What We Owe the Water (1983)

About this item

"From the flood-soaked streets of Lismore to the rising waters in the Pacific, the effects of climate change are here. Australia stands at a profound crossroads. It can continue to fuel the climate crisis as one of the world's largest fossil fuel exporters or it can become a true partner to its Pacific neighbours and lead the transition toward a fossil-free future." Genuine solidarity means more than symbolic gestures on the global stage. It means concrete action: ending the approval of new fossil fuel projects and supporting governments seeking to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. This essay imagines a future where Australia stands as a courageous ally using its resources and power to build a better future rather than staying as a climate pariah, and where the Pacific becomes the lighthouse guiding the way. Drawing on decades of activism — from anti-apartheid struggles in South Africa to standing alongside climate defenders across the