What are you up to this weekend?

I’m going to visit my family, but while I’m there I’m also going to join the people’s climate march. No matter where you are in New Zealand, there will be a people’s climate march happening in a town near you.  You can see which of the 34 events is closest to you here; http://www.peoplesclimatemarch.org.nz/

Just like so many of us around the country, people working in the health sector care deeply about the future of their communities. After all, your work is already uniquely tied to the well-being of others. I’m often struck that nurses say their relationships with other people are the heart of why they chose a caring profession. When we march this weekend, we’re asking for everyone to have a safe place to live, enough food to eat, and secure incomes. These are, of course, all building blocks of good health.

The World Health Organisation has said that climate change is the ‘greatest threat to human health this century’, and that combating it is part of our ‘duty of care’. A while ago I wrote a horror-story blog of the ‘best-case scenario’ if we do nothing to stop climate change now. I also believe that climate change gives us a massive opportunity to build a better world.

In New Zealand, we are so lucky to have clean water and air, and the freedom to march safe from terror or oppression. This is a freedom that has been ripped away from people in other countries. But we also need more safe places to walk and cycle, warm dry houses, flexible hours in secure jobs, healthy local food that’s affordable for our families, less time commuting and more time with the people we love. To reduce climate change, we’re asking for things we all like!

We also need to show the Government that we’re serious about acting on a climate plan now. That’s why we’d really like to see you this weekend, standing up for the precious people and places you love. Can you join us?

RSVP at the website, and send me an email to let me know- jennl@nzno.org.nz

See you soon,

Jenn Lawless

Campaigns Adviser for NZNO