7 Questions to Shape 2010

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Comment by Aaron Packard on February 3, 2010 at 2:41pm

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback. Here is the summary:

Question one: What role in the global movement do you think we can play here in NZ?

• Effect change at the community level: homes, work places, schools churches etc.;
• Pressure the NZ government to increase their emissions reduction target;
• Lobby the NZ government;
• By adding numbers to the global movement here in NZ we will give greater weight to 350.org;
• Raise awareness amongst ordinary New Zealanders;
• Give priority to building a strong climate action movement in NZ;
• Target our politicians to put pressure on politicians in other countries;

Question two: If we are to lobby the USA and China from here in NZ, what is the most effective way to do so?

• Work with the United Nations;
• Put diplomatic pressure on both the US and China here and in the respective countries by supporting local NGOs in those countries;
• By linking in with existing groups doing this work e.g. Greenpeace and Avaaz – 350 Aotearoa is too small and poorly resourced to do a good job of this so should rather focus on what it does well than over-extend itself;
• Letter writing

Question three: Do you like the idea of a 'National Day of Community Action'? If you do, would you particpate/host an event? If not, what would you recommend we should focus on?

• If we do hold a “National Day of Community Action” we should focus on getting the local councils involved;
• Need to keep it fresh, new and have a similar level of intensity and originality as October 24th;
• Perhaps rather than another day of action, link up with the 10:10 campaign instead, or, link in with an existing day so that we don’t duplicate action and can spread the load more effectively;

Question four: Do you have a hot idea for an action that we can recommend to people?

• Donate trees for planting;
• Free cycle skills training session;
• Use it as an opportunity to link in with other groups e.g. Transition Towns;
• Mass cycle ride;
• ‘350’ pledge cards which list the small things people can do themselves and how it helps both them at personal level as well as at the macro level;
• School mufti-days to raise awareness about 350 in schools;
• Workshops and actions to restore the soil’s health;
• Make an “Aro Valley Community Carbon Reduction Centre”;
• Make displays to show at community festivals, concerts, craft markets, food events and schools;
• Make a New Zealand “Climate Action Coalition” including groups like Greenpeace, Oxfam, 350 Aotearoa, Christian Aid;
• A big conference / coming together of all the groups trying to bring social change in NZ;
• Collect litter in a local park / other public area;
• Hold a swap-meet to re-home unneeded items rather than sending them to landfill;
• Workshops on how to revitalise old furniture;
• Plant a community garden;
• A day to help neighbours set up gardens and then help other neighbours on later days;

Question five: Do you have ideas of how we could measure the change that we make? (ie the amount of CO2 emissions we've reduced)

• Numbers of participants;
• Get commitments from people on the day;
• Letters to the editor, articles in the media and politicians speeches;

Question six: Should the National Day of Community Action coincide with Arbor Day, Matariki or stand alone? If stand alone, when?

• Perhaps have it coincide with solstice;
• Support for Arbor Day – good opportunity to link with other existing groups;
• Good to coincide with existing days as there are heaps of international day’s of action;
•
Questions seven: Should 350 Aotearoa put energy into running a nationwide campaign to put climate change on the agenda at the local government elections in October?

• Yes x 5

Some quotes relating to questions seven:

“I think this [local council] is one area of government where responses to climate change have the potential to outpace that of national government.”

Focusing on the local body elections “… keeps the issue on the boil over a longer timeframe and we need local councils to act as they have some levers especially around transport and land use.”

“Absolutely. Local Government is severely underestimated. Our national government is slack at the moment, and so it's a good avenue which makes people feel like they can still make change at a time when national Government is telling us it's too hard. In Australia, local Governments have signed on 80% of the national population to emissions reduction pledges of more than 20%.”

General quotes:

“ … my point is that change needs to be happening now and I think the more we make this change happen in our communities the more we make cutting emissions the norm for society.”

“I fully support 350 and hope to work with the 350 bikers to raise the profile, but to get to the majority needs a real social marketing approach as well as government and corporate lobbying. Corporate lobbying can be very effective, e.g. Cadburys and the Palm oil issue, if companies think they will lose customers then often they will take action.”

“There’s heaps we could do to connect up all the people and groups that are working on climate change in NZ so we are more effective together.”

Comment by k8fairy on January 28, 2010 at 6:02pm

For targetting overseas I reckon a combo of targeting our politicians to put pressure on them and maybe directly targetting overseas with a letter writting campaign to supplement the National Day.

Comment by Jennifer Kerr on January 28, 2010 at 2:54pm

Q3 + Q6 A national day of community action sounds great and could be combined with arbour day if there isn't too much already happening on that day. It could include helping neighbours set up gardens and then helping other neighbours on later days.
Q7 I definitely think climate change should be on the agenda for the local government elections so a nationwide campaign is a great idea, plus local action as it is local voters who will have an impact.

Comment by Emily Harris on January 28, 2010 at 12:44pm

I think the National Day of Community Action is an absolutely fabulous idea, and I'd be keen to get behind it. There are so many things that people could get together and do. In addition to the ones you have already mentioned: collect litter in a local park/other public area, hold a swap-meet to re-home unneeded items rather than sending them to landfill, workshops on how to revitalise old furniture, plant a community garden...
In terms of dates, it's best to avoid clashing with any public holidays or major events if possible, to gain maximum participation.