Reclaim Our Future: Canberra & National October Climate Actions | Chuffed | Non-profit charity and social enterprise fundraising
During Budget Week in May, Extinction Rebellion blockaded Parliament using trucks. After this came a wave of actions in August, which culminated in the spraypainting of DUTY OF CARE and the burning of a pram outside Parliament, leading to seven rebels being held on remand in prison for up to two weeks.
The next phase is Reclaim Our Future: a series of actions powered by Extinction Rebellion in liaison with other activist groups beginning 16 October, to be supported by additional actions across the country.
Please give generously to cover costs of services, supplies and accommodation for these vital and necessary actions.
‘A Code Red for Humanity’
The release of the latest report by the United Nations’ Intergovenmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was described by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as ‘a code red for humanity.’ It is by now looking very unlikely that we will be able to prevent 1.5°C of heating (the internationally agreed upon threshold beyond which the effects of global heating are predicted to be catastrophic). Yet, as Guterres urges, ‘every fraction of a degree counts. . . . Extreme weather and climate disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity. That is why this year’s United Nations [COP26] climate conference in Glasgow is so important.’
The Coalition is right now preparing the policies Australia—recently deemed by the UN as the worst country in the world on climate action—will bring to the COP26 conference in November. This international summit represents a last-ditch opportunity to avert the most devastating impacts of the unfolding ecological crisis. As the Prime Minister takes the world stage our duty to rebel, and to highlight the government’s failure to act, has never been more urgent.
A Duty of Care
Meanwhile the Federal Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, has approved the second coalmining project since a recent historic ruling found that she has a duty of care to ‘avoid causing personal injury or death’ to young people as a consequence of emissions caused by fossil fuels. That Ley is now appealing this ruling would appear to be a callous disregard of that duty.
We believe that the rest of us likewise have a responsibility to safeguard the rights young people, along with those of First Nations people and others around the world who are disproportionately vulnerable to the severe impacts this crisis. Even as we race towards the precipice it is not too late to alter our trajectory. This is why, under the banner of Reclaim Our Future, we are taking our demands to Canberra this October.
Our Demands
We demand that the government:
1. Tell the truth about the crisis. Declare a Climate Emergency and drop the Duty of Care appeal.
2. Act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
Your Support
The government, beholden to powerful vested interests, cannot be depended upon to legislate the policy changes we urgently need. Historically, social change has rarely come about due the decisions of benevolent leaders; it has arisen due to sustained public pressure, such as that which is exerted through civil-disobedience actions and the support of a broader movement. Actions such as these require many unpaid hours of planning and organising, along with your financial support, in order to proceed.
Action is the antidote to despair. Join us if you’re able—and support the movement by donating what you can.
We are committed to using donations efficiently and responsibly. Leftover funds, if any, will go directly towards future actions or to other causes the movement wishes to support.
— Read on chuffed.org/campaign/reclaim-our-future
Climate Action Australia 