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Campaign Updates

1. Climate Change
The Climate Recovery Coalition will be meeting on Wednesday 1st August, starting at 7pm in the Conservation Council meeting room, 3 Childers st Acton. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month. Please contact Genevieve campaign@consact.org.au if you would like an agenda.

2. Climate Change Strategy Launched
The ACT Climate Change Strategy was launched today. To read the Conservation Councils response, please go to www.consact.org.au

3. The Big Switch
We have exciting news: The Big Switch website is now live!

What is The Big Switch? It’s a fast-growing coalition of community groups, businesses and organisations, including the Conservation Council. It's a positive and collaborative effort to inspire Australians to take practical and effective action on climate change.

Our goal: To create the biggest and most effective community climate change campaign in Australia!

The Big Switch also aims to inform Australians, clearly and objectively, about where our leaders stand on this crucial issue. So we’ve surveyed federal politicians on key climate change solutions, to tell Australians who is – and who is not – leading with vision.

Why not visit The Big Switch now? Here are just some of the things you can do at The Big Switch:

Take “The Big Switch to clean energy” pledge;

Find out where your local political leaders stand on climate change , and encourage them to lead with vision;

Register for email updates;

Connect with groups of people in your community who share your concerns about climate change;

Spread the word about The Big Switch climate change solutions.

The Conservation Council is excited to be part of The Big Switch, and we hope you’ll join us, as we work together to build Australia’s largest community climate change campaign.

Events

1. 'Rescue our future'

A non-partisan youth action on climate change on Thursday 9th August at 2pm on the lawns of Parliament House.
The action is a convergence of young people to express our alarm at the inadequate action being taken on climate change, and will involve young people presenting petitions to the House of Representatives and the Senate calling for real solutions to climate change, and launching the Australian Youth Climate Coalition's (AYCC) 'adopt a politician' campaign.
The petition is based on the AYCC's declaration, and calls for the ratification of the Kyoto protocol, and emissions targets to be set in line with those of the 2006 Stern report. The petition will be presented by Independent MP Peter Andren in the House of Reps, and Senator Bob Brown inthe Senate (as there are no independent Senators). To view and sign the declaration electronically go to- http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org/dec.asp.

The 'adopt a politician' campaign involves young people 'adopting' their politicians to teach them about the urgency for climate action.
On the lawns from 2-3pm there will be speakers, music and a 'see how low you can go' limbo game, where we see just how low Australia's emission targets could be.
The theme is 'What will the weather be tomorrow?' So think about the threat of extreme weather conditions under climate change and dress accordingly, like beach or ski wear, so that means board shorts over pants, beach volley balls, lifesaver gear, your cross country skis!
If there are enough people we will also fill the galleries of parliament so that the politicians can't avoid seeing us!
Finally, there will be a optional forum from 3pm inside parliament wherein we can meet with senior politicians and discuss our ideas about climate change policy.
This is an important message for all Australians, and global citizens, we hope to have as many young people as possible there, and also welcome everyone else of all ages to attend.

For inquiries and contacts email rescueourfuture@gmail.com

2. National Tree Day Protest

This Sunday 29 July 11am Old Parliament House

Major Protest event - Canberra - join in a peaceful protest on National Tree Day this coming 29th July.
There are plans for a welcome to country and a smoking ceremony at the Tent Embassy before heading up to New Parliament House in a funeral procession for woodchips. If you are part of a network or environmental group, please put the word out. Meet at 11am at Old Parliament House on the day - come with banners, etc.

3. Orange Cup Cakes celebrate being a bus passenger: please join us

8:00 to 9:30 am, Wednesday August 1, 2007

Civic Bus Interchange. Look for lots of orange shirts.

Campaign for better public transport to lessen the impact of transport on the environment.

Campaigners will gather from 8-9.30am on Wednesday August 1 wearing orange shirts to present bus passengers with Certificates of Recognition for taking the bus. Please join us (wear an orange shirt) to help distribute leaflets about sustainable transport, GetUp and other environmental issues, along with orange cup cakes. Passengers will be urged to contact politicians and ask for better public transport services.

Media have been invited. Our stall will feature a giant paper-mache cup-cake.

4. Do you own a hobby farm or bush block?

Do you have off farm income? Can you spare a few hours in return for a top class morning tea and some freebies? The Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Coordinating Committee is looking for a small group of peri-urban landholders (10-200 acres) to road test a new fact sheet in drought preparation and recovery. If you are interested in attending a road test morning tea from 9.30am—12.30pm on the 15th of August please register your interest and your shirt size (M-XL) to Jo Harding ASAP. Numbers are limited.

Please pass this on to your networks, neighbours and friends.

Jo Harding UMCCC Faciliator

GPO Box 158, Canberra, ACT, 2601 Ph: 6207 2999 Mob: 0434 555829

Jobs