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Walk against Global Warming draws crowds to Cape Byron

At Cape Byron on Saturday 3rd November, hundreds of people sent a Climate Warning to the voters of Australia that this election is of critical importance for climate policy. Wearing white, in a line stretching across the headland from the Lighthouse down to the most easterly point of Australia, ordinary people from the NSW North Coast created a human wave, pointing towards Mt Warning, sending the message ”Vote for a safe climate - the next election will be too late”.

Aerial Photo courtesy David Warth.
NCCAA YouTube Video

“Mt Warning is the part of Australia the sun touches first.” said Annie Kia, for the North Coast Climate Action Alliance, “we are sending our Climate Warning via this mountain to the people of Australia that global warming is the greatest crisis to face humanity, and we must act now with urgency. We are warning voters that neither of the major parties have short term targets for reducing carbon emissions. Only the Greens and Democrats have decisive climate policies. This is the most important issue of our time – whatever your normal political allegiance, vote to give these minor parties the balance of power in the Senate.”

The walkers, all dressed in white, assembled at Clarke's Beach, where they listened to an address by Annie Kia. They then started off down the beach to The Pass, making a spectacular white wave of people along the sand.  At Wategoes Beach The North Coast Ukelele provided en-route entertainment , then up the steep climb to Cape Byron and the Lighthouse.

Once at the top  everyone spread out into the long white line stretching from the lighthouse to the most easterly point on the mainland. The wind was very strong up there blowing hats off in all directions. At the signal, a great shout and wave of arms travelled along the line of people, finishing by pointing to Mount warning. (see aerial movie clip)

“The Coalition and the ALP are dithering on targets, despite the fact that the Stern Review made it clear that the economic costs of inaction far outweigh the costs of acting now to mitigate further damage to the earth’s climate system. At least the ALP support Kyoto, but they need to set near-term targets to guide our economy to a post-carbon future”.
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  “Political parties have been given a score for their climate policy by the peak environment groups. These can be seen on www.thebigswitch.org.au” said Ms Kia, “The Big Switch is Australia’s biggest community climate change movement. It identifies 10 climate change solutions. In this important climate policy test, the Coalition scores a pathetic 16%, the ALP score 37%. The Greens top score at 96% and the Democrats get 88%.”