At the Glenroy Festival on 5th of May 2024 we asked people to make a brief statement to our Wills Federal Labor MP Peter Khalil why they want to see urgent Climate Action.
One ten year old wrote:
Because us children have not seen any action over the 10 years of my life. I have barely seen any improvements, and I think all the leaders like you have forgotten how desperate this world is! Everything is dying, we are taking over the world and all these harmless animals are losing there homes, and it is all because of you. We need to fix this, and stop creating bigger problems, and start fixing what we already have. So please, on behalf of the children of my area, CLIMATE ACTION NOW.
Below the personal comment we said:
“And so I ask you to urge your colleagues to:
- Call a stop to all new coal, gas and oil projects
- End subsidies to fossil fuel industries and place a levy on fossil fuel production and imports
- Enhance the EPBC to include a climate trigger”
Residents were asked to put their name, address and postcode at the bottom if they wanted a reply.
33 people participated at the Glenroy Festival in writing a letter to their Labor Federal MP Peter Khalil. This follows 74 letters from constituents gathered at the Sydney Road Street Party and delivered on 4th April. A durther 11 personal letters were collected after the Glenroy Festival and handed in.
These are the comments, which we have kept anonymous. They are all very poignant, personal statements. Some were children. Some made additional demands to those already listed at the bottom of the letter. They are all a call for more action on climate change from Peter Khalil and the Albanese Labor Government.
These are the comments on the 44 constituent letters to his office on Friday May 10.
“It’s an existential crisis. There is no more important issue.”
“Our family want to live in a healthy environment and not terrified of being the last generation (kids).”
“We need to protect the planet from global warming and the destruction it will cause both for current and future generations.”
“I am very worried about the future of my children and all children. It is already happening and getting faster and faster. We need a complete change of how we live, not tinkering around the edges.”
“Only one planet we have for human we need a planet for living our children”
“I want my young daughter and her generation as well those that follow not to be ruled by extreme heat, flooding, food insecurity and more pandemics. I want her to grow old in a land with many strong and diverse plants and animals!”
“I have a young child who I would like to have a lovely life. She should have the benefit of a clean, green and safe world.”
“Fossil fuels are a major contibuter to climate change – scientific fact, so why continue to ignore. Also make electrifying homes more accessible.”
“Climate change is becoming an inevitable disaster waiting to happen. Stopping funding of new fossil fuel projects can divert funding toward renewable energy. Taxing current industry and giving relief for renewable industry can be the way forward. Councils can in turn create awareness for households to become sustainable on their own.”
“It is threatening our children’s future. Generations to come do not need to suffer because of the actions we taken now. Lets change it for a better future.”
“Because us children have not seen any action over the 10 years of my life. I have barely seen any improvements, and I think all the leaders like you have forgotten how desperate this world is! Everything is dying, we are taking over the world and all these harmless animals are losing there homes, and it is all because of you. We need to fix this, and stop creating bigger problems, and start fixing what we already have. So please, on behalf of the children of my area, CLIMATE ACTION NOW.”
“I’m worried about how people will live if this keeps going. I’m 10 and all my life I’ve lived with this. Oceans are warming, water levels are rising. If Antartica melts oceans rise and that could cause our entire country to flood! This is just one example of many, many, many! Please consider!”
“Of the local, Federal and state Governments to fund new projects of gas and oil in the fuel and petrol service stations were used at local service stations and some convience stores, across the country.”
“It is already too late and we can see and feel the effects of climate change around us. We need to do this for our future generations.”
“The world needs to be habitable in the future – not enough action has been taken to address climate change”
“We need to leave a habitable world for our grandchildren and those generations to come and avoid major climate induced disruptions for the worlds poorer nations and people”
“We are in a climate emergency and must protect our planet and environment for the future and for our children and the generations that come after.”
“We vote for you we need your help hope you listen”
“There are too many species added to the endangered/threatened species lists. We need to act now, to even have a chance to save them!”
“I have two children and a number of grandchildren. I’m seventy this year and have had a very good life. I want my children and their children to have the same opportunities that I had and that won’t happen unless we address extreme climate change.
- Australia has one of the highest emissions per capita
- we cannot expect other countries to limit their emissions while continuing on our business as usual
- the costs and disasters of climate extremes are increasingly evident *the sooner we take measures the easier it will be for future generations to adapt.”
It will soon be too late to prevent catastrophic change to our natural systems and way of life.
“- better public transport – because I love trees
– because I dont love oil people getting rich
– because I like coal more in the ground
– because I like the future”
“There is a great need to look after the environment more than ever!future generations should have the same opportunities and positive environmental opportunities as you had growing up”
“we have no other option”
“every year we do not reach net zero carbon adds more CO2 to our atmosphere, raising our global average temperature”
“The most vulnerable people in our communities are the ones that are being impacted the most. Action on climate change is a social justice and human rights issue. ACT NOW!”
“I want a safer world for my children and the future generations. My 10-yr old daughter has anxiety about climate change, it’s devastating to see her feel powerless. We are active at community level, but we need to see positive change at federal level to make real impact.”
“it’s the future for our children and grandchildren”
“no pollution Cars and fossil fuels make pollution The children of future should be able to breathe fresh air and live with tree”
“our climate is in crisis”
“for the future of our children and our planet”
“the longer we leave it, the harder it is going to be to recover from the damage already done. The time for change is now! It’s too late for people my age, but we have to think of future generations.”
A further 11 letters collected generally were also presented, with the following comments:
“There is no denying that earth is warming at an alarming rate as a consequence of our actions. This is leading to extreme weather conditions impacting on our way of life and contributing to financial losses through damage to infrastructure, property, agriculture and human health.”
“The government is not doing nearly as much as they are capable of to combat climate change and its detrimental effects since primary school, attended School Strike for Climate rallies, and live with a small sense of impending doom at the back of my mind regarding the state of the earth for future generations.”
“
I have had the privilege to grow up in a world of natural beauty. I would like the same opportunities for my children and the younger generations, without the worry of food and water security. We are all custodians of the earth; the cost of inaction will be paid by future generations both financially and in some cases with lives due to extreme weather events. “
I wish to preserve biodiversity, save ecosystems, and avoid the worst impacts of climate changes. You could not only assist in ensuring a healthier planet for future generations, but also protect the countless species that share the planet with us.
I’m glad I will be out of this world soon it’s going to be so bad. I’m 81 years old and I weep when I watch the news about the disaster and wars overseas, I weep for the children yet born. I am starting to think THIS is the beginning of the end of our species.”
“Because of the evidence provided by the scientific community which indicates that we only have a few decades left to take any considerable action before we face a climatic Armageddon. This will lead to the end of humanity as we know it”
“The longer we wait, the harder it is to make meaningful and useful changes to address global warming and its terrible consequences. I would like my children to have a safe environment to live in. We need to ACT NOW!”
“I am saddened to think that we are causing irreparable damage to our world and possibly denying our grandchildren the happy, healthy life I hope for them.”
“For the sake of future generations…”
“Our planet and our children deserve better. We must also recognise the long term economic impact of doing nothing now.”
“I am afraid. I feel panic and despair in equal measure. I refuse to give up and I keep doing what is within my power and ability to do: to contribute to growing a local community more prepared for the extremes we are facing and I’m speaking up, voting, writing to urge those who have direct power to STOP fossil fuel use and extraction and support the changes we desperately need. I am afraid and hopeful that right thinking and action will prevail and you will do what so urgently needs to be done…. Fearlessly.”
See Also:
May 10, Climate Action Merribek, Media Release: Call for Wills Labor MP Peter Khalil to come clean on dirty gas https://climateactionmerribek.org/2024/05/10/media-release-call-for-wills-labor-mp-peter-khalil-to-come-clean-on-dirty-gas/
Climate Action Merribek 