Media release template

ok everyone will be needing your editing skills here. this is a draft media release template for our trip.

MEDIA RELEASE
A group of environment-conscious students from across the state will travel to Canberra in early 2009 to deliver a petition signed by Victorian high school students.

The Australian Government’s policy on climate change has been criticised for failing to establish sufficient targets for the reduction of emissions within a reasonable time frame. In addition, it has neglected to halt practices that are damaging to the environment and contributory to climate change, such as the logging of Victoria’s high-conservation-value forests. The Government is further criticised for neglecting to fund renewable energy technologies and initiatives.

Climate change is an threat with far-reaching consequences, both now and in the future. This is disturbing particularly to Australia’s youth, as it is they who will bear the brunt of these consequences.

The Victorian Inter-School Environment Network (VISEN) is a group of students from high schools throughout the state who have joined together to work towards the common goal of reducing humanity’s impact on the planet. The Network aims to improve environmental sustainability at schools and in the wider community by providing resources to students and groups from different schools across Victoria in their campaigns. Through environmental campaigning VISEN unites individuals in working towards a sustainable future and environment conservation.

VISEN’s current main campaign consists of delivering a petition signed by students across Victoria to the Federal Parliament early next year. The petition, which is signed by at least one student from each of the high schools across the state, demands stricter and more rigorous action from the Federal Government in combating climate change. Through the signing and delivery of the petition VISEN seeks to facilitate students making their voices heard on the issue of climate change. VISEN’s petition gives voice to the youth of Victoria in demanding the protection of their future.

The petition reads:
This petition of concerned high school students, compiled by VISEN draws the attention of the House to the current federal policy on climate change. We believe that this policy is not appropriate, given the seriousness of the threat of climate change.

We therefore ask the House to take real action on climate change, including:
 A 50% cut of 1990 level greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
 An increase in funding to renewable energy research, infrastructure and businesses.
 An end to the logging of old growth forests and to coal exports.

We ask for serious action on climate change from our parliamentarians, before our future is thrown away



Climate change is a threat with far-reaching consequences, both now and in the future. This is disturbing particularly to Australia’s youth, as it is they who will bear the brunt of these consequences.

Activists from VISEN will travel to Canberra early next year to deliver the petition to the Federal Government.