The Age newspaper yesterday published an excellent article by Michael Green on the Australian Climate Movement. The article, entitled “Power From the Ground Up”, represents perhaps the first time that the media in Australia have paid close attention to the climate movement as a distinct and emergent phenomena in national politics. It features interviews with James Whelan from The Change Agency, and members of the Families Facing Climate Change Action Group.

Highly recommended!

Excerpt from the article:

“Grassroots climate action groups are appearing like white blood cells at a wound. Over the past two years, an unprecedented, unreported and largely underestimated climate movement has sprung up throughout our cities and regions.”

“Many of the members have dedicated decades to living simply and sustainably. The great majority though, are new.

Groups start up so rapidly it is difficult to know their numbers, but according to Melbourne’s Climate Action Centre, Victoria probably has about 50, and most are less than two years old. Nationwide, there are well over 200, and Australia is not unique in this trend.

Before long we will see whether such groups can make a real difference in the wider world – one of rising temperatures and melting ice caps on the one hand, and the forces of status quo and instant gratification on the other.”

Read the rest of the article…