November

Messages from Edinburgh

by Krista Stryker — last modified Nov 25, 2009 05:33 PM

A letter from Carl Dodd

by Krista Stryker — last modified Nov 25, 2009 02:40 PM

Can the world leaders deliver a truly useful agreement - that will ensure the world will become a fair and equitable place?

Can the vested interests of a few converge with the needs of the many?

Why is it that consumerism is flaunted as the means to prosperous and happy societies?

What ever the politicians say or do, it simply won't be enough to prevent the climate chaos that is coming. The only answer from the experts, to the financial crisis seemed to be pump in more money into a system that converted greed into wealth for a few. Did the world governments see this coming and avert their gaze? The resultant mess and confusion has cost the people of the world dearly, and it can't just be bad luck or a few people misleading the many. We colluded in it!

The slower, but much more devastating effects of the change in the climate will be tackled in an equally calamitous and shabby way.

Key questions to ask of our world leaders, who are enamored with money and power, are why are we not protecting the only resource we know to effectively capture carbon and increase our chances to stabilise the global warming - ( that might actually involve stopping the logging and destruction of all forms of rainforest, arboreal forests)?

What does the cap and trade ideology actually promote? Increasing consumerism, without technology transfer? And can we align desire to create wealth without a mechanism to actually distribute aid and compassion to the millions who will suffer because of the continuing global warming? Will we also collude in the misery of the wretched lives of millions least able to change their lot in life?

Why call this a message of hope then?

I feel that the seeds of change are planted in the fertile soils now. The people and institutions who actually matter and can influence are the actions of the millions who care are here amongst us.

We can distribute wealth to those who need it - we can shut out the illegal loggers and financial chancers who act against our common good. Easily! The technologies we need to transfer are not huge projects by multi nationals. If we refocus on local needs being solved and neighbours helping each other we create economic multipliers in the communities that need the money/resources' to improve their lives. We can protect the non human world by not "buying into" consuming it!

Climate change is unavoidable, and worryingly, it may not stay at the cosy two degrees in global warming the politicians hope for. We have a chance to change the structures and institutions that direct the efforts of the developed world - this is our task for the next 10-20 years. It will not avoid the pain, but recognise the needs for the future generations.

Sincerely,

Carl Dodd

Cambridge

UK

Messages from Glasgow

by Krista Stryker — last modified Nov 25, 2009 05:35 PM

Glasgow1

Five thousand people Flood Copenhagen for Climate Justice

by PhilLee — last modified Nov 19, 2009 04:35 PM

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More than five thousand people from around the world joined our Flood for climate justice on Saturday December 12 as we Flooded the streets of Copenhagen demanding climate justice and an end to offsetting carbon emissions.

Flood-1 The spectacular, blue-coloured crowd flooded through the streets of Copenhagen with a clear message to decision makers that offsetting carbon emissions – the practice whereby rich industrialised countries pay developing countries to cut emissions rather than making cuts at home – is unfair, and does l not lead to cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

We believe that carbon offsets, which currently form part of a UN climate agreement, do not lead to any overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The "flood for climate justice" was made up of Friends of the Earth activists from more than twenty different countries, as well as allies of Friends of the Earth from a wide range of social and environmental movements, and a large number of Danish people.

The floo Flood-2 d began outside the Klimaforum09, civil society climate conference, with speeches from our Chair Nnimmo Bassey, Henry Saragih, General Coordinator of La Via Campesina and Amparo Miciano, World March for Women to highlight the social and environmental impacts of climate change, and the struggle against false solutions such as carbon offsetting.

The participants, most of them dressed in blue ponchos, then 'flooded' through the streets of Copenhagen, in a colorful procession carrying flags and banners, chanting "Demand Climate Justice" and "No Offsetting". The event ended in front of the Danish Parliament with the creation of a massive human banner reading 'Offsetting is a false solution'.

The flood also carried messages from people who are directly affected by climate change, or who are struggling against false solutions such as carbon offsetting.

View some of these messages from the 'Climate capsule'

flood-3

Nnimmo Bassey, Friends of the Earth International chair, stated:

"Carbon offsetting has no benefits for the climate or for developing countries – it only benefits developed countries, carbon speculators and major polluters who want to continue business as usual. Friends of the Earth International denounces carbon offsetting as a false solution to the climate crisis, and urges governments to search for fair and sustainable solutions.”

Palle Bendsen from NOAH / friends of the Earth Denmark stated:

"It is amazing to see so many people from around the world coming together to form a flood of public opinion against offsetting and to demand climate justice in Copenhagen. The flood for climate justice sends a clear signal to decision makers that the world is watching, and we expect them to find fair and strong solutions to the urgent climate crisis.”