Australia: front-line of devastating climate impacts, leading centre of grassroots efforts to confront them

Australia, Feb. 7, 2009 — After a decade-long state of climate change-induced drought and days of a heat wave that sweltered to a near unbearable peak of 49ºC/120ºF, 100 km/60 mph winds helped more than 400 wildfires set large swaths of countryside ablaze in what has become the worst — and deadliest — natural disaster in a century.  People burned to death in futile attempts to save their homes, or in their cars as they tried to flee.  Others could only watch on as entire towns were laid waste.

Along with vulnerable arctic communities, Africa, small island states (AOSIS) and immensely populated, low-lying coastal countries like Bangladesh, Australia is on the front-line of the devastating impacts posed by climate change RIGHT NOW.  It is also a leading centre of grassroots mobilizations to confront them.

Much of what follows has been compiled from material forwarded to us by David Spratt, co-founder of Carbon Equity Australia and co-author of Climate Code Red: The Case For Emergency Action.  His message: An emergency, science and solution-based global mobilization to somehow cool/ return the planet to 300 ppm (parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere) must be initiated if we are to avoid catastrophic climate tipping points that would render our species — and most others — unable to survive.

ARTICLES

 

ESSENTIAL MATERIAL BY DAVID SPRATT, CARBON EQUITY (AUSTRALIA)

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AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT/ PARLIAMENT HOUSE PROTEST
(Photos by Greenpeace Australia Pacific)

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It’s just the beginning for action on climate change — Greenpeace Australia Pacific Canberra, Australia, Feb. 3, 2009 — “Over 2500 Climate Action Summit protesters encircled Parliament House bearing messages to greet the nation’s leaders on the first sitting day of Parliament for the year.”  read more

And here’s something 5,000 people got together for back in 2007!

 

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