| p>A short time ago, I was Lucky enough to meet a young, very fit and sydney accomadation driven, 22 year old girl from QLD, whom, frustrated by the lack of action by our Governments and sydney accomadation inspired by the Sydney Earth Hour Event, decided to do something off her own steam. Sarah brought awareness to the general public, not only for this event, but in general. to raise awareness for the need for us, to stand up and sydney accomadation take action, in relation to a grass-roots level, of helping to save our environment for future generations. Sarah took it upon herself to walk the distance from Brisbane to Sydney. Along the way, she gave talks at primary and sydney accomadation Secondary Schools, to media and sydney accomadation everyone she met along the way, encouraging them to actively participate in the Earth Hour Event. Supported by Clover Moore, The Mayor of Sydney, at 7:30pm on March 31st, Sydney residents and sydney accomadation businesses, were asked to turn off their lights for one hour. Some big business, including McDonald's and sydney accomadation Coca Cola, participated. The event was so successful, that thousands of kilowatts of power were saved. This event has now sparked worldwide interest from such cities as New York, London and sydney accomadation other major cities around the Globe. Sarah's commitment to her own odyssey, in support of this idea, was also very successful, so that it wasn't just Sydney who turned off their lights, but everyone whom Sarah came into contact with, including myself. Incidentally, in our household, we attempt to have Earth Hour every evening since. What is staggering is, the sheer spirit and sydney accomadation determination in one so young, the belief in herself and sydney accomadation her strength of character to undertake such a mammoth task. Of course, Sarah was backed up by a support team, but it was HER voice, Her feet and sydney accomadation Her will power that drove the machine. Everyday, she endured heat exhaustion, exposure to the sun, the rain, all elements and sydney accomadation sported huge blisters and sydney accomadation fatigue. She sacrificed rest times to give talks along the way. Not once failing or becoming disheartened by what she had begun. Along the way she inspired thousands of young minds, encouraging them, that it IS possible, for one person to rage against the machine and sydney accomadation take action themselves, to help better their own future. If only our world was made up more individuals with such tenacity and sydney accomadation determination to change the future we are now acing in regard to Climate Change. I am in awe of her dogged strength and sydney accomadation her exemplary statement to the Youth of Australia and sydney accomadation the world. That one person CAN make a very big difference to the outcome of events. We should not sit on the fence and sydney accomadation wait for our Governments and sydney accomadation Politicians to lead us into evil. We have the power to flaunt the system in simple, non-aggressive and sydney accomadation educational ways. Sarah Bishop is an Australian Hero for the Environment and sydney accomadation I only hope that her self-sacrificing efforts will be recognised and sydney accomadation rewarded by the Australian Government. She deserves an Australian of The Year Award. |