Door-knocking success with Hazelwood campaign
May 11, 2010 at 3:13 pm morelandclimategroup 1 comment
40 supporters of Climate Action Moreland have door-knocked and leafleted more than 2500 Brunswick homes to launch a new strategy to engage the community on climate issues in this key election year.
The door-knocking, on 17 April and 2 May, will continue at least once a month, with a focus on the campaign to replace Hazelwood power station, the dirtiest in the developed world. It was supposed to close in 2005, but the government extended its licence for another 25 years. Hazelwood is a national embarrassment, 80% foreign owned and responsible for 3% of Australia’s and almost 15% of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Action Moreland wants it shut down by 2012 and replaced with renewable energy. We want the government to make shutting down Hazelwood an election promise, but they’ll only do that if we can show there is real community concern on the issue. So we’re taking the issue to the streets of Brunswick… door by door!more…
Andrew at The Vagabond magazine made a great video of the 2 May door-knocking, which was also an opportunity for CAM to support the launch of the Australia-wide 100% renewables campaign.
The doorkockers found people home in about half the households they visited, and more than half of them were happy to sign the “Replace Hazelwood” petition. CAM members said the awareness of Hazelwood as an issue was higher than they expected, and they generally got a positive reception. Good responses including being invited in for wine and cheese, and a number of household getting all their members to the front door to sign!
People we spoke to were also given the details of local election candidates, so they could ring them and and find out whether they were supporting the closure of Hazelwood. The campaign has also found a lot of residents who were happy to join the CAM email list and support coming activities, so all that foot-slogging will help build a stronger climate action movement in the Moreland area.
CAM’s efforts have inspired groups in the state electorates of Northcote, Melbourne and Richmond to also take to the streets with door-knocking campaigns.
The next CAM door-knocking will be on Sunday 5 June. If you wish to join us, email charmaine at charmaine_chew@yahoo.com.au.
LINKS
Video:
climateactionmoreland.org/2010/05/06/replace-hazelwood-with-renewable-energy-video/
The replace Hazelwood campaign:
climateactionmoreland.org/our-campaigns
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Replace-Hazelwood/109559042414498
Entry filed under: campaigns, Hazelwood, renewable energy. Tags: Brunswick, coal, Hazelwood, Hazelwood power station, Moreland.
Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 
1. Hey, it’s good exercise! | Classroom to Capitol | May 4, 2011 at 12:31 am
[…] and maybe petition signers, too. And a well-executed door-to-door effort can get you all that plus some media coverage (because knocking on doors, these days, for anything except a political campaign is really kind of […]