The Australian Young Christian Students present the second 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.2

2.
Dear friends of this planet that we call “home”,
We are pleased to bring you the second edition of the monthly Campaign
Newsletters for 2016-17. In this newsletter, you will find updates on what is
happening around the country in YCS to try and tackle the issue of climate
change, news headlines from April that we have found alarming, and a
passionate account of what is happening to our common home in Australia
due to rising temperatures from one of our students in the Melbourne YCS
Movement.
April has been a busy month for everyone involved in the YCS Movement.
The students have been holding diocesan-wide camps and conferences in
order to conduct a super in-depth Review of Life on our campaign, Climate
Justice. The camps and conferences have been very successful. The
student leaders of each diocesan camp have been receiving positive
feedback about the reviews and cannot wait to review the issue again in
September at their next camp.
We have also been busy collecting as much information as we can about
the issue over the past month so that we can begin educating others and
advocating for change over social media. After completing their first Review
of Life on Climate Justice, the national executive students are ready to
begin spreading what they have learned and use their passion to ignite a
flame for change.
We hope you enjoy this issue of the campaign newsletter!
Peace,
Annie Purbrick
National External Campaign Coordinator
Ph; 0433161020
Email; annie.purbrick@aycs.org.au

3.
Climate change:
{The Great Barrier Reef}
Latitude 16.4473 S.
Longitude 145.8173 E.
Area of around 344,400 km2
.
Established 1975.
Climate change is a relatively new concept in today’s world. Go back 15 years ago and
tell someone on the street that 15 years from now 90% of the Great Barrier Reef’s
magnificent coral will be bleached by a process that the human’s inadvertently created
called global warming. They would be, to say the least, sceptical. Nowadays, everyone
with half a brain knows the name of the impending catastrophe that is global warming,
and those that choose to deny it like American presidential republican candidate, Ted
Cruz, will soon have to succumb to the facts. Global warming is a problem. Future
generations will be minimally affected by things like the potential presidency of Donald
Trump or Kim Jong-un’s constant ignorance towards those he angers compared to the
impacts of global warming. It may not affect the way of life of the current generation,
perhaps not even the next but make no mistake our misguided attempts to make a huge
profit will be the root of future generations problems if we do not act now.
Above:
Coral
bleaching.
Picture
from
The
Australian
Financial
Review.

4.
Climate change will soon affect all of Australia, whether it be through rising temperatures,
drought or food security. Those reading this article will likely think that these changes will
not happen for years. You are
wrong. These changes are
happening all around us, but I am
not writing this article to discuss
huge international issues that will
become the forefront of thousands of
arguments whether they be on the
international level or simply in a
backyard. I am writing article on
something that has already
happened: the bleaching of 90% of
the Great Barrier Reef. A place some
would argue is the backbone of
Australia’s tourism industry. When
bleaching is mentioned in relation to
coral it does not mean literally
pouring hydrogen peroxide into the reef and letting that do its thing, it refers to rising
temperatures in the ocean which causes the corals natural food source known as algae to
leave its system leaving the coral a bleached white.
As is mentioned earlier in the article, currently on the date of 4th
of May 2016 90% of the
coral in the Great Barrier Reef is bleached varying in severity, which to put lightly is
dismal. This is due to global warming and will not stop if the human race continues on the
path that it is currently on. We are currently in a state of mind where we think that the
earth’s resources are unlimited; by resources I do not just refer to things like oil or gas but
also to things like trees and fresh water. Something that in the future will be considered a
luxury. As most would know trees absorb carbon dioxide in order to produce oxygen that
we use to survive. Carbon dioxide also contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer,
which without UV rays are able to penetrate the earth’s surface making the overall
temperature hotter. As we kill the planet we do not simply just kill the planet, we kill the
future generation’s ability to survive. That is a right that no one is at liberty to change. The
future should be green, but if the world keeps going down the path it is currently then the
path will not be green, but rather a desert like environment in which survival is almost
non-existent. Save the future. Save our future.
- Patrick Lachal, grade 9 student from Melbourne YCS
Above:
drought
in
Australia
due
to
global
warming.
Picture
from
The
Business
Insider.

5.
BREAKING NEWS
April 2016
11th
April
Scientists have finally discovered the reason why our earth does not spin uniformly
on its axis, but rather wobbles irregularly – and it is not ideal. Climate change has
been causing masses of ice to melt, causing a difference in weight distribution
over the course of time. This new revelation has explained many old wobbles in
the past couple of centuries.
https://astronomynow.com/2016/04/11/climate-change-creates-wobbles-in-earths-spin-
axis/
13th
April
Zambia is home to one of the world’s largest hydroelectric dams, which has helped
with political stability and has made Zambia one of the fastest growing economies
in Africa. However, this dam has now been struck by drought caused by the ever
growing severity of climate change. The record low water levels have caused
blackouts throughout the nation, having a negative impact on the people who rely
on business for their livelihood.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/world/africa/zambia-drought-climate-change-
economy.html?_r=0
22nd
April
A meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York has marked a historic
moment for the whole world. 155 countries signed the Paris agreement on Climate
Change, agreeing to work together towards making an absolute limit of temperature
rise of 2˚C.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/record-number-of-countries-to-sign-paris-
agreement-of-climate-change-on-earth-day/56844796
27th
April
Climate change seems to be impacting everyone in unexpected ways. Soldiers in
the US Army have even started complaining that the record high temperatures are
impacting on their performance and anxiety levels at training. Although it sounds
far-fetched and, albeit, fairly strange, there have been claims that climate change
has started to threaten national security. Hmmm…
https://www.army.mil/article/166803/Climate_change_affecting_Army_training/

6.
- Climate Justice Campaign decided upon at National Conference.
- The Adelaide and Port Pirie
dioceses joined forces to
conduct their Review of Life
camp. Students say that their
review was super successful,
and truly in the Spirit of
Cardijn (it was held at Cardijn
College!).
- Parramatta held a
three day conference
for their Review of Life.
The students had a lot
of fun conducting the
review, focusing on
their impact on the
environment in their
communities. With this
in mind, Parramatta
has decided to get
recycling bins in their
schools.
APRIL
2016
Australian Young
Christian Students
A timeline of what has happened and what to expect!

7.
- Perth held their camp in a bush
setting to centre their minds
around the natural environment.
The students decided that they
had enough of damaging the
environment, and so came up
with a service action to help
restore what we have lost. Perth
will be volunteering to help plant
trees over the next year.
- Melbourne YCS decided to do their
Review of Life on the greenest grass
available in Melbourne, which was
fitting for such an important review
on the environment and the way they
are impacting on the world.
Melbourne YCS students decided
that their over-consuming ways were
leading to a lot of wastage. In light of
this, they decided that they would
hold a stall that sells only second
hand clothes and other items to
encourage minimising wastage and
raise awareness of the issue.
- Townsville YCS will be conducting their Review of Life camp during the second
weekend of May. We wish them the best for their review and we cannot wait to see
what actions they come up with!
- The Australian YCS Facebook and Instagram pages are set to be updated very
regularly, so make sure you have liked and followed our pages to receive the latest
news on our campaign as well as keep up to date with our local and diocesan
actions!
MAY
facebook.com/australianycs @ausycs
APRIL

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.