On the eve of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, hundreds of thousands of people around the globe are making their voices heard under the banner of #Peoples Climate.

In Hobart, the Peoples Climate event was a rally rather than a march. Speakers were eloquent and ranged from an environmentalist, animal conservationist, faith leader, to fire service leader and a seventh generation farmer. All had the same message from different vantage points. The science can’t be ignored and we are already beginning to experience the effects of climate change. Australia has a poor record on carbon emissions and needs to step up.

“The answers are not easy but they are possible”.

“We must pass on a better world to our children and grandchildren”.

It is hoped that at this conference the 147 global leaders will agree to ambitious targets with short time frames in order to make a real and lasting difference.

There were an estimated 2,400 people gathered in Hobart, with much bigger events in other cities across Australia. Globally, it is anticipated that a million people will attend over 2,000 events in 150 countries. That is a lot of people wanting their politicians to take notice.

It was a family event, all generations, a mixed representation of the community. People had taken picnics, dogs were on leads, kids played on the outskirts. It was friendly and colourful.

A wonderful and unexpected element of the event has surfaced on social media in the past few days…. #march4me.

Following the tragic attacks in Paris two weeks ago, the planned climate march in that city has been banned by French authorities. People attending events all over the world are linking with someone who can’t attend a march but wants their voice to be heard. I signed up and represented Mathieu from France. I saw others in Hobart with signs representing others from France and Tunisia. As I write this, over twenty six thousand people have been paired up.

Here are some of the banners from Hobart. Everyone was happy to share in photos, many were home made, often with help from the kids.