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Photo: Rodney Dekker/OxfamAUS

Rights and responsibilities of climate change

Politicians love to talk about individual rights and responsibilities – you have the right to welfare if you need it – you have the responsibility to get a job if you can – is the general sentiment of modern Australian governments – and the vast majority of us would say fair enough.

I believe that it is the same when it comes to climate change. I have the right to safe climate (as should we all).

I have the right to a government that will take action to protect this right.

And I have a right to an international political system that ensures the future of humanity by working together to deal with global problems.

In return I have a responsibility to reduce my personal emission levels by as much as possible, but perhaps more importantly …..

I have a responsibility to ensure that my voice is heard, by my family and friends, by my community, by my government and by the world.

It sounds difficult to do – all that effort in writing letters, finding email addresses, phone numbers and taking the time to actual put something together can be a real hassle, which is why we have written the letters and found the appropriate people to send it to.

All you have to do is follow this link – It is as easy as typing in your name and postcode – if you believe you have the right to a safe climate then perhaps it is your responsibility to take action….

Photo: Rodney Dekker/OxfamAUS from the exhibition Tides of Resilence

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