Today: Walk Against Warming …

Walk Against Warming – TODAY
WALK WITH THE PEOPLE. NOT THE BIG POLLUTERS.

The annual Walk Against Warming will be held in cities and regional centres around Australia today, to highlight the urgent need for climate action and the abysmal lack of positive policies from the major parties over the course of this election campaign.

In Tasmania, Walks will be held in both Hobart and Launceston.

During this election campaign, both major parties have failed the test on climate change. Julia Gillard wants to defer climate action approval to a citizen think tank, while Tony Abbott has nothing that will tackle big polluters.

The Walks are calling on our political leaders to:
• Protect forests to secure carbon stores
• Make the polluters pay by putting a price on carbon
• Replace our most polluting power stations with clean energy
• Create new clean jobs and industries
• Guarantee to cut pollution over the next term of government
• Support poor and vulnerable countries to tackle the impacts of climate change and invest in sustainable development.

In Hobart
Meet at Parliament House – 12 noon, Today – Sunday 15 August
Speakers Include: Christine Milne -Greens Senate candidate and climate change spokesperson, James Risbey – Climate Scientist, Peter Boyer – Climate Change commentator, Mel Barnes – Socialist Alliance candidate

In Launceston
Meet at Civic Square – 12 noon, Today – Sunday 15 August
Speakers Include: Sandy Murray – Al Gore trained climate campaigner, Paulene Hutton – Australian Democrats candidate, Ros Lewis – OXFAM and Act on Climate Change, Peter Whish-Wilson – Australian Greens candidate

Greens:

Greens join Walks Against Warming

Australian Greens Senators, candidates and members will join the Walks Against Warming in cities across Australia today, offering voters a strong voice for ambitious climate action at next weekend’s election.

The Greens are encouraging people in all the capital cities and many regional centres to join the walks and send the old parties a clear message for the week before the election – strong climate action is a vote winner.

“Both Labor and the Coalition want to keep the climate crisis off the election agenda, but Australians won’t let them hide behind delay and denial,” Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

“The rallying cry of the walk this year is ‘walk with the people, not the big polluters.’ The Greens offer Australians the only option to vote with the people, not the big polluters.

“The Greens have campaigned strongly for our Safe Climate Bill through the campaign.

“Our policies to plan for the transformation to 100% renewables, save energy, build high speed rail, light rail, cycleways and greener cars and protect our magnificent forest carbon stores would drive an inspiring transition to a zero emissions economy as fast as possible.”

Greens Senate Candidate Peter Whish-Wilson said “The community of Tasmania understands that the climate crisis is both a threat and an opportunity.
“In Northern Tasmania we have seen extended dry periods, leading to some areas being declared eligible for ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ status. We have seen increased temperatures and shortened rain periods. All of this is having a cumulative effect on our important agricultural industry.

“However, responding to the challenges of climate change can also create opportunities for Tasmania, and especially the North East, to become a showcase for renewable energy generation. Our prime position for wind power and tidal power generation could help Tasmania create a long-term and sustainable industry, which in turn will support local communities across the state.

“If we grasp the opportunity with both hands and work for the fastest possible transition to zero emissions, we can create hundreds of thousands of jobs, make our cities and towns more liveable and, of course, pass on a safe climate to our children.

“The Greens are the only party being honest with voters about the scale of what needs to be done, but also telling the great story of how our lives can be improved by climate action.”

“This Sunday, join the Greens at a Walk Against Warming near you, and next Saturday make sure you vote for the Greens to get the strongest possible climate action from the next Federal government.”

For locations and times of walks, please see http://www.walkagainstwarming.org/

And, after the walk:

MEDIA RELEASE – 13 August 2010

Walk Against Warming
WALK WITH THE PEOPLE. NOT THE BIG POLLUTERS.

The annual Walk Against Warming in Hobart has this year heard how the major parties have failed to deliver policies that adequately tackle climate change.

Over 1000 people participated in this year’s walk in Hobart, one of dozens held around the country to call on candidates in the upcoming election to get real on climate change. Under the slogan ‘walk with the people, not the big polluters’ participants heard from a range of speakers before marching through the city streets.

Phil Harrington, MC for the day and spokesperson for Climate Action Hobart said “this is a great turnout and a strong show of support for policies that will actually work to reduce emissions and protect future generations from dangerous climate change.”

The Walks are calling on our political leaders to:
• Protect forests to secure carbon stores
• Make the polluters pay by putting a price on carbon
• Replace our most polluting power stations with clean energy
• Create new clean jobs and industries
• Guarantee to cut pollution over the next term of government
• Support poor and vulnerable countries to tackle the impacts of climate change and invest in sustainable development.

Speakers herd from Greens Senator Christine Milne, climate change commentator Peter Boyer and climate scientist James Risbey.

“Its clear that the greatest single contribution Tasmania can make in combating climate change is to protect our native forests and we are hopeful this can happen soon,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.

“Protecting Australia’s forests would reduce greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere by up to 136 million tonnes every year – more pollution than nine of the country’s dirtiest coal fired power stations produce every year,” said Emma Anglesey, spokesperson for Environment Tasmania.

“Our politicians need to recognise the opportunities to tackle climate change and act decisively. Currently, they are failing all of us,” Ms Anglesey concluded.