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 protests, lock-ons and civil disobedience are taking place in cities around the world.
USA: Concerned citizens block shipment of generator to Cliffside Coal Plant
Update: Four have been arrested: 2 who were locked down and 2 others. About 20 others are still at the site with banners.
For Immediate Release
November 30, 2009
Press Contact: Liz Veazey 919-627-7324 ashevillerisingtide@gmail.com
Onsite Contact: Attila Nemecz
919-889-1261 www.asheville.risingtidenorthamerica.org
Concerned citizens block shipment of generator to Cliffside Coal Plant.
Greenville, SC Two protesters have locked themselves to the 1.5 million pound generator destined for Duke Energy’s Cliffside coal plant in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Protestors are vowing to prevent the generator, which has been traveling across South Carolina on a 300 foot trailer, from reaching the coal plant. “Our nation has no choice, we must stop burning coal. The only choice that we can make is whether we do that in time to still have breathable air, drinkable water, a livable climate, and standing mountains,” said, Catherine Anne. Protestors also draped a large banner from the top of the generator reading, “Stop Cliffside.”
The controversial Cliffside coal plant would emit over 6 million tons of carbon dioxide ever year in addition to toxic levels of heavy metals such as mercury, greatly exacerbating global warming and our abysmal air quality. Duke Energy is seeking to raise electricity rates in order to pay for the construction of Cliffside at a time when record numbers of families are struggling to put food on the table due to the recession.
This act of civil disobedience comes a week before world leaders meet in Copenhagen to hash out a global climate agreement. “Any agreement made in Copenhagen will be meaningless if the US continues to build coal plants such as Cliffside. It is time to tear down coal plants, not construct new ones,” said Rachel Scarano. There are currently 43 coal plants proposed or under construction in the US, though over 100 others have been cancelled due to widespread protests.
Since it was first proposed, there has been massive opposition to Cliffside. In the past year and a half over 60 people have been arrested protesting the plant, and they vow to continue the fight. “Since politicians and corporations refuse to take serious action to stop climate change, citizens must step in to shut down coal plants,” said
Attila Nemecz. The protest was organized by Asheville Rising Tide and Croatan Earth First! and is part of a national day of action with dozens of protests around the country including Chicago, New York City, Washington DC, and San Francisco.
—-
UK: Climate activists blockade biomass plant in Port Talbot on 30th November 2009
Activists from Climate Camp Cymru [1] have blockaded a biomass plant in Port Talbot to protest against plans to produce electricity from imported woodchips.
Two protesters used bicycle locks to close off the plant’s entrance, stopping the hourly 20-tonne deliveries of woodchip needed to keep the power station operating. A large banner on the gates reads “Biomess”. Other activists climbed up the chimney to unfurl a giant banner in Welsh reading “Clean Energy: Dirty Joke”.
The plant is the first of its kind in the UK, incinerating woodchips to generate electricity. It is a test plant for the large-scale plants that have been announced in Britain. The world’s largest biomass plant (350 MW) has already been approved in Port Talbot and construction is due to start early next year. The second largest in the world is planned for Holyhead, Anglesey.
Rob Goodsell, 33 said, “The Port Talbot and Holyhead biomass plants will require an area of dedicated biomass plantations half the size of Wales. A land area this size could feed up to a third of the population of Britain. With the world facing serious food security issues in coming years this is crazy.”
Ioan Gwyn, 29 said: “The power companies said the wood will come from sustainable sources but the reality is very different. In 2008 about 9 million hectares of industrial tree plantations have been certified as sustainable despite evidence of their devastating effects on people and the environment [2]. These plantations are in fact green deserts: they consume vast amounts of water and are empty of native wildlife.”
Melissa Harvey commented: “Burning wood is called carbon neutral but this is a myth. [3] It’s hard to believe but burning wood for electricity is even dirtier than coal. It releases one and half as much carbon dioxide as burning coal, [4] and the other pollution affecting air quality is nearly as bad as coal.” [5]
Adam Thorogood said: “We’re going to cook the world’s remaining forests to fight climate change. At this rate, research shows that the world’s forests will be all gone within the next 60 years.”
Ioan Gwyn commented: “Burning wood releases carbon dioxide. Each plant will emit about 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. This means that Wales’ carbon dioxide emissions will increase by 20% as soon as Port Talbot and Holyhead biomass plant open. Whilst scientists are warning of the fragility of forest ecosystems, the UK government is subsidising their destruction by giving these two developers £400 million a year. Instead, they should be giving subsidies to truly clean energy, such as wind and solar power.” [6]
Rob Goodsell added: “Forests play a key role in sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The best thing to do is to leave the carbon locked up as wood, and that means not burning it.”
Melissa Harvey concluded: “Catastrophic climate change could be unstoppable in as little as 10 years. This is our last window of opportunity. False solutions such as biomass and carbon trading mean we’ll have no chance at all. And when we talk about catastrophic climate change, we’re not talking hot summers, we’re talking about the question of survival.”
Contacts for interviews:
* Protesters: mobile phone numbers: 07952 932 626 / 07909 171 951. Address: Western Wood Energy Plant, 1 Longland Lane, Port Talbot, SA13 2NR.
* Interviews in Welsh: Angharad Penrhyn Jones: 07780 914 369
* Biofuelwatch: Almuth Ernsting: 01224 324797.
* Port Talbot Residents Against Power Stations: Pete Wilson: 01639 884 820, Jeremy Baileys: 07702069561. http://www.pt-raps.co.uk/index.html; info@pt-raps.co.uk
* High-res photos available here.
Notes:
[1] Climate Camp Cymru: www.climatecampcymru.org. Take Action 1-7 December.
[2] “Can we trust the FSC?” the Ecologist: http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/325243/can_we_trust_the_fsc.html
[3] “Goodbye to Carbon Neutral” http://www.maforests.org/Carbon.pdf
[4] Biomass Factsheet from Dr Mary Booth http://massenvironmentalenergy.org/docs/biomass%20factsheet%20from%20MEEA.pdf
[5] Environmental Impacts of Biomass Energy Options: Government report Sept 2006: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/09/22094104/6
[6] “Fixing a Critical Climate Accounting Error” T. Searchinger, S.P. Hamburg: http://www.princeton.edu/~tsearchi/writings/Fixing%20a%20Critical%20Climate%20Accounting%20ErrorEDITED-tim.pdf
Further information:
– In total, at least 2,400 megawatts of wood-fired energy plants have been announced in Britain: http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=48574
– Background information regarding Holyhead 300MW biomass plant proposal: http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/angleseyoct2009.php
– Where would the wood come from?
* Last month at the UN-sponsored World Forestry Congress in Buenos Aires, the agronomist engineer Hector Ginzo, an adviser of the Kyoto Protocol, stressed that plantations could not be classified as sustainable. He said UN rules “would never allow of plantation of eucalyptus or other fast growing trees for use as pulp or wood to be considered a sustainable forestry project, because that kind of production favours monoculture forests and the carbon capture is lost when the trees are cut down”.
* Port Talbot – 350MW biomass plant: “Prenergy is commited to obtaining feedstock from a range of oversea sources”.
* Holyhead project: This power station would burn 2.4 million tonnes mainly imported wood every year. This is more than twice the amount of wood which the UK government states can be obtained from increased wood harvests in the UK – yet net imports of wood and wood products already account for about 80% of our use and industrial tree plantations. In the UK, including in Wales, monoculture tree plantations have created acidic degraded soils and have had severe impacts on our biodiversity.
* However, the impact on the global South of the UK’s rapidly growing demand for wood chips and wood pellets will be far more severe, although in this case, they may be primarily indirect impacts. Anglesey Aluminium Ltd have spoken about potential supplies from the US and Canada, however across North America vast numbers of wood power stations are already being built which cannot be supplied without much faster destruction of North America’s natural forests. Across the southern US, vast areas of native forest have been destroyed to make way for pulp and paper tree plantations, supplying much of the US demand for paper. Now, the southern US wants to use that wood for bioenergy, including in the UK. This means that the US is increasingly looking to South America and other countries in the global South for pulp and paper. Tree plantations have already had devastating effects on people and the environment across South America, Indonesia/West Papua and other regions where expansion due to our demand for biomass is likely. More ecosystems and more lands on which local communities depend for their livelihoods will be destroyed as a result of US wood being burned in UK power stations. Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Indonesia/West Papua, Ghana and Argentina are amongst the countries likely to meet future European demand for wood chips and wood pellets.
More pictures
See video of the action
—-
UK: ‘Climate refugees’ d-locked on Barclay’s building’s entrance!
Update: Two activists stayed locked on inside the building entrance for 2 1/2 hours chanting, singing, and informing Barclay’s customers of Barclay’s dodgy investments, before they were arrested. Barclays eventually closed their main entrance and members of the public were very supportive.
Today at midday, Rising Tide-Plymouth ‘Climate refugees’ have d-locked themselves to Barclay’s bank building’s entrance to highlight the investments this bank is doing on Coal, Tar Sands and Arms Trade in times of Climate emergency.
Coal is the dirtiest, most dated and inefficient fossil fuel (1)
Tar Sands Oil is the dirtiest and most expensive oil in terms of extraction and emissions -and global oil resources are running out! (2)
The Arms Trade generates violence everywhere and also greenhouse gas emissions – Barclay’s being the largest investor of all UK banks in this sector. (3)
Coal,Tar Sands and the Arms Trade are not only responsible for a phenomenal amount of global Greenhouse Gas emissions but if they do continue, it will lead us inevitably to runaway Climate Chaos. We have already more than 20 million of refugees from environmental disasters caused by global warming.
This action seeks to remember the power of the People to confront issues that endanger their future as people in Seattle did 10 years ago(4), when a massive direct action took to the streets of Seattle to stop the World Trade Organisation meeting to keep making profits out of our future.
Also, Rising Tide want to raise their voice towards Copenhagen Climate talks (COP15) where thousands of people will pressure for real Climate Justice and to stop the ‘business as usual’ attitude towards Climate chaos(5)
Anne Smith, spokesperson for Rising Tide-Plymouth explains: “Our future is under a big threat called Climate Change, we, the people, need to take responsibility to do something about it. Today, tens of thousands are mobilizing to COP15 to say enough is enough. Enough of putting profit before life. Enough of ‘business as usual’ at the
expense of our future. Enough of making excuses with false solutions to keep exploiting people and the planet”.
RT PRESS CONTACT: Anne Smith 07990 923 234
Rising Tide is a grassroots network confronting the root causes of Climate Change with Non-violent direct action and Popular education.
Rising Tide-Plymouth: plymouth@risingtide.org.uk
Web: www.risingtide.org.uk
Notes to Editor:
1. Coal is recognized as the dirtiest, most dated and in-efficient fossil fuel. See the report “Cashing in on coal”: http://www.platformlondon.org/carbonweb/showitem.asp?article=338&parent=9
2. Tar Sands (oil sands)represent unrestrained fossil fuel use and unchecked greenhouse gas emissions. See: http://www.tarsandswatch.org/
3. The Arms Trade alone provide 25% of global emissions.
4. In November 30th 1999 thousands of protesters shut down the WTO meetings for 4 days. See: http://www.realbattleinseattle.org/node/18
5. People are mobilizing now. See: http://www.climate-justice-action.org/ and http://climatecamp.org.uk/
—-
USA: Climate Activists target Carbon Trading @ Chicago Climate Exchange – 12 arrested
200 Chicago climate activists returned to the streets today – this time in the financial district in downtown Chicago – in a colorful demonstration against cap and trade, carbon offsets and other “false solutions” to climate change. Building on the long-term campaign to shut down the Crawford and Fisk coal-fired power plants in the city, community and environmental groups from across Chicago and beyond have come together to demand just, equitable, and effective solutions to the climate crisis.
The main target of today’s action is the Chicago Climate Exchange, the first and largest carbon market in North America. Several other “climate criminals” were visited during a march, including JP Morgan Chase, one of the leading funders of mountain top removal coal mining; Midwest Generation, the owner of Chicago’s two coal-fired power plants; and the Board of Trade, which trades in palm oil, one of the leading drivers of rainforest destruction.
The event kicked off at 11a.m. at Federal Plaza (Adams and Dearborn Street), and is part of a national day of action called for by the Mobilization for Climate Justice in the lead-up to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen and on the 10-year anniversary of the successful shutdown of the WTO in Seattle in 1999.
“From Chicago to Copenhagen, powerful companies are cashing in on the climate crisis, taking advantage of public concern over climate change in order to make a buck. Carbon trading institutions like the Chicago Climate Exchange are privatizing the air we breathe and handing over rights to the atmosphere to the biggest polluters,” stated Angie Viands, of Rainforest Action Network (RAN) Chicago. “Carbon Trading is a fraudulent market that intensifies social injustice, does not reduce emissions in a meaningful way, and acts as a dangerous distraction from the real climate solutions we urgently need.”
Event organizers seek to highlight the connections between the global drivers of climate change and local struggles for environmental justice and climate stability.
“The solution to climate change isn’t carbon trading; it is a just, rapid transition away from the industries that are poisoning our communities and the planet. We can begin by shutting down the Crawford and Fisk coal plants right here in Chicago,” said Dorian Breuer of the Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization (PERRO).
While carbon trading is the centerpiece of plans to deal with the climate crisis both in the UN, and in the US Congress and Obama Administration, many civil society organizations consider this market-based approach to be ineffective and unacceptable from a climate justice perspective. “The air is not for sale!” declared Abigail Singer of the Mobilization for Climate Justice. “Cap and trade plans are an unprecedented and opportunistic attempt to privatize the atmosphere; in reality, many offset projects embody a new form of colonialism in the developing nations that are most heavily impacted by climate change. We reject these plans as inherently unjust as well as ineffective at reducing emissions.”
Criticism of carbon trading has been mounting, most recently from sources like top NASA climate scientist Dr. James Hansen and EPA attorneys Laurie Williams and Allan Zabel, who between them represent over 40 years of experience analyzing cap and trade and offset programs. Both were recently muzzled by the EPA for their outspoken criticism of Administration plans to pursue cap and trade and offsets which appeared as a Washington Post editorial.
Activists will also confront Midwest Generation LLC, owner of the Fisk and Crawford coal-fired power plants in Pilsen and Little Village, Chicago. Local residents attribute numerous adverse health effects to the continued operation of the plants, prompting community groups LVEJO and PERRO to actively campaign for their closure. This demand has been heard by Ald. Joe Moore (49th Ward), who announced plans on October 24th to introduce an ordinance which would effectively shut the plants down. The Fisk plant was the target of a large community demonstration in October on the 350 International Day of Climate Action. Together, Fisk and Crawford’s emissions represent one-fifth of Chicago’s carbon footprint.
“We are here today as a community demanding a transparent and truly renewable clean energy future. Our environment’s future should not be dependant on a market based system, it should be reliable to save our future. We demand our voice be heard!” said Kim Wasserman, Coordinator for the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO)
“We have lived in the shadows of these coal plants for far too long. The recent lawsuits against the plants for health violations show that government is willing to move, but we need them to move faster and stronger,” Wasserman said.
“To bring atmospheric carbon into the safe zone of 350 parts per million (ppm), we must phase out dirty coal, invest in clean, decentralized, renewable energy, and adopt agriculture and forestry practices that sequester CO2. False solutions like carbon trading, so-called “clean coal” and nuclear power are not going to solve the climate crisis,” states Debra Michaud of Rainforest Action Network Chicago.
Organizers express opposition to currently proposed U.S. climate legislation which relies heavily on can and trade and carbon offsets.
“The current climate legislation is fatally flawed, setting weak targets and creating inappropriate tools,” remarks David Kraft of Nuclear Energy Information Service. “It should be modified to exclude false climate solutions, or else rejected; and certainly should NOT in its current form serve as the blueprint for the U.S. negotiating position in Copenhagen,” insists Kraft. A co-signed letter in opposition will be delivered to the offices of Sens. Richard Durbin and Roland Burris before the rally, and formal meetings requested of the Senators before they vote on the Senate version of the climate bill.
Some participants will take part in nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience at one of the sites along the march route.
Photos and updates from the event will be available at:http://howgreenischicago.org and http://www.actforclimatejustice.org. The procession will include a marching band and many colorful banners, props and signs.
Today’s action is one of nine major protests taking place across the US organized by the Mobilization for Climate Justice, Rising Tide North America, and the Climate Pledge of Resistance. Locally, five organizations that helped organize the October 24th protest rally at the Fisk coal-fired power plant in Chicago are endorsing today’s action and are participating in the march and rally: Rainforest Action Network Chicago, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Nuclear Energy Information Service, Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization, and Eco-Justice Collaborative.
In addition to the photos above, check out Joe P. Dick’s gallery here.
—-
USA: 22 arrested in San Francisco to set the tone for Copenhagen
A crowd of 200 people gathered at Justin Herman Plaza at 11:30 AM to prepare for the days events. The Raging Grannies (http://www.raginggrannies.com/)kicked off the morning with four sassy songs, followed by climate scientist Payal Parekh and Richmond community leader, Dr. Henry Clark. The program ended with a theater piece about cultural and biodiversity loss as a consequence of climate disruption. The Brass Liberation Orchestra (http://brassliberation.org/) lead the march down Market street then turned right on Montgomery (a one-way street moving in the opposite direction). People in cars accepted flyers and onlookers we intrigued by the chanting mass, “System Change, Not Climate Change!” Shortly thereafter, we arrived at Bank of America. The parachute banner unfurled, signs were quickly posted, and both entrances to the bank were taken over.
It wasn’t long before police presence grew, but mostly inside the building, watching from behind the glass. Five concerned citizens were arrested while demanding that Bank of America stop the funding false solutions. Overall, twenty-two were arrested. Many stated that this is only the beginning and that support for our friends going to Copenhagen continues December 7th in San Ramon at Chevron’s Headquarters – (http://west.actforclimatejustice.org/upcoming-events/december-7th-chevron-protest/)
—-
Canada: Ontario climate justice sit-in and office occupation continues
PEOPLE FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For More Information Contact:
Crystal Metham 416-435-3516
Katelyn Blacisk 647 929 2400
POLICE ISSUE ULTIMATUM TO PROTESTERS ORDERING THEM TO LEAVE BY END OF DAY OR BE FORCIBLY REMOVED
November 30, 2009 (Whitby, Ontario) — Police have issued an ultimatum to the seven climate activists inside Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s Whitby office, stating they must leave by the end of the day or else be forcibly removed. To speak directly to one of the protesters currently occupying the office, the following members of People for Climate Justice can be reached via cell phone:
Paul Mero 514-825-9878
Janet McNeill 647-207-3208
The third of a series of peaceful sit-ins staged by a coalition of concerned individuals targeting elected officials, tar sands financiers, and the coal and tar sands industries began at Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s office today, located at: 701 Rossland Road East- Unit 204, Whitby. Seven members of the People for Climate Justice coalition entered the office just after 9:30 refusing to leave, demanding that the federal government act to combat the climate crisis and stem the millions of deaths and displacements that will result from more inaction.
“While our government stalls, millions of people will die or become displaced due to the climate crisis,” said Greenpeace Climate and Energy Coordinator, Dave Martin from inside the office. “If they fail to reach an agreement the Canadian government is saying it does not care about the lives of those currently and most affected by climate change. Minister Flaherty must put pressure on the Government to act and push for a just, ambitious, and binding deal in Copenhagen with science based targets, that is led by the voices of those who are most directly impacted by the climate crisis.”
Inaction on climate change is already displacing and killing millions, and sending many into poverty. The UN estimates there will be 150 million climate refugees by 2050.
“Despite the growing crisis, the Harper Government is trying to sabotage efforts to solve this global problem, expanding the tar sands rather than leading the push for and financing of real solutions. We will not let our government delay any further while millions die and are displaced. Their behaviour is unacceptable, we need governmental leadership for climate justice now,” said participant, Indra Noyes.
The individuals inside have multiple affiliations. They presented a letter addressed to Finance Minister Flaherty outlining their concerns and demands (Attached). The sit-in of office is ongoing. The police have been called and there is the potentials for arrests. A group of local and regional supporters have also gathered outside of the Finance Minister’s office.
“Letter writing, rallies, meetings, and phone calls are all important actions, but our Government’s inaction indicates that these tactics are not enough. We must step up the pressure so we are engaging in peaceful civil disobedience, like those before us, to ensure we do our part to solve the greatest environmental threat of our time,” stated former constituent Janet McNeill.
For photos of the action, seehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/canadaclimatejustice
Information about the call for civil disobedience for climate justice, as well as updates on actions set to take place across Canada in the coming weeks is online at:
http://canadaclimatejustice.wordpress.com/
DEMAND LETTER:
Honourable Minister Flaherty:
We are holding a sit-in at in your constituency office today because the Conservative Government is stalling progress to build a just, meaningful, and binding climate treaty this December
in Copenhagen.
Inaction on climate change is already displacing and killing millions, and sending many into poverty. In Canada, climate change is harming the land and lives of indigenous communities in the Far North.
Globally, recent declines in food production due to climate-catalyzed droughts, is causing food shortages in some poor countries and escalating global hunger. Climate caused events like floods, melting glaciers, and sea level rise, are forcing millions to permanently flee their homes, from Pacific islanders to subsistence farmers in India. The UN estimates there will be 150 million climate refugees by 2050.
We call on you Minister Flaherty to publicly commit to do everything in your power to meaningfully and fairly address the global climate crisis.
We call on you Minister Flaherty to make sure the Canadian Government supports a just, meaningful, and binding climate treaty this December in Copenhagen.
We call on you Minister Flaherty to publicly commit to pass the Climate Change Accountability Act, which calls on Canada to drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and do its’ part to solve climate change.
Finally, we demand that you publicly commit to sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Climate change is a human rights issue, and First Nations in Canada are feeling
climate change worst and first.
The global climate crisis is threatening our future, and humanities’ future. We have passed the time for inaction. We demand change.
Yours,
People For Climate Justice
CITIZENS OCCUPY RONA AMBROSE’S EDMONTON OFFICE
CALL FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE IN LEAD-UP TO COPENHAGEN TALKS
November 25, 2009 (Edmonton, Alberta) — The second of a series of peaceful sit-ins targeting elected officials, tar sands financiers, and the coal and tar sands industries began at 11:00 am at Labour Minister Rona Ambrose’s Edmonton constituency office (6801 170 St.) today. 10 people entered the office and have staged a peaceful sit-in – refusing to leave until the federal government commits to combating the climate crisis and stems the deaths and displacements of millions that will result from further inaction. The occupation follows a similar occupation that was held on Monday at Environment Minister Jim Prentice’s office in Calgary.
“While our government delays millions of people will die or become displaced due to the climate crisis. By stalling and blocking progress the Canadian government is saying it doesn’t care about the lives of those currently and most affected by the climate crisis,” said Martin Tweedale, one of the people occupying the office. “Rona Ambrose must put pressure on the Government to act and push for a just, ambitious, and binding deal that listens to the science, and is led by those most directly impacted by the climate crisis.”
Inaction on climate change is already displacing and killing millions, and sending many into poverty. The UN estimates there will be 150 million climate refugees by 2050.
“Canada’s economy is being left behind, our environment is being decimated and we are telling those most vulnerable that their lives don’t matter. Rona Ambrose should be investing in green jobs not carbon intensive industries like the tar sands. The US government invested 14 times more per person in renewable energy than Canada last year,” said Keely Kidner. “We’ve held rallies, phone-ins, flash mobs, we’ve written and talked to our MP’s and nothing has changed. Now we are taking the next step, in the tradition of Gandhi and the Civil Rights Movement to do our part to solve the greatest environmental threat of our time.”
The sit-in is still ongoing. The police have been called and there is potential for arrest.
Information about the call for civil disobedience for climate justice, as well as updates on actions set to take place across Canada in the coming weeks is online at:
http://canadaclimatejustice.wordpress.com/
For More Information Contact:
Keely Kidner: 780 695 9057
Martin Tweedale: 780 490 8015
—-
USA: Seattle lock-down at Bank of America and Chase
—-
There were other protests, mostly in North America, but also around the world: marches in Mehdiganj (India), Phoenix, Washington, DC, and also in San Franciso (USA); die-ins in Denver, Boston (USA); street-theatre in Denmark and New York; banner-drops in Charlottesville and rallies in Burlington, Baltimore (USA) and Montreal, Quebec (Canada), leaflettted in London and mooned at the Canadian federal parliament in Ottawa.
—-
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!
Send in Action Reports!
6.1.2010
The first clash between whalers and whale defenders took place on December 14th when the Steve Irwin and the Shonan Maru #2 exchanged shots with their water cannons.
Preparations for New Zealand’s first Climate Camp are going well with people moving onto the site yesterday. Campers spent the day setting up some of the infrastructure required for the camp including the kitchen and storage tents. As the day progressed water lines could be seen snaking across the field, solar panels popped up next to tents and by the end of the day hot food was being prepared in the kitchen. The site is perfect, large trees dot the field, a river with swimming holes runs beside the camp and there is easy vehicular access.
Climate camp officially kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday) and will be going until the 21st. The camp will be a working demonstration of sustainable living with composting toilets and electricity generated on site. It will also host workshops on dozens of subjects as well as providing space for people to organise to take action against the root causes of climate change. The 21st will see campers taking to the streets in protests which will be organised at camp. As details of these protests are organised they will be distributed widely.
Updates:
Police have removed the final protester blockading a coal rail bridge in Newcastle, Australia, more than six hours after protesters shut down the coal delivery line into the world’s biggest coal port.
Three hours into the blockade, police have arrested ten people who were sitting on the rail bridge and refusing to move. Protesters expect the blockade to last for the remainder of the day and perhaps into the night, with a further 15 people still blocking the bridge in difficult to remove positions.
Activists shut down the rail line at 9am this morning to protest the failure of the UN climate talks in Copenhagen to produce a just, effective, and legally binding treaty.
“We put world leaders on notice that their continuing failure to solve the climate crisis will result in widespread direct action against the causes of climate change, as we are seeing here today. We’re taking this action because we have had enough. We’ve seen too much grandstanding, and precious little action. We won’t continue to watch as people die, as species go extinct because of climate change, while emissions continue to rise. Politicians are failing to act against the causes of climate change, so we have come here today to take action ourselves. Newcastle coal exports are Australia’s single biggest contribution to the climate crisis.”
Newcastle City Councillor Michael Osborne is among those occupying the rail bridge. He explained why: “The people of Newcastle and the Hunter expected a fair, ambitious, and binding treaty at Copenhagen. They have been let down. Australia has failed to take leadership on this issue, so now people from the Hunter are taking it themselves. It is time we moved away from the fossil fuels that are causing this crisis and embraced the renewable industries that can solve it.”
3 December 2009
Spirit of Freedom (December 2009)