LHMU News
LHMU joins the national Climate Emergency Rally
LHMU members joined thousands of people in capital cities around Australia for the June 13th climate rally. Unions, environmental groups and community groups took to the streets together in support of green jobs and renewable energy.
The rally was organised by a wide variety of organisations, to demand real and urgent action to combat climate change. In Sydney, the rally heard from Maria Timon, from Pacific Calling Partnership, and Graham Brown, a coal miner from the hunter valley. Both spoke about the urgent need to act on climate change in a way that protects both people and the planet.
The rally called for:
1. 100% renewable energy by 2020.
Australia must shift to 100% renewable energy from wind, solar and other existing technologies.
2. Green collar jobs with a just transition for workers.
We can renew our economy by creating hundreds of thousands of green jobs and supporting workers to make the shift to sustainable industries.
3. A strong international agreement with climate justice for all.
Australia must take a lead in global climate talks. We must support our Pacific neighbours and other developing countries, who are least responsible for climate change, and among those most severely impacted.
4. A climate policy that makes big polluters pay.
The Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, in its current form, threatens to allow big companies to go on polluting.
In December 2009, governments of the world will meet in Copenhagen to forge a critical new global climate change agreement. This is our chance to secure strong global action to cut emissions in time to avoid catastrophic climate change. The global financial crisis presents a golden opportunity to change direction and embrace a 'green new deal' to save the planet and the economy.
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Photos:
Top left: Unions, environmental groups and community groups took to the streets together in support of green jobs and renewable energy at the Sydney rally
Top right: Maria Timon, from Pacific Calling Partnership spoke to the Sydney rally
Bottom right: LHMU members at the Sydney rally
