I could sense something special in the air as I walked to the train station, bright and early, on the 10th of October 2010. Perhaps it was the glimmer of sunshine, foretelling the beautiful day to be. Perhaps meeting the first singing birds, as I left the house at dawn. I think it was more the knowledge that I was heading to the world’s first major 10/10/10 action and that over the next 24 hours, tens of thousands of people, from all over the world, would be getting to work in their local communities for a just and sustainable, clean energy world.
Perhaps it was the knowledge that I would be meeting up with twenty AYCC volunteers, heading down to Hazelwood, the developed world’s dirtiest coal-fired power station. That we would be joining hundreds of concerned citizens, young families and beautiful, familiar faces to create a gigantic model solar-thermal plant, showing the world our vision for a clean energy Australia.
Hazelwood Power Station is huge. I had expected to feel anger and frustration, seeing for the first time where our dirty fossil fuels are burned. Instead, I saw old friends, joyful faces, AYCC volunteers I had never even met before! I got to hold up a gigantic banner of AYCC’s vision for a sustainable world, painted by amazing volunteers until late into the night before. I felt inspired. I was surrounded by some of Victoria’s most passionate climate activists. We had all taken time out of our change-making lives to celebrate this global day of action together. I knew that every person present was committed to building a safe climate and I felt empowered. We danced, picnicked, face-painted and lazed in the sunshine.
All the while, my phone was buzzing with stories from AYCC volunteers around the country at 10/10/10 events. In Hobart, the AYCC group organised a craftanoon – making a room out of recycled products for the upcoming sustainability festival. In Sydney, volunteers attended four events in one day! In Adelaide there was banner painting and bicycle riding. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, knowing that we are part of an Australia-wide youth climate movement. A movement full of creativity, friendship and optimism.
After the long day, I arrived home, exhausted and sunburned. The first thing I did was bring up the 350.org website and watched the photos of events flooding in. I remember seeing tree-planting in the Pacific, solar panels in the Maldives, children painting banners in New Zealand and bikes in Japan. Photo after photo, story after story, of people getting to work in their local community. Over 7000 events, in 188 countries, I knew 10/10/10 would send a powerful message to decision-makers in every country of the world. We might never know how big the climate movement is, but we know it is huge, diverse and people are making change in their schools, communities, homes and countries, every single day.
I slept so soundly on the night of the 10th of October, 2010. Excited at being part of such a momentous day. Knowing that as I slept, tens of thousands of people would be connecting and creating climate solutions together, in nearly every country on Earth.
– Kirsty Albion is the AYCC’s National Volunteer Director
