Climate change, fossil fuels spark World Day of Action
Twenty-two people met in Takaka last Saturday to participate in “World Day of Action”.
“We marched to say that we are worried at the escalating use of fossil fuel and the rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,” says spokesperson Jo-Anne Vaughan. “We know that for climate stability to occur the current 392 parts per million of atmospheric carbon dioxide needs to be reduced to 350ppm.
“We focused on the two new proposed opencast coal mining projects which have recently been consented. They are Solid Energy’s Southland lignite project (New Zealand’s equivalent to mining tar sands), and the Denniston Plateau opencast coal mine. We called for a 10-year moratorium on all new coal extraction in New Zealand.
Charles Naylor wondered if by developing a “Creed” starting with “we believe” we could progress awareness. We worked on this and it has been included below.
Discussion focused on raising awareness and developing urgency to create change. Sustainable, renewable technologies are being developed to help us to change from fossil fuel.
“We consider that our government is not taking the climate change situation seriously with its support of the Solid Energy lignite proposal and the Denniston coal proposal. They see both as a way of raising foreign exchange by selling most of the coal overseas and avoiding the consequences of not falling within our Kyoto obligations. They ignore the fact that burning coal in China affects the same atmosphere we all share.
“The question is: ‘how can we help to influence our Government and population to switch to new, renewable energy technologies and to different ways of living, rather than remaining entrenched in fossil fuel dependency?”
A nation-wide hikoi was suggested to raise public awareness, to create a collective action amongst those who want to show solidarity and to let our Government know that public opinion is seeking nation-wide change.
Another action suggested was to mobilise consumers.
“Fonterra still use coal. We could raise our concerns at the next annual meeting between Fonterra and Golden Bay people. Farmers generally are becoming less reactionary to making environmentally responsible changes to their practices.”
The people at the meeting signed a petition to send to John Key asking for a 10year moratorium on developing new coal extraction. They also resolved to write to the Ministers for Conservation, Energy and the Environment asking for a 10-year moratorium on new coal including the Southland and Denniston projects.
“Our coal deposits are natural carbon sinks, dwarfing any gains made by growing trees under the Emissions Trading Scheme. Extracting coal, which is the most carbon-rich of the fossil fuels, negates our efforts under the emissions trading scheme,” said Mrs Vaughan.
Moving to Renewables Energy Creed
We believe that: it is this generation’s responsibility to act now; the future is in renewables; action must come from ordinary people, if enough people protest, the numbers will force the Government to listen; there is a cumulative effect of consciousness raising; the situation is too urgent for apathy; it doesn’t matter where in the world the coal is burnt, its effects affect everyone; Nick Smith’s argument that bigger countries need to act first is not a New Zealand attitude; we are moral leaders; every solution was once a problem; we have the power.
The Creed is but a beginning. It can be added to and changed.
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