inadequately labelled. Australians are looking for fish that is healthy, sustainably sourced, and preferably local (or at least from somewhere trusted).

Yet, due to a lack of labelling laws across Australia many consumers unknowingly end up with fish that is unhealthy, sourced in a damaging way to the environment as well as workers, or that is simply unidentifiable.

Why do we need labels on fish?

Bottom line: Fish labels are extremely important. Let’s dive into the nitty gritty of why they play such an important role.

1) Labels allow us to choose wisely

Fish labels are important because they allow consumers to make educated decisions. This ensures we can avoid the fish that are caught unethically or unsustainably or, in some cases, that may not be healthy for us.

Destructive fishing methods, overfishing, piracy, labour abuse and a variety of other nefarious practices all play a major hand in the destruction of our oceans, their wildlife, and the communities that rely on healthy seas for food or livelihood. The prevalence of these practices varies from country to country and from fishery to fishery. When we know which fish we’re eating, where it comes from, and how it was caught or farmed we can better identify whether harmful processes are likely to have been a part of getting it from the ocean to our plate. This is especially important in Australia, considering over 70 per cent of our seafood is imported from overseas.

2) Labels keep consumers healthy

Certain fish have dangers associated with consumption. Take certain shark species, such as the dusky shark, which are known to have high levels of mercury (gummy sharks have less, and are also more sustainable). When labels fail to mention that there may be a particular shark meat in their product, consumers can’t take the necessary precautions. This presents problems for people with high levels of mercury in their diet, as well as pregnant women who need to watch their mercury intake.

3) Labels help us pick local products

While consuming the amount of seafood we do in Australia means we can’t always buy local (as many people would prefer), labels can at least help us buy seafood from places where practices are better for people and the planet. By providing accurate labels, we can empower consumers to make their own choices.

Where do we go from here?

We need to demand more from Australian labelling laws. We need to tell our federal government that we won’t settle for anything less than complete and accurate information on all of our seafood.

The shift is possible. Across the European Union there is already clear seafood labelling protocol in place. If we can implement these standards we will be able to make informed decisions and choose sustainable products that are not only good for our health but good for our oceans. Greenpeace’s Label My Fish campaign is designed to see new Australian laws requiring more complete and accurate information on seafood labels, in particular:

• An identification of the fish species.
• A clearly indicated label of where it comes from.
• A description of how it was caught or farmed.

This information is critical to making more informed and ethical purchases. Let the Federal Government know you demand more from our labelling laws. To get involved, reach out to the Australian government today.