Irish Climate Camp - 'Interest' Meeting

by Terence Tue Oct 07, 2008 01:04

For those who want to quickly get up to speed on how far out of control things are getting with the climate, follow the links below to these previous articles.

Because this years summer was relatively cool in Ireland and Europe and the current focus on the ongoing financial crisis, not much coverage has been made of how the climate is doing.

See: Podcast Interview: Climate Code Red: The Case for a Sustainable Emergency
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/86361

It has links to interesting audio interviews on the above.

See also: US Scientist calls for Prosecution of Energy Company CEOs for Global Warming Disinformation
at https://www.indymedia.ie/article/88139

As reported today about the testimony of the leading US climate scientist James Hansen from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, he has declared that heads of major energy companies criminals who should be prosecuted for deliberately spreading false and misleading information about the threat posed by global warming....


And if that is not enough, read this:
Civilization's last chance. Global Warming running out of control?
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/87528
This article talks about the need to go below 350ppm of CO-2. Govts are currently aiming to stabilze at 450pm and have no hope of sticking to their own targets. Hansen says we must go back to 350ppm

This article from the LA Times by Bill McKibben presents the case that the situation with the Earth's environment is far worse than has been admitted so far and he reports on the latest scientific paper from climate scientist James Hansen which in the opening paragraph he says:

"if humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm."

Lastly the related link below is a press release covering the 2008 Arctic Sea Ice melt while not as bad as last year, is still way below long term averages.

by Andrew Tue Oct 07, 2008 14:29

This is on at the same time as the Health service march - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88303

If possible it may make sense to move it a couple of hours as I know some people would like to get to both

by dunk Wed Oct 08, 2008 14:48 fuspey at yahoo dot co dot uk

Today on WISER Earth, they are focusing on climate change, check it out if you arent familiar with this fantastic tool which comes from Paul Hawkens fine positive ideas on how things are changing for the better, the recent climate camps and this call for an irish one being witness to that

http://www.wiserearth.org/

recent posts re these ideas on imc-ie, please see the embedded vids etc...

Global Eco Forum (S22-O17) - Times of profound ecological change
Blessed Unrest: The immune system of humanity starting to kick in
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/89212

Adapt Or Die, Blessed Unrest @ Letterfrack?
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87770

_________________________________

Here in BCN

The first Global Eco Forum is underway, yesterday was the meeting in the real world in Barcelona (BCN), a very interesting, mostly inspiring, sometimes frightening, sometimes conflictive event that went on all day. I think its unanimous that the Michael Braungart (Cradle to Cradle) and Gunter Pauli (Zeri Foundation) discussion was the highlight: content, ideas, passion for radically changing the way the world works, doing not just talking…

more on that... http://itsafunnyoldworld.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/from-...city/

__________________________________

Regards the idea of an Irish climate camp, it would definately be a great thing, but is there enough interest for it in Ireland and to what ends might it be successfull?

I think this CC-IE should definately happen, having participated in the last 2 climate camps in UK I, and many many more, feel that something profound is emerging and with that it might, or will, bring about profound change.

http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/
recent turbulence mag has written much this, see volume 4
http://turbulence.org.uk/ and the PDF http://turbulence.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/tur...8.pdf

recent coverage of climate camps on IMC-IE
Daily Video Reports From Camp For Climate Action
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88625

Climate Camp, Heathrow
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83826

guardian:
lots of positive reports about climate camp
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2008/aug/08/...etoge
with photos
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2008/aug/...27794
+ some interesting and conflictive debates were going on in the guardian between george monbiot and Ewa Jasiewicz
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/05/gre...hange
__________________________________

arising from last years camp, there are plans to organise a "zero carbon caravan" to visit communities who are trying to live more sustainably, possibly starting from transition town kinsale, to end up in denmark for COP-15. the organiser, someone from CAT in Wales, is trying to encourage other such routes to culminate in denmark at the same time

details
http://zerocarboncaravan.blogspot.com/
he also spoke at the radio show we did from last climate camp, embedded below

where would this climate camp happen, rossport or dells woods or other? if it includes the idea of direct action, which is the reason for being of those in uk, what action: mass against shell in rossport, shannon, or other? mass build of eco houses, food gardens....??

if it happens, could it happen at a time to slot in with the caravan if it happens? rossport > kinsale > CAT > england > kingsnorth > dover > france > coast > denmark....

__________________________________

Ill leave you with thoughts from Gunter...

yesterday, as part of the global eco forum, here in BCN, i saw Gunter Pauli talking for the first time, founder of zeri, based on the design idea similar to C2C that sees no such thing as dangerous toxic harmfull destructive waste, he seeks to convert the nutrients from one waste for food for another. As stated before, Humans are the only species that presently produce "waste". Anyway, as part of his work, in Brazil they are using the acidic emissions of energy plants (now adding to CO2 emmisions) and creating systems to use that to create algae that is used to feed hungry kids, amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piH8lIZDwLQ
http://www.zeri.org/

today on WISER Earth: climate change

Caption: Video Id: piH8lIZDwLQ Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/transitioning_from_climate_camp_to_eco_villages_to_transition_towns_to_eco_cities.mp3

Embedded audio: http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/transitioning_from_climate_camp_to_eco_villages_to_transition_towns_to_eco_cities.mp3

by dunk Sat Oct 11, 2008 17:10

We stand at a crossroads. The facts are clear. Global climate change, caused by human activities, is happening, threatening the lives and livelihoods of billions of people and the existence of millions of species. Social movements, environmental groups, and scientists from all over the world are calling for urgent and radical action on climate change.

On the 30th of November, 2009 the governments of the world will come to Copenhagen for the fifteenth UN Climate Conference (COP15). This will be the biggest summit on climate change ever to have taken place. Yet, previous meetings have produced nothing more than business as usual.

There are alternatives to the current course that is emphasizing false solutions such as market-based approaches and agro--fuels. If we put humanity before profit and solidarity above competition we can live amazing lives without destroying our planet. We need to leave fossil fuels in the ground. Instead we must invest in community-controlled renewable energy. We must stop over-production for over-consumption. All should have equal access to the global commons through community control and sovereignty over energy, forests, land and water. And of course we must acknowledge the historical responsibility of the global elite and rich Global North for causing this crisis. Equity between North and South is essential.

Climate change is already impacting people, particularly women, indigenous and forest-dependent peoples, small farmers, marginalized communities and impoverished neighbourhoods who are also calling for action on climate- and social justice.

This call was taken up by activists and organizations from 21 countries that came together in Copenhagen over the weekend of 13-14 September, 2008 to begin discussions for a mobilization in Copenhagen during the UN's 2009 climate conference.

The 30th of November, 2009 is also the tenth anniversary of the World Trade Organization (WTO) shutdown in Seattle, which shows the power of globally coordinated social movements.

We call on all peoples around the planet to mobilize and take action against the root causes of climate change and the key agents responsible both in Copenhagen and around the world. This mobilization begins now, until the COP-15 summit, and beyond. The mobilizations in Copenhagen and around the world are still in the planning stages. We have time to collectively decide what these mobilizations will look like, and to begin to visualize what our future can be. Get involved!

We encourage everyone to start mobilizing today in your own neighbourhoods and communities. It is time to take the power back. The power is in our hands. Hope is not just a feeling, it is also about taking action.

To get involved in this ongoing and open process, sign up to this email list: [email protected]

So reads, "A Call to Climate Action at COP15, Copenhagen 2009",
found at http://www.wombles.org.uk/article2008091983.php + http://indymedia.dkarticles/384

The governments outlining is found at http://www.cop15.dk/en
Cop15 Copenhagen 2009
United Nations Climate Change Conference, Denmark, Nov 30 1999

THE GOVERNMENT'S GOALS FOR COP15
The goal is to enter into a binding global climate agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The agreement will apply to the period after 2012.

The government’s ambition is for the agreement to include as many countries as possible, and that the agreement must contribute to a reduction in man-made greenhouse gases which have a negative effect on our climate system.

The government will therefore put all its efforts into obtaining an agreement that combines respect for the environment, living standards and long-term security of energy supply in the best way possible.

by dunk Wed Oct 15, 2008 15:54

found at http://bp3.blogger.com/_eckdiJQEOR0/SGfl38U7HlI/AAAAAAA...p.jpg

from interesting blog of http://www.munnaontherun.com/2008/06/climate-camp-2008.html

hope yer talk went good and theres interest and from that a camp next summer, how nice it would be, whats the alternative if this movement does not grow?
death for human species, or is that a bit to extreme or pessimist a view?

and just to remind ye of what it was about in kent last august, and a little bit of about police reacion see the following youtube.

climate camp 2008 map

Caption: Video Id: SkwpQnR3Pxg Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

by . Wed Oct 15, 2008 22:53

ecotopia was the best and most productive political event on the left in the last ten years in ireland

whoever ends up trying to plan this make it fun and long

by dunk Thu Oct 16, 2008 13:04

We will talk about our experiences, whats planned for future, still dont know what to say re ireland??

ive compiled a load of interesting and fun bits online and they are all compiled here:

Whats all this Climate Camp stuff then?
http://itsafunnyoldworld.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/clima...camp/

by dunk Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:18

hope the meeting went well..

by dunk Wed Oct 29, 2008 18:07

from the lists:

Oh and here is the other call issued, the Peoples' Climate Protocol,
mainly by southern movements (maoist movements among others of the Asian
Peasant Coalition, but also Pesticide Action Network International, and
a wide range of other organisations). They plan a Peoples Assembly as a
parallel activity during the Poland 2008 climate change meetings in Poznan.
Their call is generally very good, much more detailed already and of
course heavily insisting on the southern and anti-capitalist
perspectives. Worth a read !

Obviously, we must try to unify our efforts as much as possible. For
instance already by inviting the input of their movements on a global
web page?

The Other call on COP : Statement on the Kyoto Protocol and Climate Change
http://peoplesclimateprotocol.aprnet.org/content/view/1...3/26/

The planet is experiencing a climate crisis of catastrophic proportions. Drastic action is required to reverse the situation. Global temperatures have increased twice as fast in the last 50 years as over the last century and will rise even faster in the coming decades. Eleven of the last twelve years (1995-2006) are among the 12 warmest years on record. This is disrupting weather patterns, severely damaging the environment, and destroying lives and livelihoods - especially of the poorest and most vulnerable.

There have already been high-profile schemes for concerted action and co-operation to combat global warming. This includes the landmark 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) and the succeeding Kyoto Agreement. Yet the problem has not been stemmed or much less reversed, indeed it has worsened as the limited targets and timelines set by the Kyoto Protocol have made no headway in reducing global emissions.

Significantly, the Kyoto Protocol does not truly involve grassroots communities and peoples who are worst-affected, especially in the South. It has grossly neglected the severe damage to their livelihoods, well-being and welfare. It does not consistently and coherently adhere to the vital developmental principles, especially people’s sovereignty over natural resources.