 |
|
|
Sisters on the Planet tackle climate change
Climate change affects all of us – women, men and children.
Whether its reduced rainfall in Australia and Uganda, increasingly severe cyclones in Bangladesh, or sea level rise and storm surges in the Pacific, we are all starting to feel the impact of climate change.
The challenges we face from climate change are so big, you could be forgiven for not knowing quite where to start. That is until now.
Oxfam Australia (a member of Make Poverty History) and Make Poverty History have released “Sisters on the Planet”.
Climate change is affecting us all but it’s impacting women the hardest – particularly those living in developing countries. But women are fighting back, often leading the response to the climate crisis in their communities.
Sisters on the Planet tells the unique stories of six women from very different parts of the world. They face unique challenges but together are finding solutions and bringing about change. Sisters on the Planet are stories of courage, tenacity and inspiration from a group of women who offer all of us hope in the face of increasingly bleak climate predictions.
Watch the Sisters on video
Watch the 3 in 1 summary video - contains 3 of the Sister's stories in a powerful compilation
Watch Helen's story - Helen (pictured above) is from Hamilton in regional Australia
Watch Ursala's story - Ursala is from the Carteret islands in the Pacific
Watch Sahena’s story – Bangladesh
Watch Martina’s story – Uganda
Watch Melissa’s story – Great Britain
Watch Muriel’s story – Brazil
^Top
Host your own Sisters on the Planet event
Host your own Sisters on the Planet (SOTP) event between 15-30 September. You will not just be spreading the word about how climate change is impacting women and poorer communities around the world, but will be showing the Australian Government that your community wants and needs stronger action on climate change in the lead up to the crucial UN climate change meeting in Bangkok in October.
“How do I go about it?” First, decide who you want to invite to your event. (This will help you decide where to have it too.) Perhaps it’s your neighbours, family, school children within your community, your work colleagues, or a community group you belong to?
Register your Sisters event
Host your own Sisters on the Planet (SOTP) event between 15-30 September.
To register your Sisters on the Planet event please email your details as below. We will also send you a registration pack including a Sisters on the Planet DVD, booklet, event posters, and more.
Be sure to register early to ensure your event pack arrives in time. We rely heavily on volunteer support to make this event work and we anticipate there will be hundreds of events around Australia. Registrations close 5pm Thursday 17 September.
Please enter the following details in an email to mph@acfid.asn.au
- Name
- Postal address for pack. (We will only send packs to events in Australia)
- Address for actual event
- Email
- Phone number
- Group affiliation (as relevant)
- Date & Time of intended event
- Public or Private event
Important things to note
Please note that Make Poverty History is heavily reliant on the tremendous work done by our Volunteer Team to send Sisters on the Planet (SOTP) event packs to those who register an event. This is a huge job. In planning your event please leave enough time for delivery of your pack. Event packs (including the SOTP DVDs and other materials) are generally received within ten working days of your registration. However, in peak times this can be longer. Particularly for those living in rural and remote parts of Australia.
In the event that your event pack is not received within this ten working day period, you can do one of two things: download some of the materials from our website and watch the SOTP video online.
Alternatively, you can hold your event in October. You can still make your voice heard then.
Encourage others to register too
Continued pressure on our government from the community is vital if we are to achieve a strong, fair and just agreement from the UN climate meeting in Copenhagen in December. Please encourage your networks to register their own SOTP event too.
Campaigning works. Thanks for taking action.
Download the Sisters on the Planet booklet
Full SOTP booklet (PDF: 2.1 MB)
SOTP Introduction (PDF: 227 KB)
Take action
Join Helen, Ursula, Sahena, Martina, Muriel and Melissa – we can all get involved.
1. Take Sisters to work: Organise a morning tea or lunchtime even at work. Share some food and share the Sisters DVD.
2. Get Sisters into school: If you’re a student or parent ask your school to show the Sisters. If you’re a teacher follow Melissa’s lead and design a lesson around Sisters and ask your student to write to their MP.
3. Roll cameras: Turn your mum, brother, your best friend or your sister into a Sister. Make a film showing how the people you know are changing their own lives. Send it our way and you cold end up inspiring others to act.
4. Stand for Parliament: Well, you could. Or if you’re too busy, you could ask your MP to use their next speech on climate change to explain why the poorest women are at greatest risk.
5. Wag tongues: Organise a local event to show the DVD and talk about Sisters. Invite lots of people who know people! That might mean the mayor, local journalists and business leaders, or it might mean Pete in the sandwich shop and your next door neighbour.
6. Green your work: Once you’ve shown the DVD at work, set about reducing your workplace’s carbon footprint. Say yes to recycling, bikes, public transport and turning off lights.
7. MOST IMPORTANTLY: If you like what you see, arrange to show the Sisters films to as many people as you can fit around your telly. Share the DVD with friends and get them to do likewise.
Other things you can do right now
As a supporter of Make Poverty History you can take action by writing to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong.
|
|