Endorse the Camp for Climate Action

Numerous community organisations and climate change groups are organising Australia’s first Camp for Climate Action. We encourage other groups, individuals and organisations to get involved in organising the camp, do outreach and co-ordination in your local area or workplace, and to pass a motion or statement endorsing the Camp for Climate Action in your union, organisation or community group.

To send your group’s endorsement or for more information, please contact info@climatecamp.org.au
Below is a model motion to endorse the Camp for Climate Action you are welcome to use. We also welcome other statements of support, endorsement, and enthusiasm for the Camp for Climate Action. We would love to publish statements with a photo or logo on our website page ‘What people are saying about Climate Camp’.

Are you coming to the Camp for Climate Action? Or want to inspire others to come?

Hundreds of people are coming to Newcastle in July to take nonviolent direct action against Australia's biggest contribution to climate change - coal exports. If you're planning on being one of them, we'd like you to tell everyone about it.

Here's what we want you to do:

• write down why you're coming to Climate Camp, in 100 words or less.  Please include your name, age (if you want), location, if you are involved in a group/union/organisation, and your occupation.
• take (or get somebody to take) a portrait photograph of yourself.
• email your words and your photo to affirmations@climatecamp.org.au

Be aware we are likely to put it up here on the Climate Camp website!   We would ask your permission before doing anything else with it.

Model Motion to Endorse the Camp for Climate Action

Preamble
Climate change is recognised as a significant threat to our future and one requiring an enormous community response. Community climate groups are organising a major six-day Camp for Climate Action to be held in Newcastle from July 10-15, 2008. Endorsing organisations include Friends of the Earth Australia, Rising Tide Newcastle and the Australian Student Environment Network.

The Camp for Climate Action will culminate with a huge protest action in Newcastle on July 13 where members of the community will walk onto the coal rail line, aiming to stop exports from the world’s largest coal-exporting port for one day. The greenhouse gases from coal exported from Newcastle harbour are greater than the total volume of greenhouse gases emitted from NSW from every other source combined. Climate Camp is about everyday people taking action to protect our children's future from catastrophic climate change, calling the Federal Government's attention to the extreme urgency of the climate challenge.

Environmentalists, community organisations and unions have a long history of working together on progressive causes. These include the campaign to close the Jabiluka uranium mine, the Green Bans employed by the Builders Labourers Federation and campaigns around nuclear disarmament. The Camp for Climate Action is an opportunity for you, your organisation, group or union to take part in the growing movement of ordinary people taking historic action to avert this crisis in a safe, supportive and positive environment.

Motion
The [organisation / group / branch of the _____ Union] recognise the urgency of an immediate response to climate change. We support the calls to withdraw the approval of the new Newcastle coal loader, for a moratorium on new coal mining and coal-fired power stations, to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive an urgent and socially just transition from coal to renewable energy. This can be achieved through green job creation and retraining in sustainable industries, and without compromising worker and community rights. We endorse the Camp for Climate Action community protest on July 13.