AYCC SA volunteers get active and colourful outside Penny Wong's office in support of 100% renewable energy.
On Monday night five minutes before the AYCC SA State Monthly meeting, I received a message about the national push to get the required shift to 100% renewable energy onto the Labor party’s agenda for its unprecedented caucus meeting. The email asked me and other members to make calls to local Labor politicians. As well as doing this, a group of keen bustling volunteers decided to take it a step further.
We planned to take our message to Senator Penny Wong’s office in two days. After a rapid brainstorm, we knew all that was left to do was paint banners and reach as many people as possible before Wednesday morning.
An incredible group of volunteers spent the whole of Tuesday preparing media, fliers, banners, placards and of course reaching out to friends and other volunteers.
Arriving on Wednesday, I saw a group of over thirty people – who rallied at a day’s notice – ready to call upon Senator Wong to take up the cause of our future and support 100% renewable energy for Australia. It was an inspiring sight and a sign of how much the AYCC has grown in SA since it began leafletting train stations in early 2010.
We chanted loud enough to make sure that Senator Wong’s fourth floor office knew we were there. We “mic checked” in the spirit of the occupy movement; our collective voice became more powerful as it reached passers by. We handed out leaflets with the numbers of every Labor politician in South Australia and encouraged them to pick up the phone.
This week is a huge opportunity for us to amplify our voices to advocate for the policy of 100% renewable energy needed to secure a safe climate future. Now more than ever, it is crucial that you pick up your phone and call your local Labor MP or Senator. Better yet get together with your friends and make the calls together, then paint some banners, call some more friends and pay a visit to their office!
We know this Sunday an agenda will be set, the first question is will our future be on it? The second, more critical question, is what are we going to do to make sure it’s there?
We’re running a calling action to Labor MPs before the ‘ALP brainstorming session.’ Have you made the call?
Thanks to all who helped pull the action together at the last minute, Gemma Weedall from CLEAN SA for speaking and everyone who made it out at such short notice!
–– Daniel Spencer, AYCC SA Coordinator
