On a cold (well, by Brisbane standards anyway) and windy day, a bunch of people gathered in Queen’s Park to voice their ideas about climate change… the perfect conditions in which to be reminded that we have the opportunity to follow Spain’s example – 27% of Spain’s energy comes from wind.
Several speakers put their message across by whole-heartedly telling the plight of different people and different causes. Firstly the original owners of Australia were recognised – I didn’t know that so many of Brisbane’s places have Aboriginal names – Coottha (=honey bee), Indooroopilly (=gully of leeches), Nundah, Keperra, Yerongpilly, Coorparoo and Woollongabba (now I know why I have trouble spelling them!).
Brisbane’s got something to be proud of – they are one of only two city councils in Australia to commit cutting carbon emissions. Their aim is to cut their emissions by half by 2026.
As we marched around the city, and as we blocked traffic, it put me in high spirits to watch people’s reactions – a middle-aged lady clapping us from inside a bus, people stopping to watch and read the placards and take photos, people clapping and cheering us on (including the Big Issue guy). We stopped in the middle of an intersection to boogey to the DJ playing music from a shop to the open street, and I dreamt of an impromptu street party in daylight Brisbane.
The “stop this business as usual politics” message was supported by Guerilla Movement (grassroots hip-hop) with their line about how “Every day is Environment Day”. (I chatted with Guerilla’s Mark at Tongue N Groove in West End the other night!)
I enjoyed the afternoon, but there’s one thing that’s still puzzling me – the placard that said “It’s Population stupid”. Any ideas what that might mean?!
