Bells of Hope Ring Out for Climate Deal

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Hundreds of Victorians will join community leaders to show their solidarity in reaching a fair and just climate change agreement in Copenhagen at a vigil at Federation Square tomorrow, where they will ring hundreds of bells, along with those of St Paul’s Cathedral. 

World Vision’s CEO Tim Costello said instead of standing by in silence, we’re asking people to come to Federation Square to ring bells of hope for a climate change deal. 

“In addition to attending the vigil we’re also urging people to send a message of hope to our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Copenhagen through Twitter, with messages appearing on the main screen at Federation Square. 

“The poor are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and are already feeling its impacts. Australia and other rich nations are also not immune and need to acknowledge we’re all part of the same global village.” 

Don Henry, Executive Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said in the final hours of Copenhagen negotiations, this was our chance to show our leaders that we want, and expect, a strong global climate agreement. 

“Three quarters of Australians support and want to see effective climate action,” Mr Henry said. “Being the driest continent on earth, we have a lot to lose from catastrophic climate change.” 

Who: World Vision and ACF in conjunction with Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, and Uniting Church in Victoria 

What: People from all walks of life are coming together with humanitarian organisations, youth groups, environmentalists, and faith-based groups, corporations. 

St Paul’s Cathedral bells will toll at 1pm. The crowd will ring hundreds of bells following an address from the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier and Tuvalu citizen and climate change activist, Leah Avenue. 

When: Friday 18 December, 1.00pm – 1.30pm 

Where: Federation Square, Melbourne 

Media contacts: 
Dominic McInerney, World Vision 0428 584 809 dominic.mcinerney@worldvision.com.au 
Tara Crowe, World Vision 0427 883 700 tara.crowe@worldvision.com.au 
Kate Fenby, ACF 0400 926 675 k.fenby@acfonline.org.au

Media Releases, Climate change, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Climate Change, Copenhagen, Kevin Rudd, Tim Costello

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