Critical discussions Beneath the Wisteria

Bill McKibben.

How Local Government can be encouraged to address, practically, sustainability will be discussed at Saturday, July 28, gathering Beneath the Wisteria.

Supporter, John Pettigrew, said: “This sounds an innocent topic, but with what's happening at the moment around CBD rates (in Shepparton) and an election later in the year it could become political”.

John said: “I am confident we can keep to the "high ground" and rationally discuss avenues or options either individuals or groups could consider”.

There is, however, a certain urgency about reaching the City of Greater Shepparton council (or any other Local Government body) as the reality of climate change and the difficulties it brings are becoming more pressing with each passing day.

In fact it was back on October 2011 that Jeff Goodell wrote in the Rolling Stone magazine about "Climate change and the end of Australia".

A friend of Goodell’s had said to him before he visited Australia that it was the “petri-dish of climate change”.

The “kicker headline” on the Rolling Stone's story said: “Want to know what global warming has in store for us? Just go to Australia, where rivers are drying up, reefs are dying, and fires and floods are ravaging the continent”.

Author, educator and environmentalist, Bill McKibben, who is also the founder of the grassroots climate campaign, 350.org, wrote in the 2012 July issue of Rolling Stone about “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Maths” pointing to the alarming numbers that worryingly confirm the rapid unfolding of climate change.

The July 28 gathering Beneath the Wisteria will be held at the northern end of Shepparton’s Maude St Mall starting at 11:30am. Some seating is provided, but those planning to attend are urged to bring along a folding chair.