Extinction Rebellion (XR) activist Andrew Sutherland and Aotearoa Climate Emergency founding member Phil Saxby are joining forces to form the South Island contingent of the XR Election Roadshow for Climate.
Andrew and Phil will start their 11-day journey from Bluff on Monday 14 September, and wind their way up the South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) via most of the main centres to arrive in Wellington on Friday 25 September, where they’ll link up with their counterparts from the North Island outside Parliament.
As a lifelong environmental activist and father of three, Andrew believes that the climate emergency is the most important issue that humanity currently faces.
“I’ve spent most of my life trying to make a positive difference to the environment – everything from starting a Greenpeace branch to recycling initiatives,” says Andrew. “But everything that I’ve worked for will pale into insignificance if we don’t start acting with real urgency on climate change.”
Phil, who has worked for many years in the health sector and was one of the founders of the Electoral Reform Coalition, has similar concerns.
“We have known about global warming for decades, but most countries have not been willing to redirect their economies into a sustainable, low-carbon future,” says Phil. “We can’t change the world, but we can set a good example in the South Pacific by decarbonising our economy as fast as practicable. It won’t be easy unless we can foster a general public consensus on climate policy – for example, by holding a Citizens’ Assembly on climate, as France has done this year.”
As the roadshow travels the country, it will focus on giving local voters feedback on where various parliamentary candidates stand on the issues of the climate and ecological emergency. The roadshow will also be promoting a sustainable economic recovery from Covid-19, as well as the need to institute a Citizens’ Assembly that honours the unique knowledge and role of Māori as tangata whenua through meaningful partnership, to give the NZ public a voice in responding to the climate emergency.
The North Island Roadshow crew will start from Cape Reinga at the same time (September 14). Their rendezvous in Wellington will coincide with an International Day of Action on climate change.
