Watch our concluding Copenhagen video, which takes us from Copenhagen to the New Year, then give us your vision for the climate movement in 2010.
The ‘accord’ that emerged from Copenhagen is woefully inadequate, but GetUp members can take pride in many amazing achievements, including giving a voice to 5 young Pacific delegates who were heard by world leaders and the international media.
As we rededicate ourselves to securing strong action on climate change in the New Year, your reflections can help enlighten and inspire all of us. We have an election next year in Australia, and that means every bit of pressure we create is felt keenly by our politicians. So, tell us in your comments below, what’s your vision for GetUp and the climate movement in 2010?
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Essentials for 2010 (from an oldie):
1) recognise that this crisis needs mobilisation as for war. World War 2 was horrible but huge technological and social advances were made in just 5 years.
2) recognise that, as in the run-up to World War 2, politicians will try to appease the enemy. The British Prime Minister proclaimed “peace in our time” in 1938 after he allowed Hitler to take over the Sudetenland. It didn’t stop him but did delay British preparations for reality.
The Australian CPRS – and what is going on in the USA, Canada and China – are attempts to appease vested interests in climate pollution. They will not stop are until they are stopped. That means lobbying the right people.
3) recognise the sceptics are out there actively lobbying. They are speaking to leading elders and opinion-formers at local Probus and similar clubs, they are speaking to businesses. Preaching to the converted is not enough.
well i had this idea that instead of waiting for the government to do stuff we could just do it ourselves. i mean does anyone know if its possible to just build a solar farm and then say to the government “here you go now connect it to the grid please” or go to hazelwood and say “heres a lot of money that we’ve raised can you switch to black coal”. i mean is that possible…….. i even had an idea for a really cool name: The Actual Government
sorry i dont have any inspirational qoutes but i find that sometimes they just take up space. also sorry for the bad grammar and punctuation french keyboards are really confusing!
‘We have exactly enough time-starting now’ – Dane Meadows, Dartmouth College of environmentalism.
We all need to start embracing our collective future, we all have a responsibility and should begin to look forward with the vision that there are a great number of opportunities currently disguised as insolvable problems.
Remembering that politicians will follow the voters.
We the people need to get our collective act together, there is a lot of us out there that know what needs to be done, we can have conversations with friends and family, take on the skeptics with sound scientific evidence and then make it clear that to take action is the only way forward. consider the alternative…we have everything to lose, and yet we can only gain if we reduce our energy demands, demand better products, demand better government, and work together, let’s GET UP and GET GOING, we cannot wait for authorities as they will only act once they are confronted with a crisis, or a massive tidal wave of public pressure, let’s apply the public pressure. There are some fantastic ideas floating around in these comments, I particularly like the idea of a Renewable Energy Fund alternative fund for Superannuation investment, keep up the good work and lets get out there and do it.
here here!
With an election due this year, we all need to get involved in planning for the highest profile GetUp has yet presented; we must learn how to present the facts both passionately and accurately to the widest possible audience; if the major parties aren’t going to get serious about climate change, we must provide a strong voice to those who really want to bite the bullet and make the necessary changes in public and private climate behaviour.
Join http://www.1millionwomen.com.au – or if you are a bloke what about starting a 1 million men campaign?
Thanks for recommending the 1millionwomen.com.au
I joined, and even I am doing so many things already it is nice to know that you are actually saving and can do even more.
Thanks again and take care.
I agree with all the above comments – ACTION
Suggest the above video becomes a TV clip and target all time slots to get the message to all Australians – as a nation we need constant reminding – the tendency to slip into apathy is very Australian
While climate change will not be adequately addressed without structural change instituted by government and industry, it is becoming increasingly apparent the necessary leadership will not tanspire unless decisively demanded by voters and consumers. Studies show that, when confronted with any major challenge, humans will respond as follows: 50% will deny the problem; 25% will acknowledge but leave for others to address; and 25% will take personal action. It is the latter cohort that must be mobilised not only to take appropriate personal and political action, but to attempt to enlist those who care but are not motivated to act. It would require a massive public education campaign, probably delivered on a one to one basis by armies of dedicated and trained volunteers, with plenty of follow up activity. It would convey the facts which politicians find too scary to utter. Yes, it would be tedious and resource intensive but a demonstration of passionate commitment from a large chunk of the populace would seem to be the next move in this chess game of survival.
The big issue being widely ignored is the need to move fast to renewable energy as a POSITIVE step not as a cost. There will be short-term cost, but that will be nothing compared with not only the costs of climate change but the ongoing cost of extracting fossil fuels. Whether peak oil theory is accurate in predicting a near-future end of cheap oil (check the latest price), how much cost has there been in wars, economic crises and degraded environment caused by the oil industry alone?
Sooner or later we will burn through all the available fossil fuels and have to develop alternatives. It would be far less disruptive to the world economy to phase these alternatives in slowly rather than wait for a crisis. The threat to the biosphere of global warming means we need to apply ourselves with greater urgency to this task. If it’s impossible or ruinously expensive, we’re all screwed in the long run anyway. From what I understand of the problem, it’s neither. But we will need to do some serious R&D to fill the gaps, and the fossil fuel industry is selfishly employing lobbyists and seeding fake grass roots movements in the style of tobacco denial to delay the inevitable.
I would like more action on all fronts. I think a lot of time is wasted on debating whether local individual actions such as solar panels is better or worse than government actions such as regulation or large-scale renewable energy funding. It’s all helpful. We don’t have to choose only one option; let’s use as many different means as possible to impact climate change.
I think it is vital to continue the international negotiations. It is also vital for the government to encourage investment in renewable energy, and regulation of polluters. It is important that we keep up the pressure of governments and large organisations. Meanwhile, as has been said by others, we don’t have to wait to do our local actions such as solar panels, reducing consumption and working with others in the local community.
We may not be able to influence leaders who are already in the pockets of corporate greed. But people power can achieve amzing things!
We can find ways to make the green revolution happen without government. It all boils down to renouncing consumerism. If we don’t feed the beast it won’t grow. And it is the inconvenient necessity our “have whatever you want” society does not wish to face. We must make the choices our democratically elected governments are afraid of. It’s time to say “No!” to ourselves.
Keep your family small and live frugally. It’s Spartan advice, but this is the most important war we will ever fight. Time to show our parents who went without in the great wars of the 20th Century that we too understand sacrifice for the greater good.
Waste not, so that our children’s children will want not!
We need to activate our creative imaginations and vision a future that entices us – a future where we have learned to be resilient; where we are working together with our neighbours to grow food locally; where we know how to celebrate and care for each other; where we have a zero waste tolerance and neutral carbon footprint; where we are fostering biodiversity for the health of all creatures. Where we understand that we are all connected. We need to create a future that entices us to break the addiction to our current unsustainable way of living. Check out Transition Towns and keep creating imaginatively.
Jane
Kilsyth, Vic
I think that the solutions need to come from all angles – personal, political and spiritual. Unfortunately most of us are disconnected from our Mother Earth and the consequences of our behaviours. My hope is for spiritual leaders to take responsibility to help us to connect not just with humanity but with our land, our water, our plants, our animals – and to learn how to care for them. I’ve heard of some church groups going for walks in the bush as part of their service. Here in Newcastle (land of coal) we have started an Earth Worship yoga class to try to develop a more mindful relationship between our breath and the rest of existence (proceeds go to Bush Heritage). There are many many many things we can do to learn to love this planet better without waiting for anyone………So let’s DO IT.
Leonie
It has been very interesting being plugged into this discussion.
Have you seen Avatar? It is really a very powerful statement about how we have trashed our world, for though set in space, it’s all cleverly allegorical.
I did not expect to like it, but so many touches are genuine, heartfelt really moving ideas about how we might connect with the plant world, that I was quite won over, and am delighted that my daughter’s generation are rushing to see it. (she’s 17) I feel it could be very important at this moment as a wake up call for the young.
On another matter, I am disappointed that my several comments about how bikes can help, personal car transport is a big part of our green house problem, do not seem to resonate on this thread.
Everyone agrees we must act as responsible individuals, but few can see bikes playing any real part, or if they do, they are very quiet about it, and yet they do elsewhere. Why? The only direct feedback I got was a rude comment, one of the very few here.
Perhaps Australians of the sensibility of those who post here, just cant imagine themselves on bikes as transport. Isn’t that true?
This is for two reasons, I suspect . Firstly, all the oxygen around cycling is being consumed by the sport and leisure cycling gang, the people in Lycra who dominate Australian cycling even as they yell; “Share the damn road!”
Nothing wrong with sport and leisure riding in itself, but it does crowd out what we need, which is people on stately European bikes, going comfortably from A to B.
Maybe that image does no lodge because you never see it here. No bike shop will encourage you to purchase such a bike if they have them in stock , which is unlikely. All of which is why I’ve put together a short movie called: The waltz of the Bikes.
It’s people, unaware of the camera, going about their business in Amsterdam on a sunny day on sit-up bikes Set to music, it becomes a ballet.
There is no expensive bike infrastructure visible here, though Holland of course has that in spades, 29,000 kms. of bike ways, in fact.
No, the ballet works because the traffic is slow and people are riding the right sort of bikes, regally upright, their heads far higher than a car, even than a SUV.
They look and feel safe because that society has decided it will be that way, and lined up their carrots and sticks to make it happen. We could do the same of we chose to.
Have a look, experimentally , and see if this film helps you visualize yourself on a bike, Australians on bikes all over the place, and maybe as well, discover what your personal block is.
The film is on my blog; http://situp-cycle.com. and is called; The Waltz of the Bikes.
Do let me know if you have any insights on blocks to bikes as transport, both here and on the blog itself. That is a future movie topic. It will be a great help. Mike Rubbo
A rude comment lol, Mike what you got was actually the edited version.
I do want to offer an apology to you Mike , my comment was made out of frustration with an issue that has drawn so much of the public purse away from Health and Education.
But after the Avatar comments i see that you really do live in fantasy land.
So i think i might just save my breath.
In case you missed it, i will say it again-
*** AVATAR IS A PIECE OF FICTION***
A clever ploy to part you from the contents of your wallet, NOTHING more, your comments about moving ideas and connecting with the plant world are again pieces of fiction.
I will also note, that James Cameron has chosen to impart this piece of fiction, by utilising the most expensive technology he can muster, in order to dupe the public into feeding money to the companies for which he works, One does wonder at the carbon footprint that has been generated by this one movie alone.
Hollywood will never save the planet, it relies on exploiting it way to much.
Yes Jason, AVATAR is a fiction. It is a Hollywood film and no doubt it created a relatively large carbon footprint to create it. However, because something is a ‘fiction’ should not be the basis for dismissing its potential positive (or negative) impact. Art, in this case story-telling, has always been a powerful motivator throughout the ages.
To my way of thinking, the fact that so many people ARE talking about AVATAR and arguing about its message already confers on it a degree of legitimacy and tells us that its message has struck a popular chord. What the politically minded choose to do with the momentuum that it has stirred will be interesting.
Many of my thoughts, ideas and passions, particularly when I was younger, were stirred by hearing stories, whether they were told to me in oral form, read myself or at the cinema. I think it is a foolishness to dismiss anything that comes from Hollywood simply because it comes from Hollywood. For all its many arguable faults, Hollywood is the probably the world’s current leader in producing human fantasy in all its many diverse forms. What comes out and becomes successful (and fails) tells us a great deal about who we are and for what we yearn, though we may not always see clearly the consequences of that yearning.
Though we may start to dream as children, it is not childish to dream.
AVATAR does have an important message and though its style may not get us all in (I know I’m a little too old for its too-overt message), I know that were I 17 again or even 27 perhaps and saw that film it would have made a huge impression on me and become part of a driving force to learn more about how to live in better co-habitation on our planet Earth.
Finally, an initial large carbon footprint is likely going to be an inevitable part of changing systems. Were AVATAR to become a focal film for people around the world, spurring them on to create a more sustainable existence then the films initial footprint will be seen as worth it.
If AVATAR is as succesful both critically and commercially as it seems to be, the smart thing to do would be to get in front of its momentuum and use it for all we can.
Thanks for the posts.
Jason, of course Avatar is fiction. But fiction is always going to be made and I would rather it be fiction with that message, than the usual consumption urging stuff. I didn’t notice a single product placement
You wonder what it’s carbon footprint in the making might be. Perhaps not as much as one thinks because all that action, and destruction of nature on the screen, was hand painted frame by frame.
It was not done by moving large crews vaste distances, brning lots of oil, as would be the usual way of making an epic.
lastly, the fact that the movie has both Miranda Devine and Greg Sheridan spitting chips, speaks in its favor.
Hi Mike
Yes I do wonder what it’s carbon footprint might be, but i was not speaking solely of the direct carbon footprint it generated whilst in production ( i was commenting on the expensive 3D technology used in its creation.)
I was speaking more generally of the carbon emitted by all those screenings, in all the cinemas, in the 62 counties in which it is slated for release.
All those bright lights burning, all that popcorn being popped, all that soft drink being refrigerated, in all those thousands of cinemas world wide, with not a solar panel or wind turbine used in the powering of any of it.
I also just wanted to say as far as Miranda Devine and Greg Sheridan are concerned , i mean come on who the heck are they???
Journo’s employed to sell dying Newspapers, surely we can find better ways to be informed of what’s going on in the world around us?
Transition Towns are fantastic and switch on the power of each individual to make a difference locally, which of course also impacts globally.
Also for making the paradigm shift: Changing the Dream Symposiums by the Pachamama Alliance are powerful and positive and activating.
Each person awakening must become active and sustain hope. Keep in touch with others in this wave, we are not alone in this.
I am reading ‘The Hope, a guide to sacred activism’ by Andrew Harvey, and keeping up the inspiration by watching ‘Ghandi’ for clues on non-violent resistance. Look to those who have succeeded in the past, Martin Luther King, getting the vote for women. This is about justice and equality, not just a preference of scenery.
My dreams for Climate 2010…
1. Everyone becomes Climatarians, where we eat 50% less high carbon products…..
2. The government allows Australians to put a percentage of their Super into a giant sustainable energy fund that can give loans to create local sustainable and renewable energy projects around Australia.
3. That the department of agriculture gets off it’s ass and into the bush with CSIRO scientists to not only educate farmers but also help them understand what they need to do to survive climate change.
What is going on? All I can say is the Australian Government needs to get their act together, be a leading light in climate change. This will be an election issue, so the Rudd Government need to get a move on, for current and future Australians.
Clearly top down legislation is too sticky for most governments . Perhaps the grass roots movements could contact every major corporation and government entity and ask them what they are doing and are prepared to do in working towards healing our planet. If they are not making any changes, either in their own behaviour , or in committing to work with communities and governments to facilitate change , they are outed and people can decide then to either boycott their products and services, or put pressure on them to change their behaviour. However, I really think that the adversary model itself is part of the problem, we need to look at ways that we work with others to bring about change. This means living with uncertainty, having guidelines that are developed in partnership, the development of mutual goals. Many of the companies that have experienced boycotts over the years have had to remodel themselves, even if only cynically for benefit of their shareholders.
As someone who lives and works in Tasmania I have so many issues that could keep me busy just in my own state, However since Copenhagen was such a wash-out ( as an older person I didn’t expect that it would be much anyway as it takes years to get that many people to agree on anything ). So let’s move forward – let’s make Australia part of the solution.
Why can’t we show by example – make renewables part of our way of life. Geothermal would seem a good way to go. But it needs some more backing. We need to make some real choices and pursue those, Practical examples for the rest of the world rather than vague political documents that might or might not progress the issue. Sure effort still needs to be made in these areas but let’s lead by example.
If we walk the walk not just talk the talk we will have much more credibility.
So who is going to make our political leaders look at the home grown power production market and really progress the issue. Come on Get-Up people.
This isn’t an international strategy but it is a place to start. Why isn’t the Federal Government funding, in a realistic manner, companies that are on the brink of advancing new methods of producing electricity. They are currently competing against each other for dollars to make their projects work. If we leave it to private investors the time frame will blow out and the projects will fail if they don’t provide massive dividends. We need some political will now to capitalise on Australias hidden geothermal capacity.
Is anyone listening?
As shareholders of the companies that make up the economy, we have to convince directors that we can do with less. If we continue to demand increasing profits, higher and higher dividends, then we give them nowhere to go. If we provide a mandate for change and back that up with support for the static or decreased profits that may follow by holding shares, or even with greater investment for these ethical companies, then the directors may feel that they are able to act without fear of losing their jobs and their own livelihoods. My vision for 2010 would include directors who are remunerated on reduced carbon emissions, higher remuneration for those that obtain carbon neutrality, bonuses based on ethical decisions and action for climate change. If the incentives aren’t there, those with the power to act wont.
From January to July 2010, I’m going to collect every piece of junk mail that comes through my letterbox in North Sydney. I’m going to weigh it, calculate how much paper was used to make it and the cost of recycling it. Then I’ll multiply those numbers by the number of households in my municipality. It will be quite educational.
During those six months, I’m going to take photos of me buried in the paper, and send it to every politician I can think of.
If we need to know Woolies specials, or how to contact a cleaner who works in the area, we could visit a website managed by Council, where everyone can advertise their wares. Categories like Services, Supermarket specials, Co-ops etc could inform people of what’s locally available. The savings from diminished waste collection should fun the website.
Let’s ban junk mail! It’s easy to prosecute: the junk is the evidence.
You’re all thinking, why doesn’t she put a sign on her letterbox? Well I did of course, and someone tore it off!
Every household in Sydney gets mountains of junk mail every week. It all ends up having to be collected and the mountains of wasted paper only grow higher.
Who’s got some good campaign ideas on this?
Hi Tania
You are absolutely right. The people who have power to prepare appropriate low are members of parliament, because only healthy law can do something. Sending your information to all of them will make them aware and understanding of the issue. If you wish to be sure of some action, send as well copy to media. It will be definitely some encouragement for them to undertake some steps.
I have some personal experience with paper junk. In southern suburbs of Adelaide local police was spreading monthly “news letter” informing residents about crime in neighbourhood. In one of them was presented advice to residents to put correctly all kind of paper to appropriate “paper bin” because all this sort of paper and cardboard is exported to China and should be wasted other way. I was shocked. It means to me that Australia does nothing or little to recycle paper. It happened some time ago and I have no idea how South Australian Government is dealing currently with mountains of thrown out paper. I can see on the roads trucks with the paper. It means some sort of recycling is going on but who does it? Still China? I will be grateful for comments.
There are a number of companies around in Australia that claim to recycle paper, but they don’t say where the actually recycling is done, the last paper recycling plant that i knew of, was in Queensland, but the parent paper mill closed a number of years ago, and the machinery said at the time to be the last in the country, was sold to china.
So maybe this is something the GetUp! can do for its members, create, host and maintain a database on its website of where you can get your paper and other items recycled within Australia.
The costs of recycling like those of alternative (green) fuel sources have proven to be prohibitive in Australia ( lets face it we don’t wish to sell or labour for US$ 0.39 a day like does happen in China, Guangdong Province has a structure of two minimum monthly wages 0.39 cents a day and the higher band of 0.68 cents a day, on those pay scales none of us would be talking on this forum because we could not afford the electricity to turn on our computers.
I agree completely.
My ‘NO JUNK MAIL’ sign was taken of but I actually wrote with permanent marker and refresh it occasionally. I also wrote letters to the companies whose catalogues I found in my letter box asking to respect my property and wishes displayed, and believe it or not it worked. I still get some on occasion but much more less than before.
However, that helps me personally but not environment.
I like your suggestions regarding Council websites, so if something could be done I am all for it. However, there are still many households that do not have computers not to mention internet service (especially elderly and elderly migrants).
Thank you so much to all of those who have been in the forefront of COPS15. Your efforts are very much appreciated. Unfortunately, I am ashamed that Australia along with the majority of other nations simply don’t get it, and to pharaphrase the north american journalist at the conference; how can you use ‘economic tools’ as solutions in dealing with climate change which don’t work! Time for a radical shift in political thinking!
It’s all been said above but here is my summary:
. Ditch the ETS. it won’t work and is too prone to corruption as we have seen
. Directly tax the polluters and reward non-polluting energy poducers
. Put extreme effort and finance into development and adoption of alternative energy. Our failure in this area disgusts me
. Resist population growth (which also means nil migration). We have destroyed so much of our productive land (and continue to do so) that eventually we won’t be able to feed a larger population
. Get sustainable agriculture and water policies
. Talk to the Pope and other religious leaders about the need for zero population growth
Hi Eric
Truth. ETS is rubbish. It is created only in name of getting TAX from all of us, because Rudd Government took from foreign powers already 1.2 trillion dollars. Most of them from China. Majority was, as we all know, wasted. Australian governments, please understand governments, have no patriotism. They are acting against Australia and Australians. In time of crisis clever government is supporting local production to stop dependence of foreign powers. Australian government is pushing Australia in deep Chinese dependence. One of very important piece of low is allowing any Australian company move out of Australia with all equipment purchased very often for money of Australian taxpayers. The body responsible for growing unemployment is obviously Australian Government. Real crisis in Australia did not start yet. The real taste of it will start in 2010.
I agree with Eric on all counts, except I do believe we should take genuine refugees. Improved methods of agriculture and a shift to a more vegetarian diet should help us to feed all. Also cutting right down on waste. Supermarkets and households waste incredible amounts of food and water.
Most importantly, we must FORCE our leaders to take genuine action to slow, if not stop, climate change.
Think globally / act locally…GetUp can make the most of this election year -2010 – by lobbying the two major parties to come up with funding for small-scale, locally appropriate programs to reduce our carbon emissions. Community grants will enable local councils and environmentally-minded groups to plan, promote and develop carbon-reducing solutions which have their wider community’s support. Examples: bicycle paths, tree-planting, community gardens, energy conservation campaigns directed at schools, community groups. If every individual has their consciousness-raised and is given a way to reduce their carbon footprint we’ll be on our way to a low carbon economy.
Hi cscott
Of course you are right. Remember, the carbon is only one easy measurable factor telling us about destruction of environment. What about rapidly reduced amount of fish in oceans? Shrinking forests that represent a lungs of the world? Why it had happened? The answer is one overpopulation of the world.
Following your thinking I can say that more trees? OK, more bikes? OK, but real reason in Australia is production of electricity from burning coal. It has to be stopped, but not at once. Gradually it should be replaced with solar, wind, geothermal, ocean wave electricity production. All of above mentioned methods are already well known. There are other methods as well currently on the desks of scientists. Nuclear power in Australia is too expensive and to dangerous because of Islamic maniacs present in Australia. Imported by masochistic governments. Rudd government is talking only about money, but unfortunately not about using renewable sources of energy.
Science is telling that 50 square kilometres of Simpson Desert can supply electricity for all Australia.
All was nice said until you could not help showing your ignorance.
Maniacs do not have religion, race, sex or economic status.
Those who bomb things are maniacs but let’s be realistic just recent trend placed idiots in Islamic countries in front.
What about past millennium? Heard of IRA? Remember what was happening with Cubans, and do not forget Americans (Oklahoma bombing), and other maniacs mostly in developed countries who bombs their high schools, etc. I would not even try to provide a few most likely version of September 11.
So, please it seems you have some intelligent points to make, do not spoil it with ridiculous stereotyping known to less knowledgeable, intelligent people, please.
To all the bike riding loonies preaching your version of salvation.
for starters there are plenty of bike paths/Lanes already in Melbourne, but you still choose to ignore them and decided to endanger yourselves and everyone else on the roads, ITS A BIKE LANE GET IN TO IT.
For you others crying out for Bixis, Stop demanding that governments fund your lifestyle choices, put together your own consortium and reap the benefits of you (sic) vision of the future.
Get your grubby mits off the tax dollar, go beg Al Gore for the capital to start your conscience salving ventures
Jason, say what you mean man! There is a point at which ‘being nice’ dilutes the message!
Think global – act local
Mega investment in alternative energy solutions by government, private business sector and individuals is needed but many contributions, even of a small kind, add up.
While de-commissioning coal, petroleum (and other dirty fuels/manufacturing processes) etc, and recognition of the reality of and action on ‘peak oil’ and Co2 emissions is essential, there must be widespread alternative infrastructure that can and will work.
This is the job replacement area that so far no one seems to have tackled with any real effort in Australia. Subsidies are paltry, R and D limited and start up money hard to come by. The car industry is moving too slowly to change and it is still nigh impossible to buy a new car that is in any way eco friendly.
Yet, in areas where people have taken informed action (eg Far South Coast NSW/Clean Energy for Eternity/Transitions Towns/Permaculture and Organics, etc) the government subsidies were oversubscribed and people keen to take a personal step were cut out by the early termination of (for instance) the ‘feedback to the grid’ project. As well, many have taken non-subsidised steps and spent their own cash on insulation, hot water, solar and wind solutions rather than the overseas holiday or the new car.
There is no doubt vested interests are being protected to the cost of the country – when the transitions need to be nothing like as ghastly as the power corporates make out.
But the problem belongs to everyone and we all need to make sure we are contributing to the solution – and that’s not just fancy lightbulbs.
Anne
To paraphrase Lord Rutherford…
All mitigation of global warming is either depopulation or window-dressing.
Hi,
if our PM was serious about global warming, he would set a timetable to phase out coal-fired power plants. Coal was in the ground for many millions of years, just leave it there, or is the PM scared of anyone? Australia has an enormous potential for clean and renewable energy, besides most people would be prepared to pay a bit more for energy, we had it too good for too long anyway.
Two action items that may be relevant to you.
If you have a metal roof on your house, paint it white. White reflects more sunlight & keeps place cooler in summer. Reduces the need for an air cond.
Consider cycling instead of using the car for short trips like shopping or going to train station. Besides being environmentally friendly, the gentle exercise is good for you health as well.
The ETS does nothing but place a tax on everything we buy including food. The ETS does not reduce carbon emissions but allows those big carbon polluters to pollute more.
I would like to see the following come to fruition.
1) A tax placed on every item coal power stations require for maintenance and not allowed to pass on the cost to the consumer.
A loan for employed people who earn $50,000 or more to pay 5% fixed interest for the term of the loan.
2) A 30% rebate for the coal power stations who reduce their emissions by adding solar thermal to preheat water. And a further rebate as they progress toward complete solar thermal production.
3) A 20% tax placed at the port which must be paid before coal can be shipped anywhere by the nation which purchases that coal.
4) For third world nations as part of their aid at least one solar thermal power station, every five years, where appropriate, to be constructed with the necessary training to run and maintain the installation.
5) The building of solar thermal powerstations within Australia.
6) For people on Social Security payments within Australia, to be given a 0% loan to place as many solar panels on the roof of the owner occupied home, and to be paid back at 10% of the Social Security payment by direct debit for as long as it take to pay off the loan or to be paid out when the house is sold as deceased estate or will to members of the family.
7) A loan for employed people who earn $20,000 to 49,999 to pay a 2% fixed interst loan for the term of the loan.
Many, many thanks to the GetUp team for your efforts in Copenhagen. Shame Kevin & Co weren’t listening because the longer they ignore the warning signs the harder it will be for us all to address the damaging effects of climate change. Already in Australia – in the space of little more than a week – we’ve seen bushfire destruction in South Australia, and now the threat of floods in NSW/Qld, yet the serious summer temperatures have barely started.
My hopes for 2010? Well, the growth of the GetUp community is high on the list, so politicians are forced to acknowledge the will of the people, rather than powerful lobbyists from the big polluters like forestry, coal and oil mining. And not only politicians. It’s time the mainstream media were also forced to sit up and take a bit more notice about what is actually going on in this country and actually do a bit of reporting instead of regurgitating political spin and those carefully worded media releases.
Also very high on the list is an end – finally – to that disastrous pulp mill proposal in Tasmania. If ever there was a project that should be sunk without trace in these climate-aware days, it is Gunns Ltd’s proposed pulp mill and the inevitable further destruction of native forests that are required to feed it.
To be really serious about restoring a cleaner, greener planet then I encourage everyone, in every country, to consider voting Green at each and every available election opportunity that presents itself. It is the only political party that apparently recognises we need clean water, sustainable agriculture, and respect for the myriad life forms who also share this planet.
Ultimately, it must come down to the individual. We can all do a lot more to change our lifestyles and reduce our carbon footprints. Too many of us are still looking at Government to take the initiative. And Government will not, if they think it will lose them votes.
Hans, a consensus is emerging here. As you say, it must come down to the individual.
What I’d personally like to achieve this year, as well as leaving my car parked on the drive unused, is to convince GetUp, to pressure our Fed. Govt to take bikes as transport seriously.
Last time I looked at the Fed. Green vehicle guide website, bikes rated no mention. Getting that changed is a small first step. Bikes must be listed on that site, and the the dramatic Greenhouse Gas savings they can achieve, should be spelled out, along with emission ratings for cars.
Secondly, we need a National Bike Policy with real infrastructure targets in terms of kms. of cycleways to be be built, bike parking, etc.
This would come out of a National Cycling Convention which would set those targets, even as it helped swing our bike culture from its present leisure/sporting bias (the lyca look) to practical urban transport by bike.
This will mean favoring of the European style riding with price incentive schemes. As David Hembrow explains in our Youtube movie, Talking to David Hembrow, he gets 19 euro-cents for every kilometer he commutes by bike , and still Holland saves a fortune on transport costs by doing do, he assures me.
The Fed. Govt must facilitate and fast track Bike share schemes for this country. Schemes like the 25,000 Velibs on the streets of Paris, the 6000 Bixis in Montreal, and the 10,000 Bixis being installed in London as I write. Bike Share is the turbo charger of urban bike use.
In this last summer, Montreal evolved from a city not famous for it’s urban cycling, into a north American leader. This happened as the solar powered Bixi dispensing stations appeared every 300 meters on city streets, and Montrealers realized what this meant to their lives
In it’s first season, Bixi scored over a million rentals and 3.5million Kms. ridden, making for a tangible impact on Montreal’s Greenhouse gas emissions and city traffic snarl.
Many people who’d never used a bike for urban transport, such as some readers of this report perhaps, suddenly found themselves using Bixis they did not have to buy, to worry about being stolen, store, or ever repair, a bike they could love and leave, and all at low cost.
We have no bike share in Australia, and although two small contracts have been signed, we will probably never have schemes big enough to be effective.
This is because bike share, which is now in over 60 cities around the world, has never been established in a city with compulsory helmet laws like ours. There is just no way to dispense a checked and sanitized helmet along with the Bixi bike.
We face a painful choice. Do we miss out on this green transport revolution, or do we exempt the slower safer sit-up bikes, which Bike share schemes always use, from our helmet laws? People ride safely on such bikes all over Europe and Asia without helmets. Why should it be different here?
The Federal Govt. pushed for helmets in the late 80’s and the States caved in, on by one, even as bike use dropped by 30% and our obesity epidemic began.
Other countries had the good sense not to follow our lead. Now, the Fed govt. must sort it out for bike share. Can you do some prodding, Getup?
What about footpaths? A large percentage of our population walk to work each day, without using any other form of transport. ( more than those who go to work by bus) Moreover, those who catch buses and trains usually walk at each end of their journey. There are no Federal Infrastructure grants for footpaths. Why not? Walking is healthy, pollution free, and helps counter obesity. Footpaths are really cheap compared to roads. In many outer metropolitan areas which have minimal public transport footpaths are lacking, forcing people into cars. And it is really tough for those who do not have access to a car, including children, teenagers and the elderly.
You are right Mike. Shared bikes are great and I used them every time I go to Paris, Pragues, Vienna… This helmet story is ridiculous, in a way we are overprotected, there is even a curfew on the Sunshine Coast for using skateboards…on the other hand nobody in the government cares about the effect of GMO, climate change and pollution!
Well done GetUp. You give people like myself, a so called “ordinary” Australian, a chance to have a say and perhaps make a difference. I wish the American population were as enthusiastic as Australians and the Chinese were bold enough to roll up their sleeves and lead the way.
Denmark has well and truly begun its journey steadily reducing its footprint by investing in innovative new clean technologies. The early birds are going to be the big winners in this race. Smart businesses here are already aware of this but not getting the help they need.
Why are people still hopeful? As long as we are dealing with politicians we can hope for nothing more than their looking to their being put in power at the next elections which means that greed, big business and vested interests are at the heart of it all. Copenhagen was the perfect occasion for coming together with the planet’s welfare at heart.
What makes people still believe in politics? If politicians meant what they say, there would be much more equality in the world and 3/4 of the people on this earth would not go starving while the rich and mighty of this world selfishly squander resources.
If the problems could not be fixed at Copenhagen why should we expect that they can be fixed elsewhere next year or anytime for that matter? Power and money govern the
world. But not to worry, one of these days even they will disappear because there will be no planet to worry about. In the meantime, let the politicians and the powerful rich live it up and leave us to our own resources, watching deserts take over the green fields and islands being engulfed by the oceans. I entertain no illusions and neither should anyone else. To keep hoping is to delude oneself, to be naive and unrealistic.
degrees of separation.
if your council does something you don’t like, you can get together with your neighbors, go to city hall and get in their faces – you will have a big impact.
if your state government does something you don’t like, you have to form a state organisation to fight them – much more difficult to fight them and so there is more corruption in state government.
if your federal government does something you don’t like, you need to form a national coalition against them – even more difficult – not impossible as the people do still elect their leaders, but very challenging unless the issues seriously hit peoples wallets.
If an unelected international body, that gains lots of tax money and has no real accountability does something you don’t like -for instance spends money that was supposed to go to CO2 mitigation on kickbacks, bribes, salaries, etc. etc. – what are you going to be able to do to change it? Nothing I fear.
I’m glad Copenhagen didn’t get through, it was scary the power that would have been handed over to the unelected officials of the world bank and IMF. Much of the third world saw this too and they are all too aware of the vast fraud these institutions have committed in the past. The treaty had no checks and balances and the west wasn’t willing to negotiate them. So many third world countries would not support it – and good for them.
What I’m saying here is what I’ve said in many of my post here – local government, local solutions. Bring the power back home, where it can be controlled and managed by the individual citizens.
To answer your depresive views and maybe help you to get out of it please read coment of Cass Rea on December 27, 2009 (10:15pm)
I hate when people are talking about giving up. Simply DON”T. There is hope ALWAYS.
If I crossed the line I appologise.
With the exception of Kelvin Thompson and a few others, politicians are letting Australians down.
Any climate change talks and actions must go further than just fiddling with emissions. We have to curtail wasteful consumption, and most of all we have to stop this ridiculous out-of-control population growth.
There is no way whatsoever that the environment can be fixed without bringing Australian and global population down to sustainable carrying capacity levels.
GetUp please note. Please take action on this issue.
Hi Marg,
Bring population down???
We are a aging population here in Australia, the only thing that has effectively stopped Australia population decline has been immigration.
# one birth every 1 minute and 45 seconds,
# one death every 3 minutes and 40 seconds,
# a net gain of one international migrant every 1 minute and 51 seconds leading to
# an overall total population increase of one person every 1 minute and 11 seconds.
*** (sorry i could not get figures for how many IVF and other assisted tech births there are)
8 billion of the world’s 9 billion people will be in the developing world by 2050.
So the figures basically say that all we are doing in Australia is our bit in easing the world population growth.
I just simply had to respond.
Thank you Jason, you are miracle!
That will shut up those who like to discuss topics with their own pathetic prejudices’ without actually taking an effort to find real facts and information so they can intelligently participate in the grown up’s discussions.
I am so ‘jealous’ of your knowledge and wits. It is pleasure to read your responses to ignorant comments of some.
I agree entirely but have yet to hear anyone in power even whisper the blasphemy of a static or even shrinking economy and not twitter on about “growth” Do politicians or other powerful people even dare to think about population sustainability? We are even being encouraged to increase the birthrate and we have dead river systems and water shortages!!!!!
Stocks and shares are now news, indicating that growth and profit is part our cultural doctrine. How can this change when policymakers are supported and manipulated by capitalist wealth? Our political system is based on this. Who can we vote for to change this?
Will we have to wait until every river is dammed and damned and we are neck deep in our own filth before we re-evaluate our consumer lifestyles as SUV driving, carnivorous, overpackaged processed food loving, soda swilling, plastic dumping consumers, sweltering in our deteriorating ecosystems? Will we stop consuming over-packaged junk, use pushbikes, limit flesh eating or treated water usage and challenge the incessant marketing that encourages overconsuption?
Lets face it just something as simple as encouraging pushbike use and discouraging car use by providing safe citywide cycleways will not happen. No oil profits, road taxes or speeding fines to be had.
My hat off to all those who try to live a sustainable lifestyle and I hope more people join you. Good luck to you all.
there is a huge gulf between capitalism and corporatism. Corporatism, wherein corporations have nearly unlimited power, is the root of fascism. Fascism gains power through the government promotion of socialism – this is how hitler did it with his ‘national socialism’. Capitalism on the other hand is about free markets and individualism – in short freedom and liberty.
Corporations have no homeland, they can destroy and move-on all for the sake and profit of the shareholders – many of whom are speculators seeking a short term $. This isn’t real capitalism, it is corruption. Real capitalism wouldn’t sh*t in it’s own house because there is no long term profit in it.
Real capitalists are stewards.
By spreading this understanding we can find new leaders who are honest and willing to reinstate the mandate for corporate charter limitations especially lifetime limits. Further we can get the government out of the business of ‘legal counterfeiting’ thereby preventing inflation and allowing the lower class to become a middle class and preventing the development of an uber-elite class.
If we fight for these things we can bring balance back to our world and happiness as well. All without sacrificing our Earth in the process.
• Even if what the climate change skeptics say is true (which I don’t for one moment believe), it is vital for us to act on climate change, so that islands don’t disappear and countries don’t dry up. Whether humans have contributed to climate change or not (they have!), the climate is changing and we have the wherewithal to do something about it. Rather than argue, we should stand together and not apart as single entities. I would gladly pay higher taxes, I would gladly do with less, I would gladly donate my time to give Nature a chance. I have given this mandate to the people I voted for. Why do they not listen? We are one world, and of this world. It is time for us all to act accordingly.
Huge respect, thanks and congratulations to the Get Up team for their ongoing energy, vision and determination especially in the face of such adversity!! Also huge thanks and respect to the team from the Pacific for delivering your message to Goliath….and for your gentle grace at the end of the conference. With hope for 2010 and gratitude for the good and beauty that can shine through.
My hopes for 2010 is that Tony Abbott, his Bishops and their primitive ideologies disappear from the political scene forever! I hope everyone see’s the film AVATAR and make a stand for our people and our planet! TAKE ACTION NOW!
See Avatar???
wtf???
Do you live on planet Earth or a Galaxy far far away?
Please don’t make the mistake of of confusing a piece of fiction with reality.
HI
I am a father of three beautiful children, and i fear for their future. We of the so called civilized world have become caught up in the trap of believing our own importance, we have brought into the material world, greed being the ladder we climb, giving credence to the bankers and politicians and so called upper class, giving them more and more power to mother us.
None of this would be to bad if those that have the power had a few scruples, but they have become so distant to the reality of the every day people living in the world, that big brother or mother has lost contact and the ability to understand us, or should i say care.
We, of the everyday people, have to learn to grow above the “mine” attitude and as christmas passes learn a new attitude of giving, caring, loving and throw of the shackles of fear. We have to learn the art of civil disobedience, for without mistakes we do not grow.
With 2010 being an election year, we now have a chance to push our politicians till they genuinely respond to us, the people they supposedly represent. With Rudd’s survival as ‘leader’ soon on the line, he may become more willing to step out of bed with big coal and oil, and do what needs to be done. Hopefully a united and powerful voice of the people, rather than campaign funds from vested interests will rule the day.
My dream for this year? That the power of our various medias, such as TV, radio and the Internet can be utilized to the max in educating the masses about the reality and crucial need to change our paradigms on energy and economic levels.
Then, based on good information and understanding, our true democratic power can be effectively wielded via organisations such as GetUp. Here the power of one, multiplied by many is the essence of democracy. Let’s use that power to the hilt. Too much is at stake.
Kevin Rudd has commenced his campaign for Secretary General of the UN with a trip to Copenhagen.
The guy is untrustworthy.
He was elected on his promise of real climate change initiatives, and came up with a worthless ETS proposal, then he prostituted his position at Copenhagen for self promotion for his next job at the UN.
Rudd and his Environment Minister have misled us with their promises and stated intentions on environmental issues, and is content to have the coal and oil industry dictate a continuing status quo.
Bring on The Greens.
Dear John
I agree that our politicians behave themselves strangely towards “coal policy”. I’m upset long time listening about contradictions in actions of our politicians. They say about importance of our environment and the same time decided to kill forest in Tasmania by giving green light to Gunns pulp production. Seems to me our politicians do not understand the reasons of “climate warming” or simply they do ignore it. They do not care of anything having in mind only their personal agendas. Mr Secretary of UN is the same. According to my understanding THE WORLD is deeply damaged by activity of humans. Does not matter how you will measure it. You may measure amount of carbon dioxide, amount of fish left in our oceans or number of trees not killed yet. The truth is: we have too many people on the Earth. Science was telling 15 years ago that Earth, to be able to keep flora and fauna as it is now, can accept only 2.5 billion people on its surface. We have now about 6.8 billion. Australia for the same reason can accept 7.5 million. How stupid is indiscriminate importation to our country human rubbish from Africa and others “illiterate countries” . We have to stop completely importation of refuges but on top of it we have to slow down significantly procreation of our current population in Australia. I’m not telling about my personal discoveries. All of it was in ABC radio. It was interview with Senator Kirk. She was commenting statements of Professor Tim Flanery.
Kind regards, Alojzy
Permaculture can transform Australia into a food paradise capable of supporting a population 20 times what it is today AND still be sequestering carbon. We must not DARE talk/think/plan ‘population control’. The only ethical means of controlling population is via the free market, i.e. natural selection. Any other means would be eugenic. We’ve all had enough history (I hope) to know the other people of the past that promoted eugenics and realize the evil they perpetrated on humanity and understand that their real agenda was really to promote themselves over everyone else.
People!! Stop looking for a big government solution. Start doing your part. Study permaculture. Study wind turbines. Get involved in your local government – you know, the only form of government that has some semblance of accountability!
Form a co-op or company to invest and produce clean energy and sell shares. . .I could go on and on. There are so many things you can do – it all starts with talking to people and organising.
I’m doing this work down in Hobart. It’s a long process, but it’ll get there in plenty of time. Stand up in your community, form groups and convince others to do the same. The tide will turn, the hundredth monkey will learn.
But please whatever you do, don’t promote eugenics, or the hundredth monkey will flee, the greens will lose their credibility and everyone will suffer for it.