Kiwis lead the World in getting to work on climate

Press Release 11/10/10
For immediate release

Kiwis lead the World in getting to work on climate change solutions

On Sunday, thousands of Kiwis got to work on the solutions to climate change, joining what has been dubbed ‘the most widespread day of action the world has ever seen”. Coordinated by the organisation, 350.org, the Global Work Party on 10/10/10 saw more than 7000 actions in 188 countries, all getting to work on the solutions to climate change. The work parties, which range from solar installations to tree plantings, are designed to make a clear statement: citizens are getting to work on climate solutions and so should their politicians.

As New Zealand was the first to see the sunrise on 10/10/10, Wellingtonians officially opened the global work party by gathering at Island Bay beach, with karakia (blessings) and a group of dancers holding cardboard solar-panels and doing the ‘solar panel boogie’. In New Zealand over 120 events occurred across the country.

Cyclists in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin ran free bike skills workshops, fix ups and classes in bike maintenance, putting hundreds of bikes out of storage and ready for summer.

In Wellington, the 10/10/10 Wellington Wander showcased the cities best shortcuts encouraging people to swap the car for their feet by orienteering around the city.

In Christchurch, the children and families of Cherry's Early Learning Centre rode bikes and trikes to promote bike riding as a solution to climate change and to urge politicians to pass clean energy policies.

“Climate change can often be a depressing issue, but the way people across New Zealand and all over the world have just stood up and got to work on the solutions, gives us great hope” said Aaron Packard, of 350 Aotearoa.

Global 10/10/10 highlights include:
• In Istanbul, Turkey, 7,000 people marched for climate action
• In China, 30,000 students joining over 300 events across the country
• In Hamadan, Iran, a local school held an environmental education event
• In Afghanistan, groups of students planted trees in a valley outside Kabul
• In South Africa, a local business installed solar panels on the roof of an orphanage
• In Bangladesh, citizens demonstrated knee deep in the flood waters that are affecting hundreds of thousands of people
• In the United States, the Governor of Illinois announced he'll install solar and over 2,000 events across the country

“Now we just need to make sure that our leaders here in New Zealand get the message; that we need to invest in clean technology, and move away from our dependence on fossil fuels. The Government is currently developing proposals in southland to mine lignite, which is a very cheap and dirty form of coal, to turn it into diesel and urea. That would add a whole lot more carbon into the atmosphere, and we cannot let that happen, when we know that these emissions cause people to be homeless, and a great loss of life – it needs to stay in the ground.”

Despite the slow progress in New Zealand, politicians in other parts of the world seem to be getting the message.

Last Tuesday, after a public pressure campaign led by 350.org, the Obama Administration announced that solar panels will soon be installed on the White House. On Wednesday, President Nasheed got on the roof of his house in the Maldives and helped screw in a new set of solar panels. On Friday, the Mayor of Mexico City, the third largest city in the world, announced his commitment to reduce the city’s carbon emissions by 10% over the next year.

Speaking from the climate meetings in Tianjin, China, UN Climate Chief Christina Figueres said: "I congratulate you on your work and I want to offer my personal support to the Global Work Party. When citizens are inspired to take action, it is easier for governments to initiate real climate change action.”

“It’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and get to work on building the clean energy future that will generate economic opportunity and provide a better, safer, healthier world for our children,” said United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-moon. “On October 10, I encourage everyone to do his or her part to be part of the solution to the climate challenge.”

350.org takes its name from the goal of reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from its current level of 390 parts per million to below 350 ppm, the safe upper limit according to leading scientists. 350.org has quickly expanded to include hundreds of thousands of members and over 30 staff in 20 countries, including New Zealand, which is known as 350 Aotearoa. More information about what is happening in New Zealand is available at 350.org.nz.

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More information and hi-res photos and video can be found at:
http://www.350.org/media

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For further details on the New Zealand campaign visit www.350.org.nz or for the global campaign, visit www.350.org

ENDS