(AU ABC) Sir David Attenborough Cheers Climate Change Postcard To Scott Morrison

ABC Sunshine Coast - Meg Bolton

Jim Bird and Helen Moffitt are trying to right the wrongs of their generation to help the next. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Meg Bolton)

Key Points A pair of activists say they were inspired to write a book aimed at kids after hearing the Prime Minister read out children's letters They were "thrilled" to receive the support of Sir David Attenborough, who sent them a handwritten letter The book includes a postcard calling for climate change action that young people can send to the PM

Two Sunshine Coast environmentalists are calling on the Prime Minister to take immediate action on climate change and they're being backed by none other than Sir David Attenborough.

Helen Moffitt and Jim Bird have self-funded 10,000 copies of an activity book that comes with a postcard for children to sign and send to Scott Morrison.

Ms Moffitt said the $6,000 initiative would be worth every cent if the book inspired and empowered the next generation.

"The reason we've aimed this towards the children is because they're tomorrow's generation — they're going to be left with what today's generation leaves them," Ms Moffitt said.

"Kids need a voice [and] those who are not old enough to vote yet will have a voice.

"They're given a voice through the postcard."Mr Bird said hearing Prime Minister Scott Morrison read letters sent to him by children inspired the 16-page book, which took one year to complete.

"We'd like to really make it an Australia-wide [initiative], because the only way it's really going to succeed if the Prime Minister realises that people know that he's receiving these postcards," Mr Bird said.

He said 3,000 postcards had been distributed but he had no way of monitoring how many were sent to Mr Morrison.

Mr Bird and Ms Moffitt were "thrilled" when they received the letter from the beloved environmentalist. (Supplied: Jim Bird)

'Thank you very much'

Mr Bird said he could hardly believe it when he and Ms Moffitt received a warm, handwritten letter of encouragement from Sir David Attenborough.

"It was unbelievable, the way it came … we hadn't really given our address," Mr Bird said.

"It was actually sent to SCEC – the Sunshine Coast Environment Council – so he must have looked on the website, got the address and sent it to them. 

"We were we were absolutely thrilled."

Sir David's note kept Mr Bird motivated, he said, and helped keep self-doubt at bay. (Supplied: James Bird) 

Mr Bird said receiving the response within a few weeks lent credibility to the cause and kept him motivated.

"Sometimes you say 'What on Earth are we doing? We're not going to get anywhere,'" he said.

"But it brings us back into thinking up original ideas [and] we'll do what we can, as best we can."

The book took Mr Bird and Ms Moffitt about a year to finish. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Meg Bolton)

Call for action

Mr Bird said the planet would be detrimentally affected if the government continued to focus on climate targets instead of taking immediate action.

"We haven't got 30 years," he said.

"We should be stopping deforestation [and we] should be planting right now."

He called on the government to address climate change with the same interest and enthusiasm as it approached the pandemic.

"We're addressing it, we're busting a gut actually to try to solve it, we don't care how much it costs and how much it inconveniences us," Mr Bird said.

"Wars and pandemics will come and they will go, but climate change is here, is progressing and it's here to stay."

The Prime Minister's office has been contacted for comment.

Suffering through seasons

In the meantime, Sunshine Coast wildlife veterinarian Ludovica Valenza said more animals were dying this year because of the change in seasons and natural disasters.

"Wildlife are trying to adapt to these changes, and for that reason we're getting them in for all sorts of different causes" she said.

"It's very bizarre, because even for this time of the year we're seeing baby birds and baby possums and macropods – so kangaroos and joeys that we wouldn't be seeing at this time of the year – coming in."

Data from the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital showed 50 per cent more animals were admitted in March 2021 than in March 2018.

Dr Valenza said trauma season usually ran from September to February, but more animals were dying because they were remaining active outside regular times.

The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital team recently treated its 10,000 koala.

"I think it is just from the fact that we've had these extreme weather conditions out there," she said.

"This is due to their habitat being reduced."

'Dear Prime Minister'

The postcard penned by Mr Bird and Ms Moffitt reads:





Links

• (AU SMH) There’s A Key Element Missing From The Debate About Australia’s Journey To Net-Zero Emissions
• (AU) We Can’t Wait For This Government. Let’s Beat Emissions Together
• We Can Avert Irreversible Climate Change
• (AU) Changing The Narrative Of Climate Change
• Sir David Attenborough’s Latest Doc Is His Witness Statement To The World
• Climate Change 'The Biggest Security Threat Ever Faced By Modern Humans', David Attenborough Warns
• David Attenborough's Heartbreaking Plea After Admitting ‘I Don’t Have Long Left’
• (VIDEO) Climate Change: The Facts - Sir David Attenborough
• David Attenborough: Climate Change Must Not Be Ignored Even During A Pandemic
• These Are The Ways You Can Stop Climate Change, According To David Attenborough
• Campaign Seeks 1bn People To Save Climate – One Small Step At A Time