We recently witnessed the collapse of an ice shelf the size of a small country fall into the Southern Antarctic Ocean. We’re sure millions of mothers had the same reaction: what does this mean for the future of our children and for all those who come after us’?

When Coni Forcey, mother of three and Co-Founder of the Bayside Climate Change Action Group met up with Deborah Hart, mother of two and Founder of the City of Port Phillip based LIVE (Locals into Victoria’s Environment), the two decided that with Mother's Day coming up, they’d tell their families and partners to forget breakfast in bed, or flowers or candy: What they really want is to see the climate crisis solved now!

To raise awareness and galvanize action around the solutions to global warming, the duo have put out the call to others to come together at Federation Square for half an hour 12:15pm 11th May 2008. Brigitte Duclos, co-host of Mix 101.1FM’s breakfast radio program, Two Women & A Metro, will host, and keynote speakers will join us to voice their concerns about the impacts of climate change on future generations.

Coni Forcey: “I don’t know about your family, but in ours: “if momma ain’t happy, AIN’T NOBODY HAPPY. And I won’t be happy until the government gets real about the serious threat that is climate change and starts taking the advice of the leading scientists and environmental experts about how to solve it”

Deborah Hart adds “We have the solutions... use less energy and switch to renewable energy. We don’t need more roads, we need better public transportation. As a community we ought to be ashamed that Australia is among the world's worst per capita greenhouse gas emitters because over 90% of our electricity comes from burning coal. Why are our decision makers so married to polluting coal when Australia is arguably the sunniest and windiest nation on Earth?”

Coni Forcey: “Harnessing the power of women is a positive way of getting the urgency of the message across on an issue they feel strongly about. Participating in something like this makes people feel empowered – that they’re voicing their concerns about a serious issue, especially on behalf of their children.”

Deborah Hart agrees “While women make up 52% of the population the fact remains that women are under-represented in parliaments where environmental policy is largely determined. Further, our governments are vastly underestimating the depth of women's concerns about the climate crisis. That is going to have to change.”

You don’t have to be a mother to join us, it’s enough to have had one! Attendees are asked to bring along a large photo of their children to hold up for a group photograph with the message “Save the planet for their sake!"

Supported by Federation Square, The Victorian Women’s Trust, Environment Victoria and Greenpeace, the rally should only take about ½ an hour. “And then you can take mum off for lunch”, Deborah Hart suggests.