You may have heard recently that some very dangerous people are menacing our streets. You may have heard that these no-goodniks are carrying on and on about something called ecological disaster and the climate crisis. No big deal: just the future of life on this planet.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk recently described Extinction Rebellion protestors – who belong to a movement that emphasises non-violence as a bedrock philosophy – as “dangerous, reckless, irresponsible” and “sinister.” Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan sledged these environmentalists for being a “cohort of extremists.” The federal government’s publicity department, also known as News Corp, chimed in, calling them a “feral species.”
With the climate change movement gathering momentum around the country and around the world, more and more people recognising that we are in the early stages of a sixth mass extinction and the window of time to act is running out, one thing is certain: we are going to see many more protests in coming months. And we are going to hear many more colourful words being assigned to protestors – from politicians and News Corp commentators in particular.
So, who exactly are these horrible fiends? These wild, gormless, terrifying monsters? Let’s meet a few and stare directly into the face of danger.
This is John and Rae. They belong to a collective called Frontline Action on Coal. The group’s mission charter declares that they believe that “together we can achieve a state of economic and environmental balance.” John and Rae are taking non-violent action to try to prevent the mega coal mini, Adani, from threatening our climate, reef, land, water and communities.
That mission statement contains intimidating turns of phrase such as “we warmly welcome you” and “we strive together towards a safe climate future.” You’ll notice the incendiary propadanga reading material on John’s lap. A publication called New Scientist.
This is Jonathan. This menace to society is a councilor for Brisbane City Council. His dangerous personal manifesto includes a strong passion for standing up for the needs of marginalised people. Jonathan has a Bachelor of Laws degree (with Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts degree. He is a former law clerk and youth worker.
These very intimidating people are scientists who are walking from Canberra to Sydney “to inspire mass tree planting for carbon draw-down and regeneration in Australia.” Holly is a geographer and Fin is an ecologist. Their motto is the following shiver-inducing war cry: “Don’t go it alone, we are all in this together.”
This sinister man is Sean, 35, who hung on a rope from Brisbane’s William Jolly bridge, dangling a protest banner beneath him. He explained to the media that “business as usual is killing us.” And, discussing catastrophic climate change, noted that “it is those who have contributed least to this crisis who will feel its effects first.”
This is Wendy, a 68-year-old Townsville resident. She is locking herself to fences, trying to stop the Adani coal mine. Because, she says, “it’s the least I can do. I had a wonderful upbringing in a wonderful climate. I now owe it to young people, and the future of all species, to make sure the world gets back on track and we don’t destroy the one planet we have.” How menacing!
This is Erik. He’s a former captain of a private school on the Sunshine Coast. Erik decided to drop out of studying nanoscience at UNSW because, understanding that earth is currently experiencing a sixth mass extinction and the time to act is now, he determined that “I can’t live with myself knowing that’s happening and not doing anything about it.”
This is Audrey, 73, who decided to become an activist to fight for the future of her grandchildren. Earlier this year Audrey held a sign next to the federal treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, which read: “What are you leaving for our grandkids?”
By now you must be pretty terrified about this unruly pack of sinister criminals, right?
Now that you’ve met some of the people the authorities and sections of the press have so passionately sledged, let’s push the sarcasm aside. Anybody with a passing knowledge of the climate crisis understands that we live in very dark times, and that the future of life on this planet is anything but certain. The children of today stand to inherit, in what is increasingly being accepted as a best-case scenario, a greatly spoiled earth.
The solutions to prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis already exist (i.e. renewable energy) and are so simple even a child can understand them. But instead of meaningfully addressing the most important environmental issue in the history of the human race – a threat to the fabric of our society, and our very existence – our government refuses to tell the truth: that we are in an ecological emergency.
When the people you see above march on the streets, and engage in civil disobedience, they walk in the shadows of many brave individuals who came before them. Of people who rose up when their governments failed them – from the Suffragettes to the civil right’s movement.
In coming months you are going to hear many more colourful words from the government and the media describing decent, good-hearted, virtuous people in appalling ways. Reckless. Dangerous. Sinister. Really? There is another, better word to describe courageous citizens who bravely step out of their comfort zones to fight for the future of the world. It starts with “h.”
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