Friday 4 July 2008
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PICTURE OPPORTUNITY
POLAR BEARS PROTEST AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
Perth Town Hall
Outside main entrance
Corner Barrack and Hay Streets
Monday 7 July 2008
9.30 – 10am
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Make Poverty History campaigners will don polar bear suits carrying signs, ‘Save the Humans’, outside the
Perth Town Hall to raise awareness that climate change is already having a detrimental impact on people –
not just animals.
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 Tuvalu faces the prospect of disappearing completely, as do other low-lying islands in the
Pacific, including those in Papua New Guinea, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands.
The awareness-raising coincides with Professor Ross Garnaut’s public forum, from 10 – 11.30am at the
Perth Town Hall. The forum is an opportunity for individuals and organisations to discuss the Draft Report
with Professor Garnaut and the Review Secretariat.
An analysis of the Garnaut draft report will be included in Make Poverty History’s report, See the Bigger
Picture, to be launched this month.
Background:
Climate change threatens to undermine the progress made in the global fight against poverty.
Australia, as one of the major carbon emitters per capita in the world, has a greater responsibility for
addressing the problem. Make Poverty History is campaigning for climate change solutions that are just and
fair.
Make Poverty History is calling on the Rudd Government to play a leading role in the international climate
change negotiations currently under way. Australia should set a strong target to reduce its own emissions
and encourage other developed countries to set similarly strict targets.
The Federal Government also must pay its fair share of adaptation financing for developing countries –
scaling up to an estimated $1.7 billion annually by 2015.
Organiser and media contact: Paddy Cullen 0431 925 494, 08 9262 8207 or paddyc@oxfam.org.au
NEWS 
