Aussies march for climate change action

In noisy and colourful marches across Australia, thousands have demanded urgent
action on climate change, adding their voices to protests held throughout the world.
The protests on Saturday coincided with the United Nations climate change conference
in Copenhagen, which is entering its second week.
In Sydney, thousands walked from Martin Place to the Royal Botanic Gardens, calling
for governments to come to an agreement on climate change at Copenhagen.
Max Phillips, one of the organisers, said the march was a way of showing world
leaders how deeply concerned Australians were about climate change.
"What we're about today is for ordinary Australians to be heard at Copenhagen," he
said.
"We're here to send a message to Copenhagen that we want action on climate change."
Similar marches were being held on Saturday across the country and the world, he said.
A giant banner bearing the image of a thermometer was unveiled at an event in
Newcastle.
In central Melbourne, protesters waving a sea of flags and banners marched down
Swanston Street.
Walk Against Warming organiser Tricia Phelan said the next few days were vital in
reminding politicians gathered in Copenhagen that Australians want action on climate
change.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Parliament House in Canberra.
Accompanied by a pair of stilt walkers, the crowd congregated on the Parliament
House lawns, blowing whistles, waving placards and chanting slogans calling for a
stop to global warming.
In Brisbane, several thousand people carrying placards marched peacefully in steamy
conditions through Southbank and across the Kurilpa foot bridge, ending with a rock
concert in King George Square.
In the gathering was former Australian Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett carrying a
Greens placard.
Mr Bartlett, who will stand for the Greens in the seat of Brisbane at the next
federal election, said the Liberal Party stoush had served climate change well as it
had made the public take more notice of the issue.
"There's no doubt the Rudd government put their CPRS (Carbon Pollution Reduction
Scheme) out there and sat back and watched the Libs fight about it rather than sell
the case," he told AAP.
"It's put it back on the agenda in an election year.
"Climate change will be a pivotal issue."