#106: Anchor me

On staying firm in the storm of bad news

Mōrena and happy Tuesday,

This weekend I was at the Kelmarna Community Farm soaking up the relaxed vibes at their Harvest Festival. In the middle of Ponsonby, there were market gardens, bikes, abundant flowers, free range chickens, and people talking about climate-friendly systems. 

For me, it was an overdue break from an inundation of grim news both at home and globally. During the hottest winter the northern hemisphere has experienced, our government is currently speeding up policies taking us very fast in the hotter direction (see the latest fast-tracking fracking bill and their plan to “drive us faster to the climate crisis”). Not cool.

At Kelmarna, Don McGlashan was singing ‘Anchor Me’, a Mutton Birds classic for those old enough to remember it hitting the charts in ‘94. It struck me that by finding our anchors, we can remind ourselves what we’re fighting for and why we should keep going.

I’d love to hear in the comments below - what keeps you going? What’s your ‘anchor’?

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was Greenpeace’s Call for NZ to join the Global Ocean Treaty. 

🐝 If you have 5 minutes: Dear Mister President 🎵

• America has a huge climate impact and right now their Environmental Protection Agency is considering the first-ever carbon regulations for existing power plants which would require coal and gas plants to cut or capture nearly all of their emissions by 2040. There is a strong push by oil lobbyists against this change.
  Action: Sign the petition to call for stronger carbon pollution rules

• The government’s fast track policy risks removing the guardrails that our environment needs - a dangerous move in the middle of a climate crisis. The Green Party is calling for Prime Minister Luxon to commit to protecting our climate and creating a secure future for businesses, people, and the planet.
  Action: Sign the open letter to ask Luxon to keep environmentally-friendly policies

🐇 If you have 15 minutes: Walk this way

• Wed 13 March: Walking is good for your health and great for the planet. This Wednesday, Living Streets Aotearoa is organising a Walk2Work Day, with prizes up for grabs. It encourages others to walk, helps share safe routes, and might give you ideas for what you’d like to see in our new regional transport plans.
  Action: Join Walk2Work Day with a mate & check out the local events 

💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more: I want to ride my bicycle

• Give feedback on the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport. This indicates how much funding they’re going to give to different modes of transport for the next three years, and it’s looking disastrous for the climate. Tl:dr; they took out “considering emissions” from their criteria, are bumping up taxes to spend on expensive roads, and giving up on saving pedestrian & cyclist lives.
  Action: Give feedback using Waka Kotahi’s survey before 2 April

• Regional Councils around the country are seeking feedback on their Regional Land Transport Plans now. Share your support for investment in public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure.
  Action: Make your voice heard for your nearest regional centre: 

  • Northland, due 15 March

  • Bay of Plenty, due 24 March 

  • Taranaki, due 16 March

  • West Coast, due 28 March

  • Otago-Southland, due 15 March

• The Week is a 3-session group experience that empowers newcomers to climate action. It’s designed to make it easy for anyone to get a group of friends together and get started on climate. Next week, there is an official facilitated cohort happening online in the NZ timezone.

  • Online, 18 Mar - 1 Apr: Join a 101 on climate change & action

  • Waiheke, 18 Mar - 1 Apr: Join an in-person cohort

  • Anywhere, anytime, in-person: Run your own with friends

• Hāwera, Wed 13 March, 8:30am: Join Ngāti Ruanui, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) hearings on seabed mining. The EPA will be considering whether mining corporate Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd meet the Supreme Court's requirement to create no "material harm" to the area.
  Action: Say no to more seabed mining in Taranaki

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That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this SeaWeek Te Ika o Te Tau Fish of the Year Election. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, vote! Democracy is important 🗳️🐟

Sea you next week, 🌊

Emily & the Climate Club team

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