| |
Thousands
rally for 100% renewables by 2020
13 June 2009
Thousands took the
streets on June 13 for the National Climate
Emergency Rallies. Protesters declared a climate
emergency and demanded the Australian government
take emergency action on climate change.
The rallies were an
initiative of the Climate Action Summit held in
Canberra in January and were supported by a wide
range of climate action groups, unions and other
organisations.
Ben Courtice said more than
4000 protesters rallied in Melbourne,
marching to protest the ALP state conference
over state government policy as well as
supporting the national climate rally demands.
Greens senator Bob Brown condemned the federal
ALP, environment minister Peter Garrett in
particular, for approving greenhouse-gas
intensive projects.
United Firefighters Union secretary Peter
Marshall said that although no scientist, “I can
tell an emergency when I see one”. He cited
intense bushfires that have occurred every year
in one state or another for several years now.
The crowd responded enthusiastically to a call
for the climate movement to organise blockades
of coal power stations. Protesters staged a mass
sit-in on the street outside the ALP conference
before marching off again.
Tim Dobson said 1500 people
gathered in the rain in Hobart
on the Tasmanian parliament lawns to demand
serious climate action in a rally organised by
Climate Action Hobart.
Rally chair Jess Wright said “stopping climate
change isn’t just an economics issue but a moral
imperative for everyone.
The rally heard from climate scientist James
Risby; John Todd, director of Eco Energy
Options; Paul Oosting from the Wilderness
society; Tasmanian secretary of the United
Firefighters Union Richard Warwick and Greens
senator Christine Milne.
In Sydney, Peter Boyle
said 3000 people took part in a noisy and
colourful march from Millers Point under the
Sydney Harbour Bridge to PM Kevin Rudd’s Sydney
offices. Protesters sat down in the street
outside his office while some wrote messages to
Rudd on large pieces of red cloth.
“Real climate action — yes we can! 100%
renewables by 2020 — yes we can!”, the crowd
chanted.
The rally was addressed by Maria Timon from the
Pacific Calling Partnership; retired Hunter
Valley coalminer Graham Brown; NSW Greens MLC
Lee Rhiannon; Michael West from the Metropolitan
Land Council; NSW secretary of the National
Tertiary Education Union, Genevieve Kelly; and
John Hepburn from Greenpeace.
Rally chair Simon Butler told the crowd that
while the politicians were making compromises
with the big polluters, “climate change does not
do deals, it cannot be bought off and it will
not negotiate. The science tells us we have to
act now to shift to 100% renewable energy by
2020.”
Leigh Hughes said 600 people
gathered in Canberra’s Garema
Place for a climate emergency rally and
festival.
Speakers included Richard Denniss from the
Australia Institute; Kim Sattler from Unions
ACT; Shane Ratenbury from the ACT Greens;
Clayton McDonald from the Socialist Alliance ;
climate scientist Andrew Glikson and Emma
Kefford from Climate Action Canberra.
Andrew Hall said 1500
enthusiastic people rallied and marched through
Adelaide demanding 100%
renewable energy by 2020. The rally was
organised by the Climate Emergency Action
Network.
Darren Ray, climate meteorologist for the Bureau
of Meteorology cited rising sea levels to press
the urgent need for action.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young told the crowd
that the Greens reject the Rudd’s governments
flawed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. Other
speakers included the Australian Education
Union, the Socialist Alliance and Friends of the
Earth.
Chris Williams said 300 people
marched through Wollongong to
demand 100% renewable energy by 2020.
Speakers included Mark Raue from the Pacific
Calling Partnership; Greens NSW MLC Sylvia Hale;
Ben Van Der Wijngaarten, Deputy Mayor of Kiama;
Jess Moore from the Socialist Alliance and
Resistance, and Vanessa Organo, environment
officer at Wollongong Undergraduate Students’
Association (WUSA).
“It is our right to take control of our future
because we are going to be the ones living it.
We will not be ignored and we will win a safe
climate”, Organo said to huge cheers. The action
was initiated by members of the Wollongong
Climate Action Network and the WUSA Environment
Collective.
Paul Benedek said a spirited
rally of 600 people gathered in Queens Park in
Brisbane.
Speakers included Murri leader, Sam Watson; Qld
ETU secretary Peter Simpson; John MacKenzie from
Friends of the Earth; Kirsten Kennedy from the
Pine Rivers Climate Action Network and Larrissa
Waters from Queensland Greens.
Rally co-chair Ewan Saunders said: “We demand
that governments make the changes this planet
needs immediately or we will take you out of
your position because you have not acted
responsibly.” To cheers, he also called for tens
of thousands of green collar jobs.
Alex Bainbridge said 500 people
marched through Perth in a rally organised by
the WA Safe Climate Coalition. Speakers included
the newly elected WA Greens member for Fremantle,
Adele Carles, Sam Wainwright from the Socialist
Alliance and Greens senator Rachel Siewert.
Behind the stage was a huge banner that read:
“100% renewables by 2020".
Jonathan Strauss said in
Cairns climate activists built
the city’s first light rail “station” outside
local MP Jim Turnour’s office on June 12. The
model platform and signage highlighted the
demand for a comprehensive public transport
system to help fight climate change.
The action was organised by Cairns Action for
Sustainable Transport, Cairns and Far North
Environment Centre, Cairns Bicycle Users Group
and the Wilderness Society.
|
|
