Walking Against Warming is now in its sixth year and this year the community has an even greater chance to have their communal voice heard by the politicians and leaders of this country. We all know that the federal election has the politicians listening closely to and trying to appease the voters. And it is hoped that this ‘election fever’ will help amplify the Walk Against Warming message: The majority of Australians are concerned about climate change and want political leadership and action in this space, now!
Political Leaders: Walk with the people, not the big polluters!
Last year’s walk was hugely successful with over 90,000 taking part around the country and organisers are hoping for an even stronger turn out next weekend. The central message is that individuals are already taking action, reducing their environmental footprint, recycling, saving water and energy, and advocating and influencing their friends and families, while the big polluters get a free ride and the government continues sit on its hands and be entirely non-committal.
We already know that the majority of Australians support action on climate change. The 2007 federal election is widely considered to have been fought, and won, on climate change and the need for action. The thousands of submissions to the Garnaut review, the various rallies around Australia over many years all point to the fact that we already know – without the assistance of a randomly selected 150-person focus group – that it is time for leadership and action on climate change now.
“[Climate change] is a political conflict between short term self interest and long term economic responsibility, and it is a technical challenge to create economic incentives that will drive down the cost of carbon pollution free energy systems. But before we can act on the technical solutions, we need to solve the political problem.” … Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
Take Action
“The majority of the community is sick of waiting for national climate policy that delivers the deep cuts in pollution needed for a safe climate future. At this year’s Walk Against Warming thousands of everyday Australians will invite the country’s political leaders to ‘Walk with the people, not the big polluters’ ”, says Pepe Clarke, CEO of Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
Around the country protest walks and rallies are planned in all capitals and many major cities – to find a walk near you see the Walk Against Warming website. You can help put pressure on the political leaders this election to:
- Make the polluters pay by putting a price on carbon
- Replace the most polluting coal-fired power stations with clean energy
- Increase investment in renewable energy and create new clean jobs and industries
- Guarantee to cut pollution over the next term of government
- Support developing countries by investing in sustainable development
Don’t give up. Now is the time to protest again and again – while we have their ear, make the politicians listen to us! Sustained and ongoing commitment through community activism is the key. Come out and walk against warming on Sunday 15 August 2010. Make it fun, bring your friends and family – rally together as a community and bring focus to the inaction and help influence the future.
Volunteers needed now
A call out to volunteers is also going on – people are needed to help spread awareness and information on the Walks around their local community. See the Walk Against Warming website for contact details closest to you.
Images from last year’s walk:
Some of Green Times’ favourite banners/slogans
from 2009:
- Capitalism has no solutions for Climate Change
- Fossil Fools: the climate wake up call! There are no jobs on a dead planet!
- Don’t give Tazzy a Brazilian
- How about a: Canberra Politicians Reduction Scheme (CPRS)
- The Greens: Help!! Cool it! So we can all share it!
- Cleaner Air!! Cleaner Governments!! It’s time to clean up our acts!
- Coal is criminal in a warming world!
- Global warming isn’t cool
- Longer Summers, Warmer Winters Vote Coal-its-on!
- You can’t have your planet and heat it too
- When I grow up, I want the world to be… HERE
- Yes, huge costs in tackling climate change, BUT doing nothing will cost the EARTH
- I’m just here for the atmosphere…
- Have a heart give green energy a start
- Rudd and Brumby love coal more than our children
- Australia says the Climate Can’t Wait
- Give coal the (finger) put a panel on your roof
- Cutting emissions creates jobs
Have you got a great slogan?
Bring it along on Sunday 15 August, and send us your photos.
If you’re at the Walk in Sydney, come and visit the Green Times stand in Belmore Park. We’d love to see you!
Photo Credit: Daniel Yuan
