The newly formed community group Walyalup Climate Action (WCA) drew around 300 people on November 6 to its inaugural event “Real climate action means no new fossil fuels”.
Coinciding with COP27, the event included speeches, street theatre, music and a procession through the streets of Fremantle in Western Australia.
The event was chaired by Amy Warne, well known for supporting community garden projects and the Welcome to Country was performed by First Nations Deaths in Custody Committee Vice-Chair Desmond Blurton.
Save Our Songlines spokesperson Raelene Campbell, Greens MP Dr Brad Pettitt, School Strike 4 Climate Activists Mena Tabeshfar and Caleb Harris, WA Forest Alliance organiser Paddy Cullen, Burrup Hub blockader Petrina Harley, Walyalup Climate Action founder Sam Wainwright and Extinction Rebellion activist Laraine Newton addressed the crowd.
The XR Grandparents performed their Greenwashing Line skit, debunking the false claims of the gas industry, before the Climate Drummers led the crowd on a spirited march through the streets.
“In removing a government that had blocked even rational discussion about climate for over a decade, the 2022 federal election showed that many Australians recognised the urgent need for action. While this was a positive step, it is clear that the targets proposed by our federal and state governments are simply not enough,” the WCA’s founding statement explained.
WCA’s central demand is for no new fuel fossil projects, in particular Woodside's exploitation of the Scarborough gas field by Woodside. If it goes ahead, this disastrous venture, would release as much as 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
WCA's other demands include an immediate ban on all fracking in WA, no new industrial development at Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula), a just transition for workers, new publicly owned renewable energy and an increase in the 2030 carbon reduction targets, because 43% is not enough for Australia to make its contribution to keep warming below 1.5C.
[The next event by Walyalup Climate Action will be a Peddle for the Planet in February 2023.]
Video: Walyalup (Fremantle) rallies for climate action. Green Left Extras.