World Environment Day, June 5, was marked by marches, rallies, and festivals in Australia's major cities. Nationally more than 1000 young people, including large numbers of high school students, mobilised to highlight their concerns, both global and local, and to demand an ecologically sustainable future.
A spirited march and rally took place in Adelaide on Saturday, reports Trish Corcoran. 300 people marched through the streets chanting "One people, one planet, one struggle", "Stop the bridge to Hindmarsh Island — land rights now!" and "Export Keating, not uranium".
The crowd was addressed by Fabienne Bayet, on behalf of the Environmental Youth Alliance, who called on people to organise themselves to campaign on environmental issues.
Davey Thomason, from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Engineering Union, explained the history of green bans and how the union movement can contribute to environmental campaigns. The CFMEU has been centrally involved in stopping the construction of the bridge to Hindmarsh Island. The project is opposed both for environmental reasons and because it would interfere with an Aboriginal burial ground and other sites sacred to the Ngarrindjeri people.
Other speakers included Tully Bates from Resistance, Paul Dowden from Urban Ecology and Sarah Milera representing the Ngarrindjeri nation.
Tully Bates, one of the organisers, said, "We are very happy with the turnout today. Adelaide took up the national theme — Young people and communities demand environmental justice — and there was a wide representation from many different communities. The majority of the demonstrators were young, and there were many people from the Aboriginal community, as well as activists from unions, women's organisations and many environmental groups."
After the rally and march, the demonstrators headed down to the Festival Centre for an eco-fair.
Wollongong drew an enthusiastic crowd of 300, rallying to the theme "save our coastline". The June 5 activities were organised by a committee of community activists, students and representatives of environmental groups. Speakers included Marie Petersen from the Shellharbour Beach Preservation Group, Sarah Harris from Resistance and union organiser Andrew Wiley from FIMEE/AWU.
Harris spoke of the need for a global environment movement to achieve fundamental change, and emphasised the importance of democratic decision making. Wiley made the point that it was time to lay to rest the myth that jobs and the environment are counterposed.
Danielle Buhagiar reports from Sydney that 250 young people marched on June 4. The rally, organised by Environmental Youth Alliance and Resistance, focused on public transport, forests and water pollution.
The lively contingent marched from Hyde Park to Circular Quay, chanting "People not profits — livable cities now", "Streets for people — not for cars" and "The only solution — stop pollution". The rally was addressed by speakers from EYA, Resistance and the Surf Riders Association.
Rosemary Evans from EYA demanded an increase and upgrading of public transport to combat unacceptable levels of air pollution, road fatalities and global warming caused by the reliance on cars. Resistance spokesperson Ali Whitfield discussed the need to link environmental issues with the struggle for social justice, arguing that the solution to these problems would come through greater awareness and activism.
At the end of the rally participants moved to the Harbourside Brasserie for a benefit concert where they were treated to 12 hours of live music from a range of bands.
In Melbourne, 250 people held a lively rally in the City Square on June 4, report Marce Cameron and Robert Hodge. Speakers highlighted the need for better public transport and criticised the planned Grand Prix circuit at Albert Park. Everybody was invited to sign an "unhappy birthday" card to the World Bank, highlighting the 50 years of social and environmental destruction brought about by its activities and policies.
Speakers from EYA and Resistance also emphasised the importance of young people becoming involved with these issues and the need to work together to save the environment.
Sarah Stephen in Hobart reports that 100 people braved rain and cold on Saturday to hold a spirited rally on Parliament House lawns. The rally, organised by Resistance, the Wilderness Society and the Environmental Youth Alliance, highlighted the issues of ocean dumping of toxic waste and pollution of the Derwent River.
The significance of demands to protect aquatic ecosystems was reportedly not lost on the lunchtime clientele of the harbourside Muir's Fish Restaurant who watched the march pass by.
In Perth 100 people braved wet conditions to attend the June 4 rally and march in the city centre, organised by EYA and Resistance. The rally was addressed by Jacqui Svenson from the Wilderness Society, James Duggie from the West Australian Forest Alliance, and Nick Sloane from the Environmental Youth Alliance.
The theme for the day, "Stop the logging", referred to both the "boycott Mitsubishi campaign" and proposals to log heritage-listed old growth forest in Western Australia's south-west.
On Wednesday at the University of Queensland a receptive crowd of 100 attended a World Environment Day celebration organised by Environmental Youth Alliance and the UQ Union Environment Collective. There were speakers on current environmental issues, information stalls and a banner painting. The Brisbane bands Pale and The Belladonnas kindly donated their time to play.
In Brisbane a rally was held in King George Square on Sunday, at which more than 300 people heard from Drew Hutton of the Queensland Greens, Philippa Stanford from Resistance, Bernard Wunsch from EYA and Susan Price from the Democratic Socialist Party.
Hutton said it was time for Premier Wayne Goss to take heed of the green movement. Price said World Environment Day was a day for people to make the decision to take action towards an environmentally sustainable and socially just society.
At the end of the rally, participants moved on to an eco-festival at the botanical gardens.