Friday 11 July 2008
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PICTURE OPPORTUNITY
Launch of Make Poverty History’s report on climate
change – See the Bigger Picture
Pacific Islander children perform traditional dance and song
University Square, Carlton (corner Leicester and Pelham Sts)
Sunday 13 July
11.30am
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Pacific Islander communities will highlight the severe impacts of climate change already occurring at the
launch of a Make Poverty History report, See the Bigger Picture: Australian Action on climate change:
a guide for Garnaut and the Government, on Sunday 13 July at 11.30am.
There will be a colourful, traditional performance by children from Kiribati and Tuvalu, countries that will
disappear completely if developed countries do not take action now on climate change.
The Make Poverty History report is being launched just days before the Federal Government’s green paper
on climate change is released on Wednesday.
It includes an analysis of Professor Garnaut’s Draft Report and key recommendations on how Australia
should act - in areas including Australian leadership, emission reductions, helping our Pacific neighbours
cope with climate change impacts, technology transfer to developing countries, and Australia’s response to
‘climate change refugees’.
Within the Pacific region, people living in low-lying islands and river deltas are already experiencing the
negative results of climate change, including rising seas and salt water inundation. This contributes to crop
losses, destruction of fresh water sources and flooding.
The nation of Kiribati faces the prospect of disappearing completely, as do other low-lying islands in the
Pacific, including those in Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands.
Speaking at the launch and available for interview: Make Poverty History acting co-chairs James Ensor
(Oxfam Australia acting executive director) and Paul Ronalds (World Vision deputy CEO), and Pacific
Islander Emeretta Cross. Go to makepovertyhistory.com.au
For further information please contact Laurelle Keough, on 03 9289 9336, 0409 960 100,
laurellek@oxfam.org.au
NEWS 
