Student environment conference
By Carla Gorton
SYDNEY — More than 350 students and environmentalists from around Australia attended the fourth annual Students, Science and Sustainability Conference, held at Macquarie University from July 20-24. The international guests included Rajan Bhattarai from the Asian Students Association Secretariat in Hong Kong, Miya Yoshitani from the US Student Environment Action Coalition and 15 activists from Papua New Guinea.
The conference was opened by Cleonie Quayle from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Workshops and panels over the four days discussed issues relating to Aborigines and the environment.
A memorable feature of the first day was the address by federal environment minister, Senator John Faulkner. In his eagerness to make a point on the relocation of the ammunition base (originally to be sited at Jervis Bay) Faulkner seemed to forget where he was, and in true politician-style, tried to avoid answering a range of questions. However, he had to admit that the federal government doesn't have concrete plans as to how to meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and he also refused to give any guarantee that the targets would be met.
A major focus of many of the panels was the link between environment and development issues. A number of speakers made the point that if structural economic questions, such as the unequal trade relationship between the first and Third Worlds and the economic "rationalist" push in Australia were not addressed, there could be no environmental solutions.
Other features included a public meeting with Juliette Majot, an activist in the non-government organisation's "50 Years is Enough" campaign aimed at the World Bank. Marjot related how her interest in environmental politics has led her to do battle with the World Bank and other global financial institutions.
The need for activism and organisation was stressed. Yoshitani related experiences from the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), which, in 1993 played a key role in mobilisations across the US against the North American Free Trade Agreement. The anti-NAFTA campaign involved student, environmental and trade union activists coming together to highlight social justice and environmental problems associated with the trade pact.
Yoshitani also explained that 1994 marks the 30th anniversary of "Freedom Summer" when young people broke down the barriers of racial segregation in the US' southern states. This summer, SEAC, together with other groups, are commemorating these events by organising young people around issues facing them today.
During the conference, 200 people participated in an action against the M2 motorway which threatens to degrade a 21-kilometre swathe of north western Sydney from North Ryde to Baulkham Hills. The M2 will lock Sydney into greater car-dependence and further pollute the environment. The Coalition of Transport Action Groups is active in organising the campaign against the M2.
Nore than 60 people took part in the "Unhappy 50th Birthday of the World Bank" action which took place on July 25 in the Sydney Central Business District. The action was designed to highlight the unaccounted for social and environmental cost of World Bank and IMF structural adjustment programs.
Next year's Students, Science and Sustainability Conference will be held at Flinders University in Adelaide. More reports on the SS&S conference will appear in future issues of Green Left Weekly.