Fossil Fools Day – Callout for a national day of action against climate change on April 1, 2008 The latest research on climate change shows that the effects of climate change are speeding up, with real dangers of self-perpetuating or "runaway" global warming. At the same time, however, global carbon emissions are rising at higher rates than ever before. Australia continues to hold the position of the highest greenhouse gas emitting country per capita and the world's biggest exporter of coal.
The message is clear - the world can't wait. For far too long fossil fuel industries and other dirty industries have been dangerously fooling around with the planet and our future. This is a proposal for a national day of student action against the fossil fools (in industry and parliament) who are pushing the earth towards climate chaos.
The movement for action on climate change has made a lot of ground in the past two years. We forced climate skeptics to acknowledge the problem and helped to get rid of the Howard government for its inaction on climate change. While the Rudd government's decision to ratify Kyoto represents a victory for the movement our job is far from over.
The reality is that if Australia does not move immediately to break its dependence on fossil fuels no meaningful emission reduction targets will be met. We have to demand that state and federal governments stop the expansion of the coal industry, reverse the approval of the pulp mill in Tasmania, keep electricity generation in public hands and shift the billions of dollars of government funds currently spent each year to subsidise the fossil fuel industries into renewable energy industries.
As students and young people we have an important role to play in propelling the climate action movement forward and forcing the government to take the necessary action. We have to break the bi-partisan consensus on mythical "clean coal" technology and uranium mining. We have to end to wars for oil. And we want to see investment into our universities for renewable, not fossil fuel and nuclear technologies.
The youth blocs of high school and university students at Walk Against Warming were an example of what we can organise on a much bigger scale in 2008 to build the student environment movement. Resistance and the Australian Student Environment Network are calling on everyone concerned about climate change to initiate discussions and start planning a nationally coordinated day of student action on April 1 – Fossil Fools Day, as part of an international day of action planned for that day.
The message is clear - the world can't wait. For far too long fossil fuel industries and other dirty industries have been dangerously fooling around with the planet and our future. This is a proposal for a national day of student action against the fossil fools (in industry and parliament) who are pushing the earth towards climate chaos.
The movement for action on climate change has made a lot of ground in the past two years. We forced climate skeptics to acknowledge the problem and helped to get rid of the Howard government for its inaction on climate change. While the Rudd government's decision to ratify Kyoto represents a victory for the movement our job is far from over.
The reality is that if Australia does not move immediately to break its dependence on fossil fuels no meaningful emission reduction targets will be met. We have to demand that state and federal governments stop the expansion of the coal industry, reverse the approval of the pulp mill in Tasmania, keep electricity generation in public hands and shift the billions of dollars of government funds currently spent each year to subsidise the fossil fuel industries into renewable energy industries.
As students and young people we have an important role to play in propelling the climate action movement forward and forcing the government to take the necessary action. We have to break the bi-partisan consensus on mythical "clean coal" technology and uranium mining. We have to end to wars for oil. And we want to see investment into our universities for renewable, not fossil fuel and nuclear technologies.
The youth blocs of high school and university students at Walk Against Warming were an example of what we can organise on a much bigger scale in 2008 to build the student environment movement. Resistance and the Australian Student Environment Network are calling on everyone concerned about climate change to initiate discussions and start planning a nationally coordinated day of student action on April 1 – Fossil Fools Day, as part of an international day of action planned for that day.
- Here is the Australian Fossil Fools Day toolkit
- Get your fossil fools day generic poster here
- Poster for the Sydney rally is here
- Get your awesome anti-nukes action toolkit here
Perth, WA
- Pranks in peak hour, the pranks at unis, then..
- There is a main rally at Wesley church 1pm (corner hay and william st)
- Also events at UWA (oak lawn) and Murdoch (bush court) at about 12.
- Contact: WestASEN@gmail.com andhttp://www.radicalhack.com/wasen
Brisbane, Qld:
- Fossil Fools Tour of Brisbane: Gather 3.30pm, Tour commences 4pm. Cathedral Square, Cnr Ann St & Wharf St, City. Call 0401 234 610 or 0431 638 772 for more info. The tour will visit some of the biggest coal producers and exporters in the world. Come dressed as a clown or just as yourself! The 1st Fossil Fools Awards will be also be presented on the day!
- In the morning, Rising Tide Newcastle (and friends) will visit a local (multinational) department store and attempt to swap bucketloads of coal for imported consumer products. Here’s why we’re doing that. You can send us an email if you want to help.
- A student-organised rally and march at Newcastle University. Meet at 12pm in the Auchmuty courtyard. See the poster for more information, or email fossilfoolsday AT gmail DOT com.
Sydney, NSW:
- there will be a protest at Parliament House at 3pm, followed by a Fossil Fool Tour at 3:30pm
