There has never been a more important time to be alive
Extinction Rebellion Australia, 10 Aug 2022
Speakers at rallies in SA and NSW call for climate action and solidarity. Each one of us is vitally important in a stand against governments captured by fossil fuel interests.
In an evening in early August, XR rebels in South Australia joined Uni Students for Climate Justice and others on the steps of the South Australian Parliament to demand climate action.
On the same day, XR Rebels in Sydney were among 35 different groups at a rally at Sydney Town Hall followed by a march to Hyde Park North.
On the steps of the South Australian Parliament building
Speaking outside the SA Parliament building, Mary Heath from XR SA said:
“We are alive at this point in history, and we are the ones who can take action to take care of the future of our Earth. Everything we do really matters.
“We are here because we understand that this is an emergency. The poorest people on earth are already suffering more than anyone else. We grieve for the birds and plants and animals that we have already lost, and that we will lose.
“We are here because we want to make a difference, and we know that we are far more powerful together than when we stand as individuals.
“Corporations and miners are prepared to keep mining and burning coal, oil and gas. Banks everywhere, and here in our country are prepared to keep funding them to do it.
“If you want to take part in non-violent civil disobedience, join us. If you want to support non-violent civil disobedience, join us. We need a lot of different contributions.
XR Drummers at the Sydney rally
In Sydney, NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd said:
“43% (of emissions reductions) is a start, but we all know it isn’t enough. The science tells us that we have to do so much more. Even to meet that lousy target, you can’t keep approving new oil, coal and gas. No new oil, coal and gas. It is that simple.
“When we stop lying to people, we can actually start transitioning, start supporting communities, looking after workers and getting on track to decarbonising the economy.
“The State Government, is trying to silence us. They’ve passed some of the most draconian legislation in the world.
“You can only have a police-sanctioned protest, on a police-sanctioned topic, in a police-sanctioned place. It is absolutely absurd.”
Paul Keating, Secretary of the Maritime Union Sydney Branch said:
“We have a climate war that’s been played out for decades.”
“In this state these anti-protest laws are the most authoritarian anti-democratic laws this country has seen - in the Western world, the developed world. And there’s a reason.
“We’ve seen governments come and go, politicians that have been weak, and they’ve not stood up for communities when it’s come to climate action. Therefore we the people need to stand up for our children and the dignity of life.”
On the way to Hyde Park, Sydney
From the devastating fires across Europe to extreme flooding closer to home - it’s clear that the climate crisis is here and only set to get worse.
The Albanese government refuses to stop the harm by ruling out new fossil fuel projects. Their target of 43% emissions reduction is a death wish.