Voice joins climate change debate A FORMER John Paul College and Frankston Chisholm VCE student has been offered a place at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – COP21 – in Paris later this year. Madelin Orr, 19, is one of four Australian recipients of a fully-funded scholarship from Global Voices, thanks to sponsorship from her university. “I am an external first year Bachelor of Laws student at Central Queensland University and have been granted the opportunity to represent not only Global Voices and my university – but also Australia and Frankston – as a delegate on the ground at COP21,” she said. Ms Orr is undertaking a research fellowship on gender specific adaptation policies in climate change and will be writing an opinion piece while staying in Paris. “Climate change affects women much more than men,” she said. “More often than not, especially in the developing world, women bear the brunt of climate change more than men. “By involving women in policy making, first-hand accounts of the devastation of climate change can be used to represent the feminist perspective and implement strategies used by women on a daily basis. “This would include their knowledge of coping strategies used to ensure the availability of food production, household water supply and energy use, which will strengthen international negotiations regarding adaptation in climate change.” The COP21 climate change confer-
French connection: Student Madelin Orr will attend a United Nations climate change conference in Paris in November. Picture: Gary Sissons
ence – the21st conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – runs 30 November-11 December. The conferences provide an annual platform for governments to forge policy solutions to global climate change. This year, for the first time, world leaders will come together with scientific experts and high-level environmental policymakers to create binding international legislation on climate, sustainability and clean energy. “Attending this conference will allow me to sink my teeth into the debate on climate change,” Ms Orr said. “It will assist in my knowledge of key issues regarding the role gender has to play in the practice of adaptation in a climate-based setting which I intend to address on the international stage in Paris.”
In preparation for COP21, Ms Orr joined her fellow Global Voices delegates in Canberra to meet politicians on both sides of politics to hear their views on climate change. “The meetings were open conversations with MPs where we could ask questions on anything that came to mind, but, obviously, each delegate focused their questions on the delegations they are attending,” she said. “I asked questions in relation to gender specific adaptation in climate change. Julie Bishop offered insight into the involvement of women in climate change policy making and areas in which I should pinpoint my research. “We also met with members of the US Embassy, DFAT and economic advisors.” Stephen Taylor
Driver dials wrong number A MOTORIST pulled over for talking on his mobile phone “really fired up” before being involved in a scuffle with Highway Patrol police in Frankston, Wednesday morning. Senior Constable Darren Morgan, and Leading Senior Constable Darren Myers, of Frankston Highway Patrol, intercepted the Frankston man, 45, during a police operation in Playne St. They allege the man was talking on his mobile phone while driving and called to him to get off it. “He then gave us the finger”, Senior Constable Darren Morgan said. “We pulled him over and gave him a breath test and he returned a huge reading and it was only 11 o’clock in the morning. “He was really arcing up and we were nose to nose on the road with cars having to drive around us, and then we took him to the station and gave him a full blood test and he recorded 0.207 per cent.” When leaving the station, in Fletcher Rd, police allege the man used indecent language in the foyer. This has
added to his list of pending charges. Senior Constable Morgan said police were waiting for a tow truck when the man returned to the scene, picked up a metal Barry Plant real estate sign and threatened them. “He was going to smash the car open to get some things but we blocked his path,” he said. “He was really fired up at this stage and there was a bit of a scuffle. I almost sprayed him; he was an angry drunk.” The police disarmed the man and arrested him for being drunk in a public place. Under new impound laws police have the power to retain vehicles – with this owner liable to fees for towing and storage of $1068. He will appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court early in the New Year charged with resisting arrest, being drunk in a public place, and using offensive language. His licence has been suspended indefinitely with the magistrate to determine the length of the ban. His car has been impounded for a month.
Man sought over assault DETECTIVES are hoping to interview a man, pictured, in relation to an assault outside Davey’s Nightclub, Davey St, Frankston, 1.50am, Sunday 12 July. Detective Senior Constable Richard Brown, of Frankston CIU, said words were exchanged between two men before a 33-year-old man, of Noble Park, was allegedly punched in the face. He was treated at Dandenong hospital next day for a fractured eye socket and broken nose. The man police are hoping to speak with is described as Caucasian, 30 years old, short brown hair, wearing a black jumper, khaki pants and casual shoes.
Frankston Times 21 September 2015
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