Media Release: Aussie hip-hop artists and a former Liberal speechwriter all Climate Camp Fans
Wednesday, 6pm October 7th 2009
MEDIA RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
What do Aussie hip-hop artists The Herd & Hilltop Hoods, a former Liberal speechwriter and climate action groups all have in common?
They’re all fans of Climate Camp!
Thursday October 8, Sydney, Illawarra, Newcastle – An unlikely combination, Aussie hip-hop artists The Herd & Hilltop Hoods join former Liberal party speech-writer Guy Pearse join a swagger of climate action groups to support Climate Camp 09 which will begin tomorrow at 12pm until Sunday in Helensburgh.
Climate Camp is 3-days of sustainable living, workshops, art and music. It will culminate in a peaceful direct action near the Metropolitan Collieries, to send a strong signal to the NSW Government that the expansion of the mine and putting the profits of mining companies ahead of water, renewable energy jobs and the climate is not acceptable.
Ozi Batla from The Herd, who recently pulled-out of the Coal to Coast festival, says “the Climate Camps are an effective and global form of action to raise awareness about climate change. The expansion of the Helensburgh coal mine is unjustified and irresponsible and I support the Climate Camp and hope their actions are successful this weekend,"
Climate Camp 09 follows-on from the success of Climate Camps and ‘Swoops’ in the UK, the Shut-Down Hazelwood Protest and will kick-off a host of community events calling for meaningful action on climate change in the lead-up to the Copenhagen Climate talks in December.
"Climate Camp represents the vitality, creativity and dedication of everyday people
who are demanding that a safe, healthy and hopeful future for our communities is put ahead of profits for big polluters. 350.org Australia fully supports Climate Campers' efforts” says Blair Palese, CEO, 350.org Australia
Says Greens MP, Lee Rhiannon "Actions like the Helensburgh Climate Camp, one of the 20 such camps happening around the globe in 2009, serve as a meeting point for mobilisation towards change.”
Climate Camp 09 calls upon politicians to get real about Climate Camp - “We hear a lot of talk when it comes to climate change, but we haven’t yet seen a whole lot of action – Climate Camp is about taking practical steps to get on with the job of transitioning Australian to a renewable energy economy, “ says Climate Camp 09 Spokesperson, Jess Miller.
‘Every 10 tonnes of extra coal that we export is the emissions equivalent of exporting 1 Australian—allowing coal exports to double is like adding the greenhouse pollution of our entire population. It erases the emissions benefit of all we are doing domestically many times over. Under the circumstances, no amount of ‘green consuming’ by individuals will undo the damage being done by our coal industry. People must also get active.’ Says Guy Pearse, Author of High and Dry and Quarry Vision and ex-speech writer to former Minister for the Environment Robert Hill.
Media Contact: Jessica Miller, 0409 490 711,
media [at] climatecamp.org.au
