By Olivia Nankivell
South Korea was listed on the preliminary list of IUU (Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing) countries by the United States in September, 2019 because of the government’s lack of efforts to eliminate illegal fishing.||
Let’s set the scene. You’ve just attended a Climate Strike in your city. You’ve marched, shouted, and signed the pledge to #FundOurFutureNotGas. You’re feeling motivated, focused, and you’re desperate to see some meaningful action from our Federal Government.
After the speeches, marching and chanting — you’re itching to do more to protect our climate and hold those in power accountable for their actions. We totally get it. Here at Greenpeace, we’re with you all the way!
That’s why we’ve put together ten different ways you can get involved with climate activism after the May 21 Climate Strike.
YOU THINK ROBBING THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE TO SUBSIDE GAS BILLIONAIRES IS GOING TO WORK? THINK #AUSPOL, THINK!
Video from @jackbegbie#ClimateStrike #fundourfuturenotgas pic.twitter.com/n5lfJ9H5AF
— School Strike 4 Climate Australia (@StrikeClimate) May 21, 2021
Take the #FundOurFutureNotGas pledge!
If you haven’t already, we encourage you to support School Strike 4 Climate’s #FundOurFutureNotGas pledge.
The consequences of the Morrison Government’s decision to choose dirty gas over renewables will last for generations. It’ll wreck the stability of our climate, plus our precious land, water, health, and future prosperity — unless we choose to #FundOurFutureNotGas.
If you’ve already signed the pledge, share it as far and as wide as you can with your friends, family and colleagues. Then, seek out the support of businesses, organisations, unions and prominent individuals in your community. Let’s make some noise!
Call on Optus to make the switch to 100% renewable electricity!
Greenpeace’s REenergise campaign has seen enormous success lately. We’ve pushed for all big Aussie businesses to commit to power operations with 100% renewable energy — after all, they’re responsible for 70% of Australia’s national emissions.
After the retail sector, telco companies are Australia’s next biggest polluters. So far, key players like Telstra, TPG Telcom and NextDC have pledged to power all operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
With your help, we’re calling on Optus — Australia’s second-largest telco company — to ditch fossil fuels and make the switch to clean, affordable renewable energy.
As customers and staff of these companies, you are powerful! If you’re a customer, make sure they know what you think. Use the ‘Take Action’ section of our Company Ranker to post on Optus’ Facebook or Twitter page, or you can send a letter to Optus’ CEO here.
Volunteer with Greenpeace!
To do the work that we do, we need your support, your voice, and your action! There are so many ways you can get involved with Greenpeace Australia Pacific. People all across the world help Greenpeace to do everything — from painting signs and making banners, organising local events and protests — through to occupying coal-fired power stations!
If you have a spare day or two, you can volunteer in the office, get hands-on experience with our campaigns and activities, share campaign messages and tactics in your local community, or help us raise vital funds for a more sustainable future. Visit our Get Involved page for more information.
Take your climate activism to the next level by joining Greenpeace’s Volunteer Hubs
We are building our local volunteer network of people just like you all around the country to take action on climate change, climate justice and the climate emergency.
We have State Volunteer Hubs in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, TAS and WA, and we’re hoping to expand to the Territories very soon! Our grassroots volunteers are involved in a variety of actions from rocking up to corporate offices to hand out flyers and complete surveys, to dropping massive banners from buildings, to installing mock solar panels on target company offices, to climbing structures in big, loud peaceful protest in order to bring down the power of the fossil fuel order.
There’s something for everyone, no matter what level of activism or advocacy you’re comfortable with, and we want YOU to join our activist family. We provide all sorts of training and learning opportunities for you to take your activism to the next level, including cool things like actions training, climb training and crowd marshalling at rallies. Sign up here!
Read How to Talk About Climate Change In A Way That Makes A Difference and How to Think Like an Activist!
Are you a bit of a bookworm? These two amazing books — How to Talk About Climate Change In A Way That Makes A Difference by Rebecca Huntley and How to Think Like an Activist by Wendy Syfret — are must-reads for any aspiring climate activist.
Huntley’s book seeks to answer the biggest question of all: Why is it so hard to talk about climate change? While scientists reveal shocking new figures and predictions about climate change, we increasingly find it harder to communicate this information with family and friends. Trust us — this book will be your go-to guide to effectively communicate the severity of the climate crisis!
Curious about the roots of activism? Syfret’s book offers a space for budding activists to learn from the past and look to the future. Whether it’s from small daily commitments, or larger, impactful projects — this book gives great advice on how to start building the world you want to live in – now.
Listen to Greenpeace’s Heaps Better podcast!
If you want to make things heaps better, but don’t know where to start — the Heaps Better podcast is for you! Join Jess Hamilton and Ash Berdebes; two mates on a mission to discover the most high-impact, zero-fluff things we can do to take meaningful climate action.
In this podcast series, Jess and Ash, together with Greenpeace, question the realistic impact of individual actions. They also unpack some of the heavier stuff: how we can speed up the renewables revolution, how we can divest our money from funding coal, oil and gas – plus, the awesome power of collective action to produce systemic change!
Subscribe to Heaps Better on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Discover your superpowers and download your Power Map!
Did you know that we all have superpowers? In Episode 1 of Heaps Better, join Ash and Jess to figure out what your superpowers are, where you can use them (work, school, clubs), and how to make your mark in those spaces.
When we’re talking about meaningful climate action, we really need to connect with our communities to change hearts and minds. That’s why we’ve created this Power Map! All you have to do is map out your WHAT + WHERE + WHY to discover your amazing skills, connections and opportunities for awesome systems-changing climate action! You have the power to make things heaps better.
Watch Dirty Power and download your Action Plan!
In Greenpeace’s documentary, Dirty Power, we uncovered the web of connections between the Federal Government, the world’s biggest coal giants, industry groups, lobbyists and powerful media organisations — all of which are attempting to halt climate action and stall the transition to renewable energy.
In Episode 2 of Heaps Better, hear what we can do to kick coal out of the system, speed up the renewable energy revolution, and encourage big business to do it too. To help you fast-track the renewables revolution in your life and your community, check out our 3-step Action Plan.
Make sure that your money is clean and green!
Are you unintentionally funding the climate crisis? It’s so important to make sure that our money — no matter how much we have — is financing the renewables revolution, not the climate crisis.
In Episode 3 of Heaps Better, join Ash and Jess as they discover just how easy it is to stop financing coal, oil and gas projects that damage the environment!
In fact — Ash switched her super fund during the episode. If you’d like to learn how to do the same in three easy steps, check out our Finance Guide.
Lastly, let’s speak up to people in power — together!
So, how can we send the message that we want to move forwards to the renewable future and leave coal oil and gas in the past — and be heard? In Episode 4 of Heaps Better, Ash and Jess realise that we are influential and have the power to create real change, but only when we do it together!
It’s so important to remember that you’re not alone in feeling scared about the climate crisis, or frustrated at those in power who aren’t doing enough. That’s why we’ve put together this Action Plan for you! It has three simple ways for you to maximise your climate action through your friends, your community projects, and your volunteer work.
