Climate groups to rally across NZ in global action

On Saturday, 8th September, grassroots climate groups all across New Zealand will take action to call for strong local leadership on climate change. The events in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill are coordinated by 350 Aotearoa and 350 Pacific and will be part of the Rise for Climate mobilisations in which thousands of people will participate globally. The Rise for Climate actions are in response to the Global Climate Action Summit hosted in California on September 12-14, at which local leaders from all over the world will discuss and plan for action on climate change.

350 Aotearoa Executive Director Niamh O'Flynn said “At a time when many governments are failing to take the necessary action on climate change, local leadership, and the grassroots action of everyday people is where we are seeing the power for real change. In Aotearoa we have seen some huge shifts in the last year in addressing climate change under our coalition government, but these are the result of a strong and vibrant climate movement that has kept up the pressure.”

“We’ve come a long way, but we still have a lot of work to do to get New Zealand living up to our global climate responsibilities. Many of our leaders and institutions still have ties to the fossil fuel industry, and it’s time to cut them, and make way for the fossil free future that is not only possible, but has to quickly become inevitable.”

The local events will build on the climate success of the last year, and empower everyday people to demand stronger action from our leaders. Local 350 and Fossil Free groups will focus on removing the social licence of the oil, gas and coal sectors -the most carbon intensive industries.

Auckland:
350 Auckland will invite the public to the domain to contribute to a 40m long banner of bunting with messages calling for Auckland Museum to go fossil free. The banner will be gifted as a treasure to the Auckland Museum who currently accept sponsorship from coal industry partners, the Stevenson Foundation.

Where: Auckland Museum in the Domain, Auckland
When: 8th September 2018, 10.30am - 12.30pm

PACIFIC CLIMATE WARRIORS - AUCKLAND
350 Pacific will be hosting a gathering of passionate young people for a #PacificPawa Jam session in the Park. The day will include storytelling, a weaving workshop, sign painting and a march from the park to to meet with 350 Aotearoa at the Auckland Museum, supporting and showing solidarity with our 350 family and promoting the Pacific Pawa petition.

Where: Albert Park, Auckland
When: 8th September 2018, 09.00am - 01.00pm

Wellington:
In Wellington, a team of ‘climate superheros’ will march to civic square, calling for the controversial annual Petroleum Conference to be banned from Wellington City Council-owned venues as it conflicts with the values of Wellington Council to take real action on climate change.

Where: Meeting at Te Papa (1.30pm) to march to Civic Square (2pm)
When: 8th September 2018, 1.30pm - 3pm

PACIFIC CLIMATE WARRIORS - WELLINGTON
350 Pacific will host the final global event on Monday 10th, September at Victoria University of Wellington, led by our Pacific Climate Warriors, Te Namo Tokelauan Students Association and the Wellington Pacific community.

The day will include Pacific Climate Change Expo, an interactive art piece to accompany the Pacific Pawa Petition which will be handed to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Climate Change Minister James Shaw, and performances throughout the day. The day will conclude with an open Kava session and Talanoa - an opportunity for our young Pacific people, elders and leaders to sit together and explore the effects of Climate Change on our cultural identities, on our connection to our ancestral lands, and how Pacific communities in NZ can amplify the Pacific's leadership in tackling Climate Change.

Where: The Main Hub, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Campus.
When: 10th September 2018, 11am - 4pm

Nelson:
In Nelson, a new climate group, 350 Nelson, will be launched with a banner drop and an opportunity for the public to engage in discussions about future campaigns to build a Fossil Free Nelson.

Where: Nelson Cathedral Steps
When: 8th September 2018, 12pm noon
Christchurch:
350 Christchurch will host a climate discussion with Matthew Hughes (Canterbury University), Piers Locke (Canterbury University), Anzac Gallate (Cashmere High School), Nisha Duncan (Eco Villa), Moniqua Reid (Unite Union), and Meg Christie (Crown Public Health/Zero Heroes). They will also hold a spring fair, with the opportunity to liaise with local councils about food forests, urban farms, native restorations, plant-based diets, community gardens, land-use change, water protection and more.

The event will be co-hosted by Fossil Free Aoraki, the group calling for Fonterra (NZ’s largest coal user), to commit to building no new coal boilers for its milk dehydration plants, and to commit to transitioning existing coal boilers to renewable alternatives.

‘Spotlighting Local Climate Leadership Talk’
Where: The Cardboard Cathedral
When: 7th September 2018, 7pm

‘Trees for Climate Fair’
Where: Victoria Square
When: 8th September 2018, 1-3pm

Dunedin:
350 Dunedin will publicly celebrate its climate action success in the Octagon with a dynamic banner drop representing the steps that have been taken to make Dunedin fossil free, and the steps still to come The public are invited to come and share what a Fossil Free Dunedin means to them. They also used the opportunity to call for the Cozy Homes Trust to officially refuse further sponsorship from NZ Oil and Gas.

Where: The Octagon
When: 8th September 2018, 1pm

Invercargill:
Invercargill and Southland communities are coming together to demand true climate action in Aotearoa. People are asked to bring symbols of what they are doing themselves to offset climate change. The group will capture photographs of their commitments to the planet to display at the Spring Eco Fest on Sat 22 September at Invercargill Working Mens’ Club.

Where: Wachner Place
When: 8th September, 1-2pm

ENDS.

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