Friday, 23 June 2006
SUNDAY, June 11, was the worst day of the year at Jindabyne, according to Bega Valley campaigner against climate change, Dr Matthew Nott. That was the day he and fellow Tathra campaigner, Mr Grant Prowse, swam six kilometres in Lake Jindabyne to draw attention to the dramatic changes being wrought by our overuse of fossil fuels to create energy. "The water temperature was 8 degrees, and the air temperature was 1 degree," Dr Nott said." There was a southerly gale blowing and there was snow falling."We were advised to abandon the swim because the weather was so bad but the idea was to draw attention to climate change so we went ahead." he said. Dr Nott and Mr Prowse were joined for half of the swim by 13-year-old Jesse Greenwood of Batemans Bay and by Ms Julie Mayo-Ramsey, an environmental lawyer from the Eurobodalla. "They retired after three kilometres because they were unable to go on," Dr Nott said.
"Grant and I would not have been able to continue if it had not been for the practical support of Dr Gabe Khouri and Tathra Surf Club member Ben Ellis in a boat and the moral support of a band of sea kayakers from Tathra. "We were very close to the end of our tether when we completed the six km swim." Dr Nott said they had chosen a distance of six km for the swim because "that is the thickness of the biosphere into which we pump seven billion tonnes of carbon each year". "Parents should be campaigning with passion and a great sense of urgency for clean air.
He said they group he had established since his first action in May of getting some 3,000 people to line up on Tathra Beach to spell out the words "Clean Air for Eternity" was taking its inspiration from Germany which has a renewable energy target of 100 per cent by 2050. "Currently 30 per cent of their energy is nuclear and they are planning to replace that with wind and solar power. "Australia should be absolutely embarrassed by that example since we have so much better resources." Dr Nott said.
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