The last few weeks have become a bit of a blur - after settling into a place for a few days in Sarajevo, I hit the road about a week and a half ago to spend some time with family and go down to the beautiful Dalmatian coast of Croatia. It was magnificant, with it's clear, warm waters and beautiful cliffs, vegetation, fauna and smiling happy people. I had a really great time.
I was on the island of Brac, which is a 50 minute ferry ride south of Split for those that know their geography. My cousin Marijana and I stayed in a student dorm in a small town on the island called Pucisce. This town hasn't really been hit by tourist stampeads yet so it was pretty quiet, and we got a taste of the normal lifestyle that goes on among the locals. So no Euro-Turbofolk night clubbing, but one has to cut their losses when under such extreme circumstances.
We seriously struck gold.
The place we were in was in line with a 4-star hotel and had a room to ourselves, breakfast and dinner every day, our own bathroom and fridge space, and across the road from one of the best swimming spots in town...all for the price of a typical night in a Split hostel. I got a bit of a tan!
We also visited the other side of the island - a town called Bol, which has the most famous beach on the island (pictured above). It really is something else! I couldn't quite believe the beauty of it all and that I was there. I missed out on snorkelling and other water sports though, due to lack of planning this time, but we spent all day lounging on the beach and swimming.
In among all of this pristine beauty and amazing landscape, I also found out about Julia Gillard's climate policy and her inability to recognise the public's cries for action. Talk about a sinker.
From the snippets of media releases I've read and Julia Gillard's speech for the election anouncement, Australian politics seems to be lagging, still. Australia may have an Environmental Protection Authority, recycling (though off-shore half the time!), world class water treatment, and other environmental policies, we seem to be lagging in terms of climate action just as much as Bosnia - which lacks all of the above.
It's not fair that Australia's young generation that is now entering the workforce and influential voting basket is not getting what it was promised - firmer action on climate change.
I happily voted for K-Rudd and labour in 2007, and nervously crossed my fingers in front of a friend's TV as I followed the election. I cheered and hoo-rahed as he won more and more votes. I breathed a sigh of relief when I thought 'now my thoughts and actions may actually come to fruition'. But I was fooled - by a government made up of politicians that are led around Canberra by the mining and coal lobbyists.
Labour is on a leash. It's complicated, simply put.
The environmental movement in Australia, and in fact around the world, is campaigning and fighting for social, political, financial, environmental, economic and moral reasons. Never, ever have we all had to fight for all of these things at the same time. All previous social movements have had one focus - for example the Feminist Revolution, the Gay Rights movement, Carson's fight against DDT and other atmospheric pollutants - all one major focus.
Climate change literally changes everything.
Our tiny global village that we've created is struggling - we've bitten off more than we can chew and now the people and it's government are squirming.
Australia's mining industry has significant leverage and good reason to fight. It's our bread and butter, and it has been for many terms for many governments. It's made Australia competitive on the global market, and raised/maintained our standard of living - Australia really is a superior country to live and love. Am I wrong?
BUT.
For how long can we sustain this way of life if our north, south, east and west coasts all suffer major climatic shifts in the next 10 years? Where's that outlook Ms. Gillard? How will we 'create a better future, together' if together by your definition excludes generation X and Y - who have voiced in numerous ways that they want action. Remember the election in 2007 when you got a bit of a pay rise and a better job? Remember we voted you in because your government outlined a better approach and more desirable outlook on life in 2020-2050?
I'm not going to spend time looking for quotes from IPCC reports, and other scientific proof that climate change is in fact happening now - it's a waste of time. Everyone knows that climate change is happening, everywhere around the world. Get a grip, Ms Gillard. You have fucking consensus.
My 72 year old grandmother experienced her first flood in the north of Bosnia last month - never in her memory had such rains fallen this time of year. They also had a longer and harder winter. The mosqiotoes are in the gazzillions. Fruit and veg is a bit slow this year. Things ARE changing.
Australia has so much potential, as a rich and young country. We have the resources and brain power to create a renewable energy baseload power supply nation wide. We're just lacking a leader who's willing to chew on the leash or choke a little to get it's owner to do what it wants. We've got a little terrior for a leader when what we need is a great dane (punn entirely intended).
I feel a little uncertain about Australia's future, and uneasy about our globalised world - what have we actually come to?
With big hopes for the future, and drive to kick ass when I vote and later when I get home, thanks for reading.
Sej x
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