CENTRAL Victorian individuals, schools and businesses are joining a world-wide movement to divest in fossil fuel and the organisations which fund the industry's expansion.
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The Castlemaine branch of 350.org, a group working to move to renewable forms of energy, will launch the Central Victorian Fossil Fuel Free Charter in the steps of the Castlemaine Market Building at noon tomorrow.
The charter is timed to coincided with 350.org's global divestment day on February 13 and 14 - a 24-hour period where people world-wide are encouraged to make a pledge to withdraw their investment in companies which directly or indirectly supported the fossil fuel industry.
Bernard Tonkin of Castlemaine 350.org said banks, electricity retailers and super funds who invested money in fossil fuel industries were helping to drive climate change, but divestment could change that.
"The power of the divestment strategy is that anyone, anywhere can participate, by putting your money to use with the power companies, banks and other institutions that are working for a better future for the planet," he said.
Mr Tonkin said the charter pledging divestment would be available to central Victorians to download and sign, with the website www.centralvictoriadivest.org set to go live later today.
"The charter provides and avenue to participate in a global movement, and builds on our regional identity as we work toward a sustainable future," he said.
"It's for the whole community, your workplace,your organisation, kinder, community, church or workplace to sign.
"You can print it off and sign it. It’s a way of empowering people that their personal divestment efforts can be targeted and pressure decision makers that this is broad and deep, this concern about action on climate."
Mount Alexander Sustainability Group's Andrew McKenna said the global divestment movement had taken off in Australia, and there had been a good amount of interest in the central Victoria region in the past year.
"It's becoming a mass exodus from companies fueling climate change," he said.
"The message is starting to get through that funding these companies is not on."
He said about 60 to 100 people were expected to turnout at the charter's launch in Castlemaine.
"A few doctors surgeries have already signed on, we're expecting some of those staff to be there," he said.
He also said a couple of local vets had signed on, as well as a local kindergarten, and a school had shown interest.
