A couple of days ago we received a cheque through the mail and a letter from a supporter who wrote: "I'm blown away by your energy and commitment. Your excitement is infectious and your research formidable..." It continued, "Thanks for soldiering on, on behalf of us all... You are providing such a wonderful public service in pulling all the carbon stuff together."
I was stunned. All the worrying about money through the drought and the mounting cost of continuing the campaign for recognition of soil carbon had been eroding my confidence. Would we be able to finish what we had begun? We can't continue like this. The bank manager agreed when he visited last week.
The sight of that cheque made me quite emotional. While I take as much off-farm work as I can get, the needs of the Carbon Coalition campaign - the documents, the research, the meetings, the speeches - make earning a conventional living impossible.
Why am I telling you this? It's been my choice. I am driven by the fear of leaving my two young grandsons to cope with climate crisis in a dangerous world. I am driven by the chance we have to bring farm landscapes back from the brink right across Australia. I am driven by the feeling that our community is disintegrating as the local economy declines and with it government services and things city people take for granted, like banking services. And the opportunity for restoring life in agricultural communities, funded by big city polluters via carbon credits.
A thunderclap went off in my head when that cheque fell out of the envelope. I realised that some people might value what we are doing... enough to help us pay for it. So, in the bush tradition, we're passing the hat around.
It's a bit embarrassing to be passing the hat for yourself, but the cause is more important than personal pride. If it comes back empty, that's OK. We'll soldier on anyway.
• You can send a cheque to the Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming C/- MB & AL Kiely, “Uamby”, Uamby Road, GOOLMA NSW 2852
• You can use a credit card via the “Make a Donation” button on this blogsite (http://carboncoalitionoz.blogspot.com) and the website (www.carboncoalition.com.au).
• You can engage the Coalition to provide speakers for seminars or to run workshops about carbon trading and agriculture. Call 02 6374 0329.
• You might know a corporate or philanthropic organisation we could apply to for financial support.
• You can buy Australian Farm Soil Credits from www.adoptafarmer.com.au - a percentage of each sale goes to support the Coalition's work.
Thanks for your help.
Michael Kiely
Convenor
PS.Below we list the ways your support will help.
PPS. Also below is a complete activity report on the Coalition's performance since February 2006.
The Carbon Coalition needs your help!
Soil carbon credits are now on the national agenda. The work of the Coalition is paying off. We have the support of the Federal Opposition. We are knocking on the door of the Federal Government. We finally have the ear of the Australian Greenhouse Office. We can't stop now.
The work of the Carbon Coalition during the past 18 months has been entirely funded by volunteers:
• lobbying,
• outreach,
• speaking engagements,
• website activity,
• blogging,
. publicity,
• research,
• overseas study tour,
• attending conferences,
• appearing before official enquiries…
We believe the mission of the Coalition is too important to wind down at this important point. The challenges we have coming up include:
1. Being fobbed off with Stewardship Payments instead of carbon credits.
2. Missing out on offsets when on-farm emissions are estimated and landholders are required to buy credits to offset CO2, methane, nitrous oxide etc.
3. Put an end to the myths about Australian soils and carbon.
4. Force the hand of the regulators by forming markets.
5. Promote Carbon Farming among business as usual growers.
6. Teaching landholders about the carbon trading markets.
We need your help…
We need your help to achieve the goals of the Coalition:
• Making the family farm more viable
• Strengthening rural communities
• Restoring the ecological health of farmland
• Reducing the extremes of Climate Change
What we need resources for…
• Scientific advice
• Scientific trials
• Website development
• Membership database system
• Publicity
• Management
• Lobbying
• Research
• Conferences
• Subscriptions
• Travel/Acc
NB. YOUR TAX DEDUCTION: While we cannot offer tax deductibility as a CHARITY, we can arrange a deduction for you by the following means: 1. You make your contribution. 2. The Coalition invoices you for CARBON ADVISORY SERVICES and your receipt can be used for deduction.
Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming
Activity Report
February 2006-June 2007
February, 2006 - Launched Carbon Coalition at Central West Conservation Farmers’ Association conference.
Established blog site carboncoalitionoz.blogspot.com – posted 127 reports in 365 days
Established web site – carboncoalition.com.au – collected 600 email contacts in 12 months
April, 2006 - Recruited Coalition Council members as advisory board: David Marsh, Rick Maurice, Col Seis, Angus Maurice.
Reguler press releases to national and rural media. Interviews with media.
April, 2006 - Gain support from Tim Flannery, Author, The Weather Makers
Add extensive “Library” of scientific papers and links to website and blogsite.
26 May, 2006 – Form alliance with Peter Andrews, Natural Sequence Farming
27 May, 2006 - Make presentation at Manning Landcare event, Gloucester NSW
2 June, 2006 - Brief NSW Farmers’ Association, Jock Laurie and David Ayrs, Sydney NSWWrite “Open Letter to Soil Scientists” for Australian Farm Journal
5 July, 2006 – Brief Central West delegation to NSW Farmers’ Association Conference, Wellington NSW
14 July, 2006 – Presentation for CWCMA at Mudgee Small Farm Field Day
19 July, 2006 – Make presentation to Baradine Landcare Group, Baradine, NSW
July, 2006 - Make presentation to Land Management Workshop, Cobar Field Day
15 August, 2006 - Brief National Farmers’ Federation, David Crombie and Dr Vanessa Findlay, Canberra ACT
2 September, 2006 – Make presentation to Gulgong Anglican Church Men’s Meeting, Gulgong NSW
USA 3 week fact finding mission
18/19 September: Washington DC – attend 2006 Global CO2 Cap-And-Trade Forum
21/22 September: Bozeman, Montana - Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership Phase 2 Project Management Plan Workshop
25 September: College Station, Texas - Professor Bruce McCarl, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University
27 September: Albuquerque, New Mexico - Peter Holter, Holistic Management International
28 September: Albuquerque, New Mexico - Southwest Carbon Sequestration Partnership Phase 2 Project Management Plan Workshop29 September: Swanton, Vermont - Address Farmers' gathering organised by Coalition member Abe Collins from Vermont.
1 October: Columbus, Ohio - Professor Rattan Lal (or colleague), Ohio State University
3 October: Chicago, Illinois – Mike Walsh, SVP, Chicago Climate Exchange
Susan Capalbo, Director, Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership.
Pamela Tomski is Associate Director responsible for outreach and education, Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership.
Dave Brown, Technical Lead, Terrestrial Sequestration with Big Sky.
Michael Bowman, Director, 25:25, a movement that aims to have 25% of America's fuel needs supplied by farmers in 25 years.
Ted Dodge, Director, National Carbon Offsets Coalition which brokered the first carbon credits paid to US farmers In Montana and Kansas.
Professor Bruce McCarl of Texas A&M University, climate economist on the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change.
Dr Rattan Lal, author of a small library of books and papers, co-author of many others, Professor of Soil Physics at the School of Natural Resources at Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio.Dr Klause Lorenz, Senior Research Fellow, the School of Natural Resources at Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio.
Launched Carbon Coalition in USA - Abe Collins, Carbon Farmer and Convenor, Swanton, Vermont.
Attended and addressed 2 day Phase 2 Workshop in Albuqurque, New Mexico of the Southwest Regional Partnership.
Met with Head of Partnership, Dr Brian McPherson, from the New Mexico Institute of Technology in Socorro.
Met with Dr Joel Brown and Dr Jay Angerer, the 'soil carbon sequestration' experts with the Southwest Partnership.
Met with Peter Holter, Holistic Management International.
Secured first order for 25,000 acres Australian soil (till to no till) from CCX.
23 October, 2006 – Make presentation to Kingaroy Carbon Forum, Kingaroy QLD
Submission to Commonwealth Minister for Environment, Sen. Ian Campbell via Parliamentary Secretary Greg Hunt, MP.
Coordinated 8-farm application for CWCMA Round 5 funding for carbon farming soil trials.
4 November, 2006 - Attended the “WALK AGAINST WARMING”, the International Day of Action on Climate Change on Saturday, Sydney NSW
4 November, 2006 - Briefed Federal Shadow Minister for Environment, Anthony Albanese MP
13 November, 2006 – meet with NSW President Soil Science Society re peer reviewed data for CCX and Summit of scientists and Practitioners
25 November, 2006 – Make presentation to Cobar/Nyngan Landcare group
11 December, 2006 – attend National Emissions Trading Summit, Sydney NSW
29 December, 2006 - Submissions (2) to National Emissions Trading Scheme Inquiry, Sydney NSW
Second Submission to Commonwealth Minister for Environment, Sen. Ian Campbell
22/23 November, 2006 - Speak at 2006 National Carbon Forum Canberra ACT
Organising Summit between Soil Scientists and Practitioners (March 2007)
Briefed Tony Windsor, MP, Canberra ACT (subsequently asks PM a question in Parliament)
13 December, 2006 - Briefed NSW Premier’s Advisory Panel on Climate Change, Sydney NSW
19 December, 2006 - Briefed NSW Farmers’ Asociation’s Jock Laurie. Subsequently calls for soil carbon credits.
Briefed NSW National Party MPs responsible for natural resources management election platform, Sydney NSW
Stand for NSW Legislative Council elections for Climate Change Coalition as soil carbon advocate.
Presented at Managing Under Changed Climactic Conditions Conference, Bathurst NSW
9 February, 2007 - Address South Australian No Till Farmers’ Association, Tanunda, SA
13 February, 2007 – Met with Peter Holter and Judy Earl, Holistic Management International
14 February, 2007 - Briefed NSW Department of Primary Industries Farm Management Climate Change Risk Management Steering Committee, Orange NSW
15 February, 2007 - Presentation to CAANZ, Wellington NSW
20 February, 2007 - Brief John Williams, NSW Commissioner Natural Resources, by telephone
5 March, 2007 - Address CWA Agriculture & Environment Seminar, CWA House, Potts Point NSW
6 March, 2007 - Campaigning as candidate for NSW Upper House election for the Climate Change Coalition; Erin Brockavich press event, Sydney NSW
7 March, 2007 - Conduct 4 hour workshop on carbon trading for RCS, Yeppoon, QLD
8 March, 2007 - Address soils gathering, CWCMA Dubbo, NSW
10 March, 2007 - Address landholders' gathering at Collarenabri, NSW
12 March, 2007 - Address Landcare meeting, Mudgee NSW
22 March, 2007 - First Soil Science Summit, meeting between landholders and scientists, Dubbo, NSW
24 March, 2007 - Election day - Campaigning as candidate for NSW Upper House election for the Climate Change Coalition
29/30 March, 2007 - Address Landcare Farming Forum, Grafton, NSW
2 April, 2007 - Teleconference with organisers of second soil science summit.
13 April, 2007 - Meeting with AGL Corporate Affairs Director, Sydney NSW
15 April, 2007 - Campaigning as candidate for Senate election for the Climate Change Coalition
25-27 April, 2007 - Addressing Southern Rivers CMA/Landcare Forum at Merimbula and Eden, NSW
28 April, 2007 - Meeting with representatives of Collarenabri, Mascot NSW
30 April, 2007 - Attend International Agrichar Initiative, Terrigal NSW
3 May, 2007 - Address DPI Climate Change Risk Management Forum, Tamworth NSW
3 May, 2007 - Address Double B Beef Marketing Group, Bingara, NSW3 May, 2007 - Attend "Green Dollar" Conference, Canberra ACT
4 May, 2007 - Teleconference with organisers of second soil science summit.
9-10 May, 2007 - Business Council For Sustainable Energy Conference, Sydney NSW
15 May, 2007 - Meet with Judi Earl, Holistic Management International, Goolma NSW
17 May, 2007 - Address Landscape and Horticultural Engineers Conference, Sydney NSW
18 May, 2007 - Brief Richardson Properties on opportunities for investment in soil carbon projects, Sydney NSW
5 June, 2007 - Address DPI Climate Change Risk Management Forum, Dubbo NSW
5 June, 2007 - Brief Dr David Ugalde, Head of Agriculture and Greenhouse, Australian Greenhouse Office, Dubbo NSW
7 June, 2007 - Address NSW Farmers' Association Carbon Forum, Tamworth NSW
8 June, 2007 - Meet with Australian Trade Commissioner, Chicago, Tamworth NSW
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
There are many ways you can help:
• You can send a cheque to the Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming C/- MB & AL Kiely, “Uamby”, Uamby Road, GOOLMA NSW 2852
• You will find a “Donate” button on this blogsite (http://carboncoalitionoz.blogspot.com) and the website (www.carboncoalition.com.au).
• You can buy Australian Farm Soil Credits from www.adoptafarmer.com.au
• You can engage the Coalition to provide speakers for seminars or to run workshops about carbon trading and agriculture. Call 02 6374 0329.
• You might know a corporate or philanthropic organisation we could apply to for financial support.
Your contribution is an investment in the greatest opportunity to address Climate Change and solve the problems of declining land health, declining economic health, and declining personal health in agriculture.
Thank you for being part of this historic movement...
Michael Kiely
Convenor
PS. Please pass the hat around...
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