In a media release issued by XR Bega Valley, Eurobodalla their spokesperson said:
"Saturday 6th February was time to remind the community again that the climate emergency hasn’t gone away.
"There was a gathering for nonviolent direct action with Local XR members demanding the truth of the climate emergency be recognised and addressed by the government.
"XR Eurobodalla and Bega Valley with Climate Action Mobilisation Bega Group and Social Justice advocates, South east Forest Defenders and others assembled in the rain to make this point.
"Today we gathered to demand action while we are not in a climate disaster. In gentle rain, not smoke and flame.
"We learnt with last summer's fires, that the climate crisis can't be ignored. Locals are standing up to demand a liveable future- net zero emissions by 2025 to prevent a hothouse earth. The recent science on tipping points has increased the urgency of action on emissions, beyond the 2015 Paris Agreements’ prediction for limiting warming to 1.5 degrees. The world’s governance bodies must act more urgently, especially Australia.
“The climate emergency is and will cause major disruption to our lives. Today’s climate action was a small reminder of that” Attending the demonstration was Ms Vivian Harris who has been maintaining the local conversation in person mostly at Littleton Gardens, with a weekly climate sit-in for Fridays for Future for 96 weeks. "Petitions and lobbying MPs won't challenge collusion between fossil fuel corporations and Government. Actions like today's have the power to build towards prolonged shutdowns of business as normal that can leverage power from the elites that are destroying the biosphere we all depend on.
When asked what brought fellow protestor Jenny Spinks to the gathering, she said "I asked myself ‘am I more scared of being part of this action than I am of climate change? The answer was a clear ‘no’ so off I went. Thirty of us blocked the traffic in both directions for 3 minutes, twice”. A spokesperson for the event said "The Public was generally welcoming while the road was occupied by members, with one driver supported to proceed to his medical appointment. The police arrived to ensure safety was being addressed. Standing in the traffic goes against our lifelong training, but is less stressful than evacuating again and again.
"Hopefully the news is getting out that it’s time the Australian Federal Government took climate change seriously. Bega Valley has a growing engagement with the importance of climate leadership and justice. We will continue the call, in preparation for a national day of action on 22nd March. The gathering's atmosphere was one of willing and determination. We are here because we care about future generations and ecosystems."
