We’re not the only ones feeling the pinch. Everyone we talk to right now is feeling squeezed. We’ve just had the lowest quarterly GDP in decades – at just 0.1 per cent, the economy is barely breathing.
So, this letter comes with mixed feelings.
We seriously need all the support we can get. We don’t need to tell you the tech giants are adding to the general downturn in advertising and economic stress for media by actively trying to kill independent news. Now they’re after newsletter subscriptions!
If you’re already a subscriber thank you – and if you don’t read us for a few weeks our emails might be automatically sent to junk and then you wonder why you no longer get the newsletter. In this case please resubscribe! It helps so much.
If you’re a paying member – massive thanks.
If you’re thinking of signing up – please do! We are very flexible and if there is nothing that suits your budget get in touch, editorial@thefifthestate.com.au and have a chat.
Win-Win
In the spirit of collaboration, by way of a win-win we’re relaunching The Green List with a rock bottom Essentials package.
The Green List is your “intelligent” directory for businesses that offer green products and services.
It’s much more than a listing.
It’s a profile. It includes a video interview from which we craft a story that shines a light on what our readers want to know about the sustainability solutions you offer.
It’s also quite personal. From a “get-to-know you” point of view. And you can use a clip from the video for your socials. We can also boost your social profile.
All profiles are promoted through The Fifth Estate, so you benefit from a premium rusted on audience.
And even more critical is that all proceeds go to fund The Fifth Estate’s journalism.
From just $495. See the full range of options.
New podcast series
There’s more. We’ve launched a new podcast series for The Green List called Transitions.
In each episode we invite Greenlisters and other interesting people we come across to shed light on their green business model: what does their business or work offer for the sustainability transition; why and how did they get going; what kind of challenges did they face and how did they overcome the barriers?
The idea is a first person case studies – the things we can all learn from.
The first Transitions podcast is with Skipp Williamson and her team from Partners in Performance which has just been acquired by Accenture.
We ask Skipp about how her business works and what kind of work it does. Sensitivity alert: there’s mention of the mining industry, along with energy sectors good and bad. Being the biggest polluter, argues Skipp, means there is also the biggest opportunity for emissions abatement.
Reflections on the nature of recessions
A century or so ago a wise banking man once answered our newbie question about what makes recessions end. “Recessions end because every morning 24 million Australians [at that time] have to get out of bed and think of something to do.”
Snap.
And this is how the virtuous circle gets its mojo back.
So simple. What goes up must come down and what’s down has to go up again.
We just have to keep that in mind.
The Nuclear Files series continues
On the editorial front this week Murray Hogarth continues with his deep dive into how the nuclear industry is worming its way into Australian politics and industry.
And while he notes that Big Nuke might make sense for countries that already have a nuclear industry, in Australia the strategies all lead back to slowing renewable energy. Whaddya know.
Among our biggest, proudest achievements is attracting this magnificent series of contributions from Murray Hogarth who has the double edged sword of being a fully fledged investigative reporter (ex-4 Corners and Fairfax) and now with several years of direct experience in the energy industry (WattWatchers). Rare indeed.
Masterclass – Extreme Green Infrastructure
This week we delved deeper into the world of urban greening that we kicked off in 2022 at a very successful Urban Greening event at UTS.
This sector has quickly become a force majeure in its own right. The attention it’s getting at the top end of the industry was evidenced at our masterclass with Super Bloom’s Jac Semmler with the details and value of plants; Hassell’s Jon Hazelwood, with hands on experience of large landscape design work, and IPWEA’s David Jenkins who it was a pleasure getting to know with his practical and focus on the economics that can underpin the viability of nature.
Our expert co-moderator Gail Hall, co founder of the Australasian Green Infrastructure Network added those questions and insights for which we plead “The Rumsfeld” (unknown unknowns etcetera).
If you’re a Fifth Estate member you can get the recording free of charge. The full session will be ready by early next week. Non-members can still get access for the ticket price. Get in touch at events@thefithestate.com.au for details.
Noel Corkery
And right on point, Noel Corkery a leading light in the landscape architecture world has sent through a brilliant analysis of the world of nature and how we urgently need to reconfigure how we can it central to our world. Especially our economic systems that have “failed to properly value nature”.
Deep attention to how Indigenous Peoples value Country gives us much of what we need to know now, Noel says.
He addresses market based instruments such as biodiversity offsets, green sovereign bonds and the opportunities offered by the Nature Repair Act.
May we take this opportunity to thank all our supporters.
tina@thefifthestate.com.au