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INFORM-A^CTION

Issue Number 44 - June 2002

ACT NOW

Persuade the Australian Government
to Ratify the Kyoto Protocol

'There is new and stronger evidence that most of the (global) warming observed over the last fifty years is attributed to human activities' and that the coming changes will affect all aspects of the environment and societal well-being, especially the poor, the vulnerable and generations yet unborn.

Archbishop Renato Martino, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN (2001)

It has been gratifying to see that the European Union and Japan have ratified the Kyoto Protocol - bringing the world a step closer to having an international regime to address the predicted impacts of human-induced climate change.

We now know that the Australian Government's intention is not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and to follow the USA path. This is not good policy. Despite the Government's claim that ratification is not in the nation's economic interest, it is vital to our long-term interests that we are part of the global solution to address global warming. (See the Eco-justice page of this website for up-to-date information on this issue.) It is now up to the citizens of this country to urge the Australian Government to change policy direction and commit to ratification.

From now until mid-August, the Social Action Office (SAO) is inviting Religious to make a personal and corporate commitment to lobby the Australian Government and urge our elected representatives to ratify this UN Protocol. It is not perfect but it is the best 'first step' we can hope for. To begin another process is not advisable - time is hardly on the side of this option anyway. It is better to work with what currently exists and improve on that. Instead of withdrawing from a ten year process that actually gave Australia a very good negotiated deal, we should be in there galvanising support for an effective treaty.

To assist Religious in taking action, the SAO has prepared a Climate Change Fact Sheet which includes an insert to assist in lobbying key political leaders - this contains a sample letter. The Fact Sheet and insert are being disseminated through ACLRI but copies are also available from the SAO. Simply contact Pauline Coll sgs at (07) 3891 5866 or email project@sao.clriq.org.au.

We are asking that Religious and SAO partners take some time in July to write, fax, email or phone a Government MP on this issue.

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		INFORM-A^CTION Issue Number 44 - June 2002 ACT NOW Persuade the Australian Government to Ratify the Kyoto Protocol 'There is new and stronger evidence that most of the (global) warming observed over the last fifty years is attributed to human activities' and that the coming changes will affect all aspects of the environment and societal well-being, especially the poor, the vulnerable and generations yet unborn. Archbishop Renato Martino, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN (2001) It has been gratifying to see that the European Union and Japan have ratified the Kyoto Protocol - bringing the world a step closer to having an international regime to address the predicted impacts of human-induced climate change. We now know that the Australian Government's intention is not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and to follow the USA path. This is not good policy. Despite the Government's claim that ratification is not in the nation's economic interest, it is vital to our long-term interests that we are part of the global solution to address global warming. (See the Eco-justice page of this website for up-to-date information on this issue.) It is now up to the citizens of this country to urge the Australian Government to change policy direction and commit to ratification. From now until mid-August, the Social Action Office (SAO) is inviting Religious to make a personal and corporate commitment to lobby the Australian Government and urge our elected representatives to ratify this UN Protocol. It is not perfect but it is the best 'first step' we can hope for. To begin another process is not advisable - time is hardly on the side of this option anyway. It is better to work with what currently exists and improve on that. Instead of withdrawing from a ten year process that actually gave Australia a very good negotiated deal, we should be in there galvanising support for an effective treaty. To assist Religious in taking action, the SAO has prepared a Climate Change Fact Sheet which includes an insert to assist in lobbying key political leaders - this contains a sample letter. The Fact Sheet and insert are being disseminated through ACLRI but copies are also available from the SAO. Simply contact Pauline Coll sgs at (07) 3891 5866 or email project@sao.clriq.org.au. We are asking that Religious and SAO partners take some time in July to write, fax, email or phone a Government MP on this issue. Next Newsletter Article Newsletter Index