[Greens-Media] Greens greet Obama

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Greens greet Obama  

5 November 2008

Greens from New Zealand and Australia have joined to welcome the
election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States and
are warning climate change deniers that their political allies are
dwindling.

Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown said in Auckland today
"President-elect Barack Obama raises the hopes of the world for a
fairer, securer more ecologically sound future. 

"The world's richest nation is set to enter a new era. Hope for George
W. Bush's replacement will return a greater decency and dignity to the
White House. The world faces a rapid countdown to climate change, over
consumption and misuse of catastrophic weaponry.

"Obama's election is a breath of fresh air after perhaps the most
important presidency in a century. His biggest challenge will be to end
the undemocratic power wielded by an army of lobbyists and vested
interests which is camped in Washington," Senator Brown said.

Green Party New Zealand Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says "We expect to
see a wind of change blow through the corridors of power in Washington
following the election of Democratic President Barack Obama.

"George Bush effectively blocked moves to take action against climate
change, however with a new, more reasonable President in the Oval Office
we expect the world will see big steps being taken in this area.

"Those who strive to prevent action being taken on climate change are
becoming increasingly isolated. 

"First they lost their ally in the Australian political world when John
Howard was ousted. Now they can no longer look to the US Government for
support with Bush gone and the Republicans no longer at the helm. 

"President elect Obama aims to cut US greenhouse gas emissions by 80
percent from 1990 levels by mid-century. I look forward to the US
playing a role in negotiating a post-Kyoto agreement for international
carbon emissions after 2012, and taking steps to reduce its own
emissions before that. 

"Just a few short years ago, businesses who did not want to take steps
to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions could make excuses and bandy
about flawed science. They could point to the US and Australia and say
'we shouldn't do anything until those countries do'. This is
increasingly difficult for them to do."

For more information:

Tim Hollo (for Senator Brown), +61 (0)437 587 562
Jeanette Fitzsimons MP, 04 817 6661, 027 458 6068, 07 868 6641 (home)
Fran Tyler, Communication Coordinator, 04 817 6679, 021 936 940

Tim Hollo
Media Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
ph: (02) 6277 3588
mob: 0437 587 562

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