Kiwis dig deep for Key
Kiwis dig deep for Key
Auckland 29 October 2009 – Prime Minister John Key won’t be able to use finances as an excuse not to go to the UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December, with the Sign On campaign on track to raise the money to help get him there.
“Over $3,000 has now been fundraised to ensure Key gets to the most important meeting in history,” said Sign On spokesman Gareth Hughes. “From bakesales, to sausage sizzles, to the auctioning of books, people from all around New Zealand have made contributions to the cause.” (1)
The “Key to Copenhagen” project aims to raise $5,000, and is part of the Sign On campaign, which is calling for Key to commit to a 40% by 2020 emissions reduction target at Copenhagen (www.signon.org.nz). The drive to raise funds kicked off on October 10 with a range of events across the country, including “Darby’s Barbie” in Auckland, hosted by actor Rhys Darby.
“Copenhagen could set us on the path of positive change - or lock the planet into catastrophic, irreversible climate change,” said Hughes. “The most important thing at the meeting will be leadership. Leaders of the developed world, including our own Prime Minister, must go to Copenhagen and agree to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent between now and 2020.
“Well over 140,000 New Zealanders have Signed On to say they support John Key going to the meeting and doing the right thing. He needs to listen to them. At this stage, Key is implying he won't go, which means we're that much further away from New Zealand playing a constructive role in the talks.
“If he doesn’t go, it suggests to the world that New Zealand does not take this global crisis seriously.”
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to go to Copenhagen and is urging other developed country leaders to do the same (3).
People can donate online at www.signon.org.nz/keytocopenhagen
(1) http://www.signon.org.nz/blog/marmalade-muffins-the-ticket
http://www.signon.org.nz/blog/baked-goods-in-the-garden-city
http://www.signon.org.nz/blog/sausages-a-hit-in-hamilton
(2) See the video here of Rhys Darby manning the sausage sizzle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpp6RkLhRtg
(3) http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2379
ENDS