Graduate Environmental Program

THE BIG MELT – CLIMATE JUSTICE TOUR AUGUST 10-18

Find out about climate change in the ‘roof of the world’ and what it means for Australia and Asia.

Hear Pemba Dorje Sherpa, holder of the world record for the fastest climb of Mount Everest, talk about his experience of global warming in the Himalayas. He is joined by environmental lawyer and activist Prakash Sharma, Pro Public Nepal.

Global warming is already having a big impact on Mount Everest and the Himalayas. Glaciers are melting creating floods and danger for the local people. But the big melt also means a big dry as these ‘water towers’ of Asia lose their capacity to provide water to the giant rivers in the summer months. Eventually rivers like the Ganges in India and the Yellow River in China will lose their dry season flow and the billion people in these river basins will lose their water security.

In the lead up to Copenhagen, the tour will also examine how a global climate action can be developed that will prevent the big melt in the Himalayas and halt global warming.

The tour will coincide with the release of a new Friends of the Earth report: High Stakes – Climate change, the Himalayas, Asia and Australia released 11 Aug 2009.

Canberra Tuesday August 11
6.30 PM – 8.00 PM Johnson Auditorium Pilgrim House Conference Centre
69 Northbourne Ave Canberra

Sydney Thursday August 13 6.30 – 8.00 PM
Mitchell Theatre Sydney Mechanics School of Arts
280 Pitt Street Sydney

Wollongong Friday August 14 6.30 – 8.00 PM
University of Wollongong   Venue TBC : check website for details

Brisbane   Sunday, August 16, 2009 4.30 PM – 6.30 PM    Function Room Wesley House
140 Ann St (behind the Albert St Uniting Church)
Brisbane

Melbourne   Monday, August 17, 2009 – Note Date Correction

Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library of Victoria 328 Swanston St (Use Entry 3, La Trobe Street)Pemba and Prakash will be joined by Darrell Wade, Intrepid Foundation and Damien Lawson, National Climate Justice Coordinator, Friends of the Earth.

The tour is hosted by Friends of the Earth Australia, with the support of The Intrepid Foundation, the Uniting Church in Australia – Synod of Victoria & Tasmania and Australian Ethical. For more information contact: Damien Lawson 03 9419 8700 or
www.thebigmelt.org