Blue Mountains Gazette

Baglady's impassioned plea for action on Climate Change

SHOCKING: Shirley Lewis aka Baglady highlights a binful of throwaway coffee cups and lids, heading for landfill on a festive day in the Blue Mountains.
SHOCKING: Shirley Lewis aka Baglady highlights a binful of throwaway coffee cups and lids, heading for landfill on a festive day in the Blue Mountains.

This is sponsored content for Baglady Productions.

You learn a lot from ageing. You see a lot of changes. Trust me, at 73 I know a bit about this!

In my life, things that were once the stuff of science fiction have become reality.

We've built taller buildings, spanned oceans in hours, cured diseases, brought species back from the brink of extinction, made technological advances, explored the deepest pits of the ocean and sent probes to explore the galaxy.

Some of the greatest threats to our existence have been confronted and overcome. When we take decisive action, we can do almost anything we set our minds to.

Life has taught me that every great achievement, every journey, every enduring symbol of peace or act of kindness, began with an affirmation and an action, from an ordinary person, just like you or me.

That's why I am calling on the residents of the Blue Mountains to lead the world when it comes to facing our greatest threat as a species: climate change. To join in my new campaign to highlight the actions of everyday people.

Katoomba: Sue Wildman walks to work whenever she can.
Katoomba: Sue Wildman walks to work whenever she can.

What are you doing that you're proud of? And what do you need to do better?

Each little thing we do, counts. Each time we save a bit of energy or water or food; each time we say no to a plastic bag or pointless packaging; each time we walk or ride a bike instead of taking yet another car trip, reduces our impact on the planet.

We need to become more aware of how vital it is to Live ASAP - As Sustainably As Possible - and we need to encourage each other. We need to act individually but also as a community. We need to lead by example.

Two easy ways we can all help in Living ASAP

1. Take a photo

I want you - dear reader - neighbour - friend - to let me and everybody else know what you're doing that is sustainable? What are you most proud of? More importantly, what are you least proud of? What can you do better?

Whether it's drinking from a reusable coffee cup or conserving energy by switching your devices off at the wall; whether it's planting a garden or separating out your recycling properly; whether it's walking to work or finding a better use for plastic lids and meat trays, every little bit counts.

As residents of a World Heritage Area, where many thousands of people now visit every week, we have a special responsibility to inspire everyone we possibly can, to pass on to our grandchildren a planet that is safe for generations to come.

To participate, please send photos of yourself and or family and friends taking action to Facebook or Instagram.

2. Share and talk about this with friends and family

In the coming month, to May 22, I'll be contacting everyone I possibly can, to ask for your help with this world story! We all know people who care about our children's future.

Here are five heroes featured in The Blue Mountain Gazette advertisements in December 2018. Note: both schools are in Queensland. Blue Mountains and Plains school students - send us your photos - quick! And yes, tell everyone: We have something to be proud of!

Baglady's impassioned plea for action on Climate Change
Baglady's impassioned plea for action on Climate Change
Baglady's impassioned plea for action on Climate Change
Baglady's impassioned plea for action on Climate Change
Baglady's impassioned plea for action on Climate Change
Baglady's impassioned plea for action on Climate Change
Baglady's impassioned plea for action on Climate Change
Baglady's impassioned plea for action on Climate Change
  • Shirley Lewis AKA Baglady is a local environmental activist and educator who has led the way on the issue for much of her adult life, working on campaigns in both Australia and Northern Ireland.

This is sponsored content for Baglady Productions.