Download the printed version above from page 4 of The Leader, or view the online version below:
http://www.theleader.com.au/2007/07/greenies_swing_the_big_switch.php
Greenies swing the Big Switch
July 26, 2007 8:30 AM
By Lia Gurciullo
Lack
of action on climate change from St George and Sutherland Shire MPs is
"sending a very bad message to Australians,'' a Greenpeace campaigner
has said.
Greenpeace, in conjunction with several environment groups, has urged
all Federal MPs to state their level of support on climate change
solutions on a new website, The Big Switch.
A survey was sent to all MPs in March, with questions on the Kyoto protocol, carbon trading and nuclear energy.
The MPs' answers were rated out of five and posted on the website, with
the public encouraged to add their comments in the lead up to the
election.
MPs from the electorates of Banks, Barton, Cook, Hughes and Watson all
received a score of zero, after declining to return the survey.
After being contacted by
The Leader, two out of five local MPs said they would soon be returning the survey to Greenpeace.
Kieran Longridge, Greenpeace clean energy campaigner, said political parties are not aiming for a long term solution.
"I think the key message to Australian MPs in the shire and all around
Australia is that Australians are taking this issue very seriously and
actually wanting solutions-led leadership on climate change,'' she said.
Ms Longridge said all 150 Federal MPs were each contacted three times
and urged to complete the survey and put their views on record.
"As an indicator, not responding to a survey on this critical issue is sending a very bad message to Australians,'' she said.
"What the political parties are offering at the moment, they're
offering rebate style incentives for individuals to take responsibility
on reducing greenhouse gas, but what we seriously need is targets for
2020 and 2050 that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"We need to talk about where we're getting our energy from, not only
the smaller stuff like changing to energy efficient lightbulbs and
installing water tanks.''
The Big Switch aims to get 100,000 Australians to pledge to help reduce greenhouse pollution and switch to clean energy.
Go to
www.thebigswitch.org.au
How do our MPs rate?
Greenpeace campaigners have condemned St George and Sutherland Shire MPs for lack of action on climate change.
Greenpeace, in conjunction with several environment groups, have urged
all federal MPs to state their level of support on climate change
solutions on a new website, The Big Switch.
A survey was sent to all MPs in March, with questions on the Kyoto Protocol, carbon trading and nuclear energy.
The MPs' answers were rated out of five and posted on the website, with
the public encouraged to add their comments in the lead up to the
election.
MPs from the electorates of Banks, Barton, Cook, Hughes and Watson all
received a score of zero, after declining to return the survey.