FRIDAY 14 JULY 2006-07-13
Press Release

Wellington Activists Ask 'Will You Get Through Climate Change?'

Today independent Wellington activists climbed the Chaffers Dock building on Wellingtons waterfront unfurling banner in-front of a 5 storey high picture of a tsunami wave reading, 'Will you get Thru? Get Ready - Get Thru Climate Change.'

Spokesperson Gareth Hughes said "Climate Change is the most urgent issue facing New Zealand and World and as this banner demonstrates we have got to get ready both to mitigate its effects but also to adapt to a World a changing climate and more extreme weather events."

"Civil defence is asking the public if they will get 'thru' a tsunami, but are they asking how we will get through climate change."

The activists are independent from campaigning or environmental organisations and were motivated by the lack of policy action by the Government.

"We don't have a carbon or methane tax; we are looking at a $500 million payment for failing to achieve our greenhouse gas targets, yet we are seeing no serious action being taken by our elected officials to deal with our biggest problem." Said Mr Hughes, a student at Victoria University.

"The Government needs to step up to the plate and deliver some policy that reduces our contribution to climate change not just more empty promises and hot air. Consumers, business's and power generators are unsure what initiatives the Government will take and this is contributing to uncertainty in the economy."

"We need clean energy now." Said Mr Hughes

The activists have timed their action just before the G8 is meeting in St Petersburg, where the 8 richest industrialized countries will gather under the euphemistic banner of "Energy Security."

ENDS

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