Community involvement and its importance in resolving critical issues slapped me metaphorically, twice in one week recently.
The first came when I sat through a Shepparton meeting at which people talked about finding an independent member for the federal seat of Nicholls.
The guest speakers were Denis Ginnivan, from the Indigo Valley, who came as the fellow behind “Voices for Australia” and a veteran of the Voices for Indi campaign that saw Cathy McGowan elected to Federal Parliament in 2013, replacing Sophie Mirabella.
Phil Haines, husband of the Member for Indi, Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines, was the second of the speakers, and he, like Mr Ginnivan before him, attributed the success of both women to the dedicated and unrelenting work of people from the community.
Ms Haines was first elected in 2019, replacing Ms McGowan after she retired, and again in 2022 as a representative of the Indi community.
A second meeting has now been called to talk about unseating the existing member of Nicholls, Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell.
The second came in listening to the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Mr Simon Steill, who said we have two years to save the planet.
In closing, he said: “When I say we have two years to save the world, it begs the question — who exactly has two years to save the world?
“The answer is every person on this planet.
“More and more people want climate action right across societies and political spectrums, in large part because they are feeling the impacts of the climate crisis in their everyday lives and their household budgets …
“… Rising costs for fossil-fuel-powered transport … for heating and cooling … energy … rising food prices as climate disasters hit production and supply chains … to name just a few.
“A recent survey by Gallup of 130,000 people in 125 countries found that 89 pe cent want stronger climate action by governments.
“Yet too often, we’re seeing signs of climate action slipping down cabinet agendas.
“There is a disconnect because, in living rooms around the world, climate impacts and costs are quickly rising up the list of household worries.
“The only surefire way to get climate up the cabinet agenda is if enough people raise their voices.
“So my final message today is for people everywhere.
“Every voice matters. Yours have never been more important.”
The need for community voices to unseat our Shepparton-based federal member, as recently discussed by Denis Ginnivan and Phil Haines, was echoed by Simon Steill when calling for action on climate change.
That call for people to voice their concerns was reiterated by Robert Mizo when writing in the Japanese Times.
Discussing the need for voices of all types to be heard, he said: “If you want bolder climate action, now is the time to make yours count. Global warming is certainly a hot topic and has been for a few years now. It elicits animated conversations, as well as some scepticism and dismissal — although the latter have thankfully grown quieter over the years. However, it remains outside of the core domain of politics and broader public consciousness in most countries”.
Some see me as a climate tragic, and only last week, I was described as a “climate alarmist”. Although that may or may not be true, I do know I have spent nearly 20 years listening to, reading about and watching the world’s sharpest thinkers explain why the quickly evolving climate crisis has the potential to decimate our community.
We need to avoid anguish, distress or hopelessness, remembering that action is the best antidote to despair.
That can begin by demanding that our government, our Federal Government, implement systemic change, reshaping our lives to be friendlier, more convenient, more equitable and simply more fulfilling.
And in keeping with that, we need an independent voice from Nicholls to speak on our behalf in the Federal Parliament rather than someone tied to a political party pursuing policies and ideologies well beyond their use-by date.
Robert McLean is a former editor of The News.