Communities across the northern rivers region are being urged to take part in a global rally this coming weekend calling for stronger action on climate change.
In Lismore, community groups including the Lismore Environment Centre, Lismore Community Sustainability Forum and the Northern Rivers Railway Action Group have joined together to organise the rally.
Similar events will be taking place in Byron Bay, Lennox Head and Murwillumbah (see foot of article for dates and times).
Australian Youth Climate Coalition spokesperson Kudra Falla-Rickets said it was important that Lismore people add their voices to the millions across the country to show that it was a pivotal issue for all Australians.
‘Australia is far behind the rest of the world when it comes to climate action and we need to show our government that we will not stand by,’ she said.
Rally organiser Vicki Ross said organisers were hoping for a good turn-out.
‘We want as many people as possible in the photo that we’re sending as part of the global action,’ she said.
‘We want the UN to see how many people – from all walks of life – are coming to show our government we want them to create serious targets.’
Speakers include Auntie Dorrie Gordon, Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell, Kudra Falla-Rickets, Steve Harris and Jeff Johnston, and the performers are the No Frills Twins, Blakboi, Rodeo Queens, Keith Bale and the Knitting Nannas and other bands.
There will be information stalls by many groups including the Knitting Nannas, Lismore Community Gardens, Enova, Lismore Community Sustainability Forum, Divestment Information stall and the Northern Rivers Railway Action Group.
There will be photo booths where people can have a photo taken with angel wings as part of the Climate Angels or hold a sign saying, ‘I turned up’.
Marches and rallies will be held across the world on 28 and 29 November as millions call for a just transition to 100 per cent renewable energy and an end to fossil fuels.
- The Lennox Head rally will commence in the park opposite Quattro restaurant at 10.30am, Sunday 29.
- The Byron Bay rally starts at 10am in Railway Park, on Sunday 29, with speakers and entertainment.
- The Murwillumbah rally is in Knox Park at midday on Saturday 28.
Action on climate change needs to go far beyond warm and fuzzy group hugs designed to provide a few opportunistic local entrepreneurs a chance to sell some organic smokes.
We need to keep our ear to the ground locall and listen for the sound of ilmenite being mined in our Bundjalung National Park and shipped to China to be fed into toxic fume producing smelters.
That smoke will blow back over Australia and poison generations.