With the cooler weather settling in, our latest Green Drinks at Grill’d felt extra cozy and comfortable—perfect for meaningful conversation and connection. We welcomed 19 attendees, including some new faces, proving once again that Green Drinks is a great space for locals to meet, share, and learn together.

This month’s guest was Peter Hanley from Amnesty International Townsville, a long-time advocate for human rights and committed community volunteer.

Peter also serves on the management committee of NQCC, among other roles in the region. His decades of dedication to justice work began with a powerful moment in the 1970s, when he visited a refugee camp in Thailand housing people fleeing Laos—a memory that continues to drive his passion.

Peter shared the story of Amnesty International Townsville, which began as a group writing letters for prisoners of conscience—individuals imprisoned simply for their beliefs or identity, without having used or advocated violence. Today, Amnesty has expanded its focus, campaigning for broader human rights issues and increasingly climate justice, as the connection between environmental destruction and human suffering becomes ever more apparent.

In small groups, participants reflected on how climate impacts are unfolding globally, sharing stories of floods in Spain, wildfires in South Korea, and rising sea levels displacing families in the Pacific Islands. Peter reminded us that climate change disproportionately affects less developed nations—citing the 2022 floods in Pakistan that killed more than 1,700 people and inundated one-third of the country.

Peter encouraged us to consider the root causes behind the climate, refugee, and economic crises: inequality and the lack of human rights. He argued that the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue—it is a justice issue, driven by overconsumption and systemic greed: Climate justice is social justice.

If you’d like to get involved with Amnesty International Townsville, you can reach out via their Facebook page. They also offer a newsletter and hold monthly meetings at the YWAM Café.

📣 Special invitation: Join the Palm Sunday Walk for Peace and Justice for Refugees — April 13 at 4pm, Gregory St Amphitheatre, the Strand.

Thank you to Peter and everyone who joined us for another rich and inspiring evening. If you'd like to stay updated on future Green Drinks, sign up to our newsletter here.