Spreading a climate of change
Mordi shopping parking changes
Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au
PARKING changes have been made to the Beach side of Mordialloc’s Main St from Centreway. All timed restrictions still apply, but are now enforced over a sevenday period from 8am-6pm instead of just Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings. The new restrictions apply to stop drivers parking all day at the shopping precinct on a Sunday and Saturday. Kingston Council decided to make the parking changes since many shops and businesses are now open over a seven-day period so parking needs to be available for customers.
FORMER prime minister Kevin Rudd called it “the greatest moral, economic and social challenge of our time” but failed to meet the challenge, avoiding the reality of dealing with climate change for political reasons. However, tackling climate change is something five local climate reality ambassadors are determined to achieve, both by their day-to-day actions in living a sustainable lifestyle and by spreading the word that time is fast running out for governments to act to make a real difference before it is too late. Former Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Reade Smith, South East Councils Climate Change Alliance excutive officer Greg Hunt (not the federal environment minister and Flinders MP), wildlife conservationist Sarah Beebe and associate nurse manager Sharon Kellett have signed up to join a green army with a difference: the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. The four attended an extensive training session last month presented by former US vice-president Al Gore in Melbourne. Mr Gore narrated the 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth which brought the dangers the world faces from climate change to widespread attention. He has dedicated his post-political life to lobbying governments around the world to reduce carbon emissions to tackle climate change. The four climate reality ambassadors are available to give presentations on how a sustainable future can still be attained by making a global shift from
dirty fossil fuels to clean, renewable energies like solar and wind. Ms Kellett, a 51-year-old mother of three, said she took governments’ inaction on climate change “personally.” “As a mother I make no apology in taking this very personally,” she said. “If it is the business of future generations, then it is my business too.” “The training we received with the Climate Reality Project was anything but doomsday. It informed us regarding the many ways that we can address climate change, both as global humanity and as Australians.” Mr Hunt is less than impressed with ‘the other’ Greg Hunt’s efforts as environment minister in the Abbott government. Mr Hunt is less than impressed with ‘the other’ Greg Hunt’s efforts as environment minister in the Abbott government. He said political compromises had stopped Australia leading the way in replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. “I’m always a bit disappointed in the lack of action from the federal government,” he said. He criticised minister Hunt’s direct action policy as “ineffective” and said Australia’s carbon price “which had been working” had been axed for “political reasons”. “Now it’s gone it’ll take a lot more work to get it back up again.” Mr Hunt said many Australians tended to have a “parochial view” on climate change and perhaps weren’t aware of the havoc being wrecked elsewhere in the world, such as the
Ladies Winter Boots
40% OFF (as selected)
Ladies Leather Shoes were up to $120 NOW $40 (as selected)
See instore for further great discounts!
Selected shoes from $30
Alegria Clearance Selected styles & colours st
Were $149
NOW from $99.95
esent this coupon
Pr
FOR 15% OFF ted items.
eady discoun des sale and alr
Exclu
Flock to film Looking to future: Reade Smith, left, Greg Hunt, Sarah Beebe and Sharon Kellett have joined the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. Picture: Yanni
floods in Europe, due to the devastating effects of climate change. He said the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training conducted by Mr Gore was “invaluable” and would help him spread the message that people had to now force their elected representatives to do something to lower harmful carbon emissions. Mr Smith is no stranger to politics. The Tyabb resident stood against Flinders MP Greg Hunt in the 2010 federal election for Family First and directed preferences to the environment minister. “I don’t feel good about that anymore,” he told The News. “As far as I’m concerned, Mr Hunt has shown himself to be more a minister of mining than an environment minister.”
ASPENDALE Gardens Community Centre is hosting its first ever Indoor Family Movie Night on Saturday 9 August. The screening of the fun family film Rio 2 will raise funds for the redevelopment of preschool playgrounds and community gathering spaces. Tickets are $8 or $30 for a family of four and are available to buy at the centre or on the night. Doors open 5.30pm. Movie starts 6.15pm. See www.agcsinc.org.au or call 9587 5955 for further information.
The former Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor said he had always had an interest in combatting climate change and applied to attend Mr Gore’s Melbourne training session to further his knowledge and help spread the message that time is rapidly running out to take positive action. Mr Smith quit Family First because the party did not recognise climate change was human induced. He will stand as a candidate for Flinders for the newly formed Mutual Party at November’s state election. Organisations can book climate reality ambassadors to present a talk on “the reality of climate change”. Visit www.climaterealityproject.org to book a presentation.
THE MASSIVE
WINTER
SHOE SALE
HURRY LAST DAYS
Author? Author! Visit www.kingstonlibraries.net to keep up to date with details of author visits to Kingston libraries. Bookings essential. Children’s author Terry Denton among those appearing soon.
Reiker Shoes
Were up to $200 200 0 0 Debutante, NOW $120 (as selected)
Selected Childrens shoes & boots
1/2 price
Bridal & After 5 Clearance from $25 (as selected)
Selected Reiker Mens shoes
Were $210 Winter Ladies Largerr NOW $150 Sizes 11-14 NOW 25% off Mens Slatters Monza & Revenge shoes
Were $129 NOW $80
FREE Parking at BAYSIDE SHOE WAREHOUSE 103 Railway Parade, SEAFORD (cnr Clovelly Pde) PH 9785 1887 www.baysideshoewarehouse.com.au email: baysideshoewarehouse@gmail.com Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 6 August 2014
PAGE 5