Climate Emergency Rally

One brisk and chilly morn in June, thousands of people from all over NSW descended in dribs and drabs on Barrangaroo Point, Sydney. Banners and flags flapped and billowed in the chapping wind. Cups of warm coffee steamed as they warmed shivering, exposed hands. Down the hill they continued to come. Concerned citizens of all ages, on foot, bike, ferry and pram.

Soon the woolly little groups began to grow in size until masses of people were wandering about on the headland. Speakers leapt up to the platform to address the ever growing sea of red, sharing their passion, their energy and the urgency for the Australian Government to renew the economy by investing in renewable energy.

Speakers explained how Prime Minister Rudd's announced climate change plan would lock in weak emission reduction targets, and redirect billions of dollars to big polluters from the everyday citizen putting in their hard earned cash to make a difference in the world. Having been promised a Government that would act as a leader on climate change, the mass of people began moving through the streets towards the Sydney office of Prime Minister Rudd to demand that leadership.

Although the message was urgent, and the masses were moving to demand a renewables revolution, in Australia, there was joy, laughter and a sense of community in the air. Strangers smiled freely at each other. People sang, played drums and other instruments as they made their way through the streets.

The sun rose higher in the sky, warming the backs of thousands rugged up in their winter warmers. The rally reached Phillip St and halted outside Mr Rudd's office. A minute silence was held to think about the millions of people who will be dramatically impacted by the negative effects of climate change in countries other than our own. Pensive I looked up to the sky. A lone leaf, clinging to it's branch. The last to fall.

Once again the sound of the crowd echoed through the empty streets of the CBD and the beat of drums bounced between buildings. Lengths of red fabric had been laid along the footpaths and hundreds of people took their turn to write a message to be presented to the Australian delegates at the United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen this December.

As with all free speech in Australia, the rally had a time limit and the police began a quiet movement in line along the road and the peaceful rally began to break up.  As the colour started moving on, the city  slowly returned to it's empty winter day.