Cooran environmentalists Jim Bird and Helen Moffitt have taken action to educate and activate young people to call on government to replace fossil fuels with renewables.
“In an effort to bring a voice to our young, we collaborated creatively to produce an environmental initiative that could reach right across Australia,“ they said. After many months of work this project is finally a reality. “We have produced Environmental activity books, with each one carrying an important message.
“They contain not only fun puzzles and interesting facts, they are also highly educational and come with a postcard addressed to the Prime Minister, asking him to take immediate action to greatly expand the production of solar and wind power energy – building their future on renewable energies, and not on fossil fuels.“
Jim and Helen believe efforts to tackle climate change have been frustrated by an ineffectual response from government to take appropriate action so they invested $6000 of their own money to produce the books.
“Our government in an attempt to comply with the requirements of the Paris Agreement of 12th December, 2015, announced their Technology Investment Roadmap last September. However, its focus on fossil fuels along with longterm solutions, which we do not have time for, demonstrate a high disregard for the next generation,“ they said.“At our own expense, we have produced 10,000 copies. We have begun to distribute these, free of charge, to young people. Already, we are receiving a great response. The books have also been offered to schools, and we are hopeful they too take part in the process of offering our kids an opportunity to make their opinion concerning their future heard.
“Our Prime Minister, in regard to receiving letters from young people states that he, ‘. . .deeply respects their concerns, welcomes their passion and always seeks to respond positively and to encourage them. Through many postcards delivered to the PM over a long period he will be made further aware that the Australian public knows he is receiving them. We believe that young people may succeed where we adults are failing, and that if the Prime Minister receives many postcards from young people around Australia, he will be compelled to respond to their requests. We also believe the national action taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus should become the model for how community effort could be harnessed to make changes in our lives that are kinder to the planet.“
Jim and Helen said Sunshine Coast Environmental Council have pledged non-financial support for the project and through a gofundme campaign they hope to recoup some finances.
For further information visit our website: ourfutureshowbag.org/
The books are available at Noosa Plaza News (Noosa Junction Plaza), Cooran General Store and Pomona Newsagency
