Melbourne joins Global Day of action #COP26 - Moreland Climate CUP and XR Funeral for Koalas

In Melbourne the Moreland Climate Coalition held three covidsafe events in Moreland on Saturday, with other climate protests in the city and at St Kilda, as part of the Global day of action called by the COP26 Coalition in Glasgow.

This included calling the Moreland Climate CUP, the Race to Zero Emissions. Sunlight streaked ahead out of the gates from a slow start. Old King Coal sadly had to retire and be be put down. Of course we'll find a new job for the Old King Coal jockey. That is a matter of Just Transition.

Groups invloved with Moreland Climate Coalition included Neighbours United for Climate Action, Stop Adani Moreland, Climate Action Moreland, XR Moreland, ACF Community NxNW. A Pre-registration form was organised, and QR Codes for each event. What united the three decentralised events in Moreland was the use of the #MorelandClimateCup hashtag and having the same base set of demands.

It was decided Saturday 6 November rather than Melbourne Cup day was best timing for the Race to Zero event. While so much public attention is focussed on horse racing and the Spring Racing Carnival, Our Moreland Climate Cup is far more significant with the Race to Zero Emissions.

The Demands were kept simple:

1. 100% renewable energy by 2030 – End public funding of coal, oil and gas.
2. Expand public transport networks & bike paths to encourage people to reduce car use. Shift vehicles to electric.
3. Address the biodiversity Crisis, fund species conservation to prevent extinctions. End Native Logging by 2024. Implement Australian Trees and Biodiversity Plan to reduce climate pollution by at least 1 billion tonnes by 2030.
4. Australia to contribute its fair share of global climate finance to support low-income countries implementing climate action.
5. Climate justice means creating alternative jobs for fossil fuel workers and their communities, funding Indigenous-led land management with jobs on country to repair ecosystems, reduce emissions and reduce fire risk.
6. Make the climate criminals pay. Put a levy on fossil fuel companies to help pay for the crisis.
7. Phase out gas in Moreland

Our local Moreland events ocurred from 10.30am to 11.30am. There was a larger gathering climate protest organised at 1pm outside the State Library in the city which people could also attend, and #Extinction Rebellion also held a Koala funeral march at St Kilda.

Coburg Zero Emission Race and march to Labor MP Peter Khalil's Office

The Coburg event had a mock race with two cardboard horses at Victoria Street Mall, and also heard a number of speeches. We then marched down Sydney Road to Labor MP Peter Khalil's office where a short overview was given of the COP26 negotiations by Climate Action Moreland Convenor John Englart highlighting the new research on the problem of gas and Labor's present National policy platform endorsing gas expansion for Australia out of sync with both the scoience in the IPCC 6th assessment report and the International Energy Agency Roadmap to net zero 2050 report. See More photos at John Englart Flickr Album.

Thanks Lisa:

Newlands Neighbourhood House Forest event:

The Newlands Friends of the Forest organised a gathering focussed on ending logging, preserving forests, especially Victorian forests presently being clear felled logged by Vic Forests.

The Brunswick Event:

Event held at Warr Park Brunswick. Speeches highlighting that we need system change not climate change. A Mock Race to Zero Emissions was held with Brunswick Greens MP Tim Read welcoming people as they crossed the line.

Brunswick: mock race to Zero Emissions with Brunswick Greens MP Tim Read at the finishing line

Brunswick: Race to Zero Emissions gathering

Extinction Rebellion Koala Funeral march

Meanwhile, there was a gathering on unceded Bunurong land for the koala funeral march in St Kilda, Naarm/Melbourne. See The Age photo documentary on the CBD and St Kilda protests: Extinction Rebellion COP26 protests took place in Melbourne as part of an international day of action

Blinky the giant koala puppet

In the city outside the State Library Uni Students had organised a protest

Uni Students for Climate Justice rally at the State Library at 1pm:

Another report from Act on Climate of the State Library rally;

At the start of COP26 Climate Guardians rang the bells on Princes Bridge, Melbourne

The climate Guardians were prominent in Paris in 2015 when the Paris Agreement was agreed to. Civil society brought enormous pressure to ensure just transition, human rights and 1.5C target were included in the agreement. The climate angels captivated Paris with their moving street theatre. At the start of COP26 in Glasgow as the opening plenary was ocurring a climate Guardian performance ringing the bells on Princes Bridge is equally symbolic in the call for action.