Source: guardian.com.au
I don’t know about you but todays events in our Australian Senate took me totally by surprise.
Our climate laws are still in place, for the moment anyway. With a vote of 37 to 35 in favour of rejecting the repeal of the climate laws, it was tight. And, it was amazing.
What surprised me most was that Clive Palmer has done a complete about-face since meeting Al Gore. Hence the title of the post, The Al Gore Effect.
I even watched a clip of him today actually promoting a book about renewable energy and climate change science. It sounded like he was channelling An Inconvenient Truth!
Have I just travelled to ‘Bizarro World’ or some alternative universe, because never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that this series of event would have unfolded?
Our climate laws are safe for at least another few days until the House of Representatives amend and resubmit the laws to the Senate, so keep the pressure on people!
If you haven’t yet had the chance or time to write an email to your state’s senators, then this is your chance to shine. Click through to the post that I wrote last week as it has a link with all the information you need to contact your Senate representative. Ask them to keep our climate laws (which are working by the way, reducing electricity emissions by 10% during the two years they have been in force).
People power is working, and as someone famous once said;
“Decisions are made by people who turn up.”
Food for thought in our modern democracy, don’t you think?
So what are you waiting for?
If you value the future of ours and our children’s longevity on this planet, then hit those keyboards, and let our Senators know what you think.
Addendum: I have just finished sending passionate personal pleas to eight of my states Senators. I believe that these actions count, and do make a difference.
I’ll be ecstatic when we have global consultation on environmental issues (one of the major ones being climate change) that actually result in practical action. Climate change is a global issue, and requires a global response as its solution. We’re one human race, and we all suffer the effects of climate change! We need courage from our democratically-elected leaders, not looking back over their shoulders to compare themselves with other countries in a race to the bottom.
Small steps, small steps in the right direction towards this outcome is encouraging though.
Thanks for sharing.
Me too Sonia. But until then we have to celebrate the small steps, which I am sure will become larger ones in the right direction.
Well done Gavin – inspiring. Thanks for sharing and encouraging others to take action. The power of the ‘pen’. The power of the people – may it grow into a solutions revolution.
I agree Tess, the pen is mightier than the sword.
Yay!! ( for now ) Let’s keep this thing rolling – off to write to senators.
It is a bit bizzarro world and who knows the inner workings that have made it all happen – but a great opportunity to turn back the tide.
Well done. Thanks Kim, and keep up the good work. x
Maybe Clive has had a green epiphany just like yours? Next thing we know, there’ll be a Greening of Clive blog out there where he gives up mining in favour of planting vegetables. Do you think?!
Well maybe not, but this is really good news : )
Hey Lindsay,
Thanks for making me smile! The Greening of Clive has a ring to it.
Gav x
He he! I like this Lyndsay. Can’t help imagining Clive with his hands in compost, Peter Cundall style, blooming marvellous.
The Greening of Clive – in my dreams! The shenanigans in the Senate have less to with climate change policy, and everything to do with Mr Palmer sending Mr Abbott a message about who is actually in charge.
You didn’t really think Clive, a multinational mine owner, had changed heart did you? He’s only in politics to make sure he keeps making bucket loads of money, not to serve the people or the environment.
It was a slim chance John… He only has his own interests at heart.