Friends of the Earth Australia is hosting a tour of community leaders from the climate affected countries of Nigeria, Tuvalu and Samoa to explore the impact of Australia's energy policies.
Nnimmo Bassey from Nigeria, Fiu Mataese from Samoa and Peneili Metia from Tuvalu will tell their stories from both ends of the climate change spectrum — from oil extraction and the human rights issues there to the tangible effects of changed weather patterns in the Pacific.
Australia has amongst the highest per capita level of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. With only 0.3% of the world's population we generate 1.4% of the world's greenhouse gases. This fossil fuel consumption and the climate changes it has produced are already affecting vulnerable nations.
The federal government's refusal to ratify the Kyoto protocol and the abolition of the federal sustainable energy research portfolio, have indicated that it has no recognition of this. For Australia, mitigating climate change must begin at home.
The tour began in Melbourne on April 24, and will finish in Brisbane on May 9. Meetings with the three guests include:
* Canberra: "Oil, Refugees and Climate Change", Wednesday April 28, 7pm. ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic Square. For more info, phone Stephanie Long on 0414136 461 or email <stephanie.long@foe.org.au>.
* Sydney: "Rising Tides: Climate, Communities and Conflict". Film, discussion and climate change exhibition. Tuesday May 4, 7pm. Tap Gallery, level one, 278 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst. $5-$10 entry. For more information, phone AID/WATCH on (02) 9557 8944 or email <aid@aidwatch.org.au>.
* Brisbane: Open meeting. Thursday May 6, 6.30pm. Senator Andrew Bartlett's office, 421 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. For more information, phone Tracee McPate on (07) 3252 7101. Also, panel discussions at the Brisbane Social Forum. For more information visit <http://www.brisbanesocialforum.org>.
From Green Left Weekly, April 29, 2004.
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