Run for a Safe Climate

Lake Barmah 23-40°C

Late Shower

With less than 10 days to go we’re are well on our way to St Kilda! Today we’re running 200km to the Lake Barmah Wetlands area to meet with members from the Indigenous Yorta Yorta tribe and find out how even climate change has affected them.

We’ve heard a lot about the effects of climate change on urbanised populations but not as much about how it is affecting indigenous populations. This will be a unique take on the issues.

The Barmah Wetlands are home to amazing fauna with red gums that have been there for over 400 years! Professor Max Finlayson, a world expert on wetlands, will be showing us the impacts global warming is having on the Murray-Darling Basin, and we hope to get meet some local animals in this amazing place too.

Happy Running!

Lee Wolahan, a Victorian Police Officer is the team’s resident joker and film maker extraordinaire. Let’s get to know Leeroy a little more.

How do you psyche yourself up before a run?

Music. Giving my friends grief and making jokes.

Name your top 5 running songs on your playlist

Wild international – One day as a lion

Breathe – Prodigy

Rock n Roll Queen – The Subways

Cochise – Audioslave

Paranoid Android – Radiohead

How do you maintain focus while running?

I pick music that has a beat in line with my pace. I chew gum to keep my mouth from going dry.

Cotton or Lycra?

Lycra. Draws sweat out.

What is a simple action that we can do now to address climate change?

Support Safe Climate Australia. Help me by sponsoring my progress.

If you had the ability to change the world, what would be the first thing you’d do?

Invest in solar research. We have so many solar rich areas in Australia.

Who would be your ultimate running partner?

Ricky Gervais, but he’s fat

Powerade, Gatorade or Water?

Water

What meal would you love to have ready for you at the end of the 6000km?

BBQ chicken with avocado and mayo

5 words to describe your reason to run

We need to change things

What’s your best excuse of getting out of exercise?

Videogames

Proudest moment?

Running a half marathon in two hours through Ingham in 33 degree heat

Car, bike or public transport?

Bike

How has climate change affected you?

I’ve notice fires are worsening each year

How do you cool down after a run?

Walk around. Water on the head helps.

What will you miss while you’re away on the run?

My Xbox. My dog.

Shoe size?

11

Any bad habits your team mates should be warned about?

I’m a chronic sleepwalker. I’ve already switched vans, changed clothes, had a shower and gone for walks.

What place are you most looking forward to visiting?

Adelaide. I have friends there.

If you would like to sponsor Leeroy and the other runners or simply make a donation, please visit the Sponsor section on our website. You can also check for regular updates on our Facebook Fan page or follow us on Twitter.

You can also watch Leeroy’s handywork on the camera. Check out the first week of the run’s journey on YouTube: Leeroy’s video – Week One

Happy running!

Beautiful Lake Jindabyne

Albury 20-42°C

Morning Clouds. Mostly sunny.

After a day’s rest in the beautiful Snowy Ranges, we’re running a mere 246km to Albury where things tend to heat up in the summer then cool down in the winter. And with temperatures set to soar to 42°C, it is going to be super hot!!

On route to Albury we’ll be focusing on climate change and the Murray Darling Basin as well as the effects global warming has on mental health, food and water security and a potential solution for farmers in building soil carbon.

Albury locals can join us for the final part of this leg by running the last couple of kms: the kenos can meet us at Samsion Gardens at 6pm to join the rest of the community from Noreuil Gardens to run to the footy ground. Cool down with us at a BBQ served at 7pm.

After the run, we’ll be heading to a community forum presented by Rob Fenton from the National Environment Centre and former future analyst Barney Foran as well as Dr Ben Gawne, Director of The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre and Dr Helen Barry from ANU Epidemiology.

The rivers Murray Darling form Australia’s longest inland flowing water passage sand we’re super keen to help in any way we can to preserve it for future generations. We look forward to seeing you all in Albury.

Happy Running!

Let’s get to know another Melbourne firey, Michael Acreman. Or you can just call him Ace!!

How do you psyche yourself up before a run?

Few quiet moments and then attrack the challenge ahead!!

Name your top 5 running songs on your playlist

Anything that rocks my socks off

How do you maintain focus while running?

Try to keep technique and make it to the finish line

Cotton or Lycra?

Spandex!!

What is a simple action that we can do now to address climate change?

Go to www.runforasafeclimate.org and donate

If you had the ability to change the world, what would be the first thing you’d do?

So many things, addressing poverty and climate change are the first two

Who would be your ultimate running partner?

Michael Jordan

Powerade, Gatorade or Water?

um… Beer

What meal would you love to have ready for you at the end of the 6000km?

Anything cooked by my old man or the ‘Ace’ Fritta special from Crue!!

5 words to describe your reason to run

Trying to make a difference

What’s your best excuse of getting out of exercise?

I’m too tall

Proudest moment?

Getting to hold my two nieces and graduating MFB!

Car, bike or public transport?

Bike – fixed gear box baby!

How has climate change affected you?

In many ways, personal, work and socially

How do you cool down after a run?

Beach is always best option!!

What will you miss while you’re away on the run?

Friends, family, Crue!!

Shoe size?

13

Any bad habits your team mates should be warned about?

No, none at all. Well maybe lying.

What place are you most looking forward to visiting?

Noosa, Byron, Daintree, and event finish line!!

If you would like to sponsor Ace and the other runners or simply make a donation, please visit the Sponsor section on our website. You can also check for regular updates on our Facebook Fan page or follow us on Twitter.

Happy running!

NAB's David & Sandie join runners heading into Gladstone

By David Doyle

“Whirlwind” – that’s what comes to mind when thinking about my weekend on Heron Island. Sitting back in my air-conditioned office in Melbourne it is tempting to wonder whether it was even real or not. Did I really just fly 2,000 km to far north Queensland, to a small city with a high dependence on coal exporting and aluminum smelting, to meet a bunch of people I have never met and to visit a special part of the Great Barrier Reef? I pinch myself and have another look at the photos – it was real and it was amazing!

As part of its sponsorship of Run for a Safe Climate NAB ran a staff competition to win a weekend on Heron Island with the Run for a Safe Climate crew. All that was required of me was to answer five simple questions about climate change and what NAB might do in regard to this important issue. How could I resist? My answers were focused on the concept of leverage – 40,000 employees and 10 million customers gives NAB the power to make little changes that really matter, and to take a leadership role on this important topic.

So on Friday 6 November I flew to Gladstone and was met by some of the energised support crew, immediately made to feel welcome and was quickly drawn into the excitement that surrounds such events. Participating in the final 5km run was a good way to meet the crew and given they had already run 15km for the day and 80km for the week, I couldn’t really say no. Maui vans started to pull up on the outskirts of town and a bunch of big blokes with very firm handshakes gathered. These are not classic runner builds – skinny with long legs. These are powerful men used to carrying loads and working hard. These are the men and women who fought the Black Saturday fires around Melbourne in February 2009 and who dealt with the heart breaking work that follows such disasters.

Brendan Condon & David Doyle

Friday night was spent at the Gladstone Fire Station and unwinding after a hard week on the road. The 20km/hour winds made the boat trip out to Heron Island a bit rough but soon enough we were pulling in next to a picture postcard pier. Despite being a tiny coral cay perched out on the GBR, there are two halves to Heron – the resort and the research. The ecotourism resort allows visitors to live and play right on the reef and to get to see some of the most spectacular underwater sights just metres from shore. The research station allows scientist and students to undertake their work to improve our understanding of the complex ecosystems. Hopefully with their knowledge we might have a change to preserve this amazing place. The resort and research depend on each other and I hope they can both continue to exist and thrive.

Our group was very well looked after and we were lucky enough to talk and dive with Dr Selina Ward, who provided insight into the impacts on the reef system that climate change is currently having and is likely to have if we allow it to track on its current path. If I listened correctly Selina’s current project is looking at the impacts of different pH levels on various types of coral. As the ocean is a carbon sponge (absorbs CO2), as humans increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere the absorption rate is increased, decreasing the pH level (acidification). So some of the coral species may no longer be able to properly spawn (reproduce) and the plants and animals that they depend on may no longer exist. Water temperate also effects feeding and breeding of many species. Onshore a lack of rain impacts sand stability (turtles can’t dig out their nests) and plant growth that the birds depend upon. I asked Selina about the ability of the coral and species to migrate to avoid the warming waters, but this is a myth – the speed of the change and the other factors mentioned above make it almost impossible for the reef to cope with the current and forecasted changes.

The snorkeling was a highlight for me – I think it would take a long time for me to grow tired of looking at the different sights that you come across on a coral reef. The fragility of the reef and the tiny islands (or cays) along it is very apparent when you are there. There is no high ground out here – should sea level rise then Heron Island will soon be gone. The turtles that return to their place of birth to lay their eggs will be displaced, not to mention the thousands of sea bird that use this outpost as a safe place to nest. Scientists like Selina and Professor Ove Hoegh-Gulberg from the University of Queensland (and I’m sure thousands of colleague around the world) are sending us a warning signal – the many thousands of species that occupy our reefs will be lost if we continue down the path we are on. That is an outcome that I am keen to avoid and one that I would encourage you all to think about.

Snorkeling at Heron Island

Monday morning saw us back in Gladstone. As we went out for the early morning run the white sands of Heron Island, still fresh in my mind, were soon shaded gray by the black mountains of coal that piled high at the port waiting to be loaded and shipped offshore. The enormity of the challenge to migrate from a carbon dependent economy to a low or zero carbon future hit me hard. We need to talk, we need to plan (like the Safe Climate Australia Transition Plan), but we also need to act – I urge you to think about what you can do to make a difference.

How far will you go for change?

My role at NAB is part of a team that develops new investment products for distribution to NAB clients and through aligned financial planners. I work within the Markets Division of Wholesale Banking and I have been with NAB for over 8 years. Personally I have a strong interest in sustainability, I am a keen cyclist and coordinate the NAB’s Bicycle Users Group – David Doyle.

With over 3000km under our belt, it’s definitely time for Pete and I to say a big thank you to BSC Bikes in Fitzroy for providing our amazing “chariot” for our little ones Callum and Ella : )

Ella and Callum have happily enjoyed the sights and sounds of Queensland and New South Wales so far.

Thank you!

Jas & Pete

For information about the Chariot Carrier, please visit: www.bscbikes.com.au

Ella & Callum living it up in their chariot

Want to know a little more about the men and women taking part in the 6000km run for a safe climate? Rohan Ashton was the sole New South Wales representative of the run, taking time off work from the New South Wale Fire Brigade.

How do you psyche yourself up before a run?

Stretching and good music

Name your top 5 running songs on your playlist

Keep the car running – Arcade Fire

Helicopter – Bloc Party

Dirty Hearts – Dallas Crane

Animal – Pearl Jam

DOA – Foo Fighters

How do you maintain focus while running?

By thinking about anything other than running

Cotton or Lycra?

Anything but lycra

What is a simple action that we can do now to address climate change?

Drive less and cycle/walk more

If you had the ability to change the world, what would be the first thing you’d do?

Reduce atmospheric CO2 levels to under 350ppm

Powerade, Gatorade or Water?

Water

What meal would you love to have ready for you at the end of the 6000km?

A huge kangaroo roast

5 words to describe your reason to run

Environment, adventure, fitness, fun (oh 4 words)

Car, bike or public transport?

Bike

How has climate change affected you?

Huge increase in the amount of wildfire hazard reductions carried out at work to hopefully prevent an event similar to Black Saturday in Victoria earlier in the year.

How do you cool down after a run?

Swimming

What will you miss while you’re away on the run?

My girlfriend Katie and surfing

Shoe size? 11

Any bad habits your team mates should be warned about?

Flatulence

What place are you most looking forward to visiting?

Byron Bay, Noosa, Sydney

If you would like to sponsor Rohan Ashton and the other runners or simply make a donation, please visit the Sponsor section on our website. You can also check for regular updates on our Facebook Fan page or follow us on Twitter.

Happy running!

Part of largest solar dish in the world at ANU in Canberra

Thredbo Top Station 4-15°C

Fine, sunny

Yesterday was a busy day in Canberra, a visit to one of the world’s largest solar dishes at ANU where we snacked on snags cooked by the sun. Solar sausages do taste better We followed the solar BBQ up with a community forum at Parliament House which was co-hosted by Minister Penny Wong and Senator Christine Milne for the Greens and Senator Nick Xenophon (Independent). We had a good turn out including Senator Bob Brown.

Today we commence our ascent to Australia’s alpine area. We’ve come to realize that all of Australia’s differing climates have in some way affected by climate change and the alpine area is no different. We’ll be running a lazy 175 km to Thredbo then complete a chilled 12km round trip around Charlotte’s Pass at Australia’s highest peak, Mt Kosciuszko then transit to Tom Groggin for a rest day.

You can meet us in the morning at Jindabyne National Forest as we run there. We’ll be on hand on share our stories of perseverance and to learn about the Wildlife Services Building that is being built there solely using geo-thermal power. This is pretty neat stuff so if you’re around come say g’day!

Today’s focus is on alpine ecology the economic effects of climate change on the skiing industry as well as the ecological and social impacts of global warming around the area. Ken Green from the NSW National Parks Service will walk up with us to the top of Mt Kosciuszko to discuss the alpine environment and its changes in the afternoon. From there, it’s off to Tom Groggin for a well deserved rest.

Happy running!

As a major sponsor of the run, Mercedes Benz’s Advertising Manager came along to join the runners and support crew for part of this epic journey. Safe Climate Australia’s Wendy Miller had a chat to Olivia McLean on a bumpy ferry ride over to Heron Island.

What has your role been on the run?

I’ve come up for a personal experience, to be a part of an important climate change project like this is such a unique experience.

My role was to simply be a helping hand in whatever way I could as well as to enjoy myself as much as possible whilst also representing Mercedes-Benz.

I had days with each of the main parts of the run – the film crew, the support crew and the run crew.

In terms of the personal experience you were hoping to have, what have you got out of your week here?

It was very powerful to see the scientists’ presentations and further understand that while the scientists are the experts you can’t rely on them to make change alone.

There needs to be a link between the community and science to induce change, and that is the role that the run is playing.

It’s been inspirational to be part of something that is doing something big for climate change … taking that next big step on an Australian-wide scale.

Do you think that that sort of wisdom that’s come out of this week will change the way you will actually do things in your job or your personal life?

Not necessarily, I think I had that change a few years back.

It just really reinforced to me that anyone can take climate change seriously, not just greenies.

The majority of the runners are a bunch of Aussie blokes doing a marathon-run for climate change. If they can be into it everyone else can.

As well as the personal experience, you mentioned that you are here representing Mercedes-Benz, can you tell us why Mercedes has backed the run?

Mercedes-Benz does a substantial amount internationally on measures to reduce our environmental impact. Internationally we spend an average of $9 million (AUD) every single day on R&D specifically on solutions that are heading towards zero emissions driving.

In Australia we are involved locally with a select handful of projects and organisations that really make a difference to climate change action and awareness Australia.

To be part of something so powerful and so reputable as Run for a Safe Climate is really important for us.

You mentioned that you got involved with the different elements of the run during your week with us. What was your day on the running team like?

That was a really fun day.

We spent the first four hours driving, so just getting to know everyone and getting their story was really great.

Then we started running. I ran 13km that day and that is the largest amount of running I have ever done in one day so that was a personal achievement for me!

Everyone was really welcoming and made you feel part of the team so that was fantastic.

Jason interrupts from the seat across from us: Can I just say that Liv was inspirational!

You’ve had the pleasure of sleeping in, and living in, and driving the MAUI vans – what are your thoughts on that experience?!

I was pretty lucky as I did get my own bed for every night we spent in the MAUI .

The MAUI vans are pretty cool, though I wouldn’t recommend driving them at any speed above 1km per hour over car park entrances!

You feel like a bit of a truck driver out there on the road with MAUI so that was fun.

Where do you see Mercedes-Benz moving on this issue in 2010?

We’ve had a customer engagement program running on climate change for over three years now called Carbon Zero.

I would like to see this continue and expand. Particularly based on the understanding the run has given me on the importance of communities understanding climate science at the local level.

Over the next three or four years we’ll also be releasing a number of products with the best possible efficiency through our BlueEFFICIENCY product range.

Our mission is to be honest, to be relevant – not use the environmental features of our cars as a sales tool. We are taking steps towards sustainable mobility for the integrity of our company and because it is the right thing to do.

What parting comments do you have for us before you head back to Melbourne?

It was an amazing experience and I would have loved to have come along the whole entire way!

I hope that the momentum of the run continues to snowball over the next weeks and I’d love to see in a year or two, the rest of the country being covered in another run. This is something that has the potential to catch on – this could be really huge.

(Interview ends as Wendy starts to feel seedy on the ferry.)

Thank you Olivia for being part of the run!