Copenhagen - the Wave, the Flood & the petition
Cam Walker
I hesitate to add to the mad flurry of pre-Copenhagen emails that are
out there, but just wanted to let you know about what FoE is planning
around the talks, and invite you sign our climate justice petition.
As we know, at the climate change summit in Copenhagen, world leaders
will make decisions affecting the future of our planet. They will have
an historic opportunity to commit to actions that help to protect us
from the disastrous consequences of dangerous climate change. We all
also know that the likelihood of a good outcome is becoming ever more
unlikely. This is not a reason to let our political leaders off the hook
- we need to do the opposite, and continue to build pressure, in
demanding an outcome that will be based on doing what climate science
tells us is necessary and which enshrines the principles of climate justice.
The following is a range of information and actions that may be of interest
wishing you the best, regards
Cam
deep cuts - no offsets
----
PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION
We now have more than 30,000 signatures on our climate justice petition
to world leaders (including Kevin Rudd). If you haven't already signed
on it would be great if you would consider doing so.
http://www.foe.co.uk/climatetalks/petition.html
----
ACTION AT COPENHAGEN
FoE International will have more than 450 activists attending the
Copenhagen talks - doing media and lobbying, organising parallel events,
and largely joining the mass mobilisations outside the talks. We have
tried to minimise plane travel, and the vast majority of those attending
are from Europe. However, we have a solid delegation from around the
world who will be inside the talks.
You can track our activity here via the FoE International blog:
http://www.foei.org/blog
Or the blog from FoE England campaigner Dominic:
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/news/copenhagen_blog_dominic.html
FoE Australia info is here (including our postcard to Kevin Rudd):
http://www.foe.org.au/climate-justice/copenhagen-climate-negotiations
There will be daily highlights here: http://twitter.com/FoEAustralia
----
the 'Flood' comes to Copenhagen
FoEI has been inviting people to come to Copenhagen to help build
pressure on governments to find fair solutions to the climate crisis.
We believe that rich industrialised countries, which have historically
emitted the most greenhouse gases, must agree to urgent and dramatic
cuts in their emissions starting NOW. This is fundamental if we are to
prevent the most devastating effects of global warming, in particular on
the world’s most impoverished and vulnerable people.
People can influence our governments and hold them to account. Together,
many drops can make a flood of public opinion that cannot be ignored.
That’s why Friends of the Earth International is organising a ‘Flood for
climate justice’ in Copenhagen on Saturday December 12, 2009.
Check here for details on the massive Flood mobilisation:
http://www.foei.org/en/what-we-do/un-climate-talks/global/2009/join-us-in-copenhagen-for-the-flood
----
riding the wave to Copenhagen
As part of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, FoE is participating in its
own version of the Flood action in London on 5 December: called 'The
Wave'. It is hoped this will be the biggest demonstration about climate
change the UK has ever seen. It will include a march through London
followed by thousands of demonstrators encircling Parliament to give the
Government an unmistakable message that we want a strong and fair deal
in Copenhagen.
Details here:
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/news/wave_meeting_point_21805.html
----
cast your vote in the angry mermaid award
Vote for the company or lobby group you think is doing the most to
sabotage effective action on climate change.
The Angry Mermaid Award has been set up to recognise the perverse role
of corporate lobbyists, and highlight those business groups and
companies that have made the greatest effort to sabotage the climate
talks, and other climate measures, while promoting, often profitable,
false solutions.
The award is named after the iconic mermaid statue in Copenhagen - where
crucial climate talks will take place this December. The mermaid is
angry about the destruction being caused by climate change.
Tell us who you think is the biggest culprit by casting your vote online
now!
----
DEEP CUTS ARE POSSIBLE
FoE Europe has just released a report showing that cuts of 40% are
possible in the short term:
http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2009/Dec01_New_study_shows_40_emission_cuts_possible.html
Using detailed modeling the study describes a comprehensive pathway for
Europe to achieve 40% emissions cuts through a combination of radical
improvements in energy efficiency, the accelerated phase-out of fossil
fuels, a dramatic shift towards renewable energies, and lifestyle changes.
--
SOME ACTIONS & UPDATES HERE IN AUSTRALIA
>> Carbon trading failure is an opportunity for real action
Friends of the Earth has welcomed yesterdays rejection by the Senate of
the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) legislation and called on
the government to switch to a Plan B on climate.
“The government’s carbon trading plan was so compromised by the big
polluters it would have locked in a high polluting economy on climate
change”, Damien Lawson, national climate justice coordinator said today.
“The targets were too low, the compensation for the big polluters too
high and the loopholes too large to allow the bill to pass.”
“Allowing polluters unlimited access to international carbon credits –
many of which are clearly flawed and have well documented negative
environmental and human rights impacts - is the biggest loophole in the
scheme.”
“Even before the deal with the Liberals, Treasury modeling showed that
Australian emissions would not begin to decline under the scheme until
well past 2030.”
“The Coalition’s motivation for blocking the legislation is wrong but
the result is an opportunity for the government to implement real action
to cut carbon pollution.”
“The government should not use the failure to pass the legislation as an
excuse for inaction.”
You can see our release here:
http://www.foe.org.au/media-releases/2009-media-release/carbon-trading-failure-is-an-opportunity-for-real-action
>> Climate Justice Action [Sydney, Dec 15]
Take action for climate justice in Sydney during the Copenhagen
International Climate Negotiations on Tuesday December 15th from 12
midday at Customs Square.
WHEN: Tuesday December 15 Lunchtime 12 midday
WHERE: Meet at Customs Square (Opp. Circular Quay Station)
CONTACT: scarlet.wilcock[at]gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.sydney.foe.org.au
Xmas has definitely come early for big climate polluters and carbon
trading profiteers; with billions in handouts & new profits in big
carbon markets. With dodgy forest ‘offsets’ this Xmas, banks can finally
grow money on trees!
Join the Xmas Celebration in a fun-filled lunchtime action at the Sydney
CDB offices of Kevin Rudd; carbon traders Merrill Lynch and Macquarie
Bank; and the Xmas favourite fossil-fuel financier - the World Bank.
We’ll be singing carbon trading Xmas carols, learning about ‘offsets’
and carbon trading, riding a sleigh-full of coal through the CBD, and
attempting to trade in Xmas trees for ‘permits to pollute’ in the big
banks. You can bring a Xmas tree and dress festive!
Market-based approaches to climate change are dominating the UN climate
talks. Sydney-based carbon traders and financiers will be in Copenhagen
to lock-in false solutions and trillions in profits for financial and
fossil fuel institutions. We can’t trade our way out of climate change.
This December join us for action in Sydney, alongside tens of thousands
of others on the streets of Copenhagen and across the world, to put
justice back into the climate.
>> climate justice cinema [Sydney, Dec 12]
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Time: 3:00pm - 6:30pm
Location: Abraham Mott Hall
Street: 17 Argyle Place, Millers Point (Circular Quay / The Rocks)
Think you may have trouble copin' and hopin' post-Copenhagen?
Friends of the Earth Sydney certainly does. So, we have organised a
relaxed and fun afternoon of Christmas punch, cheese and climate justice
cinema to help us explore, question, laugh and frown at some of the
challenges we, as a movement, may come up against post-Copenhagen.
In particular, we want to start a conversation about the politics of
carbon trading and climate justice. Carbon trading has come to dominate
climate politics in Australia, at Copenhagen and across the world.
More info here: http://www.sydney.foe.org.au/
>> walk against warming [national, Dec 12]
12 December is D-Day for the planet as world leaders meet in Copenhagen
to do a global deal on climate change.
While they talk the talk, we're walking the walk all over the world,
from New York to Tokyo, Mumbai to Paris and all over Australia. So get
your walking shoes on and be part of the most important Walk Against
Warming ever.
Check here for details on your local walk.
http://www.walkagainstwarming.org/
>> Ride Planet Earth: Melbourne
Sunday, December 6th 2009, Bike Ride begins at 1pm at the Melbourne
Museum, Carlton, followed by music and speeches at the Edinburgh
Gardens, Fitzroy from 2pm
On August 10th, 2008, Kim Nguyen got on his push bike and began riding
north from Brisbane with the aim of reaching Copenhagen by December,
2009, in order to spread awareness of climate change around the world.
Ride Planet Earth, the project that Kim started last year, is about to
come to a close as he reaches his destination on December 6th, the day
before the COP15 United Nation's Climate Change Conference.
Melbournians will have the opportunity to show their support for the
Ride Planet Earth project by attending “Ride Melbourne,” on Sunday
December 6th, the event will coincide with similar events being held
around Australia and the world.
Ride Melbourne will begin at 1pm with a bike ride, assembling at the
eastern side of the Melbourne Museum entrance, Carlton, and progressing
to the Edinburgh Gardens, Fitzroy, at 2pm where attendees can enjoy
performances from local bands including Casual Projects and Mechanical
Pterodactyl.
These will be interspersed with speakers from Friends of the Earth,
Oxfam, and other key organisations dealing with climate change.
For more information visit www.rideplanetearth.org