Australia Makes A Mark

Something big is afoot in Australia. On Tuesday 28th August, in Sydney and in Melbourne four giant 'carbon footprints' appeared amongst the commuter throng. The footprints were to mark the launch of Change the World 9 to 5 and were compiled of 4,000 recycled boxes. Inside each box was an action and inside each action was a step – to tackle climate change and care for a colleague, to encourage creativity and share your lunch, to take the stairs and use less staples, to make work more humane and the world more habitable.

Change the World 9 to 5 follows on from where Change the World for Ten Bucks left off, with 50 small actions that people can make in their workaday life. The formula is simple: small changes x lots of people = BIG change. And lots of small steps do equal a sizeable, station-sized footprint.

Eliza Anderson, We Are What We Do spokesperson, took to the podium to galvanise Australia with some healthy, change-driving rivalry. Change the World from 9 to 5 was released in the UK ten months ago and since launch 135,000 work actions have been recorded by Brits - so on average 13,500 actions a month. We believe Australians can do even better!

We are encouraging as many Aussies as possible to take up the Change the World 9 to 5 Challenge and register the actions they undertake at www.wearewhatwedo.org.au. A national tally will be displayed on the website's homepage, so all Australians can keep track of progress. If every working adult completed just one action over the next month, we're confident we'd show the world that Australia is leading the way in positive change for the future.

Big Issue vendors were on hand throughout the day to sell the book in an embodiment of Action 85 (support small business) and people thronged to buy Change the World from 9 to 5 for their bosses and colleagues and to give in work meetings, as a byword for better business and a world-changing greeting. Welcome Australia.