It’s been 18 months. Since May 2019, there has been a climate striker at parliament for one day in every two. On most days there was a little band of people: sometimes only one, and sometimes thousands.
We stood in sunshine, and wind and rain. We shared food, and we went without it. We sang and talked and argued and hugged and made plans.
We kept going and we won’t stop now, because making a declaration is only the start. It has to be honoured.
Join us in the gallery on Wednesday from 2pm, as we witness the moment. You can make a booking by email
This Tuesday, 13th October will be the 100th day of constant vigils at the base of the Richard Seddon statue. Since Ollie began, 17 months ago, there have been strikers at parliament for one day in every two. That’s hundreds, perhaps thousands of conversations with the public about climate change, covering every opinion and point of view you can imagine.
The E Tu vigil will have its last day on Friday the 16th, the day before the election.
Of course, that is not the end of our little team. The weekly (12:30 to 13:30) gathering will continue and we’ll have some conversations about the next steps to take.
With that in mind, here are some to check out and get involved in:
Stop the Minerals Forum (13-14 October)
People are gathering in Hamilton this Monday to participate in this action. They plan to disrupt the Minerals Conference.
This is a coalition of climate justice and environmental groups around the Aotearoa dedicated to disrupting the conference.
“The main sponsor of this conference is Bathurst Resources, which is in the process of applying for consent to vastly increase a coal mine in Canterbury, despite having already breached a number of consents for its current mine. Fonterra and the dairy industry will be burning this coal, while they continue to claim their industry is sustainable, largely ignoring the obvious renewable alternatives. It’s time to stop digging up fossil fuels and make the switch,”
Talley’s deepwater fishing division bottom trawls the ocean, a practive that destroys thousands of tonnes of coral every year. These take centuries to grow and are vital habitats for marine life.
And ask around on Friday for the fliers. Activists have been helpfully adding this information to Talleys products.
#TellOnTalleys flier
Other ideas:
Between the Flags
Ice is melting faster than expect in Greenland and Antarctica. It’s pretty surreal to think that a fair amount of sea level rise is already locked in and that decisions made today can affect the timeframes and extent of that rise.
If there’s one thing weirder than the fact that this is happening, its that we’re not talking about it.
So lets try and share this surreal moment with the city. Between The Flags is the staging of Existential Life Guards, turning affected foot crossings into beaches.
Come to Parliament on Fridays or keep in touch with us to hear more about this action.
Dirty Laundry
People might imagine we’re making decent progress on climate change. We’re planting all those trees, we have a Zero Carbon Act and there was that Exploration Ban. But what if there’s some dirty laundry we haven’t seen?
Dirty Laundry exposes those stories using familiar items, letting people know that there are stains that can’t be removed with GreenWashing.
Polluting industries have us locked in fossil fuels in complex ways:
Legislation also forces the Minister for Energy to promote petroleum products.
It also prevents the Environmental Protection Agency from treating them as polluters.
Last year, our government opened massive areas inTaranaki up for exploration
2019 OfferEPA
Come and see us at parliament on Fridays to talk about the things you’d like to do about climate change,
We bade a very fond farewell to Rick Williment. Cheerful and engaged to the end, we saw his energy levels decrease while a vicarious interest in the breakfasts of others grew. He produced many moving and beautiful posts on the E Tū blog , and sent us this back to the Vigil the day after he finished:
Rick leaving parliament
Dear David! I’m thinking of you there today in the wild wet turbulence! I broke my fast with so much joy and relief yesterday afternoon. An apple. A dried apricot! And in the evening I had a plate of asparagus and beans and carrots and courgette even though they aren’t in season, and avocado with cashew nuts even though they aren’t local. And actually I wept again and strongly. For the relief of it being over, for the privilege of having such foods, for those who don’t. I don’t think I’m a sentimental person. My heart is very open to those on the front lines of these climate/industrial-addiction-fuelled catastrophes 🙏🏻 Deep gratitude to you David, and to Ollie before you, and to all your courageous hearts. Thank you to all of us for standing up. E Tū!!!Dear David!
David and Rick as Parliament
The man who started it all, David Goldsmith, has returned to carry the Vigil this week and plans to return again on the 5th of October to see us up to the election. Local strikers have planned to keep going for the 10 days in between, so the daily vigil continues.
Any day between now and the election you can join us at parliament to offer your support.
Tomorrow is huge: please make it if you can.
There are other demonstrations, information sessions and street actions in the works. Please keep an eye out for them and we’ll let you know when they are happening,
He needs to return to work this week, so it’s the end of the strike for Rick Williment. We’ve been lucky to have him: weekends under the tree, lots of thoughtful blog posts, and endless questions about what everyone had for lunch. His last day is Tuesday 22nd, so come by and say hi to him while he’s around.
Our friend Hiroshi Watanabe returns to Japan next week: this Friday (18th) will be his last day on the lawn. Thanks, Hiro for your calm and constant support, we’re really going to miss you.
Next week: Extinction Rebellion Roadshow comes to town.
The Election Roadshow, an initiative of Extinction Rebellion (XR) and supported by Aotearoa Climate Emergency, aims to put climate action on the agenda of the 2020 election. The Roadshow has the goals of promoting:
a declaration of a climate emergency,
a Citizens Assembly on climate, such as France and the UK have held this year, and
a green, sustainable, economic recovery from the pandemic.
Where to now for E Tū?
We’re not sure yet whether there will be another Hunger Striker before the election, how long the vigil will continue or whether it will remain at Parliament: there are a few conversations to be had yet to figure that out. It takes a group to keep this going, and it will depend on what everyone wants to do. Either way, the last 74 days of E Tū For Future have been an extraordinary and special time: we’ve captured interviews and images and stories, many of which you’ll find on the website.
Fridays will continue as usual and we’ll keep you posted when we know more.
Between those two periods are 46 Fridays, six of which were spent in lockdown.
Climate strikes have appeared on the Parliament lawn for nearly one day in two since May 2019. Sometimes there have been thousands of people, and sometimes only one or two. In this time we have had hundreds of conversations with hundreds of people; most of them supporting us and wanting to see change.
We talk about anything and everything. We know that conversations require an emotional investment and a willingness to listen, especially when we don’t agree. We don’t shy away from the shock or the grief of this moment. We are a public forum within the grounds of Parliament, where the facts are not in question. We know of no other.
Since we started the situation has gotten worse: no price signals for the highest emitters, exploration continues, laws drafted to prop up emitters remain unchallenged and industries that benefit are claiming the word ‘justice’ for their owners.
Misinformation is increasing, people are imagining that not only are more roads essential but that they might actually lower emissions. The tiny steps made by the highest emitters only serve to demonstrate how dangerous they are. And emissions continue to rise.
We know you are already working on this problem. We know there are many ways to do it. Your stories, and your presence, give us courage. We’d love to see you, especially this Friday.
This week saw the hunger strike role pass from Sue Boyde to Paul Nieman. This was a bit last-minute: Sue was experiencing some health issues and need to pull out, while Paul, who arrived that day to act as support, was keen to fill the space. Tim Musson was back in town for the week so he was able to help out during the day.
Paul will be with us until Thursday the 27, and on the following Monday Rick Williment will commence hunger striking.
Support for the next week.
We have some gaps in the Support Calender for the next week. I’ll check in with the regulars to confirm their times, but if you are interested in helping out please get in touch with us at admin@fridaysforfuture.nz, or drop by at parliament have a chat.
Short Film by Timon Zeiss
Flim-maker Timon came by to interview David when he was here. He sent up this amazing short piece. It was recorded on broadcast quality equipment so we would love to see it in the media.
The Dick Seddon Covid Tracer!
QR Code
In the last few weeks we’ve had to share the space with a few protestors who question the basic science around the pandemic. In order to make it absolutely clear that we support this government’s response to the pandemic, we thought it might be useful to attach a QR Code to King Dick while we’re with him.
So now you can install the app, and record your support of climate action at the same time!
A committed group last week included Jesse Richardson (running for the Wellington Central seat as in independent on on a climate action platform), Sophia Honey from Vic Roots and Shoots (with the ‘Climate Action Now’ sign) and Jessica Hammond (Ohairiu candidate for TOP.
Jessica Hammond talking with Molly
Hunger Strike: from Robin to Sue
This week saw a community spread case of COVID19 in Auckland, causing a switch to level 3 in Auckland and level 2 for the rest of the country. The Strike continues however; now with social distancing measures.
From today (August 13) Sue Boyde picks up the Hunger Strike with a plan to carry it for three weeks. Rick will pick it up from there.
Something you can do from home.
Aurelie Bray has a petition before Parliament for the recognition of a Non Proliferation Treaty for fossil fuels. You can sign it here:
The treaty recognises that fossil fuels are now a greater threat to humanity that nuclear weapons, and builds on the treaty that was used to address that threat. You can read more about it here:
The hunger strikers have a crew providing basic support but always welcome some supporters to help with talking to people about climate change and sharing information. Any weekday between 10 and 4 would be great. You can get in touch or indicate you’ll be around by joining the FaceBook event or the MeetUp group.
There is plenty of handout and information material, and the visitors are generally friendly and supportive. Sue and team would love to see you.
David Goldsmith completed his 21 day Hunger Strike last week. He handed the E Tū hunger strike blanket on to Robin Treadwell. She will take his place, striking for the next two weeks before Sue Boyde picks up the role.
It’s been an emotional and action packed few weeks. David’s presence has increased the numbers of visitors to the lawn, started hundreds of discussions with passers-by about the climate crisis, and spawned and attracted the media . Radio New Zealand marked the handover with this report.
Yellow Ribbon Wednesday
Robin has asked that we mark Wednesday at the lawn with this message:
Please would you publicise an invitation to anyone, especially parents & Grandparents, to join a ‘Stand up’ next Wednesday 5/8 lunch time 12-1, the last day Parliament is sitting. Yellow capes, clothes, ribbons welcome.
There is a lot of symbolism associated with yellow ribbons, from safe return of troops and hostages (perhaps we are all hostage to ‘Big Oil’s’ greed?), and most recently the yellow ribbon is being used as a symbol for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement as it has long been the official colour of many suffrage organisations, stemming from the women’s suffrage campaign in the US in the 1860s. I’m calling for enhanced or true and just democracy, where the rights of all people for a fair and liveable future take priority over profits for the few.
Personally, 5 August is my younger son Andrew’s birthday and the yellow ribbon or clothing is an emblem for suicide prevention, particularly for young people. I’m calling for government to act to give all our young people a liveable future; as Greta Thonberg says ” I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day, and then I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is.” Perhaps that’s a letter to the PM on Wednesday? Thanks. Robin
The last few weeks have been extraordinary. David Goldsmith is in the final week of his hunger strike. Robin Treadwell will be picking up in his place. There’s been media and video, and many, many conversations.
MPs Chloe Swarbrick, James Shaw, Marja Lubeck, and Jan Logie came to visit. Prof James Renwick joined us for a long talk about climate science and activism. Tim and David even joined the Alternative Aotearoa for a quick cameo.
You can catch up with E Tu 4 Future progress on their website. Lorraine recorded a bunch of discussions on the lawn, with David, Molly, Tim, and others. These will be showing up on the Imagine My Relief podcast.
This Friday:
Parliamentary Services got in touch and asked that we vacate the space around Dick Seddon for an hour while another protest action uses the space. We’re grateful to them for bending the rules to keep David comfortable thus far, and allowing us to de-colonise the statue for the last month.
So we’ll see you on the North end of the lawn (uphill side, near the church). Just look out for the flags.
This Sunday:
Picnic for Our Planet is a gathering on lawn to celebrate David’s last day without food. He’ll be around for another week, Robin will strike for a time in his place, and we’ll find a way to continue. It would be great to keep a presence there up to the election, but that will depend on who shows up to join in.
There’s so much to do!
You can drop by at parliament any time now to bring your support. If you’re from out of town, please get in touch. We’d love to join forces with you and share our mahi. We could even stream our events if we’re around at the same time.
All around us people are coming up with ideas and working on building a movement. Of course everything around us is uncertain and of course the odds seem impossible. But we are gathering, listening, learning, and sharing.
David’s presence has been a real source of inspiration to many of us. I can’t wait to share the conversations that have been recorded with him and other activists, especially the mighty Molly Meluish.
KeaForum is now up and running: this will be a shared placed for activists to work online; it also contains a syndicated feed of climate related organisations around the country.
Thanks to all the hardworking E Tu support people. I hope you can make it by to meet them.
The numbers are steadily growing again, back on the lawn. This is of course aided by the presence of E Tū for Future, the hunger strikers who are now well into their first week of fasting.
Supporting the E Tū strikers:
They have been fasting since Monday morning. As time goes on they will need more and more help with some of the physical bits and pieces: carrying gear, watching over and talking with the public, keeping spirits up, and recording stuff for social media.
Please think about volunteering to go on the E Tū WhatsApp group. This will enable the holder of the E Tū phone to send quick messages to you all to call out for assistance. It’s also an easy way for you to let them know when you’ll be around.
This would be a huge help. You can install WhatsApp on your phone or use it on the web. Please contact mailto:admin@etu4future.nz or reply to this email.
Getting involved when you’re out of town:
If you can’t make it to parliament but want to get involved we want to hear from you! There are loads of things we can do together to push for change:
you could have an event nearer to your home, on the days that suit you
you could attend at parliament by streaming
you could get an account on this site and add content, or contribute to the social media accounts
you could participate in international online events
