What can be said in three words? President Barack Obama built a campaign around three words: Yes, we can.
A majority of America believed in those words and many still do. The deal, err accord, that was created in Denmark as a result of COP15 was much less than what we called for: a FAIR, BINDING, JUST treaty.We have not lost hope, only multiplied our strength in numbers and our ambition to reach our goal by COP16 in Mexico City.
In addition, the crew of us in Copenhagen compiled a short video (put together by the talented -- and fun -- Jerry Stenger) to capture our experience, on the ground, as youth, at COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label copenhagen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label copenhagen. Show all posts
Monday, January 4, 2010
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Danish police raid Copenhagen climate campaigners' rooms
Article issued in the Guardian, 12.9.09
Police detain 200 activists at their Copenhagen accommodation and seize items they claim could be used for acts of civil disobedience
Danish police last night raided a climate campaigners' accommodation centre in Copenhagen, detaining 200 activists and seizing items which they claimed could be used for acts of civil disobedience.
About 200 police arrived at the shelter on Ragnhild Street, in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen, at 2.30am. They locked activists into the building for two hours, and searched some of the nearby properties. Campaigners say they took away various items including a power drill, an angle grinder, and some wooden props. No arrests were made.
A spokeswoman for Climate Justice Action (CJA), one of the activist groups, said: "People were enormously frightened and alarmed. We really don't know why the police handled it like this: the Danish government has provided this accommodation for activists and now the police are acting unnecessarily. We'll be asking for the items they confiscated back."
Police have confirmed the raid took place but have not yet issued a statement.
The centre on Ragnhild Street is one of a handful of sleeping spaces provided by the government for the protesters who are expected during the course of the summit. Activists estimate that between 30,000-40,000 protesters may arrive over the next couple of weeks. Hundreds of small-scale actions are planned, and three large-scale peaceful protests are also due to take place on Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday.
Police have said that although they will facilitate peaceful protest, they fear that an international extremist network may come to Copenhagen to join the peaceful protests then break away to commit acts of violence.
The head of the Police Intelligence Service (PET), Jakob Scharf, has said that "violent extremists will try to abuse and get a free ride on the peaceful activist involvement in the climate debate."
Scharf said he feared that peaceful protesters may end up in a battle zone between extremists and police.
Some activists have privately conceded that there may well be trouble at some of the upcoming demonstrations. But most strongly refute the idea that troublemakers are descending on Copenhagen. "We've found that to be a myth put about by people who are seeking to undermine the genuine reasons people are protesting," said Mel Evans of CJA. "We've issued a call out for people to take peaceful action on climate change and that's why they're coming here."
Danish police last night raided a climate campaigners' accommodation centre in Copenhagen, detaining 200 activists and seizing items which they claimed could be used for acts of civil disobedience.
About 200 police arrived at the shelter on Ragnhild Street, in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen, at 2.30am. They locked activists into the building for two hours, and searched some of the nearby properties. Campaigners say they took away various items including a power drill, an angle grinder, and some wooden props. No arrests were made.
A spokeswoman for Climate Justice Action (CJA), one of the activist groups, said: "People were enormously frightened and alarmed. We really don't know why the police handled it like this: the Danish government has provided this accommodation for activists and now the police are acting unnecessarily. We'll be asking for the items they confiscated back."
Police have confirmed the raid took place but have not yet issued a statement.
The centre on Ragnhild Street is one of a handful of sleeping spaces provided by the government for the protesters who are expected during the course of the summit. Activists estimate that between 30,000-40,000 protesters may arrive over the next couple of weeks. Hundreds of small-scale actions are planned, and three large-scale peaceful protests are also due to take place on Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday.
Police have said that although they will facilitate peaceful protest, they fear that an international extremist network may come to Copenhagen to join the peaceful protests then break away to commit acts of violence.
The head of the Police Intelligence Service (PET), Jakob Scharf, has said that "violent extremists will try to abuse and get a free ride on the peaceful activist involvement in the climate debate."
Scharf said he feared that peaceful protesters may end up in a battle zone between extremists and police.
Some activists have privately conceded that there may well be trouble at some of the upcoming demonstrations. But most strongly refute the idea that troublemakers are descending on Copenhagen. "We've found that to be a myth put about by people who are seeking to undermine the genuine reasons people are protesting," said Mel Evans of CJA. "We've issued a call out for people to take peaceful action on climate change and that's why they're coming here."
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Climate Justice Fast Prayer
The Climate Justice Fast crew has a message that shows their message down to their bare bones. The ability to go for over a month (today is DAY 33 for the three lead fasters) on only water and maintain sound mind and energy truly spotlights the power of one's determination and dedication. Below is an interfaith, non-denominational prayer written by the fasters to help participants here in Copenhagen maintain a solid grounding while working towards a global decision and solution.
INTERFAITH CLIMATE PRAYER
INTERFAITH CLIMATE PRAYER
We offer this prayer to the spirit that binds us all together as humanity, whatever name this spirit may take in our individual faiths or spiritual system or beliefs.
We offer this prayer to our mother earth, and also to the shared spirit and the very core ethic of this great movement for positive change.
We know and deeply understand that our planet, our mother, is in a state of crisis and emergency. Her boundaries and rules have been pushed far beyond reason, she has not been respected, and for this we offer the deepest penance and apology. We offer our promise that we will work as hard as we can to rectify these past wrongs and to bring justice – climate justice – into being.
Therefore, we pray that all world citizens:
- may strive to educate themselves and that they are able to be educated.
- We pray that they find the wisdom to welcome new knowledge and ideas with opennessm redefine their values, challenge their lifestyles, and continually reassess their goals in life.
- We pray that they will broaden their perspectives, gain global consciousness and act in solidarity with brothers and sisters from all background. Feel connected with each other, with nature itself and our planet.
- We pray that they will look for the truth and join the growing global movement for change, that will bring us all into a sustainable future.
We pray that world leaders:
- will find the strength to fulfill their responsibility to lead, to reflect what science tells us is necessary, and at all times act with the long-term interests of their populations and future generations in mind.
- We pray that they may find the strength to be courageous, stepping outside of what may be ”politically pragmatic” or ”politically possible”, to instead take action and show real leadership that is bold and necessary.
Finally, we pray that in order to bring these changes into being, all of us, the people in this room and all of the people who are part of this beautiful movement all around the world,
- may find the courage to always speak the truth and to do so loudly,
- that we may act without fear,
- and that we may have the confidence of knowing that our vital work is the truth, and that it is in the best interests of all people and all peoples, all nations, in the best interest of all species of mother earth, and of nature itself, and in the best interests of all future generations.
Amen. (Latin for ´I agree´)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Indian Prime Minister Strikes a Strong Chord
Despite recent statements of doubt by President Barack Obama regarding the passing of a binding treaty in Copenhagen, Indian Prime Minister will push for a stronger stance when meeting with the President on Tuesday, November 24. Check out the article from the Indian Express:
Climate meet: India wants 'legally binding substantive' outcome
Agencies Posted online: Monday , Nov 23, 2009 at 1122 hrs
Washington : India does not endorse efforts to dilute expectations from the Copenhagen climate summit and is pushing for a "legally binding substantive" outcome, a matter that will be discussed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh talks with US President Barack Obama.
Coinciding with the Copenhagen meet, India is considering a legislation incorporating all its action plans and national missions aimed at reducing dependence on coal based fuels and "improving" the environment by 20 per cent by 2020.
During their meeting tomorrow, Singh and Obama will discuss what kind of outcome is expected from Copenhagen meet beginning on December 7, sources said. India and a number of developing countries want "legally binding substantive outcome" from the meet and do not endorse the recent statement by the US and other APEC nations that a mere political declaration would do.
The sources said that India does not want the world to give up with regard to Copenhagen meet, as is being done by some countries.
India feels that there is still time for Copenhagen conference, particularly its high-level segment beginning on December 16, and efforts should be made to push the negotiations for an outcome mandated by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Bali action plan.
There should be no attempt to pre-empt the Copenhagen meet as 192 countries are involved in it and the consensus would be required even if it is not possible to achieve a legally binding declaration at Copenhagen, some consensus should be arrived at the end, the sources said.
The effort should be to see "how far we can go", they said.
"We should try to get the maximum from Copenhagen and the template should continue to be UNFCCC and Bali action Plan," a source said.
On its part, India does not wish to see any outcome that will diminish the prospect of its development. If the Copenhagen meet fails to arrive at legally binding outcome it should pave the way for such results in the next six months or so. UNFCCC provides for countries furnishing their domestic commitments about what they have done in the past and what they intend to do in the future.
India is willing to adhere to this even if the national commitments have to be submitted periodically.
The sources pointed out India already has a domestic action plan which is voluntary and aimed at specific target. These include solar mission and green India vision which are aimed at "improving" environment by 20 per cent by 2020.
The government plans to encapsulate the various climate action plan in the form of a legislation, the sources said. They said India and the US bilaterally have conversion of views on climate issue even though they may differ at multilateral negotiations.
Both countries agree that there is an inter-link between climate change and energy security and the necessity of use of technology to fight this problem. The sources emphasised that there was critical consensus in India over how to approach Copenhagen meet notwithstanding a recent statement by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh which created confusion before he issued a clarification.
Coinciding with the Copenhagen meet, India is considering a legislation incorporating all its action plans and national missions aimed at reducing dependence on coal based fuels and "improving" the environment by 20 per cent by 2020.
During their meeting tomorrow, Singh and Obama will discuss what kind of outcome is expected from Copenhagen meet beginning on December 7, sources said. India and a number of developing countries want "legally binding substantive outcome" from the meet and do not endorse the recent statement by the US and other APEC nations that a mere political declaration would do.
The sources said that India does not want the world to give up with regard to Copenhagen meet, as is being done by some countries.
India feels that there is still time for Copenhagen conference, particularly its high-level segment beginning on December 16, and efforts should be made to push the negotiations for an outcome mandated by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Bali action plan.
There should be no attempt to pre-empt the Copenhagen meet as 192 countries are involved in it and the consensus would be required even if it is not possible to achieve a legally binding declaration at Copenhagen, some consensus should be arrived at the end, the sources said.
The effort should be to see "how far we can go", they said.
"We should try to get the maximum from Copenhagen and the template should continue to be UNFCCC and Bali action Plan," a source said.
On its part, India does not wish to see any outcome that will diminish the prospect of its development. If the Copenhagen meet fails to arrive at legally binding outcome it should pave the way for such results in the next six months or so. UNFCCC provides for countries furnishing their domestic commitments about what they have done in the past and what they intend to do in the future.
India is willing to adhere to this even if the national commitments have to be submitted periodically.
The sources pointed out India already has a domestic action plan which is voluntary and aimed at specific target. These include solar mission and green India vision which are aimed at "improving" environment by 20 per cent by 2020.
The government plans to encapsulate the various climate action plan in the form of a legislation, the sources said. They said India and the US bilaterally have conversion of views on climate issue even though they may differ at multilateral negotiations.
Both countries agree that there is an inter-link between climate change and energy security and the necessity of use of technology to fight this problem. The sources emphasised that there was critical consensus in India over how to approach Copenhagen meet notwithstanding a recent statement by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh which created confusion before he issued a clarification.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
the expedition has begun
Greetings to friends near and far,My name is Jamie Racine, and I have been chosen to represent Wisconsin/Midwest/US youth at COP 15, the international climate control negotiations, in Copenhagen, Denmark this December. (http://en.cop15.dk/frontpa
These negotiations, hosted by the United Nations, will be of key importance as we figure out globally the actions we are going to take to slow climate change after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. This meeting will be among the most important of our time. I will be one of ten students representing the Midwest and the Will Steger Foundation (www.willstegerfoundation.
As one of two Wisconsin delegates, I will be working with Wisconsin schools throughout the fall to educate students about the negotiations and facilitate discussions on these issues and what should be done. I will also build support for climate change solutions as we work with networks of local college students throughout the fall.
So, what will I be able to do as a delegate in Copenhagen? I will have access to many negotiation meetings as well as outside events hosted by organizations from around the world. I will meet with youth delegations from many other countries and create a global youth platform describing our stances on the issues being negotiated. One of my most important jobs will be to get word out about what is happening and the importance of what is being decided.
I hope some of you will tune in to what will become more regular updates on this expedition. If there is any part of this journey (whether locally or during the two weeks in Copenhagen) that you would be particularly interested to hear about, please let me know! Likewise, if there is a publication or news source where you get stellar eco and climate news, please pass that on to me as well. All resources are needed to rock this out in a real way! Much more information to come soon.
Ever forward, Jamie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
