Supporting the Climate Strike: Australia

Global Climate StrikeReligions for Peace Australia supports the climate strike on Friday, 20 September 2019. As people of spirit and faith, we are joining the youth climate strikers to call for sweeping, urgent climate action and to make sure that our response is grounded in the core values shared by all our traditions: love, justice, and compassion.


What do the students want and how will these strikes differ to those in March?

The Australia students have three demands for governments.

1. No new coal, oil and gas projects, including the Adani mine.

2. 100% renewable energy generation and exports by 2030.

3. Fund a just transition and job creation for all fossil-fuel workers and communities.

The third point is a new feature for the Australian movement and particularly important for these strikes.

The strong presence of workers at these strikes is about trying to end the pitting of climate action and the needs of the economy against each other. Instead, the young activists want constructive action to support workers in carbon-intensive industries as economies transition to net zero emissions.

Why are these strikes happening?

Young people are anxious about what their future looks like in a world that is failing to stall the climate crisis.

In the last week alone in Australia, bushfires have torn through Queensland and New South Wales in the first week of spring. They have been described as unprecedented.

Last summer brought a wave of natural disasters and record-breaking heat. For the first eight months of the year, the country’s mean temperature was the second warmest on record. Mean maximums were the warmest on record over the same period and mean minimums the equal-sixth warmest.

Authorities are warning of a grim outlook into the coming summer if current dry conditions and above average temperatures persist across much of the country.

Here is what people of faith are doing around the country:

Sydney

Meditation protest
Prior to the protest there will be meditation protest.
11am to 11.45 am
Art Gallery Road near the Robert Burns statue, the Domain
No experience of meditation necessary as it will be guided. Look for the ARRCC banner.

The protest itself
This starts at 12 noon at the Domain.

Melbourne

There are a few steps to the day in Melbourne. Do join us for as much of it as you can.

Action outside the offices of GHD – Adani contractor
We thought we’d start the day by putting a little pressure on a key Adani contractor, GHD. We’ll be handing out leaflets to GHD staff asking them to abandon plans to work with Adani.

11.30 am to 12.15pm
180 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Multi-faith service
Wesley Church in the hall
12.30 to 1.30pm
148 Lonsdale street

This is the gathering place. So please do join us for the service. We will be leaving promptly at 1.30pm to join up with others (below).

The protest itself
2 to 4pm
Treasury Gardens
Details here

Brisbane

Why not meet up with other people of faith at a prayer event before the protest?

11.30 am to 12.45pm
Wesley House
140 Ann Street

Lunch will be provided. Those attending can then walk together from the prayer event to the protest.
The protest itself
Queen’s Gardens
1pm

Townsville

The protest will be from 9am to 12 noon at Strand Park.

Perth

Look for the ARRCC WA banner near the Floating Marble Ball in Forrest Place at 10.45am. The protest will be from 11am at Forrest Place

 

Everywhere else

Please find one of the 100 strikes around Australia here.

• Sydney 12 noon – The Domain

• Melbourne 2pm – Treasury Gardens

• Brisbane 1pm – Queens Gardens

• Canberra 12 noon – Glebe Park

• Adelaide 12 noon – Victoria Square

• Darwin 1pm – Parliament

• Perth 11am – Forrest Place

• Hobart 12 pm – Parliament

 

Global Climate Strike