A CALL to action on climate change drew a crowd of more than 100 people to the park at Bar Beach, Narooma on Sunday.
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The GetUp Climate Day of Action saw similar events around Australia, as well as in Bermagui, Tathra, Moruya and Merimbula.
In Narooma, the day was organised by 15-year-old Ben Potter helped by other locals GetUp supporters.
Participants were encouraged to wear bright colours and several had placards calling for action on climate change.
Speakers were invited up from the crowd and speak their mind on the issue.
Some spoke about the need to search out valid information and ignore misinformation, while other called on the current government to act beyond its direct action policy.
“Australia once punched above its weight – now it kicks below the belt” read the placards of Goulburn visitors Tony and Karen Egan and their daughter Alice, who were on holiday but wanted to attend one of the GetUp events.
“We’re just a few metres above sea level back home but the climate is about more than that,” they said. “We are seeing more bushfires and we’re even seeing the extremes on the land around our home.”
Narooma local Greg Watts described his work with the Green Cross organisation’s Witness King Tide Project and said his kids had nicknamed him the “Tidewatcher”.
Nerrigundah Rural Fire Service brigade member John Cowan spoke pointed out to the crowd he was not wearing his uniform on accident also linking climate change to increased bushfire danger.
He also questioned why there had not been more action from local government following a meeting on climate action in Moruya back in 2006.
Deputy mayor Neil Burnside also attended and spoke addressing issues regarding council’s action on limiting its impact.
Clr Burnside said all new council projects had to take account environmental impacts.
“I personally believe in climate change and I abhor climate deniers but I also question those who attribute everything to climate change,” Clr Burnside. “But I do share your concerns.”
Clr Burnside, Ben Potter and a group of children then planted three trees in the park.
Ben, who was arrived late from work, was impressed with the crowd, and was overheard to say; “Where did all these people come from!”
The crowd was then marshalled up for the traditional group photos at the park and then on the beach.
Ben’s fellow Narooma High student Sam Hodge then played a few tunes before rain started and the crowd fully dispersed.
Some of Nature Coast Marine Group members at their AGM also joined in the day of Climate Action on Sunday.
“All around Australia thousands of people turned out to tell our government that we need to take real action to reduce our contribution to climate change,” president Jenny Edwards said.
“Australians are the worst in the world per head of population for polluting our atmosphere with greenhouse gases.
“Unfortunately it is looking like our government is going to perform on the world stage as well as some of our least successful sports teams.”
All agreed that all residents need to do much more to reduce emissions. The consensus in discussions was that the oceans have absorbed most of the heat and carbon dioxide that humans had released since the beginning of the fossil fuel era and this means the weather will get wilder, sea levels will continue to rise and storms will do more damage to our coastlines.
Group member Bill Barker is particularly concerned about what is happening in the oceans.
He explained that as currents change marine life is being displaced and some animals and plants have no suitable habitat that they can move to.
“Carbon dioxide is already making colder water more acidic and damaging the tiny shelled creatures that are the basis of food chains,” he said. “There are widespread concerns that this will eventually reduce the food available for other animals such as fish, whales and penguins, as well as possibly affecting commercial fisheries.”