Melbourne holds a yearly
Sustainable Living Festival in February. I've been in previous years but this year friends and acquaintances attended in various capacities.
Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) volunteers attended the Festival and also visited the burbs to outline their
Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan to a small audience of interested public. Their strategy is to get out to the public, politicians and sell their plan.
The plan outlined obtaining 100% renewable energy within 10 years using proved renewable technologies and energy efficiency targets. The major thrust of the report is use of large-scale Solar Power and Wind Power.
Read it and see what you think. The health cost of Coal Power was also mentioned with studies by the
Harvard Medical School outlining consequences of business as usual.
As I listened to the BZE presentation, I wondered who the other members of the audience were. At question time, it was clear that most of the audience were already converted. Such as those who currently embracing aspects of a lower carbon lifestyle - cyclists, members of the public who have invested in Solar Hot Water and Photovoltaics. Other members were small business people- suppliers of residential solar systems and small designers of such systems.
Initially, as the audience assembled, I thought it would largely be made up of older men. But by the start of the presentation, a larger number of young people arrived, largely women. Later I found out these were members of the local
Australian Youth Climate Action organisation.
Its pleasing to see this local level action but I wish there were a lot more people attending these events.
This morning of course the whole media circus is focused on the political shenaningans between the
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and ex-foreign minister Kevin Rudd. The total chaos this is causing will likely be a death knell to the Labour Party at the next election.
How I wish we had proper leadership to enable the country to do the things that are needed!
