Auckland, 11 October – Amid the lunchtime throng of business people on Queen Street a Gangham style flash mob materialized. Businessmen and women caught unawares, the orange-dressed performers were a welcome distraction from the usual monotony of the Thursday lunch break. The students and young professionals dressed in full orange body suits and zipping around on electric bikes…… created a real buzz for the synchronized dance.
One of the organizers of the event, Sam Dyson, said, “We are here to show our unity and power in tackling climate change leading up to NZ’s biggest climate summit, Power Shift, happening this December in Auckland.” The action was to raise awareness for Power Shift. NZ’s biggest ever youth climate summit brought to NZ by Generation Zero and 350 Aotearoa.Generation Zero are a NZ youth climate action movement and 350 are an international climate organisation founded in the US.
Ryan Mearns, a Generation Zero member, says, “If Power Shift is anything as exciting that flash mob then get me there now!”
Power Shift will bring together young people passionate about making a difference at Auckland University from 7th to 9th December. New Zealand youth are responding to the need for urgent action on climate change in a positive and solutions-based manner, to empower youth to secure their generation a safe climate future.
At Power Shift we’ll hear from inspirational speakers like Lucy Lawless and take part in-workshops, presentations and a flash mob at the end. It will also launch the 2013 climate campaign in NZ. Our audience is young people up to around 30 and we’re aiming for 1000 attendees (we’re up to 350, and counting!).
To register, visit the website: powershift.org.nz and have a look a youtube video of Australia’s last Power Shift event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uesuo-dojM
