MEDIA RELEASE: Polluter rallies dwarfed

Polluter rallies dwarfed by community support for a price on pollution

For immediate release

23^rd March 2010

Young people from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition have met with Prime Minister Gillard, Greens Deputy Leader Christine Milne, and will meet with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to express their support for putting a price on pollution, and to launch the national ‘Meet Your Member’ campaign.

The AYCC has over 58,000 members across the country. The ‘Meet Your Member’ campaign

aims to get all 226 Federal politicians to meet with young people from their electorates to talk about climate change before the new Senate comes into power in July.

“Young people are the most important stakeholders when deciding climate change policy, as we will be the generation most affected by climate change,” said Ellen Sandell, National Director of the AYCC.

“The big polluters may have lots of money and paid lobbyists, but we have tens of thousands of young people across the country and they are determined to have their voices heard.”

The AYCC’s launch in Canberra coincides with rallies being held on the lawns of Parliament to oppose putting a price on pollution.

“We originally expected 5000 people to attend, bussed in from Sydney and Melbourne, but only 1000 have come out to Parliament House this afternoon” said Ms Sandell.

“After the rallies in Melbourne last weekend where over 8000 people joined together to call for a strong and immediate price on pollution, it is clear that the support within the community for action on climate change is broad and deep, particularly among young people”.

The AYCC strongly supports putting a price on pollution and direct investment in renewable energy, and want the price to be high enough to ensure a shift away from polluting energy and towards renewable energy.

For media comment, please contact:

Ellen Sandell

Email: [email protected]

Ph: 0400544754

The AYCC is building a generation-wide movement to solve the climate crisis
www.aycc.org.au

Read more at Australian Youth Climate Coalition