We’ve made our message loud and clear over the past 6 weeks. The Tour began with the release of our Energy [R]evolution Scenario, which shows how Australia could phase out coal-fired power by 2030 through a combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Shortly after we released another report, demonstrating the job opportunities in turning heavily-coal reliant regions like the Hunter Valley area of NSW into renewable energy hubs.
This coincided with the first action of the Tour, where 27 activists stopped carbon emissions from Australia’s most polluting coal-fired power station in the Hunter Valley by locking on to the conveyor belts for 6 hours. A few weeks later, 4 activists painted “Go solar” down the side of a 140m smokestack of the Swanbank B power station at Ipswich during a 33-hr occupation. And just last week we drew attention to the government’s plans to double Australia’s export coal capacity, by targeting 20 ships waiting in a queue for Hay Point coal terminal and painting messages like “Rudd exporting CO2”, “Barrier reef gone” and “Murray Darling gone” on the sides of them.
But the other essential part of the tour has been the conversations and alliances formed with individuals, groups and communities up the east coast of Australia. In addition to over 6000 people we’ve spoken to at open boat days, we’ve met with local environment groups and others in the environment movement wherever we’ve stopped. In Brisbane we held a public forum with the Queensland Conservation Council, and in Airlie Beach worked with Save Our Foreshores on their inspiring campaign against the proposed shale mine there.
Our message about the need for an Energy [R]evolution has resonated with people; there’s a real sense that Australians understand that renewables are mature enough to meet our energy needs, and want to see the climate change leadership they were promised during the election.
Tonight, we’ll join with the local Cairns community to create a wind turbine art installation on Cairns city beach, out of 3000 candles, to once again make the point that Australians want to see a shift to renewable energy. And although tonight will mark the end of the tour, the campaign will continue until Kevin Rudd announces the strong policies we’re asking for.
