Since June 30th 2015, ALEC has had no ongoing operational funding, which means the centre relies on fundraising, philanthropy and donations to keep our doors open.
For 36 years ALEC has worked tirelessly to protect the environment from inappropriate development and has developed a wide range of initiatives supporting the sustainability of Central Australian communities.
For a small organisation ALEC is having a significant impact in keeping the health of our environment in focus and on the agenda.
ALEC is the only organisation in Central Australia that is advocating for the protection of our groundwater and environment. ALEC is taking a strong stance against fracking in the Northern Territory, and successfully supported the campaign against the nomination of the Hale site 70 km south of Alice Springs as the national nuclear waste dumpsite earlier this year.
ALEC is catalysing change through initiatives like RePower Alice Springs, which is responding to the government’s recent investment of $75 million into fossil fuel infrastructure for the town, with no investment into renewable energy or any transition planning. RePower Alice Springs seeks to transition Alice Springs to 100% solar by 2030 – not an ambitious task considering whole countries like Germany, Portugal, and Norway are already running on 100% renewable energy now.
desertSMART EcoFair is now in its eighth year and is the peak Central Australian event focusing on science and sustainability, engaging science celebrities and local experts to facilitate community education and discussion.
The Alice Springs Community Garden continues to thrive, and Food for Alice has gone from a fortnightly to weekly local produce market on Saturday mornings at 90 Gap Rd, The Gap.
ALEC’s social enterprise initiative, Arid Edge Environmental Services is going from strength to strength with 6 full and part time staff members. Beyond garden tune-ups and landscaping projects, Arid Edge is building food gardens in Utopia, and running Green Army projects removing buffel in the Todd River.
ALEC engages in the crucial role of analyzing and responding to government policies and proposals, public submission processes and mining proposals and environmental impacts statements. This analysis is critical in working to protect our environment from inappropriate development and bad government policy.
We are incredibly heartened by the community support we have received since the announcement of the Territory and Federal funding cuts in 2014, which has kept ALEC operational. However it costs a lot to keep the organisation going, and the fundraising pressures are relentless.
We need your ongoing and regular support.
With Federal and State Governments displaying no concern for our environment and taking us backwards on climate action it is easy to feel disheartened, however our strength lies in our capacity to work together and demand a sustainable and fair future for us all.
If you are already a donor and can increase your level of support it would be greatly appreciated, and we encourage anyone who isn't a donor but is in a position to do so to become an ALEC 100 member or Desert Defender.
You can make an end of financial year tax deductible gift to ALEC by:
Become a philanthropist: make a large gift to ALEC
Electronic Transfer – gift fund details
Account Name: ALEC Inc - Gift Fund
Bank: Alice Springs - Bendigo Bank
BSB: 633 000
Account #: 1343 58688
Cheque:
Mail ALEC
PO Box 2796
Alice Springs, NT 0871
or in person
Drop in to ALEC at 90 Gap Rd (corner Kraegen St), The Gap
Become an ALEC 100 Member:
Give $100 a month or contribute a one off $1000 tax deductible donation each year. ALEC 100 supporters will assist to provide the ongoing essential operational funds of ALEC.
http://alec.org.au/get-involved/donate-become-a-desert-defender.html
Become a Desert Defender:
Desert Defenders give one off or monthly donations. These provide critical funds to support ALEC programs and campaigns.
http://alec.org.au/get-involved/donate-become-a-desert-defender.html
Whilst acting on climate change and protecting our environment can seem like an overwhelming task, we must take heart from the changes we are starting to see all over the world as communities take action on transitioning to renewable energy and standing up for our environment.
Please support ALEC to drive that change in Central Australia.