Environment action: Canberra

The Rudd Labor Government and the Coalition are still continuing to debate the climate change issue based on a deeply flawed misunderstanding of what the science is actually telling us about the threat of global warming.
The CPRS and Mr Turnbull’s amendments imply carbon parts per million levels in the atmosphere of 450 to 550 or more, while leading scientists such as NASA’s Prof James Hansen and the Potsdam Institute’s Prof Schellnhuber and the Australian Greens are saying a safe climate is less than 350 pp ml. Even the Government’s Chief Advisor, Prof Will Steffen, is now publicly, if somewhat belatedly, saying that carbon levels must be reduced from the present level of 390 to 350 pp ml. The CPRS is so bad in its various details that many analysts are of the view that it is worse than doing nothing.
The Climate Action Committee will continue to highlight the failings of Labor and Coalition policies amidst a public deeply confused by a myriad of perspectives on climate change. Particularly concerning has been the contradictory actions of the Australian Conservation Foundation and other members of a Southern Cross Alliance such as the ACTU who are effectively supporting Labor’s position. Many ACF and Union members are deeply unhappy over the behavior of some key figures and their positions are being keenly challenged by activists around the country.
Their real intent, apart from providing a political smokescreen for the Rudd Government bad policy, is to maximize Labor’s vote in the next Federal Election to the detriment of the Greens and Coalition Parties. Polling for Senate positions is still however showing the Greens to be fairly well placed to gain the balance of power in the Senate.
These two Canberra events provide important opportunities for you to act on global warming.
350 DAY OF GLOBAL ACTION Sat 24 October
In Canberra, Climate Action Canberra is holding a protest outside of Parliament House at 1.30pm with a difference. Following one or two speakers, hilarious Melbourne comedian Rod Quantock will do a play with audience participation, Gamble with the Climate.
There will be prizes for participants best dressed up as a big polluter, Coalition politician or polar animal.
RUN FOR A SAFE CLIMATE Monday, 16 Nov, by emergency workers (ambulance, firefighter, police, defence forces), and Greens MP Shane Rattenbury, is taking place around the country starting in Cooktown. The Canberra leg will include a public event at the Australian National University, and a campaign launch.
People wishing to attend the launch (free of charge) and wanting to obtain further information contact Safe Climate Australia, wendy@safeclimateaustralia.org , or www.safeclimateaustralia.org
Safe Climate Australia is a non-government organisation formed by a foundation group of concerned scientists, community and business leaders with a shared understanding of the scientific and moral imperatives for emergency action to restore a safe climate. It was launched by Al Gore in Melbourne and is based on an understanding the world faces a global crisis needing an emergency program to reduce carbon emissions. Geoff Lazarus