Guardian readers were among hundreds of thousands of people rallying against climate change in Australia and New Zealand over the weekend as part of a global campaign. They share their experiences of the marches
Guardian readers were among hundreds of thousands of people marching against climate change in Australia and New Zealand over the weekend as part of a global campaign to move away from the use of fossil fuels.
Protests were held in Melbourne on Friday, and in Darwin, Brisbane and across New Zealand on Saturday, followed by Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth.
Related: Climate change protests across Australia – tens of thousands march
On Friday, November 27, 2015, Australia’s biggest ever climate action rally took place with 60,000 people taking to the street demanding urgent, serious action on climate change at the Paris Summit.
All ages and types of people came together in a peaceful, fun, creative protest demanding their voices be heard, though much of mainstream Australian media ignored or underplayed the event.
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By Jodi Magi
28 November 2015, 12:17
Sign at Melbourne climate rally.
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By jillfavero
29 November 2015, 0:11
Pacific islands at risk of rising sea levels.
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By jillfavero
29 November 2015, 0:03
On Nov 27th, the first of the #Peoplesclimate marches organised around the planet this weekend happened in Melbourne where 60,000 people gathered to speak with their feet demanding serious action on climate change in Paris next week.
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By Jodi Magi
28 November 2015, 12:00
Related: Victorians take to the streets to demand urgent action on climate change
On the evening of Saturday 28 November, over 500 people marched in sweltering heat and humidity across Darwin’s upmarket Waterfront to call for an immediate shift away from fossil fuels toward a 100% renewable energy future. The Northern Territory currently has no Renewable Energy Target in place and no plans to cut climate pollution or adapt to climate change, despite being a hotspot for solar energy. The Territory is currently experiencing a 7.1mm sea level rise each year, causing rapidly increasing saltwater intrusion of freshwater wetlands, flooding and coastal erosion without efforts to reverse climate change.
Photo: Lisa McTiernan Photographer
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30 November 2015, 1:28
It was hot and humid, but that didn’t stop the march of 5000 people from around Brisbane, lead by communities of Pacific Islander nations to show our demand for climate action and climate justice.
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29 November 2015, 0:22
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By tdambra
29 November 2015, 12:55
‘2C is too warm’ – Pacific Islanders and nations immediately affected by climate change lead the parade down Macquarie St Sydney
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29 November 2015, 18:37
Pacific island nations came out in force at the Sydney Climate Change March. Many are living with the effects of climate change with some smaller islands like Tuvalu and Kiribati threatened by rising sea levels and storm surges
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30 November 2015, 7:44
One part of a coral reef marching in the Sydney Climate March
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30 November 2015, 0:03
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By Petah Martin
29 November 2015, 16:54
After sharing their concerns with the Lord Mayor, Councillors and local Parliamentarians, the crowd of 300 Wollongong residents marched up the main street of Wollongong right up to the station to catch a specially scheduled Sustainable Train to join the massive Sydney People’s Climate March.
The chant that developed along the way was “NO MORE FOSSIL FUELS, BRING ON RENEW-ABLES"
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29 November 2015, 12:03
Students from Presbyterian Ladies College with the banner they’ll use to lead the youth contingent at the Perth march later today.
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By JohnMcCarten
29 November 2015, 14:11
4000 people rally to hear a farmer, firefighter, faith leader, wildlife crusader and Tasmanian Aboriginal speaker, all calling for climate action.
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By vicabayley
29 November 2015, 18:15
4000 people rally to hear a farmer, firefighter, faith leader and Tasmanian Aboriginal speaker, all calling for climate action
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By vicabayley
29 November 2015, 17:37
Catholic protesters in front of the New Zealand parliament (the beehive), with words from Pope Francis: "hear the cry of the earth, and the cry of the poor"
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By julesnzim
28 November 2015, 20:42
More than 7000 people protest in Wellington in advance of Cop21.
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By julesnzim
28 November 2015, 20:48
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By zarch
29 November 2015, 3:16
One of several well crafted symbols on the march, which heard from the city’s mayor, Chair of Regional Council and Green MP, Denise Roche.
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By John Lawson
29 November 2015, 16:23
Thousands of people from around New Zealand joined the climate march on Saturday – in Auckland, we hit 15,000 people. There were unionists, faith leaders, health professionals, students, NGOs, and of course, the Green Party
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28 November 2015, 12:55
The media are saying about 2,000 people attended but we believe there were far more than that. Great energy and diversity. Past time that governments listen to their citizens on this vital issue.
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By Debora Lee
28 November 2015, 16:36
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By Dagenhamite
28 November 2015, 12:36
300 or so Golden Bay citizens marched up ( and then back down) our small main street to voice our concern about Climate Change …to a Govt that so far isn’t taking much notice
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By Aroha88
29 November 2015, 18:06
In the tiny Northland town of Rawene, 65+ marched to demand action on Climate Change. Failure will result in coastal towns around the world being swallowed by the sea within the next 85 years.
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29 November 2015, 6:26
Kaitiakitanga haka being performed at the Whanganui People’s Climate Change March in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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By wigfield
28 November 2015, 13:21
Related: Protesters gather around the world for a strong climate change deal
Young and not so young together to support the climate
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By Flamhit
29 November 2015, 17:30