On a weekend when mother nature flexed her muscles and sent a tornado tearing through Armidale, protestors called for bold action on climate change.
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Supporters of the cause included young school children, businesses, community groups, farmers, churches, local councillors, and senior citizens.
The action began on Friday (following Thursday night's devastating storm) with a local social media campaign followed by online participation in the afternoon's statewide School Strike for Climate.
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Armidale school strike coordinator Arlie Bragg called on fellow New England residents to post a video expressing their concerns.
"I am asking the Australian government to stop funding fossil fuels," she said.
"The youth of Australia need the federal government to step up to the plate and act meaningfully on climate change."
On Sunday, people gathered in the Armidale Uniting Church in support of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change and the global multi-religious 'Faiths 4 Climate Justice' Day of Action.
Following a midday multi-faith service which included prayer, contemplation, music, speaking, and the ringing of 'bells of alarm', the group moved to the Civic Park Labyrinth.
Then on Monday at 10am, Adjunct Emeritus Professor of Politics at UNE Graham Maddox and Jim Vicars from the Armidale Uniting Church joined Annette Kilarr from Climate Action Armidale in delivering 50 individual letters to the office of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce in Tamworth.
Around 40 people of all ages joined them, as well as representatives of the Uniting Church Tamworth, Minister John Brentnall, and the Rev. Simon Hansford - the Moderator of the Synod of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in the Uniting Church in Australia.
"Over 100 actions were registered for Australia with over 300 actions worldwide," Ms Kilarr said.
"People were invited to act now - to read and sign a letter calling for strong climate action, which was delivered to Barnaby Joyce's office the next day.
"People of all faiths, spirituality, and goodwill were welcomed to the congregation. And as this was a COVID-safe event, attendees all had to be double vaccinated."
Professor Maddox said the group was calling for a recognition of humankind's responsibility for stewardship of the earth and to demonstrate care for the shared air, water, and lands that they are part of.
"We are calling on the Australian government to commit to 75 per cent emissions reductions by 2030 and leading up to the UN Climate Conference COP26 in Glasgow," he said.
"We are also calling for federal government leadership and a legislated commitment to a renewables led recovery from COVID-19 impacts, a transition to 100 per cent renewable energy sources, an end to fossil fuel subsidies, and the discontinuation of new coal and gas licenses with a just transition plan for fossil-based economies and employees."
In March, the same Armidale group held its first 'Sacred People, Sacred Earth' day of action when 60 people from various faith groups ( including no faith) gathered in the Armidale Uniting Church to 'sound the alarm' about the climate crisis.
While the protestors rallied locally last Sunday, the federal National Party held a marathon meeting in Canberra to discuss the Morrison government's climate policy. But it failed to come to an agreement, and discussions have continued into the parliamentary sitting this week.
Now Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says National politicians will give the Prime Minister their verdict on the 2050 net-zero emissions plan by this Sunday.
After declaring a climate emergency two years ago, Armidale Regional Council recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Climate Emergency Australia, supporting councils with resources to embed climate action across operations and governance.
In recognition of the need for urgent action, Armidale Regional Council wrote to both Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce on September 21, calling for a commitment to a 45 per cent decrease in greenhouse emissions by 2030. It also called on other councils in the region to write to the PM and Deputy PM in this regard.
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