Ross Creek Clean Up - Townsville Saturday 24th January Thanks to all the volunteers who turned up on the Australia Day weekend to remove a large amount of assorted litter from the the Ross Creek area. You were fantastic! Apart from being an eyesore, much of this litter was destined to end up floating along our beautiul coastline and further endangering our marine willife. Here's a few snaps from some of the happy rubbish pickers on Saturday. Walk Against Warming 08 A big thank you to all the people who attended this years Walk Against Warming event held at the Strand in Townsville. We also thank the organisers of the event who managed to get the Townsville event happening with only a short amount of preparation time. The Rudd Government's announcement of a 5% emmissions reduction target by 2020 is a disappointing response to climate change for Australia.
The Rudd Government has released their White Paper outlining emission reduction targets and they are pathetic. A 5% reduction by 2020 with a chance that this could increase to 15% if a global agreement is reached between advanced economies. Kevin Rudd, Penny Wong and Peter Garrett were the triad of hope that many people concerned about government inaction on climate change voted for in 07. The hope has become despair, I still believe they are good people but the Governments response to the global warming crisis is best summed up in the in the words of Irish philosopher & politician, Edmund Burke – “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. The evil that prospers from government procrastination on global warming is corporate greed and there are no worse villains than mining companies. If every country takes the same line as Australia in protecting trade exposed emission intensive industries then the huge emissions from the mining industries will never be captured.
Australia will be one of the countries most impacted countries by climate change but we are also one of the countries with the potential to reduce emissions without major economic loss. This doesn’t mean business as usual; it means establishing new industries and reforming existing emission intensive industries. This won’t happen if the Australian government continues to sanction emissions from industries that make billion dollar profits but do little to reduce their impacts. The government also needs to embrace population stability, they can no longer ignore the reality that growth and climate change are linked. The reduction target of 60% by 2050 is matched by Australian Bureau of Statistics projections, which show that by 2050 Australia’s population could easily have increased by 60%.
By signing off on a 5% target Kevin Rudd is signing the death warrant of the Great Barrier Reef. Australia is a world leader in coral reef protection; many countries look to Australia for inspiration and support in protecting their reefs. What they will see when they look to us now is Kevin Rudd saying it is too hard I’m going to let the Great Barrier Reef die. From international leader on reef protection to international embarrassment, with just the stroke of a pen PM Rudd has destroyed our reputation. This sends an appalling message ahead of next years critical Untied Nations conference on climate change. The legacy he is consigning to future generations is one of decimated natural resources, changed weather patterns, mass species extinction and a tourism industry in tatters.
Actions If you are disappointed in Prime Minister Rudd and his pathetic 5% reduction target, send him a letter or online message.
The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
You can send him an online message at http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm
Even if you have never written a letter to the editor in your life, we encourage you to do so now. Let Kevin Rudd and his team know that a 5% target isn’t good enough. Call on them to give the Great Barrier Reef some chance, however slim, and increase the target to 3o to 40%.
Courier Mail http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/editorial/letter/
Townsville Bulletin http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/tools/letter_editor.html
Cultural Fest 08
Townsville celebrated its annual cultural fest in August with an excellent attendance throughout the entire festival.
'Save the earth' was the theme for this year and NQCC was there throughout the main three days of the event. 
We would like to thank all those who contributed to the Cultural Fest and to the NQCC stall and activities.
There were a large number of petitions signed on the day for the protection of the snubfin dolphin including a giant 'hand-print' poster petition made by children of all ages. 
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