The National Day of Climate Action was a great success nationally and Townsville people played their part in it. We gathered on the Strand at 4 p.m., wearing the “hot, bright” colours requested by GetUp!, and listened to speakers telling us about the multiple threats posed by climate change. Organisers counted over 450 people which on a per capita basis is about as good as Melbourne and, in fact, the national average. Congratulations to GetUp! and local organisers NQ Conservation Council.
Halelujah BABY raised the energy levels with some very appropriate songs and there were some great individual contributions – this sign, for instance, and the small group of folk musicians (harp, recorders and fiddle) playing on the edge of the site.
Rain was threatening from 3.30 onwards and started falling about 5.00 as we were coming to the end of the programme but this is Townsville so the rain is warm and we still walked from the headland down on to the beach for a group photo. I might have said “marched” but we were far too happy and relaxed for that. We were serious about climate change and getting some action to address it, sure, but we were also happy to be there together and see such a large group of like-minded people. It’s all too easy to be discouraged by the indifference of those around us at work or in our social circles but this rally affirmed the community support that environmental action does have.
There is a saying amongst politicians that each letter they receive on a given issue is worth ten votes. How many votes is each participant in a rally worth? Surely at least twice that. Ewen Jones, can you afford to lose 9000 votes next election?
Didn’t attend but want to be heard? You can still (as of the time of writing) sign the petition.
National news for the National Day of Climate Action
- ABC: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-17/thousands-rally-across-australia-for-national-day-climate-action/5097536
- SBS: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/17/thousands-call-climate-action
- ABC: The link between climate change and extreme weather; there is more detail on this subject here, especially the latter part of the post.
- Preliminary photos from GetUp! are here. They say more news will be coming soon and I will update this post when it is released.
- Images from the Greens: http://storify.com/GreensMPs/australian-greens-at-the-national-day-of-climate-a
I think the band was “Hallelujah Baby“.
Thanks, Jacinta – post updated accordingly :-)
Thanks Malcolm
What a great event was Sunday – I felt very uplifted. So much more empowering to gather in groups and voice our opinions together than bemoan cut after cut. I think we need to keep it up …… get organised and really show our Prime Minister what a mandate is.
PS Join our newsletter on the website for updates when Halelujah baby are playing next
Regards Anu
More Townsville photos from Get-Up are now here.