Extinction Rebellion Hornsby Shire will hold a protest outside the Hornsby Council Chambers when the Council meets, on 12 February, starting at 6 pm.
The theme of the protest is “The Council must declare a climate emergency”. Council voted down a motion put to it in September 2019 to support the declaration of a climate emergency across the Hornsby shire. The largest resident petition ever received by the Hornsby Shire supported this motion.
Ongoing protests are planned each month in 2020 or until Council supports the declaration.
With the unprecedented drought, fires and hailstorms causing so much damage to our community, the environment and our wildlife, the need to act has become more urgent. We have seen damage to property, bridges, electricity and mobile phone networks, huge loss of wildlife and the impact on farming and our health and quality of life.
Many councils in NSW, Australia and around the world have already declared a climate emergency Willoughby, North Sydney, City of Sydney and Melbourne, among them.
Declaring a climate emergency means that resources are mobilised to protect the community, the environment and the economy, for example making a transition to renewable energy sustainable water management and improved bushfire protection as a matter of priority.
The motion to Council also included:
that a report be submitted to Council outlining its emission reduction pathway
that the council write to the State and Federal Members of Parliament calling on them to declare a climate emergency and undertake immediate action.
The event will include expert speakers including a psychiatrist and volunteer fire fighter. Others are invited to give short talks to voice their opinion. Councillors will be invited to talk to the community protesting outside the Chambers.
Guest speakers include:
1. Dr Cybele Dey, Paediatric Psychiatrist. Speaking on the impact on human health.
2. A local volunteer firefighter. Speaking on the link between the climate emergency and bush fires.
3. Grant Webster, ecologist. Speaking on the impact to wildlife.
4. Live music brought to you by Michael Bianchino and Grant Webster
The ongoing council protests have been attracting more and more community participation and are a fun, family friendly event which will include music and songs.
The Extinction Rebellion movement uses non-violent action to pursue three central demands:
1. Tell the Truth: government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency.
2. Act now: Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025
3. Beyond Politics: Government must create and be led by the decisions of a citizens assembly on climate at ecological justice.
Christine Griffiths
Extinction Rebellion Hornsby Shire
[email protected]
