People in the Greenpeace office in Sydney are still in shock that Australian PM Kevin Rudd has just announced an atrocious emissions target of 5% by 2020. Staff and volunteers put their heads up over the partitions, mouths agape, when the news went around.
This is one of those moments that puts a very powerful spotlight not just on the formal politics of the parliament.
It also puts the spotlight on the informal politics, the media, commentators, academics, environment groups and of course, citizens! How many people and groups will say it as it is?
Rudd’s speech contains all the words about “being part of the solution” and “green jobs” but the substance is that this announcement today is climate suicide.
The audience faces at the Press Club said it all:
Greens leader Bob Brown – despondent
Wayne Swan, Treasurer – poker face
Heather Ridout Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group – sheepish, almost guilty
Most journalists – astonished yet somehow bored
It is no wonder that some people in the audience heckled and had to be shepherded out. The sad thing is Kevin Rudd did not respond. When George W. Bush had shoes thrown at him in Iraq or back when he was questioned in the Australian Parliament by Bob Brown, Bush had the sense to respond. It made him look human.
Tomorrow is another day and we will be keeping the Government accountable for today’s failure.
I hope you will be too.
