Filed under: Uncategorized
Today, on November 30, one week before the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen open, and on the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Organization (WTO) protest in Seattle in 1999, major demonstrations, teach-ins and civil disobedience are taking actions place in cities around the North America.
- Chicago, Illinois: Activists target Carbon Trading @ Chicago Climate Exchange – 12 arrested
- Denver, Colorado: Citizens ‘Die-in’ at Department of Public Health and Environment in Coal Protest
- Greensville, SC: Blockade of shipment of generator to Cliffside Coal Plant, 4 arrested
- San Francisco, CA: Two dozen arrested at blockade of Bank of America
- Whitby, Ontario: Sit-in for Climate Justice at Finance Minister’s Office
- Washington, DC: Downtown march targets major polluters and lobbyists
More updates are coming in from Bangor, Boston, New York City, Burlington, Seattle and other locales – you can read all the details at the Mobilization for Climate Justice (MCJ) website.
Donations are needed for arrestees! You can donate here via paypal!
Also, check out an interview interview with MCJ’s Ananda Tan and David Solnit on today’s broadcast on Democracy Now!
With the corporate media unlikely to give major coverage to such actions, we need you to spread the word! You can see the combined and growing photo gallery here and follow updates on facebook or twitter.
MCJ is a broad and diverse coalition of organizations working for social, environmental, economic and racial justice is calling for urgent action on the global climate crisis, based on equitable, democratic and science-based solutions.
As world leaders gather in Copenhagen, the people hit hardest by this crisis and the least responsible for its cause – working class, Indigenous and people of color communities around the world – have been systematically excluded and are demanding a voice at the table.
Meanwhile, the world’s major corporations have been dominating international and domestic climate policy – as they did in the international trade policy arena. Carbon-trading and carbon offset projects have already allowed these polluters to avoid cutting emissions and expand their markets into poor countries, accelerating corporate take-over of the world’s resources at the expense of local and Indigenous communities.”We cannot allow the world’s largest corporate polluters to continue robbing our children’s future,” stated Carla Perez of Movement Generation Justice and Ecology Project, who will be marching with her daughter in a parade of children and the Raging Grannies. “US corporations have been holding real climate solutions hostage, while burdening our communities with ongoing attacks on our health and livelihoods.”
Looking to get involved in the next action? Please follow www.actforclimatejustice.org to get involved!
Filed under: Uncategorized
Below you find the links to an illustrated article in two parts about the four mass activities in Copenhagen, the dynamics between them, between Danish political culture and international and the history of how these kinds of mass activities emerged.
Tord Björk, tord.bjork@mjv.se
active in Friends of the Earth Sweden and Klimaforum
The COP is naked part I – The Copenhagen People´s Revolution
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?p=742
The COP is naked part II how our ability to see it emerged
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?p=733
Filed under: Uncategorized
For regular updates & action reports go to…
Rising Tide North America
Mobilisation for Climate Justice
Mobilization for Climate Justice For immediate release November 30, 2009 Global Day of Action on Climate Crisis on November 30 On November 30, major demonstrations, teach-ins and civil disobedience actions will take place in nine cities around the U.S.—in Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Burlington, VT, two cities in Maine, and Washington DC, as well as several other countries—one week before the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen open, and on the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Organization (WTO) protest in Seattle in 1999. The Mobilization for Climate Justice, a broad and diverse coalition of organizations working for social, environmental, economic and racial justice is calling for urgent action on the global climate crisis, based on equitable, democratic and science-based solutions. As world leaders gather in Copenhagen, the people hit hardest by this crisis and the least responsible for its cause—working class, Indigenous and people of color communities around the world—have been systematically excluded and are demanding a voice at the table. Meanwhile, the world’s major corporations have been dominating international and domestic climate policy - as they did in the international trade policy arena. Carbon-trading and carbon offset projects have already allowed these polluters to avoid cutting emissions and expand their markets into poor countries, accelerating corporate take-over of the world’s resources at the expense of local and Indigenous communities. "We cannot allow the world's largest corporate polluters to continue robbing our children's future," stated Carla Perez of Movement Generation Justice and Ecology Project, who will be marching with her daughter in a parade of children and the Raging Grannies. “US corporations have been holding real climate solutions hostage, while burdening our communities with ongoing attacks on our health and livelihoods.” Well-known climate scientist Dr. James Hansen has said lawmakers should abandon cap-and-trade initiatives altogether and implement a simple carbon tax instead. He said during a speech at Columbia University in May 2009, “It's time to take a stand on global warming. I am not a politician; I am a scientist and a citizen. Politicians may have to advocate for halfway measures if they choose. But it is our responsibility to make sure our representatives feel the full force of citizens who speak for what is right, not what is politically expedient.” Dr. Hansen wrote in his book Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity, "The picture has become clear. Our planet, with its remarkable array of life, is in imminent danger of crashing… But we should not give up on the democratic system—quite the contrary. We must fight for the principle of equal justice. Civil resistance may be our best hope." Activists in around the U.S. are preparing for non-violent direct action against major climate polluters and their financiers, and also at the Chicago Climate Exchange, the first and largest carbon trading institution in North America. In recent months, millions of people around the world have been taking action to protect their communities and the global climate. Shutting down coal power plants, blockading oil refineries and marching on the streets of their cities, an increasing number of people are speaking out against climate pollution and calling for urgent action. The U.S. is home to some of the world’s most egregious corporate climate polluters such as Chevron, Exxon and American Electric Power, along with their financiers, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan Chase. The false solutions promoted by these corporations, like “clean coal”, nuclear energy, bio-fuels and carbon markets will delay urgent emissions reductions, threaten ecosystems and subsidize the construction of more toxic industries in the backyards of the poor. Specific Times and Locations: • 11 a.m. CST Chicago: Rally at Federal Plaza, marches to the Chicago Climate Exchange, the first and largest carbon trading institution in North America • 8:00 a.m. EST Washington DC: March from US Chamber of Commerce (H St. NW & Connecticut St. NW) to other corporate polluters and their lobbyists. • Nov. 29-Nov. 30 Boston: “Sleepout” on Boston Commons in front of the State House, followed by morning lobbying and 12 noon rally at City Hall Plaza, followed by march to offices of Sen. John Kerry • 12 noon EST New York: Rally at Bank of America (16th and 5th Ave. nr Union Sq.); colorful procession with marching band to offices of US CAP member Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for Speak Out with climate scientist Dr. James Hansen and others. Street theatric to follow. • Maine: Rally in downtown Portland; rally and march in Bangor • 12 noon PST Seattle, Washington: Climate! Justice! Assembly, Westlake Park, 401 Pine • 3 pm EST Burlington, VT: Davis Student Center at UVM rally, followed by a march to the federal building. • 11:30 am PST San Francisco: Justin Herman Plaza rally, followed by 12 noon march to Bank of America, 345 Montgomery St. where non-violent civil disobedience will take place The Mobilization for Climate Justice is calling for • Drastic emissions reductions guided by science, without carbon trading, offsetting or other corporate-driven false solutions like nuclear power”, biofuels, clean coal” and incinerators. • Protection for the rights of those most impacted by polluting industries, climate change impacts and the transition to a clean energy economy. • Re-localization of production and consumption, favoring local markets, cooperative economies and community-controlled, renewable energy systems. • Rights-based resource conservation that enforces Indigenous land rights and ends corporate control over energy, forests, seeds, land and water. • An end to forest and biodiversity destruction, and international sanctions and tariffs supported by Indigenous peoples, peasants, fisher-folk and other frontline communities. more info: www.actforclimatejustice.orgContacts: Kim Marks, Mobilization for Climate Justice, Rising Tide North America +1-503-539-7471 Anne Petermann, Global Justice Ecology Project, Mobilization for Climate Justice +1-802-578-0477 (will be on site in Copenhagen Dec. 3 to Dec. 20) Ananda Tan, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Mobilization for Climate Justice +1-415-374-0615
Filed under: Uncategorized
Welcome to the Angry Mermaid Award
Cast your vote in the Angry Mermaid Award and help decide which company or lobby group is doing the most to sabotage effective action on climate change.
Voting is open until Sunday 13 December 2009.
Crucial UN climate talks take place in Copenhagen this December. While people, organisations and social movements around the world are calling for strong action to prevent climate change and ensure climate justice, big business has been lobbying to block effective action to tackle the problem, while also seeking to benefit from it. Lobbying is defined as attempting to influence the decision-making process.
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.
Named after the iconic Copenhagen mermaid who is angry about the destruction being caused by climate change, the Angry Mermaid Award winner will be decided by a public poll. Read the story of the Angry Mermaid.
Online voting has opened on Monday 16 November 2009.
Cast your vote and help decide which company or lobby group has done the most to block effective action to tackle climate change.
Voting closes on Sunday 13 December 2009 and the winner of the Angry Mermaid Award will be announced in Copenhagen on Tuesday 15 December 2009.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Taking Care of Business
How Big Business Has Hijacked Climate Talks
November 29, 2009
By Oscar Reyes
