Local Arrested at Climate Blockade

The group blockaded the entrance to Federal Parliament in a peaceful demonstration against the Government’s inadequate action on climate change and refused to move until they were eventually forced to do so by the Australian Federal Police.

They were calling on the Prime Minister to act to secure a strong treaty at the upcoming international climate negotiations — instead of undermining it with an emissions trading scheme with poor targets, billions of dollars in rewards to polluters, and questionable offsets to developing countries.

The Uniting Church has repeatedly called upon its members to advocate for policies that properly address climate change. Rex Graham, Dan Howe, Miriam Pepper and Richard Telfer were all strongly moved by their faith to participate in the civil disobedience action. This was the first time that they had been arrested.

Mr Telfer, a member of Paddington Uniting Church, said: “I believe God has created all people equal. If our democratically-elected Government is passing legislation which directly contributes to climate change then I cannot stand by and do nothing whilst maintaining my Christian convictions. I agree with the Book of James: if your brother or sister is naked and lacks food what good is it to say ‘go in peace; keep warm and have your daily fill’; instead we are called to provide bodily needs. We must act on behalf of our Pacific neighbours who are losing their homes due to our lifestyle.”

Dr Pepper, from South Sydney Uniting Church and the Uniting Church environmental network Uniting Earthweb, also felt called to take this new step. “I believe in a God who is working to reconcile and heal all creation, and  that we all have a role to play in that healing. Many people are trying to reduce their environmental impact and are asking their politicians to play their part. But the Government isn’t responding. I chose to sit in at Parliament House, inspired by Jesus who overturned tables in the temple,” she said.

Mr Howe, an environmental engineer who is a member of Maroubra Junction Uniting Church, said that he had had enough of the Government failing to step up to the plate. “The threat of climate change eclipses the global financial crisis, asylum seekers, John Della Bosca, Mike Rann and utegate. I’m tired of the Government getting distracted by politics instead of getting serious about climate change. Surely our resolve to take action should transcend political lines and self-interest. I want to see some leadership from the Rudd Government at Copenhagen and beyond.”

Given the Government’s failures, Rev Graham, Social Justice Consultant to the Uniting Church Synod and a member of Keira View Uniting Church, made a particular appeal to the Australian public. “I participated in the sit-in as a way of drawing the public’s attention to the importance and urgency of making immediate deep cuts to our greenhouse gas emissions for the sake of our grandchildren. Nothing like immediate and deep cuts are being proposed by any government – State or Federal – in Australia today. Australians need to realise the long-term benefits of acting now.”

The importance of much stronger government action was underlined two days later by a scientific report showing that climate change is accelerating beyond expectations.

First published in Insights Magazine, NSW Synod, Uniting Church in Australia, December 2009. Further information: Uniting Earthweb: www.unitingearthweb.org.au World Council of Churches climate change resources: www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/countdown-to-climate-justice.html

The Copenhagen Diagnosis Climate Science Report: www.copenhagendiagnosis.org

Photo: Andrew Collis - Miriam Pepper

Source: South Sydney Herald February 2010 www.southsydneyherald.com.au