Follow passion to make climate change impact

The Goulburn Valley Environmental Group has thrown its support behind youth who wish to engage in climate activism.

Have a voice: GVEG committee
member Mel Stagg is letting
 young people know they are not
alone when it comes to tackling
climate change.

Group committee member Mel Stagg said they wanted the youth of Greater Shepparton who had a strong passion about the environment’s future to know they were not alone.

‘‘We want young people who care about climate change to know they’re not alone in our community. There’s other young people out there in our community who care, too, and we can help connect you,’’ she said.

Ms Stagg said the group would help to facilitate a way for those interested in taking part in this month’s Student Climate Strikes to do so.

‘‘We want to connect young people from across the Goulburn Valley and support them to represent in Melbourne or band together at a local event for the Global Climate Strike,’’ she said.

Ms Stagg said if a large number of young people were interested, there would be the potential to have a strike event in Shepparton or alternatively, they would arrange transport to Melbourne.

‘‘Anyone under the age of 18 will need permission from their parents,’’ she said.

‘‘And we do have a couple of people with working with children’s checks.’’

She said there was the potential for the group to cover the ticket cost of those who were facing financial hardship.

Ms Stagg highlighted the fact the group could help to connect these young people to leaders and politicians where they could have their voices heard.

‘‘It’s their future and they’re the ones that are going to be living it in,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s so important young people stand up and say we’ve had enough.

‘‘Our politicians aren’t listening.’’

And while the group will facilitate the strike action, fellow environmental community group Transition Tatura has encouraged youth to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Member Ross Musolino said it was crucial youth were involved in this process.

‘‘We’re not going to save ourselves — it’s got to be up to the next generation,’’ he said.

Mr Musolino echoed Ms Stagg’s comments about the government and its lack of action when it came to climate change.

‘‘Obviously, Scott Morrison and his people are not going to fix it,’’ Mr Musolino said.

‘‘As we know, all politicians only care about every two years . . . and what will win them votes.’’ 

• ●Ms Stagg encouraged the youth who wished to participate in the Global Climate Strike on March 15 to get in touch with Goulburn Valley Environmental Group on gvclimateaction@gmail.com To become involved with GVEG on a regular basis, visit its website http://gveg.org.au/ and get in touch.

Story from The Shepparton News by Tara Whitsed - “Follow passion to make climate change impact.”

Keep it in the ground’: what we can learn from anti-fossil fuel campaigns

From the fossil fuel divestment movement to the Stop Adani campaign, in recent years we’ve seen a wave of climate activism that directly targets fossil fuels — both the infrastructure used to produce, transport and consume them, and the corporations that finance, own and operate that infrastructure.

Former Liberal Party leader John Hewson at an event
 protesting Adani’s Carmichael Mine in October 2018.

What makes targeting fossil fuels so attractive for activists, and can we learn anything from them?

Climate change became a topic of mainstream international concern in the early 1990s. For the first two decades of international climate cooperation, until the failed Copenhagen climate conference in 2009, the international environment movement embraced a more “technocratic” approach.

 Professionally-staffed environment groups made technical arguments aimed at persuading politicians and the public to adopt global climate treaties, national greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and complex market-based policy mechanisms such as emissions trading schemes.

Read the piece from The Conversation by a PhD Candidate in Political Theory from the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Fergus Green - ’Keep it in the ground’: what we can learn from anti-fossil fuel campaigns."

Successful beer maker brews a drop of climate activism

B

efore they sold their first bottle of beer, Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch, co-founders of New Belgium Brewing, went for a long hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

On that hike, they came up with four core beliefs and values that would guide their fledgling brewing operation. One pillar of the operation was environmentalism — both Jordan and Lebesch agreed that the company should, no matter what, be a good environmental steward.

More than two decades later, New Belgium Brewing has grown into the fourth-largest craft brewery in the United States, producing more than 900,000 barrels of beer annually and selling their products in 38 states around the country. But they’ve maintained their commitment to environmentalism, transitioning in the last eight years from a business internally concerned with sustainability to a vocal advocate for clean water and sustainable business practices in both local and national politics.

The New Belgium Brewery is now
 trying its hand at climate activism.

This winter, for the first time, New Belgium is turning its attention to climate change advocacy. To draw attention to climate change and raise support for Protect Our Winters, a nonprofit that touts itself as a leading climate advocate in the winter sports community, New Belgium has teamed up with Ben and Jerry’s to create a limited release beer and ice cream pairing — Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale, available in both beer and ice cream form.

Read the Oximity story - “The Country’s Fourth-Largest Craft Brewery Is Trying Its Hand At Climate Activism.”

Entering a new era of climate activism

Environment Victoria and the Sustainable Living Foundation are eager to have people consider a new era a climate activism.

Subsequently, they have organized an event for later this month that will confront the myths and realities of dangerous climate change and then consider a new era of climate activism.

The event, ”Breakthrough: The new era of climate activism” is planned for Monday, October 20, at the RMIT University in Swanston St, starting at 6:30pm. Bookings for the free event can be made here.