As the summer heats up, we retreat to the cool of our air-conditioned classrooms, lounge rooms and offices. We grizzle about our shrivelling gardens and rising energy and grocery costs, but many of us remain oblivious to the cost to our environment. We notice the unseasonal weather, complaining about cold snaps, heat waves and natural disasters, but we fail to take responsibility.
We feel the pinch financially, especially in rural areas, and some people living on the poverty line will go without a meal tonight. But in developing countries, unseasonal storms and drought will mean the loss of thousands of lives each day. Many of these countries don’t have access to electricity and motorised transport. Imagine the impact on the world if they did! They feel the effects of climate change too, regardless of living simpler, less consumerist lives.
In 2006 Australians bought 598,394 passenger vehicles and 170,847 special utility vehicles. Although comfortable fuel economic, low pollutant cars such as electric hybrids are available, it seems Australians are reluctant to make the switch, buying cars that serve our egos rather then our transport needs.
The organisers and participants of Road RAGE – Ride Against Greenhouse Emissions – now in its tenth year, are aware of these concerns, and are taking a proactive approach toward helping to fix it.
Staff, students and friends of Damascus College, Ballarat, became involved with the RACV Energy Breakthrough Challenge in 1998. The Challenge is a joint initiative of the Country Education Project, Central Goldfields Shire Council and the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, RACV. The Energy Breakthrough Challenge aims to provide a challenging way for young people to engage in technology; developing, designing and building energy efficient vehicles; and exploring solutions to environmental issues.
Road RAGE was born out of the students desire to want to do more, to use the skills they had gained, and capitalise on the Energy Breakthrough experience, spreading the word, and helping the world. This powerful generational shift from our young people to take action to help repair the wrongs of the generations that came before them, for the generations that will come after them, is truly inspiring.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world ...indeed it’s the only thing that ever has” - Margaret Mead
So with knowledge, enthusiasm, talent and courage this dedicated team of designers, builders, drivers and crew set out to show us all, we can make a difference.
This year from 23 November to 9 December 2009, the Damascus team will ride their hybrid energy efficient vehicle, Avimod Dreaming, 3,775 km across the Australian outback from Darwin to Melbourne, with a self imposed speed limit of 90 km per hour. To put this into perspective, the Tour De France is 3,485 km long and runs for three weeks; these students will complete this feat in just eleven days. The 2009 Outback Road RAGE will end on the steps of Parliament House, Melbourne.
Focusing on first looking in our own backyard, the aim is to make Aussies aware. Visiting as many communities as they can along the way, students will alert everyday Australians to everyday solutions for reducing greenhouse emissions, available to us in our everyday lives. In addition to handing out information, a live web cast will be broadcast from the crew bus as well as directly from inside their solar vehicle. The team will have the ability to send and receive emails and their position is being plotted on a Google Map.
Looking at the broader picture, there is an opportunity for Aussies to help their global neighbours contribute to a sustainable world by making donations along the way. With the assistance of the Alternative Technology Association – International Projects group, Caritas and World Vision, these donations will help fund sustainable energy and food programs overseas.
It is possible to reverse some of the impact humans have had on the world, and as citizens of the world, it is our moral obligation to do so. Making small changes in our everyday lives can make a big difference. Start making a change today!
“The future depends on what we do in the present” - Mahatma Gandhi
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Outback Rode RAGE
As the summer heats up, we retreat to the cool of our air-conditioned classrooms, lounge rooms and offices. We grizzle about our shrivelling gardens and rising energy and grocery costs, but many of us remain oblivious to the cost to our environment. We notice the unseasonal weather, complaining about cold snaps, heat waves and natural disasters, but we fail to take responsibility.
The organisers and participants of Road RAGE – Ride Against Greenhouse Emissions – now in its tenth year, are aware of these concerns, and are taking a proactive approach toward helping to fix it.
This year from 23 November to 9 December 2009, the Damascus team will ride their hybrid energy efficient vehicle, 
