Walk Against Warming
Since 2005, Australians have taken to city streets in the annual Walk Against Warming to try to raise awareness of the dangers of global warming and the need to reduce our carbon emissions.
After years of conducting street campaigns, one of this year’s two major Tasmanian events – to be held on Saturday 12 December 2009 to coincide with the crucial Copenhagen climate summit – is going somewhere different. The setting will be the tall forests of the Upper Florentine Valley in central Tasmania, where participants will seek to draw attention to the value of our mature native forests in capturing and storing vast amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.
The walk will begin at 12 noon off the Gordon River Road at the start of the Timbs Track. Bus or car-pooling options are available for transport, or biking for the more adventurous. For information about sustainable transport options and to register your family’s seats on a bus please visit the Environment Tasmania website.
Launceston’s Walk Against Warming will be at the Regatta Grounds at 1pm on 12 December. For more information contact Ros Lewis, tel. 0437 741 677.
Media release: 16 November 2009
Five Tasmanian organisations working on sustainability and climate change issues today launched the 2009 Walk AgainstWarming, announcing that it will be held in the unprotected forests of the Upper Florentine Valley, on Saturday 12 December at 12 noon. The rally and walk will one of a number of national and international community events timed to coincide with the Copenhagen climate talks and urge all leaders to take real, urgent action.
“Around the world, governments, businesses, organisations and individuals must take responsibility for their actions and work together to combat climate change by reducing consumption, increasing energy efficiency, promoting renewable energy and protecting important natural environments. There is now no time to waste,” said Margaret Steadman, spokesperson for Sustainable Living Tasmania.
Vica Bayley, Campaign Director for the Wilderness Society, pointed out that the single greatest contribution Tasmania can make to the global climate challenge is to protect its native forests. “The carbon-rich forests of the Upper Florentine are a fitting place for this year’s Walk Against Warming,” he said. “Our forests store vast amounts of carbon and put simply, they are worth far more standing up.
Speakers at the event will include local scientists, renewable energy and sustainability experts, and climate campaigners.
“With an existing base of renewable energy options, Tasmania has the opportunity to become a world leader in addressing climate change,” said Environment Tasmania Director, Dr Phill Pullinger. “With the right public policy decisions to improve public transport, encourage energy efficiency, protect out native forests and cut emissions in other ways, Tasmanians could feel proud of their contribution to cutting carbon emissions.”
Sustainable transport options to the Upper Florentine, such as bike riding, buses and car pooling, will be on offer to maximise transport efficiency and promote these options as every day alternatives people can employ.
“Tasmania’s car pooling website coolpooltas.com.au is proud to be part of this years Walk and offers to help Tasmanians join forces and cut their emissions by carpooling whenever they go on a journey, whether to this year’s Walk, a drive to the forest or a business trip across the state,” said Cool Pool Tas coordinator Georgi Marshall.
“Everybody has a responsibility to do their bit for the future,” said Climate Action Hobart spokesperson Mel Barnes. “Everybody can do something to reduce their personal emissions, promote alternatives and political action. The decisions of our political leaders today will impact on the future of our children and grandchildren. We all need to be part of this year’s Walk Against Warming to send a message to leaders that we expect real, decisive and immediate action to address this issue. Our future depends on it.”
A short history of Walk Against Warming by Cate Faehrmann
When I first started working at the Nature Conservation Council of NSW in 2004 I was disturbed at the lack of community engagement around climate change, particularly community mobilisation. As I said at the time – where are the people taking to the streets on this issue? So I called a meeting in Sydney at our little NCC office and Walk Against Warming was born. I was adamant that people would take to the streets if we organised an event that was pitched in a professional, family-friendly way. Our goal was to really influence the political agenda on climate change, not put on yet another demonstration or stunt that we could feel good about but that excluded many others who were also concerned.
It was important for us to encourage as many towns and cities across the country to also hold a Walk Against Warming. I figured that if just twenty people painted a banner and walked down their main street and stood on their town hall steps and took a photo then they’d create a media story. We wanted the Howard Government to notice that ordinary people everywhere were concerned about this.
And they did take notice. In 2005, the first year it was held, on the International Day of Action on Climate Change (coinciding with the UN meetings), 4000 people marched in Sydney while communities held similar, though smaller, events across the country.
In 2006, two months after the Stern Report and when interest in Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth was beginning to peak, Sydney’s Walk Against Warming attracted 40,000 people, including Cate Blanchett. A further 60,000 people at least, marched in another 60 parts of the country.
And the 2007 event, held two weeks before the Federal Election, made headline news in towns and cities across the country. We had inspired a nation!