On Sunday Geelong residents will kick off a global day of action to show support for action on climate change.

The following day, on Monday 22 September 2014, 126 presidents and prime ministers from around the world – Australia’s not included – will be arriving in New York for a climate change summit. More than a million citizens in more than 1,500 cities around the world have chosen to join a ‘People’s Climate March’ to demonstrate their support for strong action on climate change. In Australia, 97 events have been registered.

“Whether it is retreat of sea ice in the Arctic, wildfires in Russia, flooding in China, drought in Brazil or sea level rise in Pacific Islands, no citizens are immune from the effects of climate change,” said Dave Campbell, President of Geelong Sustainability.

“Due to time zones, Geelong will be one of the first cities around the world to march. As people wake up in Africa, Europe and North America they will see that Geelong has set the scene for a day of colourful action. ‘March now – or swim later!’,” said Mik Aidt, presenter of a weekly climate change focused radio show on 94.7 The Pulse called ‘The Sustainable Hour’, quoting one of the slogans currently used in New York.

“The politicians that act on our behalf need to know the strength of community feeling about climate changes and its impacts. Geelong wants climate action,” said Daniel Cowdell, local organiser for GetUp which advocates for voters to place their votes on clean energy at the state election.

The gathering point for People’s Climate March Geelong will be at Transvaal Square on the Waterfront (corner Yarra St / Eastern Beach Rd). Full details can be found at the Geelong Sustainability website (www.geelongsustainability.org.au)

People’s Climate March Geelong
Sunday, 21 September 2014, 11:00am
Transvaal Square, Geelong Waterfront, 1 Yarra Street

» Facebook event page:
www.facebook.com/events/827137233983333

» Avaaz’s event page (an online network of 38 million people):
www.avaaz.org/en/event/climate

» 350.org’s event page:
www.act.350.org/event/peoples_climate

More information

The People’s Climate March New York

In New York, almost 950 NGOs are collaborating about what is expected to become the largest climate action rally in history.

» New York: www.peoplesclimate.org/march

» Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is skipping the UN summit. List of leaders in New York: www.un.org (PDF)

» More about the UN summit in New York: www.theclimategroup.org

GetUp’s clean energy campaign in Geelong

A new initiative is going to work hard to make sure that in City of Greater Geelong, the candidates for the state election in November will be talking about sustainability, onshore gas exploration, and climate change policy in their debate at public election meetings and in the media.

The grassroots movement GetUp, which has a membership list of 677,500 Australians, recently started a ‘Vote Clean’ campaign in Geelong, and on 3 September 2014 three members of the team visited the Sustainable Studio on 94.7 The Pulse.

» Geelong gets up for climate action – podcast, 3 September 2014 :
www.climatesafety.info/geelong-gets-up-for-climate-action

“This is not just about the environment, it’s about the community, it’s about jobs, it’s about justice.”

Eddie Bautista, executive director for the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance and one of the leading organisers of the People’s Climate March in New York, USA.