July 21 Update

PeoplePower Blue Mountains - Update July 21

In this update:

- Upcoming events

- Campaign Update

- Public Seminar

- Local council elections - Plebiscite on power privatisation

- PeoplePower Blog!

- Help Get Our Message Out

- Write to the Gazette

Upcoming Events

July

Tuesday 22 - People Power meeting, 7:30pm, upstairs, Blackburn’s Family Hotel. Come along and get involved as we gear up towards putting an end to the power privatisation proposal!

August

Sunday 10 - Blue Mountains Public seminar about power sell off DETAILS BELOW!

Saturday 16 - ‘Super Saturday’ anti-power privatisation street stalls: Katoomba, Blackheath, Springwood, Blaxland - We need volunteers, email peoplepowerbm@gmail.com to be a part of securing your electricity future

September

Saturday 13 - Local council election

Campaign Update

Hi everyone

People Power Blue Mountains met on June 8 and discussed three major issues.

First was the public seminar idea, which is discussed below. Secondly we talked about helping out other parts of the campaign, especially in Western Sydney. Finally we talked about lobbying for a plebiscite to be conducted in conjunction with the council elections.

Public Seminar

This will be held August 10th, from 1-4pm at Katoomba Civic Centre - the next People Power meeting on July 22 will continue the planning for this forum.

At this stage the structure is along the lines of:

- A Keynote speaker

- A forum on the science and technology around the future of energy, including experts on renewables, demand management and other technology.

- A second forum on the politics and economics of our electricity supply so we can find out what we can do with the science.

- Finally, a plenary forum where people can put their two bobs in of the back of what they’ve heard from the experts.

This is a great opportunity to hear from the experts about what will be the future for our electricity supply. Post Garnaut, and with the threat of privatisation hanging over our 240volts, there has never been a better time to get informed about the future of this essential resource.

Hopefully we can use the forum as a springboard for developing a charter on the future of our electricity/energy needs in the Blue Mountains. We can then lobby our elected representatives to adopt this charter.

In the lead up to the forum El Gibbs is chasing speakers, while Don, Jules and Gerry are working on a banner. Posters are being organised and we are sending out a big call for people to help promote the event. Please get in touch if you can distribute posters and/or flyers.

Local council elections

We will be writing to all declared council election candidates asking them to support both our plebiscite and keeping electricity in full public ownership.

People Power Blog!

We now have our very own Blog, which will be being launched after tomorrow night’s meeting! Come along and find out more or stay tuned for the link!

Getting Our Message Out

Here is a copy of the release we sent out to local media following our last meeting

Press release

“Let People Decide” Call On Power Privatisation

Fresh from successfully stalling plans by the State Government to sell Electricity assets owned by the NSW public, local campaigners are calling on the decision to be taken to the people.

“We were really pleased that Phil Koperberg came out in opposition to Costa’s ill thought out proposal,” said El Gibbs from PeoplePower Blue Mountains. “His principled stand sent a message from the ordinary people of the Blue Mountains that our power is not for sale.”

Political commentators agreed that Koperberg’s public response was a major factor in Michael Costa taking privatisation off the table until September.

“We’ve won a battle, but this is far from over,” said Gibbs. “It’s important that the people have a say on what is, after all, one fifth of what we own collectively in this state.”

At a packed public meeting in Katoomba in late May Phil Koperberg floated the idea of a plebiscite on power privatisation, a suggestion that has been eagerly supported by local anti-power privatisation campaigners.

“We didn’t get a say before the last state election, so the upcoming council elections provide a perfect opportunity for mountains residents to have their say and for Phil Koperberg to measure the community response to Michael Costa’s proposal,” said Gibbs.

PeoplePower Blue Mountains is moving to develop a community-based response to the challenge of securing the future of local energy needs

A forum has been scheduled for August 10 under the name of “Where Were You When The Lights Went Out” which is designed for people to get the latest information - scientific, economic, technical and political - on where our community stands on the future of energy.

“We’re just ordinary people trying to find out the best and latest information on what this crisis means for the Blue Mountains,” said Gibbs. “We’ll be getting along some speakers that are really across these issues, and it is a great opportunity for people in the Blue Mountains to bring themselves up to speed on this issue.”

The forum will run from 1pm to 4pm at Katoomba Civic Centre on Sunday August 10 and entry is free.

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For more information contact El Gibbs on 0419 290 788

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Get involved now! Take action! Make a difference! The person that stands between Costa and Iemma and Power Privatisation is YOU.

Things that you can do include:

Tell Phil Koperberg you support his opposition to power privatisation

Contact Phil Koperberg:

Phone (02) 4751 3298
Fax (02) 4751 1245
bluemountains@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Write to the Gazette

It only takes a few minutes and has a BIG impact. You can email your letters to: editorial.bmgazette@ruralpress.com

Or post them to:

Letters to the Editor

Blue Mountains Gazette

274 Macquarie Road

Springwood 2777