We Painted the Town White - Greenpeace Australia Pacific

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Greenpeace Australia Pacific

June 23, 2016 1 min read

Oldies But Goodies Alert!

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Read the latest from Greenpeace Australia Pacific

On the shortest night of the year, under a full moon, volunteers across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane braved the night to change the ads in bus, train, and tram stops. The new image shows the Australian public the devastating impacts the coal industry has on the Great Barrier Reef. They painted the town white, just like the coal industry has done to the reef.

The bleached ads can be seen right throughout these major cities, like by Wynyard Station in Sydney. (Pictured below)

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<p>I’ve been thinking a lot about kids and climate change lately. I’m not just wondering, as I often do, what they’ll think of our response to the crisis and what they’ll do when they are adults. I’ve actually been trying to work out how to explain climate change to them without scaring their little socks off.</p>
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<p>The reason I've been thinking about this is that our popular polar bears will be at the <a href="http://www.ecokidsfestival.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eco kids festival</a> on September 13th at Sydney's Luna Park to talk to kids about climate change. They will be running some fun activities with kids, including a competition. The day will feature an appearance by Dorothy the Dinosaur and includes lots of intereactive workshops for kids. It should be a great day and we'd love to see you there.</p>
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<p>To support our presence at this festival and other events, I was tasked with pulling together positive information on climate change for kids.</p>
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<p>If you have kids, you may know what I’m talking about when I say that at first I felt a little daunted by this task. It seemed a bit like being asked to be upbeat about the death of the Easter Bunny (who of course kids, if you are reading this, is <strong><em>never</em></strong> going to die). I was asking myself: how can I make this topic suitable for kids?</p>
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<p>After some rumination, however, I realised that I was totally missing the point. The whole point to telling kids, or anyone, about climate change is that there’s hope. It’s worth knowing that we can solve the climate crisis and we all have the power to make the world a better place. In fact that has to be one of the most positive and important things we can all know, right?</p>
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<p>So, thanks to our amazing designer, Anna, and feedback from kids and parents, we now have a leaflet and posters on climate change for kids aged from 7 to 11. They provide information on the causes and solutions to climate change and what kids can do and are doing about climate change. It's a small start, but it feels great to begin meeting the demand for information on the environment for kids. You can download the leaflet <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/resources/fact-sheets/climate-change/climatecarer">here</a> and I'll put the posters up shortly. What do you think of them? More importantly, what do your kids think of them? Your feedback will help inform future materials.</p>
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<p>And if you want to get your kids excited and feeling empowered about the environment, join us and many others at the Eco Kids Festival in Sydney on Sunday September 13th. Hope to see you there.</p>
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Or, by the iconic Flinders Street Station in Melbourne…

Even in Brisbane Square

Community opposition to the coal industry is stepping up, with more and more people outraged that Kevin Rudd is choosing coal over a safe climate. In September and October, communities are voicing their frustration in a series of community protests at coal infrastructure around the country. People from all walks of life will gather at mines and coal-fired power plants in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and WA.

To make sure the message sinks in, courageous people at each protest will walk onto the sites to temporarily bring a halt to the production of greenhouse pollution. They will be supported by a huge, colourful and diverse crowd of people standing by to bear witness and cheer them on.

The climate emergency is looming and our dear leaders are twiddling their coal-blackened thumbs. When the government fails to protect the people’s interest, the people must withdraw their social license. Now is the time for mass civil disobedience to ensure a safe climate future.

So whether you’re simply looking for a meaningful day out, or are ready to martyr yourself for the sake of future generations, get along and have your say for a safe climate future at the day of action in your state. It will be a memorable and powerful thing to be a part of.

Victoria:
Switch off Hazelwood, 12-13th September

SA:
Climate Camp South Australia, 24-27th September

NSW:
<a href="http://www.climatecamp.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Camp 09</a>, 9-11th October

WA:
<a href="http://climatecampwa.wordpress.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Camp WA</a>, 17th-20th December

We hope these signs reach as many people as possible. So on your route to work tomorrow, make sure you look out for these awesome images. It’s so important that we stand up against the coal industry and the government that allows them to destroy the Great Barrier Reef. Please join us in sending a strong message to the next Government that we’re voting to save the Reef. #BleachedAds