Walkers want change in climate policy
Fri 16 November 2007
Carlos Robinson, Bachelor of Journalism
A column of people stretching across the Alexandra Headland foreshore urged federal politicians to take more action on climate change, on Sunday November 11.
As part of the national Walk Against Warming, around 100 people walked from the Alexandra Headland Surf Club along Aerodrome Rd to Sixth Avenue and back, around midday.
The Sunshine Coast Environment Council hosted the event, with thousands of people also taking part in 56 other walks held around the country.
Before the walk, MC Phillip Daffara told the crowd the key message of the event was that Australia needed a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2020. Aspiring federal candidates also addressed the crowd.
The event took on new significance after The Courier-Mail reported that the voting climate could be heating up, with polls showing a swing away from the incumbent Liberal MP Peter Slipper in the seat of Fisher.
Independent candidate for Fisher, Caroline Hutchison, fired up the crowd by urging everyone to take personal action on climate change. She said that you could not sit in your V8 Commodore while pulling a speed boat out to Somerset Dam and wonder why nothing was being done about global warming.
Instead, she called on everyone to preserve the environment for future generations. She said that we needed to "tread more lightly on the earth, because it’s the only one we’ve got".
The Greens candidate for Fisher, Matthew Gray, is an environmental scientist who decided to run for office so he could take direct action on climate change himself.
Labor’s candidate for Fairfax, Debbie Blumel, spoke of the local impact of climate change, saying it could affect Fraser Island and the Cooloola Coast, and increase the risk of flooding in the Maroochy River.
She also took the oppurtunity to take a swipe at the government. "It is disgraceful that the Howard Government has ignored climate change for four terms," she said.
The crowd paused at 11am for Remembrance Day, and Mr Daffara asked the crowd to think of what sacrifices we could make so that future generations could enjoy the environment.
National walk organiser Cate Faehrmann said: "Climate change is the most pressing issue of our time. Without community pressure our political parties will not take the action needed to make real cuts to our greenhouse gas emissions."
Ms Faehrmann said that many Australians have already taken action on climate change by using low-energy light globes and reducing their home energy use.
"Now the next Federal Government needs to match our commitment and make sure Australia starts to act responsibly on climate change," Ms Faehrmann said.
The organisers said the Walk Against Warming is the largest grassroots nationwide climate change event. Around 100,000 Australians marched in last year’s event, including a 40,000 strong march in Sydney, the organisers said.
Reference:
Strutt, Sam 2007, ‘In the marginals’, The Courier-Mail, 9 November 2007, viewed 11 November 2007, ProQuest ID:
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