Kia ora, and mānawatia a Matariki! This Friday, we hope that you get a chance to gather with loved ones, reflect on the tau (year), enjoy some of the many beautiful events on this weekend, and dream of what you’d like to see in the future.
One of the key points of discussion during Matariki was the environment, especially the health of the environment. Many wishes of the ancestors were connected to wellbeing of people and the taiao (environment). Māori understood that lives depended on maintaining a strong connection to the physical world and caring for nature.
- Mō Matariki (About Matariki)
What are your wishes and desires for the taiao around you - in your home, neighbourhood, region, country, and Earth? And what’s one thing that you can do this new year, to contribute to that desirable vision?
What can you do today?
The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was the petition to stop cattle feedlots in Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere).
🐝 If you have 5 minutes: Give our oceans a wave
There’s a global campaign going on at the moment to ban deep sea mining, which devastates ecosystems (which support oceanic carbon sequestration!). Greenpeace NZ is carrying out the campaign in NZ, to urge the government to support the ban.
Action: Support a global ban on deep sea mining (N.B. phone number is optional!)A circular economy considers the entire lifecycle of materials. At the moment, NZ ships certain plastics waste overseas to developing countries, without the guarantee that it will indeed get recycled at the receiving country. This plastic often ends up burned or leached into waterways.
Action: Call on the government to ban all plastic waste exports.
🐇 If you have 15 minutes: The right to something left
Isn’t it frustrating when something breaks, and there’s no way to fix it? The right to repair campaign led by community space Repair Café Aotearoa NZ argues for quality, circular design products over fast consumption (fast fashion, fast furniture, fast electronics).
Action: Sign the petition for our right to repair, which will be delivered to Minister for Environment Hon. David Parker in less than three week’s time.
Action: Amplify the campaign by taking a photo of a broken item and sharing why it can not be fixed. Make sure you tag #MinisterDavidParker so he hears about it!
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more: Help Bernard, the 83 year old activist!
In Issue #17, we shared a petition calling for the government to hold regular climate press conferences (à la COVID-19 briefings) to convey the urgency of the climate crisis. The organiser of that campaign is now looking for volunteers to help with some email & social media tasks.
Action: See if you can help Bernard, or shoulder-tap a friend!
In case you missed it
In Issue #8, we wrote about the Indigenous Maasai people who are being driven from their traditional lands under the guise of tourism and conservation. Unfortunately, the situation has only escalated, with police and paramilitary forces using tear gas and bullets against the community. International pressure has stopped eviction events in Tanzania before, and it may do so again.
Action: Share this post and other articles about this issue widely.Last week, we shared Chloë Swarbrick’s campaign to fully pedestrianise Queen Street. The petition has been gaining momentum, and this would set an awesome precedent for liveable, healthy, climate-friendly urban spaces around the motu.
Action: Sign the petition to pedestrianise Queen Street in Auckland
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this round-up of positive climate news!
See you next week,
Dhanya, Emily, and Jenny from the Climate Club