It was a simple but powerful message Noosa teen Spencer Hitchen delivered on Monday when he brought together artists, authors, filmmakers, environmental campaigners and politicians for a panel discussion to reflect on nature and pledge to protect it, at his second annual World Stand Up 4 Nature Day event.
“World stand Up 4 Nature Day was a day I started last year to inspire more people around the world to stand up for nature and showcase the guardians standing up for the last wild places around the world,“ Spencer said.
“The date is on 9 September because this beautiful bird, a glossy black cockatoo called Fletch came into his Woodland Wallum Forest on 9 September 2022 and, unfortunately, when that forest was destroyed Fletch was without a home and he was killed on a busy road.
“When I was thinking of having World Stand Up for Nature Day, I decided to have it on that day so species in the future would have habitats and a safe home where they could thrive into the future.“
At the event, held alongside a nature-focused pop-up art exhibition at The J, Spencer asked panel guests three pointed questions: what do you love about nature, what are you doing to stand up for nature and what is your pledge in the next 12 months to stand up for nature.
In expressing their love of nature, guests spoke of its connectivity, diversity, resilience and healing qualities as well as being a source of inspiration and wonder.
Spencer agreed, saying “nature is everything, all that it gives us for our survival on our planet. What we love about nature is really important. We have to love nature, we have to observe nature to love nature, before we can protect it.“
The young environmentalist then asked his panel what they were doing to stand up for nature, considering every positive action to be making a difference.
Signing petitions, lobbying politicians and creating awareness through art and education were some responses.
Rochelle Gooch said she had spent all her life standing up for nature through activism and education. She has helped educate children by creating children’s books and giving them to primary schools and recently authored a book on protecting the beachside environment she expects to be published before Christmas.
Wildlife rescuer Jarrah Small said she protects as many animals as she can and uses her voice “to protect the voiceless“.
Queensland Conservation Council nature campaigner Natalie Frost was promoting a rally for national threatened species day to be held outside Queensland Parliament on 10 September, its last day of sitting before the upcoming state government election.
In her role as Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said she had lobbied for an independent Environmental Protection Agency and changes to the Environmental Protection Act. She had been fighting for increased turtle protection, extra dollars for national parks and better management of the Noosa River, she said.
In addition she kicked off an independent study of wildlife strike on local roads and was working with council to create a portal for people and groups to upload data to determine if created mitigations were effective.
Noosa councillor Tom Wegener told the group,“I love nature because I see environment as part of myself, so just as I want to maintain myself I want to maintain the environment as well“.
When Spencer asked the group for their 12 month pledges all were keen to participate.
Some panel members pledged to educate others about the importance of nature and the impacts of humans and lobby for greater protection from government.
Mayor Frank Wilkie said, as an elected representative, councillors were in positions to make decisions for the community.
“My pledge is that at every opportunity for a decision that does come before the council any decision that involves an impact on the environment it will always be in favour of the environment or enhancing the environment,“ he said.
Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said she would take forward the voices of the community.
Young environmentalist Bella said she would be involved in a peaceful protest aimed at replacing shark nets that was occurring on 15 September at 10.30am at Mooloolaba main beach.
Natalie Frost told the group now was the most important moment in history with the Federal nature law being reviewed.
“The federal nature law is failing nature. We have over 2000 threatened species on endangered species list,“ she said.
Her pledge was to ensure a strong Queensland campaign from the Queensland Conservation Council for the upcoming state election.
“It’s going to be so important to ensure we get MPs in who care and value nature,“ she said.
“Our nature laws underpin everything so they need to be strengthened and changed,“ Spencer said, then encouraged everyone to pledge to stand up for nature.
