Why Climate Summit was short on hippies
Latest from Elsa Evers at the Climate Summit:
At the close of the final day of Australia’s Climate Action Summit, I understand what has made this summit so special. I’ll try to paint the picture:
An elderly man sits next to me, deliberately scribbling notes. Two kids run down the aisle next to me, stepping over those between them and their mum. A young local from the Royal Fire Brigade smiles at them as they pass. He sits next to a cleancut professional leafing through his briefcase.
The incredible diversity of people at Australia’s Climate Action Summit indicates a change in the environmental movement. We are no longer a bunch of hippies chaining ourselves to trees. We are ordinary Australians committed to cooperate so we can ensure a clean and safe future for those that will come after us.
A few words from some of the inspirational people I have met since the summit’s Day 1:
David Gross, former CSIRO scientist, Canberra:
‘I’d really like Kevin Rudd to take action as soon as possible. I have quit working at the CSIRO and now work as a full-time campaigner because I feel that there is now a need for political change – the science is already agreed upon.’
Rosemary Hathouris, Katoomba Leura Climate Action, Blue Mountains:
‘I’ve come here for some stimulus for what to do in this vital year, especially in our local communities so that ordinary people feel empowered to make change for our future.’
Barney Stephens, Darling River Action Group, Broken Hill:
‘Our Darling is already suffering from climate change and the political mismanagement of our waterways. I’m here to represent the Darling communities. We won’t sit around and watch Australia’s longest river die.’
I can’t wait until tomorrow, to stand alongside David, Barney, Rosemary and many others at Parliament House to demand our campaign objectives at the finale to Australia’s Climate Action Summit.
February 7th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
No ,your not just a bunch of hippies just ordinary Australians,true,but easy on the poor old hippies yeah?
February 9th, 2009 at 11:03 am
@ Murray. Thanks for your comment. I believe that people like you are the foundation of the changes in environmental consciousness that have happened in Australian and around the world. My mother and father are hippies and I stood proudly beside my mum at Australia’s Climate Action Summit.
In encouraging a new range of people to the movement with my post, I may have unwittingly offended those people at its core who gave birth and give strength to the environmental movement.
I hope that we can be seen as a unified movement made up of hippies, young and old, as well as professionals, mothers, tradespeople, schoolkids, teachers, scientists, doctors, and economists. And I hope that the government will respond because they realise that the Australian people - their voters - are concerned about climate change and that they need to act according to the will of the people.
With respect to the founding hippies,
Elsa, Greenpeace