So I’m a couple of days late in blogging about this but really wanted to let you all know how much fun Climate Action Newtown had last Sunday during our 100% Renewable campaign launch.
As we held our event in an area of high pedestrian traffic, we planned a variety of activities to keep the locals entertained and gain the interest of people passing by. As well as information about renewable energy and the campaign, we had windmill-making activities for the kids, and a facepainter (although more adults were interested than kids!), we invited passers-by to help us paint a huge mural, and had some solar technology demonstrations.
Tom loves renewable energy
Mini solar powered fountain
At 1pm, things were officially launched with a Welcome to Country, some didgeridoo playing, some inspiring words from Lindsay Soutar - 100% Renewable campaign spokesperson, Dr Mark Diesendorf - a Senior Lecturer & Deputy Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of NSW, and Fiona Byrne - a Marrickville Greens Councillor.
Lindsay addresses the crowd
Dr Mark Diesendorf
Fiona Byrne
We then invited all present to jump in front of the camera, and collected around 50 people for a fantastic show of local support for the campaign!
Newtown supports renewable energy!
A local band, The Lurkers, then kept us entertained with some subversive bluegrass, whilst we continued to talked to members of the public about renewable technologies and the importance of the campaign.
All in all, it was a great day, and we met so many local residents who were sympathetic to our cause, many of whom signed up to Climate Action Newtown’s email supporter list, signed letters of support to our local Federal MP, Anthony Albanese, and took away further information about the 100% Renewable campaign.
It was a powerful day for CAN, a powerful day for the campaign, and it really reminded me of what we can achieve through education and mobilisation of our local communities.
More photos are up on Climate Action Newtown’s facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ClimateActionNewtown?v=wall
