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Candles light up as Esperanza tour wraps up

Sunday, August 17, 2008
Posted in Renewable Energy Sustainability | Tagged Renewable Energy, Sustainability

For two months, Greenpeace’s ship, the Esperanza has been promoting an Energy [R]evolution to renewables - just as the Federal government has been developing it’s key response to climate change. At a community event by candlelight on the Cairns foreshore, the Esperanza’s visit to Australia came to a fitting end. Artist Jorge Pujol directed this stunning candle-formation (left) in the shape of a wind turbine.
It’s worth noting some of the achievements of the last two months, made possible with the generous involvement and contributions of Greenpeace supporters:

• Release of our “Energy Revolution” scenario report produced by noted energy strategists Dr Hugh Saddler and Sven Teske, demonstrating for the first time, a practical roadmap to make the switch to renewable energy in Australia.

• 660 media stories published or broadcast about the campaign - including the top spots on nightly newscasts in Queensland.

• More than 7,000 people coming aboard the Esperanza at port stops in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Airlie, Mackay, Townsville, and Cairns. Thank you to all who joined us.

• 5 packed town-hall style meetings 

• A special report demonstrating the potential for new green jobs released with the University of Newcastle - enabling a transition away from coal.

• One-on-one meetings with more than twenty ministers, government advisors, and opposition MPs.

• Powerful direct actions including powering down the largest coal fired power station in Australia at Eraring, occupying the top of an Ipswitch power station smokestack for nearly two days, and painting climate impacts on the sides of twenty massive coal ships near Mackay.

Click here to read more on our Energy Revolution ship tour, and view our photo gallery.

Despite all this activity, there is still a long way to go. Polluting industries have launched a mammoth smear and fear campaign to even further water down the government’s new Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

So, if you haven’t already signed the petiton, now is your final chance. Act now to call for an Energy Revolution in Australia.

Thanks again for being involved,

Simon Roz
Climate Campaigner
Greenpeace Australia Pacific