Media Releases | 12th Aug, 2010

Walk Against Warming marches backwards to protest federal climate inaction

Thursday, 12 August 2010

The Victorian Walk Against Warming will take place this Sunday, 15 August, to pressure federal political leaders to get serious about climate change in the last week of the Federal Election campaign.

WHEN: 12.30pm Sunday, 15 August

WHERE: City Square, corner Swanston St and Collins St, Melbourne

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 400 people marching backwards to symbolise where Julia Gillard’s and Tony Abbott’s climate policies are taking Australia.

SPEAKERS: Mark Wakeham, Environment Victoria Campaigns Director, Don Henry, Australian Conservation Foundation Executive Director, Andrew Hewett, Oxfam Australia Executive Director

This year’s event has been dubbed the ‘Great Suburban Walk’. 1000 volunteers have signed up to deliver climate change leaflets to 300,000 of the most influential voters in Victoria in the federal electorates of La Trobe, Deakin and Melbourne.

“This year, we’re taking the safe climate message to the people who matter most – the voters,” said Environment Victoria Campaigns Director Mark Wakeham.

“There’s a strong feeling of frustration and anger out there in the community that so far neither of the major political parties have put forward effective policies to reduce pollution and make clean energy cheaper,“ he said.

Tens of thousands of Australians are expected to join Walk Against Warming events around Australia this Sunday, 15 August. For details of interstate events visit www.walkagainstwarming.org.au

The Melbourne Walk Against Warming is organised by Environment Victoria in partnership with the Australian Conservation Foundation, Oxfam Australia, Australian Ethical, Alternative Technology Association, Friends of the Earth, Hepburn Wind, Moreland Energy Foundation, the Climate Action Network Australia, World Vision, The Wilderness Society and Greenpeace.

For interview contact:

Mark Wakeham, Environment Victoria 0439 700 501

Media assistance:

Louise Matthiesson 0417 017 844