Global Climate Change Action

Below are some letters sent, see also http://globalclimatechangeaction.org/geothermal for my latest letter to the PM and Anna Bligh on Geothermal energy.

Feel free to use some of the ideas in your own letters. Below this letter are a few paragraphs taken from the Australian Greens website: http://bob-brown.greensmps.org.au/support-greens-campaign-effective-clim... - to further inspire.

Thank you (in advance) to those who take the time to send letters. One letter represents 100 votes ... so letter writing is one way that individuals can make a real difference. Feel free to post your letters here. Thank you to those who have.

Sent March 2008.

Dear Mr Rudd

Welcome to the office of Prime Minister.

It is truly a wonderful thing to have a change of leadership, I thank my fellow Australians for finally voting out John Howard and breath a deep sigh of relief.

My Rudd, I have been gathering information on the issue of Global Warming/Climate Change with a dedicated global group of individuals for the last few years and for my own interest for at least 10 years. Our focus has not been on blaming, but on the best possible ways forwards to mitigate the worst effects of climate change and the immediate actions needed to be undertaken by individuals and governments.

Through our research, we have concluded that the nuclear power option would be highly deleterious in both the short and long term, not only to Australia, but to the entire planet.

It is my view, and the view of the other members of my group (numbering over 80) that Climate Change/Global Warming is the single most serious issue that our country (and our planet) currently faces.

As a father, I am sure you fear for the future of your children. As a mother of two, I know that I do.

As the newly elected leader of our great nation, I am sure you understand the great power that lies within your hands. You are the person who will be singly held completely and totally responsible, via the decisions you make, not only by your own children, but by the citizens of this nation and the planet. Your name will go down in history as the man who gave our children a chance for future, or a man who ignored the innumerable scientific warnings given to him.

Mr John Howard’s name has already been tarred with the latter. I am of the strong opinion that this is the main reason for his losing office.

Mr Rudd, our group formulated the wording of a petition to Government heads which exceeded its target of 1000 signatures just before the election. It can be found online here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/global-petition-for-the-implementation-...
I draw your attention to the requests made in this petition. They are not unreasonable requests, they are not "un-do-able" for a man in your position.

Many other local groups of citizens who are also deeply concerned about climate change (numbering over 80 groups) from right across Australia have also formulated, agreed upon and endorsed the wording of a joint declaration towards actions which would help to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. This declaration can be located via my website here:
http://globalclimatechangeaction.org/JD
I draw your attention to the wording in this Joint Declaration and respectfully request your feedback on the above two documents.

Mr Rudd, this note is sent to ask you directly, will you please take immediate and urgent action to mitigate the worst effects of climate change? With the utmost respect, will you:

1. Urgently develop government owned geothermal plants for energy production, which is a PROVEN, clean and sustainable energy production method, for base load supply,
2. Provide increased subsidies for the local installation of solar and wind power generation, subsidies not only for property owners but for those who rent as well,
3. Encourage the greater use of public transport by ensuring that these services are reliable and as energy efficient as is currently possible?
4. Phase out coal as a base load power fuel for Australia?
5. Phase out coal exports and increase investment into the development of clean energy production technologies?
6. Phase out nuclear mining and nuclear exports. Ensure that our nation does not go down the nuclear power path, heed the wisdom in the warning given to us by Australian Aboriginal Elders “the poison, leave it”.

Mr Rudd, taking the 6 measures which have been outlined above cannot harm the future in any way. In fact, for you to immediately implement such positive measures will not only enhance and improve the lives of your current citizens, it will prove you to be worthy of the great honour which has been given to you by the Australian people, the greatest honour that can be given to any Australian, that of the office of Prime Minister.

The issue of climate change is one that affects us all and should therefore be openly and honestly discussed with your voters and the general public. To ensure that your office gets this letter I have also posted it to your feedback form on your website.

On behalf of the members of the Global Climate Change Action Group and the members of Climate Change Action Groups across Australia, I eagerly await your reply.

Yours sincerely
Anne Goddard
Founder
Global Climate Change Action
http://globalclimatechangeaction.org

further inspiration... (Thanks to Bob Brown - Australian Greens)

* After 11 years of climate inaction, Australia cannot afford to delay any longer on emissions trading. The future of our children, grandchildren and their children is at stake.
* Climate action is URGENT. Urgent action is cheaper than delaying action and it provides the green jobs of the future.
* A weak 5% target won’t stimulate long term investment in the clean, green jobs of the future.
* The Greens are providing strong leadership by being prepared to support an amended CPRS which legislates for an unconditional emissions cut of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, with a commitment to move to 40% if global negotiations are successful.
* A minimum 5% target is worse than useless when 25% is the bare minimum required by science and the global community.
* Treasury modelling shows 25% target is affordable; by 2020 Australia’s GDP will be roughly three times the size it is today whether we have a ‘worse than useless’ 5% target or the minimum effective 25% target.
* The government is already giving $7.4 billion in compensation to Australia’s biggest polluters, now they want to give them even more.
* Every dollar that compensates polluters is a dollar less for the community.
* The Rudd government faces a choice: it can ‘brown down’ its CPRS with the Coalition, making it weaker than it already is, or it can green the CPRS up with the Greens in the Senate.
* Australia will reduce its emissions by 4% on 1990 levels by 2020. The United Kingdom’s target is 34% on 1990 levels by 2020. It is clear who is leading the world on climate, and it is not Australia.