Greg Platt reports on the cyclists’ feeder event at the People’s Climate March
The Moreland Bicycle User Group met at the Brunswick Mechanics’ Institute to ride into the People’s Climate Rally on 27 November. Because it had been advertised as a feeder event by the PCM web site, the BUG was joined by people from across the north of Melbourne, from country Victoria and even a cyclist in town from Tasmania. Twenty cyclists set out at 4:45 pm and numbers increased as more joined on the way in. After collecting some of the lone cyclists from within the crowd, we had group of about 50 of us to form the rear of the march as we made our way through town. A good time was had by all.
Photo by Peter Campbell of some of the many cyclists at the People’s Climate March
Well done to everyone who marched or supported the march, particularly the many shop keepers who allowed signs to go up in their windows. It was awesome with the estimated 60,000 people, who at one point, stretched all the way from Parliament House down Bourke street and up Swanston street to the starting place at the State Library at Latrobe street.
“The majority of Australians want action on climate change,” said Geoff Cousins, chair of the Australian Conservation Foundation. “People now realise this is not some theoretical concept. This is affecting their lives on a daily basis and they want something done about it.” he told the crowd, according to ABC News. (more…)
A group of people interested in the overlap of spiritual practice and environmental action who meet in Moreland are putting on Meditation Actions in the lead up the the People’s Climate March.
The group who came together as a study group working with One Earth Sanga (One Earth Community) and the Melbourne Insight Meditation Group are holding 30 minute nightly walking and sitting meditations outside the State Library from Friday 20th November to Thursday 26th November.
The actions are open for anyone to join in and “Slow down for the Planet”. The action is to remind us to slow down and connect back into what is important in life, slow down global warming, slow down consumption and slow down exploitation of Earth’s finite resources. The action also intends to raise awareness of the upcoming Peoples Climate March on Friday the 27th November. See Facebook event.
John Englart, our reporter for the Paris climate talks, reports that the French government has banned climate marches planned for November 29 and December 12.
The government is citing security concerns following the November 13 mass shootings and bombings that killed 129 people.
This banning makes it even more vital that people across the world send a clear message. Our leaders must take strong immediate action to slash carbon emissions. Join us at the Melbourne People’s Climate March on Friday November 27 at 5.30pm outside the State Library. Facebook event here.
John also writes:
Can I suggest that those of you not in Paris do a cardboard cut out of a person and write #jesuisParis on it and take it along to the protest as your plus one. Use it to add other climate slogans as you desire. Let your placards speak for Paris as the French State are attempting to silence the citizens of Paris mobilising during the climate conference.
The French organisation Coalition Climate 21 has issued a media release. A web translation is as follows:
NOVEMBER 29 AND DECEMBER 12 PROTESTS PROHIBITED IN PARIS
PRESS RELEASE Paris, November 18, 2015
The Prefecture of Police of Paris has just informed us that due to the tragic events that took place on November 13, the World March for the climate of 29 November and 12 December mobilizations planned are banned in Paris.
We regret that no alternative has been found to allow our mobilizations.However, we are more determined than ever to make our voices heard on issues of climate justice.
“We realize the gravity of the situation.More than ever we will mobilize and gather creatively. No COP21 without mobilizing civil society ” said Juliette Rousseau, coordinator of the Coalition climate 21.
Indeed, on 28 and 29 November weekend, on the eve of the opening of the COP 21, millions of people will march for climate justice:
2173 events are being prepared in over 150 countries
57 marches are planned worldwide
Dozens of marches in the regions of France have been announced
On 29 November and 12 December in Paris, we will find an alternative form of citizen mobilization, to show that COP 21 will not be done only with the negotiators.
Citizens Climate Summit to be held on 5 and 6 December in Montreuil (Seine Saint-Denis) and the Action Zone Climate, to be held from December 7 to 11 at Paris-CENTQUATRE should be maintained.These mobilizations will be two great opportunities to demonstrate that we have the solutions and alternatives to climate change and that civil society is determined to fight against the climate crisis.
21 Climate Coalition recalled that COP 21 is not an end in itself and that we citizens of the world are building a movement that will be strengthened after this summit and beyond.
Are you a cyclist in Moreland? Would you like to cycle to the People’s Climate March on November 27? Moreland Bicycle User Group has endorsed the march and will be riding in as a body. All cyclists are welcome to join in.
Meet at: Brunswick Mechanics’ Institute, cnr Sydney Rd and Glenlyon Rd, Brunswick at 4:30 p.m. Fri 27 November.
For more information, contact Nic Dolby on 0400 682 729.
More than 70 organisations have now endorsed what is planned to be Melbourne’s biggest ever climate action event on 27 November, just before international climate talks commence in Paris. And leading in to the event, screenings of the film of Naomi Klein’s book, The Changes Everything will commence in late October. In Melbourne there are screenings planned for October 19, 21, 27, 28 and November 2 and 4. Check out screening details.
Filmed in nine countries and five continents over four years, This Changes Everything re-imagines the vast challenge of climate change and presents seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines, from Montana’s Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing and beyond.
The Melbourne People’s Climate March will be the biggest climate action event in Melbourne’s history, so put it in your diary now: The March will be held at 5.30pm on Friday 27 November, starting at the State Library, cnr Swanston and Latrobe Streets. Check out Facebook event, and please invite your friends.
The City of Moreland has become first local government to endorse the march, thanks to work by Climate Action Moreland and Cr Sue Bolton. And as well as seven Victorian unions, the ACTU, the Victorian Trades Hall Council and Geelong Trades Hall are now supporting the Melbourne People’s Climate March. The March also welcomes as partners the Moreland Energy Foundation, the Alternate Technology Association, the Kurdish Association of Victoria and the Melbourne Eritrean United Community.
On the weekend of 27-29 November, as world leaders arrive in Paris for the UN climate summit, people will take to the streets in hundreds of major cities around the globe as part of the largest climate mobilisation ever: the People’s Climate March. In Melbourne, a broad and diverse coalition will express the huge public support for real action on climate, hold our political leaders to account and build on existing campaigns to strengthen our movement for the longer term.
The Melbourne People’s Climate March will be held on Friday November 27, 2015 from 5.30pm starting at the State Library. See Facebook event.
Climate Action Moreland is a regional organising hub for this march, so we are encouraging local organisations to endorse the March. So far, Moreland City Council and Moreland Energy Foundation have signed up. CAM is also contacting Ethnic Community Associations based in Moreland, and have signed up the Kurdish Association of Victoria and Melbourne Eritrean United Community.
If you know of an organisation that may like to endorse the march or that can provide information to its members, please email us at climateactionmoreland@gmail.com
From October 12, we will be leafleting for the March at various locations across Moreland. On November 14, climate activists across the country will be door-knocking for the March. If you can help with either of these, please email us at climateactionmoreland@gmail.com
At the Council meeting on 9th September Moreland Council voted on a motion of Cr Sue Bolton’s to endorse the Peoples climate March on the weekend Friday 27 November to Sunday 29 November 2015.
Event organisers have called for wide community endorsement of this rally to send a strong message to leaders and diplomats gathering in Paris at the United Nations climate conference. Marches and rallies are being planned for this weekend around the world.
The UN Climate Conference kicks off on Monday 30 November in Paris. People around the world will be mobilising to speak with one voice in a #PeoplesClimate rally on the weekend of 27-29 November demanding an ambitious climate agreement and climate action from our leaders and those who have been negotiating for 20 years and more. We shouldn’t accept any more pussyfooting around, or the weak targets that succeeding Australian governments have put forward at global forums.
The protest in Melbourne is scheduled for the Friday afternoon. What we do here in Melbourne sends a clear signal to the rest of the world.
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