Thirroul's Camp Out for Climate sparks hope

“Hi, I am Craig and I work in the steelworks.”

This isn’t a line you would expect from a keynote speaker at a climate activist event. But it was ex-coal miner and current steelworks employee, Craig Perritt, who got everyone’s attention at the Camp Out for Climate last month.

Craig shared his story of how he came to realise the devastating impacts that mining has had on our region’s ecology and on the climate at large. However, rather than shaming or leaving the industries that have supported him, he’s advocating for change from within and for a just transition for our coal community.

This is just one of the positive messages that were shared at the Camp Out for Climate, which brought together over 250 community members to connect over the critical issue of climate change. Mithra Cox, Greens MP, reflected on how years ago it would have been unthinkable that the polluting Hazelwood Power Station would today be en-route to closure, or that our local council would have declared a climate emergency thanks to the actions of many demanding change. Tim Flannery, 2007 Australian of the Year, reminded us that the scientific and technological solutions are available now, all that is lacking is political willpower.

The message of hope and of the importance of community collaboration was reflected throughout the Camp Out. Kids enjoyed coffee sack races and recycled craft activities, whilst adults wrote letters to their MPs, shared ideas in an open mic forum and enjoyed musical acts, such as Dream Good and Street Foxes. Local businesses, including Thirroul’s bookshop, health grocers and cafes, supported the event by donating items for an auction.

Yet underlying the festive day, an urgent message wasn’t lost. We are in the midst of an emergency. The Black Summer bushfires gave us a taste of what a world with 1.5°C warming will look like and we are on track for an even greater temperature increase. The funeral procession by Les Femmes Fatales sang a sombre tune: every day 150 species may become extinct due to climate change, something reflected in an art installation of tombstones, which Camp Out participants helped to complete on the day.

Let’s continue to join together as a community to share ideas and create change. If you’d like to get further involved in positive climate action, please join the Extinction Rebellion Northern Illawarra’s mailing list: www.xrni.org.au

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristen McDonald lives in Thirroul under a 100 foot fig tree that she is continually inspired by. A mother to three-year-old twin girls, a one-year-old boy, a dog named Smokey Bear Monkey Pie, three chickens and some adopted guinea pigs. She is passionate about environmental protection, social justice, equality and education, as well as the bigger issues, such as ice-cream supply and wombat memes.