Tuesday the 21st October marked the 21st week of the Wills Vigil to End Fossil Fuels. We meet every Tuesday, 11 am – 1 pm, outside the office of Wills MP Peter Khalil, 466-468 Sydney Rd.

We call for the Labor government to put in place a rapid timetable for phasing out all fossil fuels, including exports.

Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of coal and gas. In 2023, our exports produced 1.15 billion tons of CO₂ emissions when burnt internationally (Climate Analytics). Moreover, just the process of preparing coal and gas for export produces over 18% of Australia’s domestic emissions (The Australia Institute).

We were joined at the Vigil by the Melbourne Climate Choir, who reinforced our call to end fossil fuels with songs such as ‘Here We Stand’ (to the tune of ‘She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain’):

Here we stand for those who face a rising sea
Here we stand for those who face a rising sea
Stand beside us firm and strong
Mining fossil fuels is wrong
Here we stand for those who face a rising sea

Chorus
Singing leave fossil fuels in the ground
We can leave fossil fuels in the ground
We owe it to all nations and our younger generation to leave fossil fuels in the ground 

Our neighbours in the Pacific islands are already being affected by rising seas. But Australians are not immune. The National Climate Risk Assessment estimates that by 2050, over 1.5 million Australians could be affected by rising seas and coastal flooding.

Climate advocacy can be hard work, especially when our local MP and government refuse to listen, set weak targets for domestic emissions reduction, and ignore the problem of exports.

But we will not give up.

By turning up each week, we show our commitment and solidarity for all those who are working for a safe climate and a habitable planet for younger generations.

Everyone is free to come down, say hullo, and join us for as short or long a time as you like.

Again, in the words of the Climate Choir (to the tune of ‘You are my Sunshine’):

And here’s the reason, I feel so free
I’ve got good people surrounding me.

Written by Val Kay