It’s Getting Hot In Here

Nearly nine weeks ago, 22-year-old Sarah Bishop started out on a giant walk from Brisbane to Sydney, Australia, to raise awareness about climate change. Inspired by An Inconvenient Truth and the book The Weather Makers by Australian of the Year, Tim Flannery, Sarah realised that to make a difference we would have to start acting now.

The walk also includes a schools program, a renewable energy initiative for surf life saving clubs, council/community meetings and presentations and promotes solutions people can take on an individual level or through other climate change campaigns.

Once complete Sarah’s walk will total approximately 1000km (621 miles), the distance from Charlotte to New York City and within days of her destination, Sarah answered the following questions for Its Getting Hot In Here.

• What was it in the book The Weather Makers which motivated you to raise awareness about climate change?
There were three main points raised in The Weather Makers which motivated me to raise awareness about climate change…

The first point was probably the extreme urgency of the situation - in that if we don’t act now then the consequences will be beyond our control. The second point was the information about how many species will go extinct over the next 50 years if we don’t start changing our ways now. There were actually a couple of chapters that focused on this issue and I remember lying on the beach at Southbank in Brisbane on a Sunday morning, reading the book with tears streaming down my face. Regardless of what happens to humans it’ll be the flora and fauna of this planet that will suffer the consequences first and this in itself should motivate people to start combating climate change. And the third point raised in the book which was probably the strongest motivator - was the part at the end where Flannery asks the reader to make a difference. I really felt like he was speaking to me directly and I felt like I had to do something so that I could answer that question and say that I had tried.

• Describe the response you have received from the Australian youth on climate change.
The response from the Australian youth on climate change has been overwhelmingly positive. There is a lot of concern but the youth seem to be pretty optimistic and they’re looking for ways that they can get out there and make a difference. I honestly do believe that Australian young people can be a huge driving force behind finding solutions for climate change. Traditionally we’re hard working and our country is overflowing with young entrepreneurs and innovators. And I think these traits are perfectly balanced by our good sense of humour and laidback attitudes. Climate change is a massively complex and scary issue - and it’s important that those working on it take time out to relax and enjoy this planet that we’re trying to save.

• You are now into your ninth and last week of your 1000km walk, how are you feeling at this final stage of the journey?
I’m feeling pretty good. I actually got pretty exhausted and sick about 2 weeks ago but I’ve been heavily focusing on my health since then and I feel that I have my strength back now. I’m just looking forward to getting to Sydney and then sussing out what I’ll be doing with the next stage of my life. I know that I want to keep working on climate change and there are several projects and initiatives that I would like to develop over the next year or so.

• As Official Ambassador to Earth Hour, how can young people
internationally help to turn it into a global campaign?
Getting in touch with their local WWF branch is probably a good start. Then contacting all of their local politicians or/and community leaders would also help raise interest in the campaign. Perhaps organising a small gathering for Earth Hour sometime on March 31st in their own country and then speaking to those present about the campaign. The old grapevine network really does wonders as well and the more people that know about the campaign the better. I like Earth Hour because it’s positive and simple, and I’m looking forward to seeing Sydney’s lights go out this Saturday. It’ll be exciting to see how many people participate and in that moment we will really realise just how many people care about this issue.

More information about Sarah’s walk can be found via the OneGiantWalk, MySpace or email onegiantwalk@gmail.com