John Hepburn – Greenpeace’s Asia Pacific Climate & Energy Campaign Leader

John Hepburn key note speaker for Powershift '09

John worked as a mechanical engineer making components for the coal, oil and nuclear industries before becoming an environmental activist in the mid 1990’s. He co-founded a successful recycling business in Brisbane before moving to Sydney to work with Greenpeace. He has a strong interest in the politics of technology and in social movement strategy, and, like many, is extremely concerned about climate change. He currently co-ordinates the Greenpeace Australia Pacific climate change campaign.

Our favourite quotes from John:

“…The reason I’m here today, and I think the reason you’re all here today, is because we share a deep and profound love of life. And if you love something, you defend it…”

“So, if somebody tells you there is a solution to climate change that allows you to keep burning coal they are either lying, or stupid, or a combination of the two.”

“If we can put people on the moon, we can power our homes and our factories with energy from the sun, the wind and the waves. What we lack is the political will to do it.”

“Ultimately, it is people who are powerful. We give our power to politicians. When they fail to act in our interests, we have an obligation to take that power back.”

“People stood up, refused to take no for an answer, and they changed the world. And these fundamental freedoms have been won through social movements, and that is the kind of power shift we are here to create today, and that is the kind of power shift we need if we are going to solve the global climate crisis.’

“…If we can put people on the moon, we can power our homes and our factories with energy from the sun, the wind and the waves. What we lack is the political will to do it.”

“…Ultimately, it is people who are powerful. We give our power to politicians. When they fail to act in our interests, we have an obligation to take that power back.”

“People stood up, refused to take no for an answer, and they changed the world. And these fundamental freedoms have been won through social movements, and that is the kind of power shift we are here to create today, and that is the kind of power shift we need if we are going to solve the global climate crisis.”