Dear friend,

Happy New Year to all our friends and supporters, we hope you've all had an opportunity to relax and connect with family and friends over the break. Just this week it was announced that 2020 was the fourth warmest year on record for Australia, continuing a run of record warm years over the past decade, according to provisional data released by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Throughout 2021, we're going to be calling on you to help us achieve the work we need to do to ensure action against our five key themes, 

• Climate and energy futures;
• Biodiverse futures;
• Water futures;
• Mining and regulatory reform;
• And Sustainable living in the tropics

Staff members Shar, Kirsty and Lou are all part-time from January 2021. Please keep this in mind when emailing us or looking to drop by the office, our email signatures will let you know what days you can find us in the office.

We're also excited to announce we're currently recruiting a new team member, a Climate Conversations Co-ordinator. 

Comment on City of Darwin's Climate Emergency Response

There is still time for you to comment on the City of Darwin's Draft Climate Change Response. This Response has 4 goals including:

1. Promoting resilience and adapting to climate change
2. Achieving net-zero Council-controlled emissions by 2030
3. Supporting our community to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040
4. Identifying economic opportunties 

We strongly encourage you to take a read of the FAQ sheets and the Draft Response on the City of Darwin website and make a comment on:

• How can we support those in Darwin worst effected by Climate Change?
• What would help you and your Darwin family live better quality, lower emission lives?How important is climate change to you?
• Will you support the City of Darwin's Climate Emergency Action Plan? If so, how?

GULP NT now has a Youtube channel

Rapid Creek and Parap markets Pocketbook

Whilst we're on the topic of growing and eating local foods, have you seen Tisha Tejaya's beautifully illustrated pocketbook filled with drawings and details of produce sold at the markets? Tisha has slowly been drawing all the locally grown produce at the markets and launched it as a pocketbook this month. The Pocketbook features 72 exquisite botanical illustrations, as well as sumptuous recipe ideas, history, folklore and anecdotes from the NT grower community. 100% drawn, written, designed and proudly produced in Darwin by local artist, Tisha Tejaya. 

Behind the scenes

Lots of what we do to achieve our vision happens behind the scenes, and we've had some requests to share what we've been working on. Below are the submissions and media we've written over the past month:

• Territory rivers at risk from massive irrigation plans

• Subsidising fracking in the NT is economic and climate madness

• Major report into closure and rehabilitation at Ranger Uranium Mine released

• NT's economic recovery needs to be centred on energy efficiency

Reduce waste with new Darwin local businesses

Darwin local and Waste Free NT volunteer, Simona Paganetto, has turned her passion into a business and has launched an online marketplace, 'I'm Plastic Free', connecting you with small Australian producers making ethical, plastic free or up-cycled products. Check it out online if you're looking for some tools to transition to a plastic free life, or to purchase a conscious gift. There's stuff for the home, lifestyle, beauty, garden, clothing and more. 

ECNT and COOLmob's Lou De Mattia has just opened a curated second-hand clothing store, Sister Buffalo, in Nightcliff. Check it out from 20 Jan, open 5 days a week, Wednesdays to Sundays. Lou and her sister Gaby are looking to inspire the community to shop secondhand and will also be running mending and crafty workshops to extend the life of clothes and reduce your fashion footprint. 

We're hiring a Climate Conversations Coordinator

In collaboration with Climate for Change, the Climate Conversations Coordinator will recruit, train and support volunteers to facilitate Climate Conversations that will educate the public and build community support for and action towards climate solutions across the Territory.

Climate Conversations uses the party plan model made famous by Tupperware® to facilitate discussions about climate change in people’s homes, among friends. The engagement model supports volunteers to engage and activate new audiences around climate change and solutions reaching new audiences at an unprecedented combination of depth and scale via trusted peers.

This position is currently funded for 3 days per week over 12 months. There is a possibility of that increasing to full-time, subject to further funding. Working hours can be flexible.

Full position description and how to apply on our website. Applications close 11:55pm on 29th January 2021. 

Job ad: Community Campaigner - NT Outback

The Territory Outback campaign is a collaborative initiative supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Environment Centre Northern Territory (ECNT) that aims to secure better outcomes for people and nature in Outback landscapes in the Northern Territory.

The Community Campaigner will be responsible for leading engagement with the community, to build public awareness and support for increased investment in conservation and land management in the Northern Territory, and for supporting engagement with key stakeholders and policy makers. Full position description and how to apply at Ethical Jobs. Applications close 29 January 2021. 

Our beloved Rapid Creek is at risk

We're planning a place-based public meeting at Boulter Road on the last Sunday of January, the 29th, from 8.30am - 9.30am in collaboration with Rapid Creek Landcare group. Come along to learn more about what is at risk, and connect to the ecological value of the catchment. 

Look out on our Facebook and website for more information about this event - coming shortly. 

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