On the Waterfront and The Front Lawn

Fridays for Future at the Great Big Waterfront Clean-up 28 Jan 2022

On Friday 28 January a break-away group from Fridays for Future signed up to the Great Big Waterfront Clean-up (organised by Museum of Wellington and Sustainable Coastlines).

Inorganic rubbish that is not disposed of properly (into a rubbish bag that is taken to the dump) often ends up in our seas, rivers, streams etc, and then either inside bird/fish stomachs or around their necks.

Armed with garden gloves, plus-size rubbish sacks and specially made “Fridays for Future” flaglets, we followed the instruction to go forth and pick up litter.

Earlier groups of rubbish retrievers had already gone ahead and filled their sacks with the big stuff. We got the low-lying junk clinging to bushes and hiding under piles of leaves – bits of polystyrene, cigarette butts galore, bottle caps, chocolate bar wrappers, clingfilm, unidentified bits of hard plastic, and a cute anxiety ring (that I will take home to clean and wear). All that squatting was quite the inner-thigh workout!

Early arrivals waiting for the rest of the group.

In the meantime, our presence on the Parliament Lawn continued as usual…

Holding the fort at the Parliament Lawn

I will leave you with a photo from the previous Friday, when an impressive family group visiting Wellington for the day joined us to show their support. It is always great to talk to – and pose with – anyone dropping by.

21 Jan 2022 – Joined by members of a Tongan family reunion

Have your say on the political donation rules

The Ministry of Justice wants to hear your views about possible changes to the political donation rules in the Electoral Act 1993.

For example:

Should there be a cap on how much someone can donate to a political party?

Should political parties have to identify donors for donations less than $15,000?

Should businesses be able to donate?

More details are on the Ministry of Justice website.

Consultation is open until Tuesday, 25 January 2022.

In tthe meantime, we’ll be on the Parliament Lawn every Friday!

Fridays for Future joins The Great Big Wellington Waterfront Clean-up 2022

On Friday 28 January, the Fridays for Future group is helping to clean up the Wellington waterfront. It will be a great way to get out in the community and raise our profile – and do something practical at the same time!

The clean-up is organised by the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, through Sustainable Coastlines.

Specifics:

  • Friday 28 January 2022
  • 12 noon – 2pm
  • Meet at Wellington Museum (3 Jervois Quay, Wellington)

You will need your Vaccine Pass. Children under 12 years old need to be accompanied by an adult.

Wear close-toed shoes and dress for sun/rain protection. Bring your own filled drink bottle. Gloves are provided, but if you have your own, please bring them.

You don’t have to be there for the whole two hours, but it’s best to get there for at least the first half hour, for the health and safety briefing.

Note: if you would prefer to protest on the Parliament Lawn on Friday 28 Jan, that’s fine too. Some Fridays for Future protesters will be at the Parliament Lawn 12.30 – 1.30 as usual.

Now it’s summer we are protesting on the actual grass