There are climate strikes all around the world in a wonderful display of unity and hope, tinged with hopelessness. In Albury, there were school students, infants, and adults of all ages and from all walks of life. The day was sunny and, as if it was sending a message, was the warmest day of September so far, recording 24.9 C (77F) at 2:30 pm, which is around 7 C above the average maximum for the month.The students were an inspiration. They were knowledgeable and committed to taking Australians to task for not addressing climate change. The crowd was enthusiastic and supportive. After the event, you'd not know hundreds of people had assembled there - the lawns were probably more spotless after the event than before.
Albury is a regional city on the Murray River in southern New South Wales. It has a population of 52,000. There's a twin city on the Victorian side of the river, Wodonga (pop. 39,000). It's about an hour's drive from where I live, and the closest main centre.
Here are some photos of the gathering.
I must confess to considerable cynicism: do the people demonstrating realise that they need to do more than merely protest - they need to start leading green lifestyles and set an example for others to follow?
ReplyDeleteOn a brighter note: I have discovered that I am not the only person in my road who lives a low carbon lifestyle. There is a couple just a few doors away who are doing the same. They are Dutch: apparently this nationality frequently possesses the superpowers necessary to live in this modern world without the use of things like a motor car.
I'd say many, maybe most, would. I found it heartening there were many people of all ages, and the young ones seemed fairly well-informed for the most part. Just the same, you've as much reason to be cynical as people have to be hopeful.
DeleteRecent elections suggest there are not yet enough younger people who understand what needs to be done. If there were, the current crop of leaders would never have been elected. The hope is that the children who turned up will have some influence on their peers and parents.
It's a while since young people turned out in numbers. Hopefully it'll have some impact.
Demos did have some impact in the 1960s. Other more recent ones haven't yet done much to change policy on issues such as refugees (in Australia), the Iraq war etc. The climate issue is way bigger and can't be ignored forever. The question is whether governments will keep delaying or whether they'll act in time to prevent a lot more damage.
On the contrary, protest is essential. There's a reason why governments are criminalising environmental protest and not living a green lifestyle. One is a threat to carbon intensive business as usual and the other isn't.
DeleteA reminder to all deniers and liars. HotWhopper doesn't permit comments that encourage people to harm others or comments aimed at spreading disinformation.
ReplyDeleteWhile demos like these are great, it strikes mev that regular weekly or monthly demos simillar to the gillets jaunes (san the violece and teargas) is needed to raise awareness and send politicians some messages.
ReplyDeleteThe turnout all aroun the was impressive.
It is not a good sign when informed people still think we can solve this problem with individual behavioural changes. How much do you think the CO2 emissions would go down with that?
ReplyDeleteWhat we need are demonstrations leading to societal changes. As far as individual changes help, they do so like demonstrations, as a signal we need societal change.
Sou kindly published this for me; I somehow could not yesterday. That is why the avatar is missing, but it is me.
DeleteIt is a reply to Andy Mitchell: "I must confess to considerable cynicism: do the people demonstrating realise that they need to do more than merely protest - they need to start leading green lifestyles and set an example for others to follow?"
I think you miss the point. If I can live a green lifestyle, and by my example inspire 1+ other people to do the same, then they in turn inspire 1+ other people to do the same, etc. etc., then how much would carbon emissions go down?
DeleteI am not a God-squad member, but I believe some bloke 2,000 years ago demonstrated the concept with bread and fishes.