The real reasons behind the push to dam and divert water from the Clarence River catchment

Whenever local government areas within the Murray-Darling Basin decide to renew their almost perpetual lobbying of federal and state governments for consent to dam and divert one or more rivers within the Clarence River catchment they usually have a hidden agenda accompanying their public call for fresh water for inland towns during times of water scarcity.

It has never been about needing water for towns which might run out of water by late 2020. Any new dam couldn’t even be ‘shovel ready’ in less than two to three years, while rushing construction would take a similar time period to complete and filling a dam would take more than three years on top of that – if it could be achieved at all in an Australian climate which has been drying for the last sixty years.

What these councils are really seeking is the means to grow their own local businesses and expand their own regional economies at the expense of Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour City current and future businesses and regional economies.

One of the mayors openly states that “water is the new currency” - echoing that other sentiment doing the rounds, ‘water is the new gold’.

Take these latest water raiding schemes……….

1. MARYLAND RIVER DAM AND DIVERSION SCHEME FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE NSW AND THREE QLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

According to Daily News in Warwick Qld, Southern Downs Council has a wish list for growth; “Councillor Marika McNichol said the council had a wish list of significant infrastructure projects that would shape, steer and secure the region’s future.“This is an ambitious list of projects, but also a list of essential infrastructure projects that will benefit our region and build a sustainable future for the Southern Downs,” Cr McNichol said.“Council has a strong long-term vision for the region which involves major infrastructure projects.”

On its own website this council stated; “Southern Downs Regional Mayor, Tracy Dobie said a number of exciting projects in the Southern Downs were due to commence or be completed, creating employment opportunities, encouraging population growth and stimulating strong economic activity,”

One of those proposed major infrastructure projects to allow economic expansion in this particular local government areas is a “Pipeline diversion of water from the Clarence River in NSW to Tenterfield, Southern Downs, Western Downs and Toowoomba”. This proposal is being submitted to Infrastruture Australia seeking funding to progress the interbasin-interstate water transfer scheme.

Access to water is seen as a key economic driver by Western Downs Regional Council. This includes being a driver of industry and business development as well as optimising tourism growth in the local government area.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio told a journalist that; “water is the limiting factor in population growth and food production in this area”. His letter of support for the application to Infrastructure Australia for a dam in the Clarence River catchment reads in part; “As chair of Darling Downs South West Queensland Council of Mayors … I write to give the strongest of support to your council’s submission to the Australian Infrastructure Audit regarding long-term water security on the Darling Downs and NSW Border Ranges.”

Tenterfield Shire Council’s mayor told The Daily Examiner in Grafton NSW; “I have no problem supporting populations to support industry, but you cannot do it without infrastructure to secure water. These towns need to be supported, and especially where they are looking to expand. (Towns like) Warwick and Toowoomba should have had adequate water supply years ago and now we are playing catch up.” [my yellow highlighting]

Tenterfield Shire Council as part of the Northern New England High Country Regional Economic Development Strategy 2018-2022 supports the position that; “There is potential to dam both the Mole River in the western part of the Region and possibly one or more of the headwater tributaries of the Clarence River for irrigation water and the generation of hydroelectricity.”

Tenterfield’s Mole River proposal was tentatively costed sometime in the 1990s on the basis that private capital would build this dam and lease it back to either local or state government. The current proposal for a Mole River dam (20-40 per cent smaller than the original proposed water storage) is an initial 50/50 split between state and federal government.

2. ABERFOYLE RIVER DAM AND DIVERSION SCHEME TO BENEFIT GWYDIR SHIRE COUNCIL, GWYDIR RIVER AND COPETON DAM, NSW

The NSW Berejiklian Coalition Government’s State Infrastructure Strategy 2018-2038 points to a need to “Identify investment options in the priority catchments of Gwydir and Macquarie”.

Gwydir Shire Council in its Gwydir Shire Economic Development Strategy 2017-2020 states an aim to; “Manage water resources for a growing economy and environmental sustainability” as well as to improve/expand the Shire’s product base which includes the tourism potential of the Gwydir River and Copeton Dam.

The river and dam are seen as part of providing a “Strong basis for growing the tourism sector and building visitation to the Shire’s towns and villages” - as well as being seen as “lifestyle advantages of the Shire.”

The development strategy also sees “access to plentiful water” as a prerequisite to growing local businesses and establishing new ones.

Seeing water as a mere commodity these Murray-Darling Basin councils and the federal government are pressuring the NSW Berejiklian Coalition Government to such a degree that it is now considering altering planning and water legislation to allow NSW Water to have planning control over dam building and also allowing environmental safeguards to be overridden – in particular removing environmental/biodiversity assessments of proposed dam sites and potentially commencing construction before a cost-benefit analysis has been completed.

What would a NSW Local Government Conference be without yet another call to dam and divert coastal rivers

Greater Hume Shire Council motion before the NSW Local Government Conference (14-16 October 2019):

That Local Government NSW urges the NSW Government to investigate the concept of diverting coastal rivers inland and other initiatives to increase water storage capacity in NSW. 

Note from Council 

Council submitted a similar motion to the 2015 Conference which was carried. The 2015 Conference Action report stated the following: “The NSW Minister for Primary Industries and Minister for Lands and Water, the Hon Niall Blair, responded on the 17 February 2016, as follows: 

The NSW Government undertook reviews of the feasibility of proposals to divert coastal streams inland in the 1980s, which concluded that there were a number of physically practicable schemes. However, they were shown to be too costly and incur significant environmental impacts. The Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation further reviewed the potential for diversions from the Clarence River to south-east QLD in 2007. 

These investigations also concluded that "The wide ranging economic, environmental and social implications of diverting rivers and piping water make such projects prohibitively expensive, and socially and environmentally disruptive. 

The NSW Government has committed $1.25B to water security through town water supply, wastewater treatment and dam safety infrastructure projects.” 

Since 2015, many towns across NSW have suffered significant drinking water shortages along with the devastation of many of our irrigation districts and the communities they support. Greater Hume Council is of the view that the appetite for innovative water collection and storage projects has changed with the Federal Government actively encouraging the development of large-scale water capture and transfer schemes to harvest unallocated water resources through National Water Infrastructure Development Fund and the National Water Infrastructure Loan Facility. There is an opportunity for LGNSW to take a leadership role in demanding that the NSW Government ‘come on board’ to develop large scale water capture and transfer schemes to increase long-term water availability and security for primary producers, businesses and communities in rural and regional NSW.

Scientists around the world are losing trust in national governments' responses to global climate change and are calling for a peaceful rising up against governments which are failing to act proportionarely to the scale of the crisis

Scientists’ Declaration of Support for Non-Violent Direct Action Against Government Inaction Over the Climate and Ecological Emergency, October 2019:

THIS DECLARATION SETS OUT THE CURRENT SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS CONCERNING THE CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE NECESSITY FOR URGENT ACTION TO PREVENT FURTHER AND IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE HABITABILITY OF OUR PLANET. 

As scientists, we have dedicated our lives to the study and understanding of the world and our place in it. We declare that scientific evidence shows beyond any reasonable doubt that human-caused changes to the Earth’s land, sea and air are severely threatening the habitability of our planet. We further declare that overwhelming evidence shows that if global greenhouse gas emissions are not brought rapidly down to net zero and biodiversity loss is not halted, we risk catastrophic and irreversible damage to our planetary life-support systems, causing incalculable human suffering and many deaths. 

We note that despite the scientific community first sounding the alarm on human-caused global warming more than four decades ago, no action taken by governments thus far has been sufficient to halt the steep rise in greenhouse gas emissions, nor address the ever-worsening loss of biodiversity. Therefore, we call for immediate and decisive action by governments worldwide to rapidly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to net zero, to prevent further biodiversity loss and to restore, to the fullest extent possible, the damage that has already been done. We further call upon governments to provide particular support to those who will be most affected by climate change and by the required transition to a sustainable economy. 

As scientists we have an obligation that extends beyond merely describing and understanding the natural world to taking an active part in helping to protect it. We note that the scientific community has already tried all conventional methods to draw attention to the crisis. We believe that the continued governmental inaction over the climate and ecological crisis now justifies peaceful and non-violent protest and direct action, even if this goes beyond the bounds of the current law. We therefore support those who are rising up peacefully against governments around the world that are failing to act proportionately to the scale of the crisis. We believe it is our moral duty to act now, and we urge other scientists to join us in helping to protect humanity’s only home. [my yellow highlighting]

***** 
To show your support, please add your name to the list below and share with your colleagues. If you’d like to join us at the International Rebellion in London from October 7th (full list of global October Rebellions here), or to find out more, please join our Scientists for Extinction Rebellion Facebook group or email scientistsforxr@protonmail.com. 

Signatories: Signatures are invited from individuals holding a Master's Degree or more, in a field directly related to the sciences, or who work in a scientific field. 

Please note: the views of individuals signing this document do not necessarily represent those of the university or organisation they work for. 

Dr Emily Grossman, Science broadcaster and author, Ph.D. (Molecular Biology) University of Manchester, MA (Natural Sciences) University of Cambridge. Angela Saini, Science journalist and author, M.Eng Oxford University Professor William Steffen, Emeritus Professor at The Australian National University, Canberra and former executive director of the Australian National University (ANU) Climate Change Institute and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme Professor Rich Pancost, Ph.D. Geosciences, Head of the School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol Professor Julia Steinberger, Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth & Environment, University of Leeds Professor Valerie Nelson, Department of Sustainable Development, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich Paul N. Pearson, Honorary Professor, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University Professor Penny D. Sackett, Honorary Professor, Climate Change Institute, Australian National University Professor Simon Lewis, Dept Geography, University College London. Professor Ken Rice, Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh Professor Corey Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Fellow in Global Ecology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia Professor Ian Foster, Environmental Science, University of Northampton, UK Professor Heidy M Mader, PhD Geophysics, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol Professor Danny Dorling, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, UK Dr John Marsham, Associate Professor, University of Leeds and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, UK Professor Andy Challinor, Chair of Climate Impacts, University of Leeds Peter Belton, Professor Emeritus, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia Marilyn Strathern, Emeritus Professor of Social Anthropology, Cambridge University, UK Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development, University College London, UK Dr John N. Griffin, Associate Professor, Biosciences, Swansea University Dr Alberto de la Fuente, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Universidad de Chile, Chile Dr Christelle Rochefort, Associate Professor, Sorbonne University, Paris Professor Diane Reay, University of Cambridge, UK Professor Ellen Euler, University of Applied Science Potsdam, Germany Professor Seralynne Vann, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, UK Professor Mark Humphries, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK Emeritus Professor Michael Bassey, Nottingham Trent University Professor Randy McIntosh, Rotman Research Institute - Baycrest & Dept of Psychology, University of Toronto, Canada Professor Carole Parkes University of Winchester Emeritus Professor Peter Reason, University of Bath Emeritus Professor Ian Parker, University of Leicester, UK Professor Kate Jeffery, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London Professor Hugo Spiers, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London Professor Erica Burman, Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, UK Professor Stephen J Ball, Distinguished Service Professor of Sociology of Education, University College London Dr. Elisa Thome Sena, Professor at the Multidisciplinary Department, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Dr Annabel Smith PhD. Lecturer in Wildlife Management, University of Queensland Dr Elizabeth Boakes, PhD Conservation Biology, Centre for Biodiversity & Environment Research, University College London Dr Andrea Snelling PhD Palaeoclimate change researcher, University of Nottingham Dr Catalina Pimiento PhD, Postdoctoral fellow, Biosciences, Swansea University & Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Dr. Salvador Pueyo, researcher in complexity and socio-ecological futures, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain Dr Michael Taylor, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading Dr Peter Spooner, Teaching Fellow, Department of Earth Sciences, UCL Dr. Rocio Perez Barrales, Senior Lecturer, University of Portsmouth, UK Dr Miklós Antal, Research Fellow in Ecological Economics, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary Dr Keith Baker, Researcher in Energy Policy, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland Dr James G Dyke, Assistant Director, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK Dr. Julien Lecourt, Senior Researcher, National Institute of Agriculture and Botany, EMR U Dr Wolfgang Knorr, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Sciences, Lund University, Sweden Dr Scott Archer-Nicholls, Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Dr Aaron Thierry, Ph.D. Ecology, The University of Sheffield Dr Charlie Gardner, Ph.D. Biodiversity Management, University of Kent Dr Emily Griffiths, Ph.D. Ecology, University of Sheffield Sven M Schulte, Research Consultant, MA Environmental Security (UN-mandated University for Peace), MA Peace, Development, Security and Int. Conflict Transformation (UNESCO Chair for Peace Studies) Dr. Samuel Hawkins, Senior Researcher, Ph.D. Renewable Energy, Edinburgh University Dr Anass Barrahmoune, MSc Environmental Geomatics, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Morocco, PhD East Asian Studies, University of Sheffield Dr. Ruth H. Leeney, Natural History Museum, London and Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, Inhambane province, Mozambique. Dr. Christopher D. Coath, Senior Research Fellow, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol. Dr. Julia Sero, Lecturer in Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, UK Dr. Rebecca Summerfield, Ph.D. Coral Reef Health, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK Dr. Traci Birge, DSc. Agriculture & Forestry, University of Helsinki, Finland Dr Roland Wilhelm, Ph.D. Microbiology, Cornell University, USA Dr Helen Bates, Horticultural Research Scientist, NIAB EMR, East Malling, Kent Dr Freya Mitchison, Ph.D. Earth & Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University Dr Steffie Broer, EngD in Urban Sustainability and Resilience, Dept. of Environmental Engineering, UCL, UK. Dr. Seann McKibbin, PhD (Earth Science) Australian National University and Alexander von Humboldt (postdoctoral fellowship) Georg-August-Universität, Germany Dr Rachel Marshall, Lancaster University, PhD Soil Science at Aberdeen University Dr James Cole, School of Environment and Technology, University of Brighton Dr Joe Stewart, PhD Paleoceanography and Geochemistry, Senior Research Associate, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK Dr Beth Penrose, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Australia. PhD Environmental Science, University of Nottingham, UK Dr. Charlotte F. Nellist, Plant Pathologist (Junior Group Leader), NIAB EMR, East Malling, Kent. Dr Claire Wordley, writer and activist, PhD. ecology from the University of Leeds. Dr Jessica Fisher, MRes Biodiversity Evolution Conservation UCL, PhD Biodiversity Management, University of Kent Dr. Nathan G. Phillips, Ph.D. Department of Earth & Environment, Boston University, USA Dr Andrew Fraass, Ph.D. Geosciences, Research Associate in Micropalaeontology, University of Bristol Dr Natalie Swan, PhD in Environmental Science, Lancaster University Dr Jennifer Rudd, Carbon Chemistry and Engineering, Swansea University, MChem, PhD, Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry Dr. Javier Juste, PhD. Bats’ Ecology and Evolution Group, Dpt of Evolutionary Ecology, Doñana Biological Station, CSIC; Seville, Spain Dr Mariana Carvalho, PhD Biology and Natural Resource Management, Birdlife International, UK Dr Victoria Herridge, PhD Evolutionary Biology, Broadcaster. Dr Emeliana Palk, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol Dr Charline Lormand, P.h.D. in Volcanology, Volcanic Risk Solutions, Massey University, New Zealand Dr Mikko Ijäs, Doctor of Arts. Associate Researcher of Human Evolutionary Biology. Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Finland. Dr Nicolas Kosoy. Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal Dr Duane L. Bindschadler, PhD, Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA Dr. Malika Virah-Sawmy, Geography Department, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany Dr Estefania Milla-Moreno, PhD, MSc, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Canada Dr. Marie-Josée Garand. Ph.D. Natural Resources. Environmental Technology. Collège Communautaire du Nouveau Brunswick. Canada. Dr Phil Platts, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, UK Dr. Maria Caffrey, PhD Geography, Denver, Colorado Dr Laura Kehoe, PhD in Geography, University of Oxford, The Nature Conservancy, UK Dr Antti Alexander Kestilä, PhD Space Technology, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland. Dr Rupesh Paudyal, MSc University of London, PhD Plant Sciences, University of Leeds Dr David Costalago, PhD Marine Ecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Dr. Ji-Hyun Lee, PhD., Postdoctoral researcher, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Austria Dr Robert Alcock, PhD in Marine Ecology, University of Southampton. XR Edinburgh activist. Dr Christopher Butler, PhD. Former Oil Industry Geoscientist. Dr Thomas Martin, PhD Atmospheric Science, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Dr João Augusto Hackerott, PhD Atmospheric Science, University of São Paulo, Brazil Dr Daniel Turner, PhD (ecology), University of Southampton B.S. Victória Peli, Master's Student, Department of Atmospheric Science, University of São Paulo, Brazil Rachel Hasler, PhD Student, Soil microbiology - Environment and Agrifood Dept. Cranfield University, UK. Geraint Northwood, PhD student, Planetary Science, Imperial College London, UK Claudia Wyer, PhD Student, Life Sciences, Imperial College London, UK Galina Jönsson, PhD Student, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London I Gabriel Perez, PhD student, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, MPhil University of São Paulo Maria Luiza de Carvalho Ferreira, MSc Physical, Chemical and Geological Oceanography, currently PhD student in Geology, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK Paul Ogbuigwe, PhD student in Animal Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand Stacey Hendriks, PhD Student in Animal Science, Massey University, New Zealand, MSc in Animal Science Matteo Luberti, PhD student, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, UK Chris Andrews, PhD Candidate in Animal Science, Massey University, New Zealand, MSc(Hons) in Zoology Florentine Dominique van Noppen, MSc Ecology, PhD Student Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, New Zealand Hilary Webb, PhD Student in Animal Science, Massey University, New Zealand, Hons degree in Natural Resource Management Jefim Vogel, PhD student, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, UK Sarah Tapscott, Ph.D Student in Volcanology, Massey University, New Zealand, MSc in Earth Science (Volcanology), University of Iceland Ailsa Naismith, PhD student in Earth Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol Jacques Krticka Carvalho, PhD student in Animal Science, Massey University, New Zealand, MSc in Soil Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Emma Bird, PhD Student Palaeoanthropology, University of Kent, UK Joe Ravetz, Collaboratory for Urban Resilience, University of Manchester Susanne Repanelis, MSc Conservation Medicine (Veterinary Medicine) , currently Master student in Risk Prevention and Disaster Management, University of Vienna, AT Thomas Mackay-Smith, MSc Conservation Biology, PhD Student in Agroforestry, Massey University, New Zealand Larissa E. Gleason, MSc Conservation and Rural Development, University of Kent, UK Adam Roberts, MSc Conservation Biology, University of Kent, U.K Will Barker, PhD Student, Ecology and Global Change, School of Geography, University of Leeds. Paula García, MA, Sustainable International Development, Brandeis University Maureen W, Kinyanjui, Msc Conservation and Rural Development, University of Kent, U.K Tessa I. Ullmann, MSc Conservation and International Wildlife Trade, University of Kent, U.K. Fernando Avendano Veas, MSc Soil and Water Management, PhD Student Soil Sciences, Massey University, New Zealand. Catherine Pennington, Engineering Geologist, Landslide Specialist, MSc Engineering Geology Stuart Spray, MSc in Wildlife & Conservation Biology, Napier University, Edinburgh Thomas A. Worsdell, MSc Ethnobotany, University of Kent, U.K. Alberto Danese, Double MSc Energy Engineering, Universitat Politecnica de la Catalunya, Barcelona & KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm Floriane Millet, MSc Conservation and Tourism, Kent University, UK Andrea Vadillo Dieguez. MSc Environmental Agrobiology, University of the Basque Country. Technician in NIAB EMR, UK Penelope Chaney, MA, MSc, VetMB, Ecologist Mike Hynes, MSc Palaeobiology, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol Ariel Chiang, MSc Sustainable Building Technology, School of the Built Environment, The University of Nottingham, UK Guy Burger, BSc in Freshwater Fisheries Management, MSc in Conservation Biology. Director and Company Secretary at Greengap Ltd George Barda MA. Environment, Politics & Globalisation, King's College London Tatiana Suarez, M.Sc. Environmental Monitoring, Modelling and Management, King’s College London. B.Sc. Environmental Engineer. Gwili Gibbon, MSc in Conservation Biology, PhD Student in Biodiversity Management, University of Kent, UK Louise Masters, MSc Conservation Biology, University of Kent Brittney Vezina, MSc Conservation Biology, University of Kent Marcus Petz, MSc Mountain Forestry, University of Jyväskylä Sonja Willemse, MSc Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Monsuru Adebowale, School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol Dr Alexandra de Sousa, Ph.D. Bath Spa University Dr Robert Mok, Ph.D. University College London Dr Tobias Navarro Schröder, Ph.D., Norwegian University of Science and Technology Dr. Larch Maxey, LLB, MSc, Ph.D., Plymouth University Dr Lucky Tran, Ph.D. Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Dr. Terry L. Rankin, Retired, Saint Cloud, FL USA Dr Kevin Allen, Ph.D. Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University Dr Darragh Duffy, Ph.D. Immunology, Department of Immunology, Institut Pasteur, Paris Dr Nikaïa Smith, Ph.D. Immunology, Department of Immunology, Institut Pasteur, Paris Alex Jelly, MSc Holistic Science, Schumacher College, Devon Dr. James Uther, Ph.D. Computer Science, The University of Sydney Dr Miles Thompson, Clinical Psychologist (DClinPsy) and Senior Lecturer in Psychology (PhD), Health and Applied Sciences, UWE Bristol. Dr Alba Llibre, PhD Immunology, Department of Immunology, Institut Pasteur, Paris Dr Susanne Hakenbeck, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge Dr Lukasz Pospieszny, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol Dr. Karen Cangialosi, Department of Biology, Keene State College, New Hampshire, USA Hope Bretscher, MSc in Science and Technology Studies, University of Edinburgh, and currently, a PhD student in Physics, University of Cambridge James Murray-White, Filmmaker, Cambridge, UK - MSc Centre for Human Ecology, Edinburgh Justine Courty, MSc Computing and Machine Learning, Imperial College London Matthew Shribman, MChem (Hons), University of Oxford. Science Communicator & Environmental Campaigner. Jennifer Worroll, Bioinformatics Scientist, MA Natural Sciences University of Cambridge, MSc University of Manchester Dr Aga Iwasiewicz-Wabnig, PhD in Physics. University of Cambridge, UK Bronagh McCoy, University of Cambridge. MSc. in Cognitive Neuroscience at Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Dr Hazel Newton, Ph.D. Electrochemistry, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Dr Claire Murphy Ph.D in Genetics and Immunology University College London, United Kingdom Dr Till Sawala, PhD Physics, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland Sarah Greenfield Clark, MSc Sustainability, Global Sustainability Institute, Anglia Ruskin University. Louisse Paola Mirabueno, PhD student, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, UK Katja E. Isaksen MSc Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law, University of Glasgow. PhD student in Animal Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand Celine Posseme, PhD student, Department of Immunology, Institut Pasteur, Paris Dr Oscar Marcelo Lazo, PhD. UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, UK. Dr Robert Schmidt, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, UK Xue Qi Soon, PhD student, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, New Zealand Jessica Liliana Campo Giraldo, PhD student in Molecular Biosciences, Universidad AndresBello, Chile. Dr. Annett Finger, Adjunct Research Fellow, Victoria University, Australia Emma Garnett, PhD Researcher, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom Alfredo Romero-Muñoz, Doctoral researcher, Humboldt-University Berlin, Germany Dr Lukas Daniel Klausner, Researcher, St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria Dr Kilian Evang, Researcher, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany Dr Cristián Monaco, Researcher, University of Adelaide, Australia Joshua F. Robinson, PhD Candidate and Research Fellow, Soft Matter Physics, University of Bristol, United Kingdom Dr Grace Lindsay, Postdoctoral Fellow, University College London, United Kingdom Francesco Iannuzzelli, MSc Computer Science, Politecnico di Milano, Italy Dr. J. Kasmire, Research Fellow, University of Manchester, UK Sam Van Stroud, PhD Student in Physics, Data Science, University College London, UK Dr Alexander Vincent Penson, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York Dr Rebecca Rees, Associate Professor, Department of Social Science, University College London Mr Carl Thomas, PhD Student, Department of Physics, Imperial College London Pietro Salvi, PhD Student, Department of Physics, Imperial College Dr Julien Carponcy, PhD, MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, University of Oxford Dr Elizabeth Rowe, PhD Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol Dr Stuart Capstick, Research Fellow, Cardiff University, UK Dr Daniel Mietchen, Senior Scientist, School of Data Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States Dr Nicholas Beuret, lecturer, University of Essex Dr Francesco Turci, Research Associate in Theoretical Physics, University of Bristol Prof. John Russo, Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics, University of Bristol Dr Nariaki Sakai, Research Associate in Materials Physics, University of Bristol Irene Faiman, PhD Researcher, Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London Jonathan David Finn, PhD Student, School of Computing, University of Leeds Dr Fabio Leoni, Research Associate in Applied Mathematics, University of Bristol Dr Daniel Morse, Research Associate, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol Dr Teresa Belton, Visiting Fellow, School of Education and Lifelong Learning, University of East Anglia Rachael Ward, MScR Physical Geography, School of Geography/Earth Sciences, University of Bristol Dr Oana Kubinyecz, PhD Epigenetics, Cambridge University Dominic Habgood-Coote, PhD student, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London Dr Chris Wymant, Senior Researcher, Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK Mary Langsdale, PhD student, School of Geography, King’s College London Thomas Nicholas, PhD student, York Plasma Institute, University of York, MPhys University of Oxford Dr Rachel Doherty, Senior Researcher, Physical Chemistry, Leiden University, Netherlands Dr Chris Langmead, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Scientist William Dawson, MSc Psychology OU Dr William Stiles, Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University Sarah Kelly, MSc Medical Entomology, research assistant, Life Sciences, Imperial College London, UK Dr Nico Kist (DPhil in HIV evolution, University of Oxford) Isabella Aberle, MSc Biodiversity and Conservation, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany Bernard McCarty: recovering Astrophysicist, practising Quantum Mechanic and Engineer (The University of Birmingham, UK). Alexandra Williams, MSc Global Health and Development, University College London Dr. Daniel Maskit (Ph.D., Computer Science, Caltech) Dr Adam Bozson, PhD Physics, University of London Dimitar Kostadinov, PhD, Research Associate, University College London, UK Dr Nils Y. Hammerla, PhD (Computer Science) Newcastle Uni Dr Rosie A Fisher. Global Climate Dynamics, Centre Européen de Recherche et de Formation Avancée en Calcul Scientifique, Toulouse, France. Leo Green, Consultant Mechanical Engineer, MEng Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, UK Dr Sergio Gutierrez-Santos PhD, Visiting Research Fellow, Computer Science, Birbeck, University of London Alexander Morley DPhil, Neuroscience, University of Oxford Prof. Ian Masters, College of Engineering, Swansea University Dr. Marcos Francisco Perez, PhD (Biomedicine), Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain Dr. Jacopo Boni, PhD (Biomedicine), Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain Dr. Olga Dolgova, PhD (Genetics), Centro Nacional del Análisis Genómico (CNAG-CRG). Andrew Brown, DPhil student in Computer Vision, University of Oxford Ariadna Montero Blay, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain Dr. Rocco Mazzolini (Biomedicine), Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain Dr Ionas Erb (Mathematics), Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain Dr. Thomas Wilhelm, PhD (Biomedicine), Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Dr. Xianghua Li, PhD (Biomedicine), Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Cristina hidalgo, PhD (Biomedicine), Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Dr. Cinta Pegueroles, PhD (Genetics), Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Barcelona, Spain . Chloe Hall, PhD Student, Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, UK . Violeta Beltran Sastre, Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain Dr David Clubb, PhD (Physics), Afallen, Wales Dr Milena Hasan, PhD, Immunology, Institut Pasteur, France Carme Arnan Ros (phD), Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain Dr. Jake D. Turner, PhD (Astronomy), Department of Astronomy, Cornell University Cesar Sierra, PhD Student, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Thea Kozakis, Masters of Astrophysics, Carl Sagan Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA Jorge Herrero Vicente, PhD student, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Julien Lagarde, Technician, M.Sc., Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Vincent Needham, Scientist, JRM Lab, Physics Dept, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA Dana Nuccitelli, M.Sc. Physics, University of California at Davis, USA Dr Ryan MacDonald, PhD, Astronomy, University of Cambridge, MPhys, Physics, University of Oxford Dr Leo Swadling, Ph.D. Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, UK. Adam Williams, MSc Town Planning, University of Plymouth, UK. Dr Laura Dowsett, Ph.D. (Physiology) University of Glasgow, UK Dr. Sarah Offenburger, PhD (Biomedicine), Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Peter Griffin, MEng, MRes, PhD candidate, Materials Sciences and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge Dr Karine Crozat, PhD in immunology, CIML, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France Pete Alway, PhD Student, Loughborough University & England and Wales Cricket Board Dan Whitaker Msci, University of Cambridge, Department of Chemistry PhD Candidate Michael Jock MS Optics - private industry Will Mountford, MSc Science Communication, UWE UK Professor Judith E Smith, past Dean of Science at Salford and University of Technology Sydney Maruf Sarkar, MPhys, PhD Candidate, Materials Sciences and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge Livia Lacerda Mariano, Phd student, Institut Pasteur, France Dr Benjamin Vial, Postdoctoral fellow. Antennas and Electromagnetics, Queen Mary University of London, UK. Mike Madden, Ph.D. Candidate, Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina Barthelemy Caron, Ph.D .candidate, Imagine Institute, Paris, France Holly M. English, PhD student in Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin. MRes Bioscience, Swansea University. Dr Andrew L. Fanning, Marie Curie Research Fellow, Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds Professor Rich Pancost, Head of the School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol Dr Barbara Brayshay, Ph.D in Environmental Change, University of Sheffield, Living Maps Network, London Tony Warne, Senior Investigator Scientist, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK Larkin Sayre, MPhil in Energy Technologies, PhD candidate in Materials Science, University of Cambridge UK Dr Harriet Downey, Research Associate, University of Cambridge, PhD in Zoology University of Oxford Dr Judith Lock, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, UK Eleonore Poli, Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge Dr Philip Webber, formerly University of London (Imperial College) & Leeds (School of Earth & Environment) Thomas Bedford MPhys, PhD Student, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge Katie Christoffers, MSc Neuroscience, University of Oxford, UK Dr. Mike Bennison, PhD (Chemistry), Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge Patrick Taylor, PhD student, department of physics, University of Cambridge Dr. Benjamin Lang, PhD (Molecular Systems Biology), Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Dr Pauline Audergon, Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre for genomic Regulation(CRG) Bacelona, Spain Helen Bedford, Professor of Children’s Health, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Mihaela Nemes, MRes Brain Science, UCL, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience Dr Anna-Lena Schaupp, Postdoctoral researcher, Immunology, University of Oxford Dr Jonathan Mackenzie, Research Fellow, University of the Arts London and University of Cambridge Maximilian Bloomfield MSci MEng, PhD student, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge Dr Claire Asher, PhD (Genetics, Ecology & Evolution, University of Leeds), Freelance Science Journalist, London, UK Emeline Rougeaux, PhD Student, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London UK Dr Alistair Jennings, freelance science filmmaker, london, uk. Dr Matias Acosta, Fellow at the Center for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, UK Prof Rachel Oliver, Professor of Materials Science, University of Cambridge Dr. Lorena Moscovich, Professor of Political Science, Universidad de San Andrés Dr Jim Rafferty, Research assistant and data scientist, Swansea University Medical School. Joonatan Laulainen, PhD Student, Department of Materials Science, University of Cambridge Dr Jenny Baker, EPSRC Fellow, College of Engineering, Swansea University. George Lewis, PhD Student, Department of Materials Science, University of Cambridge Pam DiBona, M.S. environmental scientist, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Neil Grant, PhD Student, Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London Charlotte Phillips MSc., Research Assistant, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Dr Beth Breeze, Director, Centre for Philanthropy, University of Kent, UK Louise Johnson F.RGS MSc (Environmental Management, University of Surrey, 2002) Dr. Gareth Dale, Politics, Brunel University Michael Fielding, Emeritus Professor of Education UCL Institute of Education, London, UK Raquel Garcia Olivas, PhD (Biomedicine), Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Dr Stuart Hodkinson, Associate Professor, School of Geography, University of Leeds, UK Dr Andrea Dimitracopoulos, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK Dr Lina Brand Correa, Research Fellow, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, UK Professor Neil Marriott, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Winchester Silvia Benito, PhD student in molecular biology, University of Cambridge, UK Bill McGuire, Professor Emeritus of Geophysical & Climate Hazards, UCL, UK Dr Miguel A Maestro, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain Professor Simon Jobson, Dean of the Faculty of Health & Wellbeing, University of Winchester, UK Professor Douglas Parker, Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds Helen Spander, Professor of Mental Health Studies, University of Central Lancashire Dr Mia Gray, Dept of Geography, University of Cambridge Dr Mary Phillips, Reader in Organization Studies, University of Bristol Prof Wendy Hollway, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Open University, UK Dr Andreas Vossler, Senior Lecturer, The Open University, UK Prof Lisa Isherwood, Eco- theologian, University of Wales Trinity St David Dr Simona Giordano, Reader in Bioethics, The University of Manchester Law School Professor Andrew Watterson, Public Health and Population Health Research Group, University of Stirling James Mckay, Centre Manager, EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Bioenergy at University of Leeds Rebecca Budgett, PhD Student in Molecular Pharmacology, University of Glasgow, MSc in Neuroscience and BSc in Human Sciences from UCL Professor Adrian Kendry, Economics, Security and Peacebuilding, University of Winchester Professor Andrew Samuels, University of Essex, UK Nicole Morgan, M.Sc. Biological Oceanography, Ph.D. Candidate Oceanography, Florida State University Dr Duncan McCollin, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, University of Northampton Dr Matt Watson, Senior Lecturer in Geography, University of Sheffield Andrew Simms, Research Associate, University of Sussex, Coordinator, Rapid Transition Alliance. Dr Haiko Ballieux, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Cognitive Science, University of Westminster Dr Rebekah Fraser, PhD Chemistry, Durham University Chris van Hoorn, PhD candidate, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Cambridge university. Jacqui Keenan, MSc Conservation & Biodiversity, University of Exeter Richard Clarke, Honorary Research Fellow, University of London Birkbeck College and Visiting Scholar, University of Westminster Sandra Cortijo, postdoc, SLCU, University of Cambridge Jorge E. Vinuales, Harold Samuel Professor of Law and Environmental Policy, University of Cambridge Dr Rasha Rezk, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge Bianca De Sanctis, MPhil computational biology, PhD student, Departments of Zoology and Genetics, University of Cambridge Lisa Heinke, PhD Candidate, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge Prof. Buzz Baum, Professor of Cell Biology, UCL, London Dr Suman Fernando, Emeritus Professor of Social Sciences in the School of Social Sciences, London Metropolitan University, London UK Paul Hoggett, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, UWE, Bristol. Helen Spandler, Professor of Mental Health Studies, University of Central Lancashire Joshua M. Lawrence, PhD Candidate, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Professor Colin Davis, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, UK Professor Jeremy J Baumberg, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK Dr Simon Sneddon, PhD Nuclear Power, University of Northampton Dave Hudson, MSc Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Exeter Joanne M. Santini, Professor of Microbiology, UCL Dr. Luzie U. Wingen, Dept. of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK Dr Seamus A. Ward, MA, PhD, UCL Mick Cooper, D. Phil. Dr Alice Reid, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK Prof. Del Loewenthal, Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, UK Andrew Simms, Research Associate, Centre for Global Political Economy, University of Sussex Prof Paul Routledge university of Leeds Nina Richardson PGCE Science, MA Society, Science and Nature, BSc Hons. Combined Sciences Brittany Trew, PhD Candidate, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter Raichael Lock, PhD, Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester. Duncan Scholtes CEng, MEng University of Cambridge. Electrified Powertrain Engineer. Dr Ian Willis, Reader in Glaciology, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge Dr Michael Littledyke, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia Dr Rupert Read, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom. Daniel K Swan, MEng Renewable Energy Systems Technology, C.R.E.S.T (Centre For Renewable Energy Systems Technology), Loughborough University Dr Philip Mousley (PhD Condensed matter physics), Post Doctoral Research Associate, Diamond Light Source Synchrotron, UK Dr Judith Thornton, Low Carbon Manager, IBERS, Aberystwyth University, UK. Dr Teresa Del Bianco, Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre of Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck University of London, UK Elli Rivers, Research Associate in avian ecology, MSc Biodiversity Conservation, Bournemouth University. Giulia Calignano, PhD candidate, University of Trento. Professor Rick Stafford, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Bournemouth University, UK Bruce Greetham, MMath, Cambridge University Dr Gregory Carslaw, PhD Psychology, University of Birmingham Dr Jere Koskela, Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics, University of Warwick Dr Carys Bennett, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, UK Alex Bradley, PhD Candidate, Mathematics Institute, University of Oxford Prof David Leys, Professor in Structural Biology, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, UK Susannah McLaren, MPhil, PhD candidate, University of Cambridge Oliver Pocknell BSc Natural Sciences, University of Bath, Teacher of Physics and Chemistry (Secondary) Matthew Charles, MSc Meteorology and Climatology, PGR student at the University of East Anglia Dr Anna-Lena Schaupp, Postdoctoral researcher in immunology, University of Oxford, UK Dr Marco Spartera, Cardiologist and Clinical Research Fellow, University of Oxford, UK Professor James Bullock, Ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Professor Seralynne Vann, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, UK Professor Luca Borger, Chair in Ecology and Biodiversity & Co-Director Centre for Biomathematics, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, UK Jonas Van der Slycken, PhD Candidate in Ecological Economics, Ghent University, Belgium Jonny Saunders, MS Psychology, PhD student Systems Neuroscience, University of Oregon, USA Professor Simon Schultz, Director, Centre for Neurotechnology, Imperial College London. Dr Carmel Howe, Research Associate, Imperial College London, UK Dr Tim Chen, Senior Lecturer, Centre of AI, University of Technology Sydney. Paul Dumble MSc CWRM CEnv, Independent specialist waste & environment, Melrose Scotland Professor Steven Dakin, Head, School of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of Auckland Dr. Tyler J. Kohler, Postdoctoral Research Associate, EPFL, Switzerland Matthew Henry, PhD Candidate in Climate Science, McGill University, Canada Dr. Heather Short, Professor of Geosciences, John Abbott College, Canada Kenneth Miller, Professor of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA Dr Pia Benaud, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Geography, University of Exeter, UK Dr. Abid Hussaini, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA Dr. Jenny Smith-Wymant, Health Engagement Officer, Peterborough, UK Dr. Chethan Pandarinath, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Neurosurgery, Emory University and Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, USA Dr. Torkel Hafting, Professor in Physiology, University of Oslo, Norway Dr. Henry H. Adam, retired professional physical chemist, Bedfordshire, England. Hector Pollitt, Cambridge Econometrics, UK. David Barns, PhD student, School of Chemical & Process Engineering, University of Leeds, UK Sarah Warren, MSc in Conservation, UCL Dr. Janne M. Korhonen, Researcher, climate mitigation, Turku School of Economics, Finland Dr. Kirsikka Kaipainen, Postdoctoral Researcher, Tampere University, Finland Dr Sophie Haslett, Postdoctoral Researcher in Atmospheric Science, Stockholm University, Sweden Dr Aet Annist, Senior Researcher in Social Anthropology, University of Tartu, Estonia Professor Andy Dobson, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 Dr Eeva Houtbeckers, Postdoctoral researcher, postgrowth working life studies, Aalto University, Finland Professor Adam Aron, PhD, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Diego. Dr. Robert Kraus Jr., Ph.D., Los Alamos National Laboratory (retired) Franco La Zia, Ph.D candidate, Physics, Royal Holloway University of London Annabel Hindmarsh, BSc Zoology, University of East Anglia. MSc Oceanography, University of Southampton Thomas E. Smith, B.S. Astronomy. Studied solar system planetary atmos. et.al. With Hubble. STScI. USA. Sarah E. Moore, BSc Biology, MS student in Biology, Indiana State University, USA Dr Christian Engelbrekt, PhD, Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark Dr. Paula T. Kuokkanen, Postdoctoral researcher, Neuroscience, Institute for theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany Dr. Patti Frazer Lock, Ph.D. mathematics and statistics, St. Lawrence University Dr David B. Reiss, Ph.D. Theoretical Physics Ryan McCabe, PhD Candidate Planetary Science, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, USA Dr. Jason E. Ybarra, Ph.D. Astronomy, Assistant Professor of Physics, Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA, USA Mihkel Kangur, PhD, Ecology, Senior researcher of Ecology, Associated Professor of Sustainable Development, TallinnUniversity, Estonia Dr Sander van der Linden, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Environmental Psychology Lowell Andrew R. Iporac, Ph.D Candidate, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA Laura Sirot, Ph.D., Department of Biology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio Mark Dobday, P.G. MA Geology Adam Francis Smith, MSc (Wildlife Ecology and Management), Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Jessie Joachim B.S. (Biology), MPH (Master of Public Health) candidate 2020, Vallejo, CA USA Alice Vislova B.S. (Ecology, Evolution and Behavior), Ph.D (Oceanography) candidate 2020, Honolulu, HI USA Dr. Leah Gottlieb, Ph.D. (Chemistry) University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Marine Krzisch, Ph.D. (neurobiology), Cambridge, MA Bineh Ndefru, Ph.D Student, Materials Science and Engineering, University of California-Los Angeles, USA Dr. Benjamin Neimark, Ph.D. (Human Geography) Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, UK Sophia Chan, PhD Candidate, Chemical Engineering, Columbia University Dr. Janne Hirvonen, (Energy technology), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aalto University, Finland Kevin Shi, PhD Candidate, Computer Science, Columbia University Tomo Saric, M.D., Ph.D., Group Leader, Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany Clair Brown, PhD, Prof of Economics, University of California, Berkeley Leticia Avilés, PhD, Dept of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Keith Pezzoli, PhD, Bioregional Center for Sustainability Science, Planning and Design. University of California, San Diego, USA. Dion Amago Whitehead, PhD Bielefeld University, Germany Professor Gail Whiteman, PhD (Management), Rubin Chair in Sustainability, Lancaster University, UK

By mid-morning on 14 October 2019 there were at least 459 signatories to this open letter.

Clarence River water raiders still meeting opposition to their plans

The Daily Examiner, 12 October 2019:

In a not-so-strange coincidence it was the mayor of Tenterfield who had a starring role in the origins of the Not a Drop campaign in 2006.

In words eerily similar to those being heard today, the then Mayor of Tenterfield, Keith Pickstone, said “We are in a drastic situation so anything has to be looked at, whether it be damming or diverting.”

But while it was Mr Pickstone who was front and centre at the launch of Not a Drop on December 16, 2006, Peter Ellem, The Daily Examiner editor at the time, explained he wasn’t the catalyst.

“It was (Malcolm) Turnbull’s intervention in it, it was the federal intervention.”

At the time Malcolm Turnbull, parliamentary secretary for Water and then Minister for Water and Environment, commissioned a study into the feasibility of the Northern Rivers sharing water with a drought ravaged south-east Queensland.

The resurrection of the Clarence River diversion at a federal level prompted The Daily Examiner to run a campaign Mr Ellem says was “one of the more high-profile” campaigns run during his time there.

Having researched the many diversion schemes which had come before, Mr Ellem said “it just didn’t seem right” that our river system should be “violated” to patch up other river systems.

In his editorial launching the campaign – printed opposite – he outlined clearly why the paper was taking a stand.

This stood in stark contrast to the Examiner’s interventions back before 1969 and Mr Ellem put that down to a change in the way the community understood environmental issues and scrutinised people in public life.

“It was a very different time.

“The environment didn’t rate a mention and the science would not have been developed to a great degree back then.”

Mr Ellem looks back on that time with pride and says you can still see the odd Not a Drop bumper sticker on the back of a ute.

“It tapped into a very strong public sentiment which remains solid. My view is there is only a very small minority of people who entertain the idea (of diversion).”

Water 101 in Australia: where catchment rainfall is 600mm per year or less a large in-river dam will not fill with water

Geraldine Doogue's ABC Radio Saturday Extra interview with Professor Quentin Grafton, water economist, ANU and UNESCO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance on why the political call for more large in-river dams is misguided and only creating problems for the future.

Prof. Grafton asserts that any dams built in an area where the rainfall is 600mm per year or less will not fill with water. 

Click on: 
https://abcmedia.akamaized.net/rn/podcast/2019/10/sea_20191005_0730.mp3 (14:42mins)

Annual Rainfall 

According to Water NSW published data:

Section of Maryland River, NSW
Google Earth

Maryland River catchment annual rainfall graph/plot is not available or does not exist.

Section of Aberfoyle River, NSW
Google Earth

Aberfoyle River catchment average annual rainfall was less than 600mm in six (6) out of last twenty-one (21) years and less than est. 670mm for another three (3) of those twenty-one years.

Section of the Mole River, NSW
Google Earth

Mole River catchment annual rainfall was less than 600mm in thirteeen (13) of the last eighteen (18) years.

"The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and must not be thrown away for political expediency."

The Daily Examiner, letter to the editor, 9 October 2019, p.13:

Amend or reject

PEOPLE will face more time in jail for peaceful protest than for grievous bodily harm if the government’s Right to Farm Bill becomes law.

The bill provides for three-year prison terms for protesters while the penalty for permanently or seriously disfiguring another person is a maximum of two years. Is this really the sort of society the Coalition government wants us to become?

Under this proposal people as diverse as Wallaby great David Pocock and the knitting nannas could go to jail for making their point peacefully and democratically.

The government claims these dangerous laws are needed to protect farmers from trespassers, but the law already has those safeguards. The irony is that farmers may have the most to lose.

Farmers have led campaigns to save the Pilliga and the Bentley region from coal seam gas and the Hunter, Bylong Valley, Gloucester Valley and the Liverpool Plains from coal.

The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and must not be thrown away for political expediency.

History tells us that when governments erode the civil liberties of any group, they erode them for us all. This bill must be amended or rejected.

Chris Gambian, Chief Executive, NSW Nature Conservation Council

BACKGROUND

Parliament of New South Wales, Legislative Review Committee, Review Digest, 24 September 2019:

"The Bill significantly increases the maximum penalty for the offence of aggravated unlawful entry on inclosed lands from $5,500 to $13,200 and/or imprisonment for 12 months. The potential penalties rise to $22,000 or three years imprisonment if the offender is accompanied by two or more persons or if s/he does anything to put the safety of any person at serious risk. Large increases in penalties can result in excessive punishment where the penalty is not proportionate to the offence. However, the Committee acknowledges that the penalty increase is designed to better reflect the severity of the offences as well as the impact such offences have on farmers and primary production activities. It is also to account for the risks caused by trespassing on agricultural land and interfering with agricultural equipment and infrastructure.....

The Bill introduces a new offence that applies to those who incite or direct trespass without committing trespass themselves, which could attract a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment. The Committee notes that the creation of new offences impacts upon the rights and liberties of persons as previously lawful conduct becomes unlawful. "