Peoples Climate March in Merimbula food for thought

Peoples Climate March in Merimbula food for thought

By

Albert McKnight

Sept. 16, 2014, 8:30 a.m.

In
New York on August 28, people gathered in Times Square to promote the
global People’s Climate March. Photo: NYC Light Brigade.

A BYO picnic to discuss the climate change issue will take place in Merimbula this weekend. 

Clean
Energy for Eternity (CEFE) is hosting the event in conjunction with
GetUp and other groups and organisations from the Bega Valley. 

CEFE
event organiser Prue Kelly said it is for people around the region to
meet, have a picnic and talk about what they can do to fight against
climate change.

“It’s about like-minded people coming together to support the plea for climate action,” Ms Kelly said. 

“This isn’t just happening in our region, it’s all around the country and we are just one small part of it.

“We want to send a strong message to the Australian Government.”

The
day, September 21, is the day for Peoples Climate March, which is a
global event with the theme “action, not words” to demonstrate support
for more action on climate change. 

It is the weekend before the
Heads of State Climate Meeting on September 23 in New York, which is
hosted by United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.  

The Merimbula picnic will be photographed and those photos sent to the climate meeting for Mr Ki-moon to see.  

“We want him to know our government isn’t too active on the climate change front, but our people are,” Ms Kelly said. 

Matthew
Nott will be speaking on behalf of CEFE, and it is not a formal event
so anyone is invited to get up and speak if they wish. 

Ms Kelly
said it is not a political rally, but a rally for everyone who believes
more action needs to be taken against climate change. 

It was initiated after GetUp Merimbula member Carol Bartlett contacted CEFE with the idea of having a rally in the local area.

“In
terms of what the issue means to me personally, I’ve long had concerns
for the needs of the developing world, and they are the ones affected by
climate change much more than we are,” Ms Bartlett said. 

She
said a recent example was in the Solomon Islands, where rising sea
levels have meant islanders’ wells are being contaminated by salt
water. 

The picnic will take place at Spencer Park, Merimbula on
Sunday from noon, and for more details visit
act.350.org/event/peoples_climate/9340. 

In other CEFE news, Ms
Kelly said they hope to announce the start of construction of the Tathra
Solar Farm in the next few days, as they are currently finalising
documents. 

She said CEFE is still on target to have it finished by the end of the year.