This weekend’s massive climate change march is calling for tougher climate policy from Australia and New Zealand. One of New Zealand’s 35 marches, the marchers assembled in large numbers in Albert Park. This weekend, more than two thousand people will march in climate change protests, known as the People’s Climate March. Protesters rallied in Wellington’s Civic Square, chanting, “two, four and six, six, eight,” to save the planet. The New Zealand Herald quotes John Gibson (57), saying, “(I’m) deeply concerned for the global climate and the ecosystem. To reduce climate damage, it’s important to protect our planet and the ecosystem. It is imperative that we take serious steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. “We need to be resilient against increasing storminess and sea-level rise.” That was the view from Parliament House, as hundreds of Melbournians supported climate justice. (Image: facebook.com/peoplesclimateAU) Brisbane boasts 10,000 marchers Thousands of people marched in Brisbane, Australia, in its central business district, despite the extremely hot, humid weather. Seed, a spokesperson for an indigenous youth climate network which helped organize the march, claims that there were up to 10,000 participants. Brisbanians marched on the theme of climate change and the impact it is having and will continue to have on Island countries and Islands around the world. Kiribati, an island nation that has seen sea levels rise dramatically, had to purchase land from other countries in order to relocate their population to avoid their land becoming submerged. Brisbane’s protest began with Aunty Stella, an elderly Pasifika tribal member. She urged people to reconsider their views on the economy and climate change. According to the Brisbane Times, Aunt Stella said: “Where is human rights in regards to people being displaced from their cultures and communities and made to relocate to other locations? Not on their own choice.” The irresponsible decisions of the developed countries and people in an economic race for wealth create are such a negative impact on the rights and freedoms of our islander citizens as human beings that they have to move. Thousands participated in the People’s Climate March, Wellington, New Zealand. A fundamental shift in our mindset is essential for survival of some of the most vulnerable and climatically fragile members of our global family. We stand to lose homes, identities, ways of living, and loved ones. Tens to thousands march in Melbourne’s CBD ahead of the Paris 2015, United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21).). The protesters were represented by members of The Cat Empire, including Bill Shorten (Opposition Leader) and Greens Senator Richard Di Natale. According to March organizers, the crowd was at most 60,000. The Age quotes Victoria McKenzie McHarg, an organizer, as saying: “This is absolutely the biggest climate change rally that we have ever seen in Australian History.” There are rallies in Canberra, Adelaide and Sydney on Sunday. Video – People’s ClimateMarch Melbourne
