The Australian Young Christian Students present the first monthly campaign newsletter for 2016. Stay up to date with AYCS campaign actions and events, hear the latest climate change news, and enjoy climate justice articles written by the talented young people involved in the AYCS Movement.

1.
Australian Young Christian Students
Campaign Newsletter
No.1

2.
Dear friends of this planet that we call “home”,
My name is Annie Purbrick and I am one of the Australian Young Christian Students’
(YCS) Campaign Coordinators for 2016. I am extremely excited to be writing to you
today in our first monthly Climate Justice Campaign Newsletter! These newsletters will
be emailed out to any supporters of the movement, wanderers of the Earth, and perfect
mixes of both to keep you updated on what is going on in the movement within our
campaign, Climate Justice, and how you may get involved.
But first, I would like to introduce myself. As mentioned, my name is Annie Purbrick and
I am one of the Campaign Coordinators for YCS in 2016, working alongside Hannah
Stavrou who is taking on the other half of the role of Campaign Coordinator, and the
National Coordinator, Zara Cavalot. I have been involved in the YCS movement for four
years as both a student and an adult. I got involved in the movement after seeing some
students from my school getting involved in an action on Australia Day in an attempt to
spark conversation about the issue of children in immigration detention. I found it
intriguing that young people were the drive behind such a huge action to create change
in the world. The next school year, I joined YCS and it was the best decision I have ever
made. In my time in YCS as a student, I worked closely with the campaigns ‘End Child
Detention’ and ‘BreakFree’. My love for campaigning sprouted from there. I was thrilled
to hear that the national campaign was on Climate Justice. I feel very connected to this
campaign and am very excited to see where it takes us!
As you are now probably aware, the AYCS 2016-18 National Campaign, as decided
upon by the students at National Conference 2016 is Climate Justice. The passion in the
room when deciding on the campaign was amazing, and the excitement once it was
chosen was remarkable. The students at the conference are to be commended for
choosing such a relevant and important campaign with such intent and deep thought
behind it. A truly inspiring day of passion and insight, which I am sure will continue to
thrive throughout the duration of this campaign and remain in the lives of all those
involved in bringing about Climate Justice in the next two years.
Peace,
Annie Purbrick
National External Campaign Coordinator
Ph; 0433161020
Email; annie.purbrick@aycs.org.au

3.
BANABA ISLAND
{A.K.A: OCEAN ISLAND}
Latitude 0.53 S.
Longitude 169.35 E.
Circumference of around 10km.
Highest point reaches only 81m.
Population: 335.
Banaba Island was beautiful. My Nanna recalls the island being full of frangipanis, featuring a
tropical rainforest climate with the dense rainforest and other lush greenery creating a tropical
paradise. My mum and aunty grew up on Banaba with my grandparents in the 1970s. They talk
of the simple and happy lifestyle they led and the fond memories of being immersed in the rich
and alive culture of the Banaban men and women.
Banaba was described by
early discoverers as being
full of plant and bird life,
and completely rich in
culture. The Banabans
have distinct language and
customs unique to the
other Kiribati islands,
much like the actual land
that they lived on. It is the
only land mass in the
Kiribati region that is
raised limestone and
phosphate.
This abundance in
phosphate attracted
Europeans to mine the
island of all its worth. After the Japanese inhabited the island during World War II, and once
they left their base once the war ended, mining restrictions were unlimited due to the Banabans
fleeing their beloved home. The island was mined until 1979, when the lush green island had
been reduced to nothing but pinacles and dry wasteland.
Above:
My
mum,
Aunty,
and
Nanna
with
their
Banaban
friends
before
leaving
the
island.

4.
The mining had devastating effects on the island. With the restrictions being lifted after most of
the Banabans fled to Rabi (an island in Fiji), the British Phosphate Commission brought in
heavy mining equipment was and what land that was not yet disturbed by the Phospate working
was soon to be flattened for roads to make the mines more accessible.
Whilst my family lived on the coast in a place called Tapiwa away from all of the destruction, the
centre of the island was being dug up, flattened, poisoned and left once there was nothing more
for the mining company and British Phosphate Commission to gain. The soil was left without
Above:
“BEWARE
MINING
AHEAD”
Above:
Machinery
used
to
clear
land
for
mining
purposes.
Above:
Centre
of
the
island
cleared
and
soil
ruined.

5.
phospate in the centre of the island, meaning the grubbery and woodland has been limited to
growing in the phosphate-rich soil near the coast. Banaba was already accustomed to droughts.
My grandparents recall the rain clouds forming around the island, yet the rain hardly fell directly
on the island due to its intense heat. It was obvious that climate change was taking its toll.
During the mining boom, ships would come bringing water to the island for its inhabitants,
mainly for the miners and other foreign workers of the island. Now, the few remaining Banabans
that have stayed on the island resort to a dodgy desalination plant which is prone to failure and
collecting the little rainwater that falls in rainwater tanks and abandoned houses.
Agriculture has gone down hill, as well. Many Banaban families would have their own pigs,
chickens and vegetable gardens before the island was left poor of phosphate. The lack of
rainwater and everpresent heat due to the removal of the dense forrest adds to the difficulty in
growing and sustaining their own food on the island.
It is truly heartbreaking that the tropical oasis that once existed has now been depleted because
of our “need” for more than our natural resources allow. My mum’s home is no longer there, in
its place a dry, rocky wasteland that is just too hot and depleted for sustaining long-term life.
Also at risk of loss is the Banaban culture and customs. The Banabans being forced to move far
from their home presents an injustice that seems very far from being solved.
- Annie Purbrick, YCS Worker
Above:
My
Grandad
and
his
Banaban
friends
on
the
island.
Every month, we will be including a
case study, or personal story from
the movement. We hope this
provides a point of reflection and
allows you to find God in this
beautiful planet.

6.
BREAKING NEWS
March 2016
10th
March
A group of young people in the US have sued the US Government for not
respecting their constitutional right to life, liberty, and property. The group claims
that the Government’s ongoing support of the use of fossil fuels in America does not
uphold these rights. The court is yet to make a decision, however it would not be too
outrageous for the court to rule against the Government. A similar case was brought
forward in the Netherlands which ended in the court ruling that is was the state’s
responsibility to reduce greenhouse emissions.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/young-people-are-
suing-governments-over-climate-change/news-
story/e327a797ab048ba2013f7f96c2d3ffbc
24th
March
Climate tracking graphs for the year have certainly “departed the norm” so far with
February of this year being lifted to 1.21˚C above the average of the 20th
century.
With spikes such as this, it’s no wonder scientists are calling for urgent action as we
near the 2˚C global warming limit.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/spike-in-global-temperature-fuels-
climate-change-fears-20160317-gnl7do.html
28th
March
Recent ecological studies have shown that Eucalyptus trees will start to die due to
climate change. With climate change resulting in massive droughts, many species
of trees are able to shrick the vessels in which they take in water. Eucalyptus trees
are one type of tree that is unable to perform this adaptation, resulting in their
vessels being filled with air bubbles. Once an air bubble is formed in the vessel,
the tree is unable to take in any water.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-30/climate-change-could-put-eucalypts-at-risk-of-
death-air-bubbles/7266230
31st
March
Paris sets a benchmark for all other nations in tackling climate change with the
Paris Agreement. The agreement sets targets and goals in order to limit the
inevitable temperature increases to just 2˚C in the long-term. The notable
difference in this framework lies in the goals of the three focuses areas: mitigation,
adaptation, and finance. On April 22, many nations are set to sign off on the
agreement.

7.
http://theconversation.com/paris-set-a-benchmark-in-the-battle-against-climate-
change-what-now-56934
- Climate Justice Campaign decided upon at National Conference.
- The Climate Justice campaign was launched on social media!
- All YCS dioceses have been hard at work planning and preparing for their six
monthly campaign review camps! While the National Executive have been busy
typing away to their fingers’ content, Diocesan Review Teams all around the country
have been sorting out the logistics of their camps, writing agendas and sessions,
and getting students excited about the campaign.
- As mentioned, the National Executive students have been working hard at getting
the April 2016 Campaign Resource out for the dioceses to run. It has been a long
month of typing and meeting, but they should most certainly all be commended on
their hard work and amazing achievement. We are all very excited to see the end
product.
- Parramatta, Melbourne, Adelaide + Port Pirie (SA), Townsville and Perth dioceses will
be conducting their April 2016 Campaign Camps this month. As a part of the overall
vision of AYCS and the campaign, the students of the movement elected that each
dioceses is to conduct a Review of Life on the campaign in April and September of
every year for the duration of the campaign.
- National Coordinator, Zara Cavalot, will be conducting visits to dioceses Perth,
Adelaide, and Melbourne attending the Campaign Camps of each respective
diocese where possible.
- National Executive students will be using the information and knowledge, and
passion that comes from the Review of Life at the April Campaign Camps to
continually post pressing issues and changes within the issue of Climate Injustice
on social media. Don’t forget to follow our Facebook and Instagram accounts to stay
updated!
MARCHAPRIL
2016
Australian Young
Christian Students
A timeline of what has happened and what to expect!
facebook.com/australianycs @ausycs

8.
For more information on the AYCS Campaign contact
Annie Purbrick
Ph: 0433 161 020
Email: annie.purbrick@aycs.org.au
Or follow our Facebook and Instagram pages.