More than 100 people blew whistles, rang bells, and banged
pots and pans in a noisy "wake-up call" protest in Dunedin
yesterday over the Government's climate change policies.
Organisers said the 12.30pm protest at the Otago Museum
Reserve was organised to coincide with International Wake Up
Call for Climate Change Day as part of a global day of
action.
The Dunedin protesters were frustrated by a lack of
leadership from the Government over climate change, including
a weak carbon emissions reduction target for the year 2020,
and the recent "gutting" of the Emissions Trading Scheme,
organisers said.
The protest was organised by the Dunedin branch of 350.org,
an environmental organisation which is trying to reduce the
concentration of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in the
atmosphere from more than 385 parts per million to 350 parts
per million.
Veteran peace campaigner Christina Gibb said more action was
needed to counter a "very serious situation" over climate
change.
In Oamaru, Bridget Ellis organised a piece of street theatre
with Oamaru man Oliver Briggs in a bed in Thames St outside
the Waitaki District Council offices, ignoring an alarm.
She said the alarm was a wake-up call for people ignoring
climate change.
It was also a lead-in for events she is organising in Oamaru
for the International Day of Action on Climate Change on
October 24.
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