#110: This one’s for Rod

On strikes, farewelling Rod Oram, and finding common purpose

Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!

I’m not sure how your Friday went last week but it was a significant one for me, and the NZ climate action movement. Alongside thousands of others, a whole group of Climate Club folks joined the intersectional Aotearoa Strike for Climate. 

Also last Friday in Tāmaki Makaurau I attended the memorial service for climate legend Rod Oram. As well as being a renowned climate journalist who wrote and spoke truth to businesses and politicians alike, Rod holds a special place in the hearts of the Climate Club team as one of our earliest subscribers and warmest supporters. It’s devastating that he’s no longer with us and there was so much love shared for his life, work and character by all those who attended.

Rod’s work is a continuous source of great advice and wisdom for us in the climate movement. One quote that I carry with me is “dare to be hopeful”. I also often revisit Rod’s three things that are key to a successful climate movement: 

• Common sense – a shared understanding of what we need to do.

• Common purpose – shared plans of how we will progress.

• Common wealth – a sharing of the social, economic, environmental and cultural wealth we will create.

Let’s all be a part of the movement that Rod envisioned!

Climate Club members at the latest Tāmaki Climate Strike

🐝 If you have 5 minutes: Get it Signed, Sealed, Delivered

• Breaking news! There’s a beautiful little Member’s Bill aiming to go through Parliament to add a right to a sustainable environment to our bill of rights. This could mean climate campaigns would have more legal grounds to defend their stances.
  Action: Support the Open Letter from Lawyers for Climate Action by emailing it to our elected representatives

• Free Fares are working to keep public transport an affordable, low carbon option for everyone in our communities, which are increasingly important in a cost of living crisis.
  Action: Sign the petition for half-price fares

🐇 If you have 15 minutes: Take a crack at the Fast Track 

• The proposed Fast Track Bill would give unprecedented power to 3 Ministers to basically do whatever they (or their lobbyists) want with our natural environments - no input from the public required.
  Action: If you’re short of time, use Forest & Bird’s form submission
  Action: Got more time? Use any of these more in-depth submission guides
  Action: Download flyers or posters from this new campaign website and put them up this week
  Action: Write a submission using our Climate Club + 350 + CANA guide

💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more: Go beyond a regional doubt

• It’s still the Regional Government Long-Term Planning Season! Here are the regions which are open for consultation: 

  • Far North District Council: Consultation on the Long-Term Plan, via online form or downloadable PDF. Submissions close 5pm 28 April.

  • Kāpiti Coast District Council: Consultation on the Long-Term Plan. Closes 28 April.

  • Taranaki Regional Council: Consultation on the 2024/34 Long-Term Plan. Closes 12 April. 

  • Whakatāne District Council: Draft Climate Change Strategy. Closes 12 April.

  • Wellington City Council: Long-Term Plan. Open from 12 April to 12 May for feedback.

  • Christchurch: Use these Climate Club member’s submission guides for the Christchurch City Council’s Long-Term Plan  - due 21 April and Environment Canterbury’s Long-Term Plan - due 14 April.

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That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this inspiring movie about plant-based athletes 🌱

See you next week, 

Emily & the Climate Club team

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