Climate writers 🌱 June ft. Bev Smiles on fighting for her town against coal expansion + join us for pub lunch
A monthly gatho to email politicians to take climate action, and learn about climate solutions from experts.
We'll guide you through writing emails to politicians and host activities & expert speakers, e.g. we've had climate scientists, First Nations activists, non-profit leaders and climate-tech innovators join us in the room to teach us about all kinds of climate solutions.
Our guest speaker is Bev Smiles who will share with us her front-line experience of fighting for her small town community of Wollar against international coal giant Peabody Energy. Once a thriving community, the town has changed irrecoverably since 2006 when the Wilpinjong coal mine was approved. In the last couple decades, the pit has expanded until it now has permission to mine 1.5km from the village of Wollar itself.
In 2017, Bev was arrested for blockading traffic to the coal mine. Bev's iconic response was:
“People asked me if I was I worried about having a 7 year jail sentence hanging over my head and it has been stressful. I have to say that the ongoing impacts of the Peabody coal mine on my community, my family and my home not to mention the looming threats from climate change are far more stressful than any threat of a stint in jail."
Wollar's fight doesn't stand alone. The Hunter region is home to more than 30 underground and open cut coal mines that feed the world’s biggest coal port, and supply electricity to NSW and beyond.
Join us in Redfern to hear first-hand from frontline communities dealing with fossil fuel expansion, and learn what we can do to stand up against powerful interests.
🍕 We'll also be grabbing a pub lunch after! 🍕
What to expect:
(Newbies only) 9.30am Mingle and snack + 9.50am Onboarding
10.30am Community wins and updates
10.45am Guest speaker or activity
12pm Email MPs on a climate issue: We'll supply topic and resources (bring your laptop / writing device)
1pm Wrap up
1.15pm Lunch at Glengarry Castle Hotel
3pm Finish
❓ Who should come?
We welcome everyone referred by another attendee - whether you're new in your climate journey or a seasoned greenie. 75% of people who join have never written to a politician before!
❓ What do I need to bring?
Just bring your 💻 laptop and if you're feeling generous, a 🥨 snack to share.
❓ Can I bring a friend? YES! Ask them to register via this event page. :)
❓ When is it? We run every month on a Sunday.
For new joiners, come at 9.30am to mingle and snack for a 9.50am onboarding session.
If you've attended before, please arrive to start at 10.30am.
We will wrap up at 1pm.
For more dates, view our community calendar.
📍 Where is it? Location is a 3 min walk from Redfern Station. Register for the exact address.
💌 Community love from previous sessions:
"The session left me feeling motivated, inspired and reassured that there are so many wonderful people like us, wanting and actually making the effort towards tackling climate change"
"Climate change feels like such a big topic, but Eezu and Marlene have made such a great and supportive space that shows us how easy it can be to take action and fight for the things that are important"
Having sent 500+ emails to date, we've had:
Policy wins on topics we've written to politicians about: e.g the passing of the Climate Change Bill, stronger rules on the Safeguard Mechanism, banning of native forestry logging in Victoria and more...
Contributions to a policy paper requesting a youth advisory council to the NSW Net Zero Commission, currently being actioned by MP Penny Sharpe's(NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Enviro) team
Meeting with MP Chris Bowen (Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy) to discuss Labor's climate policies after Annie wrote to him about opposing fossil fuel exploration.
Group meeting with MP Jenny Leong (Newtown) after Marlene wrote to her on the NSW State election. Jenny connected us with other local climate non-profits, and hosted us in NSW Parliament.
1:1 meetings with local MPs / Councillors to ensure climate action is top of mind e.g Tim James (Willoughby), Paul Fletcher (Bradfield), Charishma Kaliyanda (Liverpool), and Dai Le (Fowler)
Publications in local papers
Countless responses from local MPs / their teams who are reminded about everyday people wanting climate action
Note: Dates are subject to change, but we'll notify you in advance.
Make climate action a habit by registering for future sessions in our community calendar.
Co-founded by Eezu Tan and Marlene Baquiran to make climate action fun, accessible and effective.
100% volunteer-run and non-partisan.