Women Say 'just Do It' On Climate Action 1

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WOMEN SAY 'JUST DO IT' ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION

National forum series starts at special 400+ breakfast

As the nation's politicians debate the fate of the Emissions Trading Scheme, a major new women's initiative is saying 'just do it' in regard to action to cut carbon pollution.

About 420 people, 90% of them women, attended the 1 Million Women campaign's Women in Climate Change (WICC) launch breakfast in Sydney today. This marked the start of a national forum series that will visit every capital city by June 2010.

1 Million Women campaign CEO Natalie Isaacs, businesswoman and mother of four from Sydney's northern beaches, told the breakfast:

'Looking after the planet is still considered an adjunct to life. We are constantly over emphasising the things that we do to look after the planet as though we need to be patted on the back.

'Over 90% of the community believes we need to take action on climate change only 10% are really doing things. There are millions and millions of people out there in the community who are like I was 3 years ago- confused and overwhelmed and finding it all too difficult.

'Women make half the electorate, have huge influence in the market place, are natural networkers and make 70% of the consumer decisions around the home. I think in a few years we will look back on this time now and realise it was a tipping point where the need for action became clear, and women responded.'

With funding support from the Australian Government through the Women's Leadership & Development Program, the WICC series brings together representatives of women from across the community, business and government sectors, including marginalised women's groups.

After Sydney, WICC moves to Brisbane for a Parliament House luncheon on Tuesday, November 24th, followed by another breakfast at Melbourne's Hilton on the Park on Thursday, December 3rd, just days before the UN climate summit starts in Copenhagen.

The series has been created by the 1 Million Women campaign (www.1millionwomen.com.au) and is being presented with Green Capital (www.greencapital.org.au).

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ruth Hessey, Communications Director, Total Environment
Centre & Green Capital
0425 253293

Murray Hogarth, communications for 1 Million Women campaign,
0417 267235

SOURCE: 1 Million Women campaign