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Seven days of climate action

Not many people know that coal exports are NSW’s and Australia’s biggest contribution to climate change… We’ve put together a seven day activist calender for you, to get you started in you coal and climate activism.

Day 1Well, it’s Monday, and you’re busy, so you can start in a small way. Send an email to John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Peter Garret, and Malcolm Turnbull demanding that they begin phasing out coal exports to address our ever-increasing greenhouse gas emissions. A suggested message is below.

Dear representatives,

I am worried about climate change, but nobody

seems to be tackling our biggest single

contribution to the problem: coal exports. I call

on your party to get serious about the root causes

of climate change, and develop a plan to

extract NSW and Australia from dependence

on export coal, and begin a just transition to

a globally responsible future.

Sincerely,
[your name]

Day 2

Okay, you’ve had a warm up, and now you want others to know about the coal export problem. Write a letter to your local paper raising the problem: ask your fellow citizens, if we are all cutting down on consumption, riding our bikes to work and eating less meat to save the planet from climate change, isn’t it only rational to ask our leaders not to massively increase the volume of coal exports leaving Newcastle harbour every year?

Day 3

Now you’re getting the hang of it, why not commit yourself to take part in protests against the expansion of the coal export facilities in Newcastle (it’s not that far away!)

The coal industry has enormous power and influence in NSW, and despite over two years of strong community aspiration for a better way, the State Government approved not just the massive new Anvil Hill coal mine, but a major expansion of coal export facilities at Newcastle Harbour. In fact, the NSW Government has given coal c companies permission to double coal exports from Newcastle - already the world's biggest coal portIf we want to make a change against an industry this entrenched, we need to get out in the open air and take direct action against coal. Rising Tide Newcastle has an online pledge where you commit to take part in protest action against the coal port expansion:

 

If you put your name down there you will then be contacted when actions are coming up.

Visit the pledge site on Day Three of your seven day introduction to climate activism.

Day 4You probably aren’t going to get a reply back from the political party leaders for months, but you will get an answer much faster if you visit your local Federal member of parliament and ask them to talk to their leader on your behalf.

There is a contact list of MPs on the Parliament House website. Ring your local member to make an appointment to talk about the contribution that coal exports make to climate change. You only need a fifteen minute appointment and they will pass your message up the food chain to their leaders.

Feel free to download information sheets from the Rising Tide website for backgroundinfo before you go.

Day 5

It’s Friday night, and you’ve done a great job busily activating against coal export expansion all week. So invite your friends and family to a dinner party, and while you’re all supping, explore the problem in a bigger way:

For example….

You to friend: “You know, we hear so much about Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions being so small compared to China, but aren’t the Chinese emissions largely from manufacturing and industry to make consumer goods to export to countries like Australia?”

Your friend: “Yeah, I wonder what our greenhouse gas emissions would be if we made all of our own concrete, televisions, phones, bikes, cars, and plastic junk?”

Your Mum: “Maybe we can help reduce dependence on coal exports by not buying new imported products that we don’t need?!?!”

Your Dad: “Hey, that could help another way, because we wouldn’t need us to sell so many raw commodities to balance our trade debt!”

Day 6

Set up your own coal exports activist group….

With your friends, your playgroup, your brothers and sisters. We’re sure you could think of lots of funkier actions to take than the five you’ve already done. Think of a cool name for your group, tell the local paper and radio station that you’ve formed because you’re worried about coal exports. Think of ways you could get out into the community and raise awareness of the contribution of coal exports to climate change.

Day 7

Take a banner to the footy/soccer/cricket/netball match with your new and empowered local activist group.

 

 

Remember, always feel free to ask other activists, like Rising Tide, for advice,
and don’t be afraid to stand up for the future.

 


Submitted by admin on 8 August 2007 - 11:40am.