Climate Action Community

In my book, Climate Crisis Plan, I encouraged people to get more involved with climate action groups. So, following my own advice, I volunteered with the School Strike for Climate (Fridays for Future) movement for several protest marches as a marshal. 

These marches were featured in the international news and helped to raise awareness. The photo on the left was our group of marshals taken at one of the marches in 2019. I believe that it is important to keep protesting in order to maintain focus of the media, industry and government on taking action on climate change.

I also joined Greenpeace and was made to feel welcome and felt part of a positive community. I was offered a range of options and got to choose my level of involvement. There were options for supporting roles such as We had training at each step and I took part in several climate actions.

The first was a protest highlighting the impact of warming oceans on coral reefs. Photos from this were used in a social media campaign. After that, joined a group who protested outside the head office of the worst polluting energy company in the country. I also joined an online action group and we challenged the social media presence of a corporation whose proposed expansion of an ocean gas field will not only increase emissions, but also threaten whale migration routes and delicate coral reefs ecosystems. The transportation section has more examples of work I have done with Greenpeace.

Sometimes engagement and protesting is not enough to stop corporations and governments from doing the wrong thing. Sometimes non-violent direct action is the only way to draw attention to serious issues. 

Many of the established climate or environmental action groups have systems for safety, risk analysis, legal representation, and well trained people who can give high quality training.

I recently completed Basic Actions Training with Greenpeace which was a great course with a diverse group of people. The course included the history of non-violent direct action, the law, climbing and rope safety, water safety and the basics of driving Rigid Inflatable Boats. One of the groups from the course is pictured on the right. 

Even with direct action, there are many different ways to be involved from support people such as drivers, communications, to the people on the front line.