By Conal Hanna Chair of Tweed Climate Action Network
| ‘You want to be on the side of history with the people who cared, the people who tried’ There were plenty of fantastic benefits I took from World Environment Day in Murwillumbah earlier this month. The inspiring talks. A couple of new iron-rich salad recipes. Tips for how to kill the nutgrass thwarting my back garden. The most nourishing thing, though, was the chance to connect with like-minded souls among a whole crowd of people passionate about climate action and protecting our environment. When tackling a problem as vexing as climate change, maintaining networks of community support is crucial – for our own good, as well as the planet’s. As social psychologist Jonathan Haidt puts it in his book The Anxious Generation: “People don’t get depressed when they face threats collectively; they get depressed when they feel isolated, lonely or useless.” One of the many new connections I enjoyed making on the day was with Co-Exist Northern Rivers (pictured below), a group set up specifically for people aged 18-30 to explore, connect with and protect the planet. They host hikes, clean-ups, landcare activities and more. It’s uplifting to see younger people mobilising locally, as sometimes the average age at Tweed environmental events can feel … how to put this politely … somewhere between venerable and vintage? W.E. Day’s on-stage interview with award-winning climate scientist Joëlle Gergis was another reminder of the collective environmental brainpower living here in the Tweed. Gergis was lead author for the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report and contributed a chapter to Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book, alongside writing her own book Humanity’s Moment. She told Mandy Nolan on stage she understands how insurmountable the problems can seem at times, but refuses to give into despair. “All we can do is show up. Ultimately, you want to be on the side of history with the people who cared, the people that tried.” The TweedCAN website has been updated with some of the new groups we met at World Environment Day. Be sure to check it out and find your tribe. Also worth checking out is the revitalised JUNKtion Tip Shop at Stotts Creek, which is now bigger, better and no longer requires queueing up at the weighbridge to access. The JUNKtion diverted around 200 tonnes of reusable items from landfill in 2025. Sometimes vintage is exactly what the world requires.  All the best,ConalChair, Tweed Climate Action NetworkIn BriefPlanet Ark’s National Tree Day is on July 26 but there don’t appear to be any local plantings listed on their site. If you know of one, please let us know!Grants of $25,000-$100,000 are available for sports clubs looking to decarbonise their operations and reduce energy bills. Applications open next week and close Jul 28.A reminder to please forward this email to any friends who you think might be interested in hearing from TweedCAN! They can sign up to our emails here. Next TweedCAN meetingWhen: Friday, Jul 24 Where: Kingscliff Surf ClubTime: 4-5pm Take part in the CSIRO’s Living Lab to help shape consumer energy solutions Learn more A TEDx style gathering at The Farm in Byron this Friday featuring bold ideas + music Free TicketsSave the date: Tweed Sustainable Living Festival is on Sep 12 at Kingscliff High |
