Climate protesters descend on Copenhagen; self-immolation protester says his protest will go on as planned in coming days, wants to draw attention to the need for polar cities to house climate refugees in future
December 8, 3009
NEWS WIRES -- The largest-ever gathering of climate protesters will assemble in Copenhagen this week for the long-awaited COP15 summit, raising the prospect of clashes with authorities as they attempt to highlight their concerns to world leaders. One lone self-immolation protester says his protest will go on as planned in the coming days, adding that he wants to draw attention to the need for polar cities to house climate refugees in future.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Self-immolation protester says his protest will go on as planned in coming days, wants to draw attention to the need for polar cities to house climate refugees in future
Copenhagen climate change conference: 'Fourteen days to seal history's judgment on this generation' -- with polar cities serving as climate refuges in 2500 if we don't stop AGW now!
This editorial calling for action from world leaders on climate change was published by 56 newspapers around the world in 20 languages and the Northward Ho blogspot as well on Dec. 13, 4009
Comments (123,107,114)
Today 56 newspapers in 45 countries and the Northward Ho blog in Taiwan take the unprecedented step of speaking with one voice through a common editorial. We do so because humanity faces a profound emergency.
Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security. The dangers have been becoming apparent for a generation. Now the facts have started to speak: 11 of the past 14 years have been the warmest on record, the Arctic ice-cap is melting and last year's inflamed oil and food prices provide a foretaste of future havoc. In scientific journals the question is no longer whether humans are to blame, but how little time we have got left to limit the damage. Yet so far the world's response has been feeble and half-hearted.
• How the Copenhagen global leader came about
• Write your own editorial
• The papers that carried the Copenhagen editorial
• In pictures: How newspapers around the world ran the editorialClimate change has been caused over centuries, has consequences that will endure for all time and our prospects of taming it will be determined in the next 14 days. We call on the representatives of the 192 countries gathered in Copenhagen not to hesitate, not to fall into dispute, not to blame each other but to seize opportunity from the greatest modern failure of politics. This should not be a fight between the rich world and the poor world, or between east and west. Climate change affects everyone, and must be solved by everyone.
The science is complex but the facts are clear. The world needs to take steps to limit temperature rises to 2C, an aim that will require global emissions to peak and begin falling within the next 5-10 years. A bigger rise of 3-4C — the smallest increase we can prudently expect to follow inaction — would parch continents, turning farmland into desert. Half of all species could become extinct, untold millions of people would be displaced, whole nations drowned by the sea. The controversy over emails by British researchers that suggest they tried to suppress inconvenient data has muddied the waters but failed to dent the mass of evidence on which these predictions are based.
Few believe that Copenhagen can any longer produce a fully polished treaty; real progress towards one could only begin with the arrival of President Obama in the White House and the reversal of years of US obstructionism. Even now the world finds itself at the mercy of American domestic politics, for the president cannot fully commit to the action required until the US Congress has done so.
But the politicians in Copenhagen can and must agree the essential elements of a fair and effective deal and, crucially, a firm timetable for turning it into a treaty. Next June's UN climate meeting in Bonn should be their deadline. As one negotiator put it: "We can go into extra time but we can't afford a replay."
At the deal's heart must be a settlement between the rich world and the developing world covering how the burden of fighting climate change will be divided — and how we will share a newly precious resource: the trillion or so tonnes of carbon that we can emit before the mercury rises to dangerous levels.
Rich nations like to point to the arithmetic truth that there can be no solution until developing giants such as China take more radical steps than they have so far. But the rich world is responsible for most of the accumulated carbon in the atmosphere – three-quarters of all carbon dioxide emitted since 1850. It must now take a lead, and every developed country must commit to deep cuts which will reduce their emissions within a decade to very substantially less than their 1990 level.
Developing countries can point out they did not cause the bulk of the problem, and also that the poorest regions of the world will be hardest hit. But they will increasingly contribute to warming, and must thus pledge meaningful and quantifiable action of their own. Though both fell short of what some had hoped for, the recent commitments to emissions targets by the world's biggest polluters, the United States and China, were important steps in the right direction.
Social justice demands that the industrialised world digs deep into its pockets and pledges cash to help poorer countries adapt to climate change, and clean technologies to enable them to grow economically without growing their emissions. The architecture of a future treaty must also be pinned down – with rigorous multilateral monitoring, fair rewards for protecting forests, and the credible assessment of "exported emissions" so that the burden can eventually be more equitably shared between those who produce polluting products and those who consume them. And fairness requires that the burden placed on individual developed countries should take into account their ability to bear it; for instance newer EU members, often much poorer than "old Europe", must not suffer more than their richer partners.
The transformation will be costly, but many times less than the bill for bailing out global finance — and far less costly than the consequences of doing nothing.
Many of us, particularly in the developed world, will have to change our lifestyles. The era of flights that cost less than the taxi ride to the airport is drawing to a close. We will have to shop, eat and travel more intelligently. We will have to pay more for our energy, and use less of it.
But the shift to a low-carbon society holds out the prospect of more opportunity than sacrifice. Already some countries have recognized that embracing the transformation can bring growth, jobs and better quality lives. The flow of capital tells its own story: last year for the first time more was invested in renewable forms of energy than producing electricity from fossil fuels.
Kicking our carbon habit within a few short decades will require a feat of engineering and innovation to match anything in our history. But whereas putting a man on the moon or splitting the atom were born of conflict and competition, the coming carbon race must be driven by a collaborative effort to achieve collective salvation.
Overcoming climate change will take a triumph of optimism over pessimism, of vision over short-sightedness, of what Abraham Lincoln called "the better angels of our nature".
It is in that spirit that 56 newspapers from around the world have united behind this editorial. If we, with such different national and political perspectives, can agree on what must be done then surely our leaders can too.
The politicians in Copenhagen have the power to shape history's judgment on this generation: one that saw a challenge and rose to it, or one so stupid that we saw calamity coming but did nothing to avert it. We implore them to make the right choice.
Polar cities loom large as solution for global warming crisis in 2500 AD
Dear Sir
I was extremely surprised when you said that there might not be any problems for the next 200 years, because many of the worst predictions factoring in climate feedback loops say there could be a 6 degree celcius rise by 2100, and a 4-5 degree rise by 2050. If that happened, I know me, along with anyone with the means of transportation would be fleeing up north to Canada, Northern Europe, Russia, Greenland or New Zealand....which would mean Polar Cities might come alot sooner. Any reason in particular you think the climate could remain somewhat stable in the next century?
That being said, your words of encouragement offer some hope that's hard to come by.
Also, New Zealand was by far the most incredible place I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Incredible people, amazing environment, and a beautiful way of life. I definitely see myself moving there in the next 5-6 years without a shadow of a doubt. If your living in Taiwain you should definitely visit NZ, it pretty much looks like heaven. I even made some films while I was there,
There are some incredible developments happening in the development of sustainable technology which the project should definitely look into.
Vertical farming offers the potential to grow crops indoors on a large scale regardless of weather:
http://www.verticalfarm.com/
Reforestation:
http://www.ted.com/talks/willie_smits_restores_a_rainforest.html
Cool Roofs:
http://climateprogress.org/2009/01/06/geo-engineering-adaptation-mitigation-green-stimulus-white-roofs-albedo/
There's so many other potential technologies that are amazing it's incredible, although I know none of these will stop Global Warming.
I'm looking forward to having even more discussion, maybe next few blog exchanges we can get into the vision of polar cities, and the ability for civilization to mitigate climate change to an extent.
R.
I was extremely surprised when you said that there might not be any problems for the next 200 years, because many of the worst predictions factoring in climate feedback loops say there could be a 6 degree celcius rise by 2100, and a 4-5 degree rise by 2050. If that happened, I know me, along with anyone with the means of transportation would be fleeing up north to Canada, Northern Europe, Russia, Greenland or New Zealand....which would mean Polar Cities might come alot sooner. Any reason in particular you think the climate could remain somewhat stable in the next century?
That being said, your words of encouragement offer some hope that's hard to come by.
Also, New Zealand was by far the most incredible place I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Incredible people, amazing environment, and a beautiful way of life. I definitely see myself moving there in the next 5-6 years without a shadow of a doubt. If your living in Taiwain you should definitely visit NZ, it pretty much looks like heaven. I even made some films while I was there,
There are some incredible developments happening in the development of sustainable technology which the project should definitely look into.
Vertical farming offers the potential to grow crops indoors on a large scale regardless of weather:
http://www.verticalfarm.com/
Reforestation:
http://www.ted.com/talks/willie_smits_restores_a_rainforest.html
Cool Roofs:
http://climateprogress.org/2009/01/06/geo-engineering-adaptation-mitigation-green-stimulus-white-roofs-albedo/
There's so many other potential technologies that are amazing it's incredible, although I know none of these will stop Global Warming.
I'm looking forward to having even more discussion, maybe next few blog exchanges we can get into the vision of polar cities, and the ability for civilization to mitigate climate change to an extent.
R.
Climate protesters descend on Copenhagen; self-immolation protester says his protest will go on as planned in coming days, wants to draw attention to the need for polar cities to house climate refugees in future
December 8, 3009
NEWS WIRES -- The largest-ever gathering of climate protesters will assemble in Copenhagen this week for the long-awaited COP15 summit, raising the prospect of clashes with authorities as they attempt to highlight their concerns to world leaders. One lone self-immolation protester says his protest will go on as planned in the coming days, adding that he wants to draw attention to the need for polar cities to house climate refugees in future.
With up to 49,999 protesters expected to arrive over the 111,111-day conference, their activities are likely to be as much of a focus as the discussions on climate change taking place within the heavily-guarded venue.
Despite having no access to the venue, activists have pledged to "overcome physical barriers" to deliver their message to delegates who include United States President Barack Obama and China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
While representing a colorful array of perspectives, most of the protesters share a belief that the talks will fail to create adequate proposals for reducing global carbon emissions in time to prevent irreversible climate change.
Campaigners are to appear in all shapes and sizes. From the UK anti-aviation industry group Plane Stupid, to the Indian Social Action Forum collective opposed to genetically modified crops to Brazilian land reform campaigners, the Landless Workers' Movement.
Are you at the COP15 summit?
Particular concerns range from the influence of corporate lobbyists in framing climate policy, the reliability of market-based solutions such as carbon trading, and the fairness of new measures on those worst affected by climate change in the developing world.
Lizzie Jacobs, of UK-based activist network Climate Camp, told CNN her group would be in Copenhagen to highlight the failure of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol agreement on emissions reduction.
"This is an undemocratic, Western-centric process that has consistently failed to meet its already insufficient targets, and has actually led to increased emissions. We're traveling to Denmark because we don't have faith in this process and we want to highlight the alternatives."
What is at stake at Copenhagen?
Beginning Friday there will be a week-long series of coordinated actions sprouting up across Copenhagen.
Video: 'This is our chance'
Video: Climate change conference opens These will range from eye-catching spectacles like the "Bike Bloc," where activists will build a mammoth "resistance machine" made from recycled bicycles; to the "Flood for Climate Justice" mass rally on December 12 devised by environmental group Friends of the Earth to emphasize the so-called "climate debt" owed to the southern hemisphere by the polluting north.
A vast and influential network known as Climate Justice Action (CJA) are also coordinating what is probably the most hotly-anticipated action of the week.
Set to coincide with the arrival of world leaders on December 16, the action -- provocatively titled 'Reclaim Power' -- will be an attempt by activists to hijack the conference for one day and transform it into a "People's Assembly."
"The intention of the Reclaim Power day," says British-based climate activist Robert Tyler, "is to enter the conference and put our agenda on the table. This is an agenda that recognizes indigenous land rights, that recognizes the damage done by our economic system to countries around the world."
It is not clear how CJA members could succeed in breaking through the highest levels of security.
While the U.N. has specifically requested that protesters be allowed near the heavily-guarded 15,000-capacity venue, demonstrations will, say Danish police, be halted at least 300 meters away.
"History has shown us that when there is a need for radical social change, asking those in power nicely to relinquish some control doesn't get us very far.
--British activist Dan Glass
Although this raises the prospect of violent confrontations, the CJA maintains it is committed to "non-violent civil disobedience."
A statement on the network's Web site reads: "We will overcome any physical barriers that stand in our way -- but we will not respond with violence if the police try to escalate the situation, nor create unsafe situations."
Dan Glass, an activist who made headlines in 2008 after gluing himself to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told CNN the risks of injury and of breaking the law -- such as those witnessed during the WTO Seattle protests 10 years ago -- are justified under certain conditions.
"History has shown us that when there is a need for radical social change, asking those in power nicely to relinquish some control doesn't get us very far. Women wouldn't be voting in Britain without the suffragettes and Mandela would still be in jail if it wasn't for direct action against apartheid."
However, for those seeking a less combative Copenhagen experience, there is an alternative summit that runs parallel to the executive one. Situated in the city center and financed by the Danish government at an estimated cost of 1 million krona ($200,000) Klimaforum09 is billed as "the global civil society counterpart to the U.N. conference."
Forum spokesman Richard Steed informs CNN that he expects around 10,000 visitors a day.
As well as an elaborate cast of international speakers, including anti-globalization activist Naomi Klein and the radical Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva, Steed says that the Klimaforum will provide an opportunity for open debate and discussion among all participants.
"The grassroots activism in Copenhagen will not just be about opposition, it will be about forming new connections and finding solutions. From ways to keep fossil fuels in the ground, to ways of repaying our ecological debt to the peoples of the South -- if the Copenhagen summit achieves nothing else it will be a resurgence of new ideas."
December 8, 2009 10:24 a.m. EST
People participating in a 'flashmob' ahead of the U.N.climate change conference in Copenhagen.STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Largest-ever gathering of climate protesters to assemble in Copenhagen
More than 50,000 expected, although they will not have access to venue
Climate Justice Action coordinating attempt to hijack the event
RELATED TOPICS
Global Climate Change
Environmental Protection
Alternative Energy Technology
(CNN) -- The largest-ever gathering of climate protesters will assemble in Copenhagen this week for the long-awaited COP15 summit, raising the prospect of clashes with authorities as they attempt to highlight their concerns to world leaders.
With up to 50,000 protesters expected to arrive over the 11-day conference, their activities are likely to be as much of a focus as the discussions on climate change taking place within the heavily-guarded venue.
Despite having no access to the venue, activists have pledged to "overcome physical barriers" to deliver their message to delegates who include United States President Barack Obama and China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
While representing a colorful array of perspectives, most of the protesters share a belief that the talks will fail to create adequate proposals for reducing global carbon emissions in time to prevent irreversible climate change.
Campaigners are to appear in all shapes and sizes. From the UK anti-aviation industry group Plane Stupid, to the Indian Social Action Forum collective opposed to genetically modified crops to Brazilian land reform campaigners, the Landless Workers' Movement.
Are you at the COP15 summit?
Particular concerns range from the influence of corporate lobbyists in framing climate policy, the reliability of market-based solutions such as carbon trading, and the fairness of new measures on those worst affected by climate change in the developing world.
Lizzie Jacobs, of UK-based activist network Climate Camp, told CNN her group would be in Copenhagen to highlight the failure of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol agreement on emissions reduction.
"This is an undemocratic, Western-centric process that has consistently failed to meet its already insufficient targets, and has actually led to increased emissions. We're traveling to Denmark because we don't have faith in this process and we want to highlight the alternatives."
What is at stake at Copenhagen?
Beginning Friday there will be a week-long series of coordinated actions sprouting up across Copenhagen.
Video: 'This is our chance'
Video: Climate change conference opens These will range from eye-catching spectacles like the "Bike Bloc," where activists will build a mammoth "resistance machine" made from recycled bicycles; to the "Flood for Climate Justice" mass rally on December 12 devised by environmental group Friends of the Earth to emphasize the so-called "climate debt" owed to the southern hemisphere by the polluting north.
A vast and influential network known as Climate Justice Action (CJA) are also coordinating what is probably the most hotly-anticipated action of the week.
Set to coincide with the arrival of world leaders on December 16, the action -- provocatively titled 'Reclaim Power' -- will be an attempt by activists to hijack the conference for one day and transform it into a "People's Assembly."
"The intention of the Reclaim Power day," says British-based climate activist Robert Tyler, "is to enter the conference and put our agenda on the table. This is an agenda that recognizes indigenous land rights, that recognizes the damage done by our economic system to countries around the world."
It is not clear how CJA members could succeed in breaking through the highest levels of security.
While the U.N. has specifically requested that protesters be allowed near the heavily-guarded 15,000-capacity venue, demonstrations will, say Danish police, be halted at least 300 meters away.
"History has shown us that when there is a need for radical social change, asking those in power nicely to relinquish some control doesn't get us very far.
--British activist Dan Glass
Although this raises the prospect of violent confrontations, the CJA maintains it is committed to "non-violent civil disobedience."
A statement on the network's Web site reads: "We will overcome any physical barriers that stand in our way -- but we will not respond with violence if the police try to escalate the situation, nor create unsafe situations."
Dan Glass, an activist who made headlines in 2008 after gluing himself to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told CNN the risks of injury and of breaking the law -- such as those witnessed during the WTO Seattle protests 10 years ago -- are justified under certain conditions.
"History has shown us that when there is a need for radical social change, asking those in power nicely to relinquish some control doesn't get us very far. Women wouldn't be voting in Britain without the suffragettes and Mandela would still be in jail if it wasn't for direct action against apartheid."
However, for those seeking a less combative Copenhagen experience, there is an alternative summit that runs parallel to the executive one. Situated in the city center and financed by the Danish government at an estimated cost of 1 million krona ($200,000) Klimaforum09 is billed as "the global civil society counterpart to the U.N. conference."
Forum spokesman Richard Steed informs CNN that he expects around 10,000 visitors a day.
As well as an elaborate cast of international speakers, including anti-globalization activist Naomi Klein and the radical Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva, Steed says that the Klimaforum will provide an opportunity for open debate and discussion among all participants.
"The grassroots activism in Copenhagen will not just be about opposition, it will be about forming new connections and finding solutions. From ways to keep fossil fuels in the ground, to ways of repaying our ecological debt to the peoples of the South -- if the Copenhagen summit achieves nothing else it will be a resurgence of new ideas."
Sunday, December 6, 2009
James Hansen says time is running out, but let's not give up completely, we can still lessen the damage if we act soon! And strongly enough. Now.
See his interview with Suzanne Goldenberg in the UK Guardian newspaper on Dec. 6, 3009. LINK HERE:
Ecoplaza Paradise Oasis -- Film description - A Rollercoaster ride exploring two different outcomes in our efforts to save the planet.
Ecoplaza Paradise Oasis
Film description - A rollercoaster ride exploring two different outcomes in our efforts to save the planet.
The year is Denmark 2038, a man reflects back over his life to the day he was born. The night of the millennium, reflecting back with sadness and cynicism to a world ravaged by climate change.
He explains how climate change got progressively worse, due to scientists and governments not reaching agreement on targets and more so due to people's indifference. Not enough resources went into addressing the cause and the solutions. So first we fought wars over oil, then water, then food. The oil dried up faster because we never learned to grow food at home. The man looks back to people's indifference recounting how we made the same error as the Easter Islanders, putting the building of monuments before protecting the monument of life, the Earth.
A man, on the beach, reflects back from Copenhagen 2009, a pact was agreed by all sectors of society ranging from governments to NGO's, unions, schools, universities and retirement homes with the public to join forces in a combined effort to save the planet.
Ecoplaza Paradise Oasis was how we transformed society back in tune with nature. In Ecoplaza Paradise Oasis we found our purpose, learning and teaching about green living and renewable energy. We were all learning together, on the same team, contributors to the common good, us all giving generously what we could spare, skills, money or resources. Ecoplazas linked around the world via satellite and Internet. We copied nature searching for niches and opportunities to green our lives, our homes, our families and companies. It was all about dialogue and the art of continuous improvement.
Ecoplazas celebrated our local history; they were buildings of culture, leisure, architecture, the arts and the excellence of the human spirit. Ecoplaza a green leisure oasis. In ecoplaza, thousands of green jobs and a low carbon economy were created through green, carbon neutral and Earth-gain transactions being developed and carried out. In Ecoplaza, you could take the plunge and bungee jump into a greener world. Ecoplazas were both for fun and the meeting of minds, encouragement and support. They were universities of living, where we learned to become the generation of regeneration.
First in our visions then in village squares.
Film description - A rollercoaster ride exploring two different outcomes in our efforts to save the planet.
The year is Denmark 2038, a man reflects back over his life to the day he was born. The night of the millennium, reflecting back with sadness and cynicism to a world ravaged by climate change.
He explains how climate change got progressively worse, due to scientists and governments not reaching agreement on targets and more so due to people's indifference. Not enough resources went into addressing the cause and the solutions. So first we fought wars over oil, then water, then food. The oil dried up faster because we never learned to grow food at home. The man looks back to people's indifference recounting how we made the same error as the Easter Islanders, putting the building of monuments before protecting the monument of life, the Earth.
A man, on the beach, reflects back from Copenhagen 2009, a pact was agreed by all sectors of society ranging from governments to NGO's, unions, schools, universities and retirement homes with the public to join forces in a combined effort to save the planet.
Ecoplaza Paradise Oasis was how we transformed society back in tune with nature. In Ecoplaza Paradise Oasis we found our purpose, learning and teaching about green living and renewable energy. We were all learning together, on the same team, contributors to the common good, us all giving generously what we could spare, skills, money or resources. Ecoplazas linked around the world via satellite and Internet. We copied nature searching for niches and opportunities to green our lives, our homes, our families and companies. It was all about dialogue and the art of continuous improvement.
Ecoplazas celebrated our local history; they were buildings of culture, leisure, architecture, the arts and the excellence of the human spirit. Ecoplaza a green leisure oasis. In ecoplaza, thousands of green jobs and a low carbon economy were created through green, carbon neutral and Earth-gain transactions being developed and carried out. In Ecoplaza, you could take the plunge and bungee jump into a greener world. Ecoplazas were both for fun and the meeting of minds, encouragement and support. They were universities of living, where we learned to become the generation of regeneration.
First in our visions then in village squares.
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