climate emergency rally – melbourne

Today I marched with around 4,000 other Victorians from the State Library to Treasury Gardens to highlight to the federal government how flawed Kevin Rudd’s CPRS scheme is. There were many familiar and local faces amongst rally goers and it was good to see that people from all walks of life are concerned about state and federal government inaction on climate change.

It is always good to see Bob Brown visiting Melbourne.


The Yarra Valley Climate Action Group were there, travelling from the Yarra Valley to show their concern about the CPRS and man made global warming created from greenhouse gas emissions.

Cr Sam Gaylard from the City of Yarra was there.

This is me pictured with the Ashburner/Reid family from the Dandenong Ranges.

Seasoned climate campaigner Janet Rice was there.

Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth was there with his son.

Bob Brown led the march to the Melbourne Town Hall where the ALP were holding their state conference.

Cr Lynette Kelleher from the City of Casey was marching.

Ian Rainbow, dedicated environmental volunteer with Friends of Glenfern Valley, Upwey marching to Treasury Gardens.

The Sherbrooke Community School are very passionate about environmental issues, it was terrific to see them at today’s rally.

The Greens were proud supporters of today’s rally, here I am pictured with Geelong Green, Tory and Steve Meacher of the Healesville Greens. Steve is also chairperson of Healesville Environment Watch and was the driving force behind the establishment of local climate group in Healesville, C4.

The South West Greens were there highlighting forest issues, deforestation accounts for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

David Spratt, co-author of Climate Code Red, standing outside the ALP State Conference. David has also been working on a significant climate project, Safe Climate Australia, a not-for-profit group dedicated to planning the transition to a zero-carbon economy.

.

.

.

Safe Climate Australia has been formed by a group of concerned climate scientists, community and business leaders with a shared understanding of the need for emergency action to restore a safe climate.

.
Safe Climate Australia will be officially launched at an event for 1000 invited guests in Melbourne on July 13, with a keynote speech from Nobel Prize winner, Al Gore.

Safe Climate Australia is aiming to deepen community understanding about both the scientific imperatives that demand action at great speed, and about how we can plan the rapid transition to a zero-carbon economy. If you’d like to know more visit Safe Climate Australia.

climate torch hits yarra ranges

Climate Change talk was in the air this week with the arrival of Get Up’s Climate Torch in Yarra Ranges. I had the very great pleasure of attending the Climate Torch relay on a number of occasions as the torch made its way through the Shire.

First the relay kicked off at the Cement Creek water catchment, located just beyond Warburton.















The Wilderness Society talked about the Green Carbon report and the important role the forests had to play in climate change.

The gathering up at Cement Creek. These closed water catchments are due to be logged later this year.

Me and Bianca Rich, Torch Relay organiser.

Next the torch made its way to Warburton.

Me, walking with the Warburton community along side the Yarra River.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The next day saw the torch in the Dandenong Ranges. It was great to accept the torch from the students of the Sherbrooke Community School on behalf of the Dandenong Ranges community.
.

.

.

Me and Steve Meacher, organiser of the Healesville leg of the relay in Sassafras.

The students of the Sherbrooke Community School are very interested in reducing their footprint with the school's VCE Environmental Science Class participating in the "Switch and Save" program - helping to reduce your carbon footprint without reducing your bank balance.

After that the torch made its way to an evening with David Spratt, co-author of Climate Code Red at Burrinja in Upwey. David spoke about the urgent and pressing need for action on climate change now. It was a great night organised by the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association who are playing a key role locally assisting residents with solar installations.

The next day the torch had a dawn start from Mt St Leonards, just outside of Healesville and made its way to Healesville Railway Station passing through a number of schools on the way through. I handed the torch on to Cr Jeanette McRae who accepted it on behalf of her local community.

.

.

.

.

.

.

..

..

.

...

.

The torch will make its way to Canberra to highlight concerns about lack of action on climate change, calls for a 50% reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions are part of the campaign. It seems there’s still a ways to go given the latest recommendations from Garnaut.

I think Garnaut needs to read Climate Code Red!

If you’d like to read more about Climate Code Red visit www.scribepublications.com.au/book/climatecodered