It's day four of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations in Poznan, but it feels like I've been here for months. I'm up before the sun rises and in bed after midnight; the action is nonstop in between.
I am one of 500 youth delegates here from more than 50 countries across the globe, from India to Peru to Australia. We've been meeting with government officials, participating in negotiations, harassing corporations, training each other in everything from climate justice to organizing skills, and speaking clearly and loudly that young people are collaborating across borders and have a shared vision. We want binding, equitable, science-based targets, and we're going to fight for them.
One of the ways that we've been telling our story is through actions; we've been coordinating two per day! This afternoon we hosted a "Who Wants To Be a Trillionaire?" game show. One contestant was the "big banks," which recently won $4.1 trillion in government bailouts from the U.S. and European governments. The other was a "climate rescue plan," which got 40 times less in government aid, a measly $13.1 billion (if that doesn't sound like a big disparity, check out the graph on this report. Despite getting all the questions wrong, the "big banks" got all the money anyway. A rambunctious game show audience held a banner that said: "EU Bailout: $2.8 Trillion. US Bailout: $1.3 Trillion. Climate Rescue: Priceless"
Our point was simple: The same people who have spent decades telling us they can't afford to save our planet can clearly move trillions of dollars within weeks (when their own pocketbooks are directly affected). The issue is not lack of resources, it's lack of political will. Youth are demanding that our governments invest in a green economy, our planet, and our future.
Lucky for us, the global economic crisis presents us with a wonderful opportunity. The opening day here in Poland, the UNFCCC said that the economic crisis is no excuse for inaction. We are saying that, in fact, it's the best reason in the world to invest in clean energy to create green jobs and spark opportunity worldwide.
If we are bailing out failing industries (from financial systems to auto industries) with public funds, then the public should be able to make demands upon them. Journalist and author Naomi Klein once called the idea "people's structural adjustment."
This is a powerful moment for governments who are suddenly having more control -- if they choose to -- over massive sectors of industry, by exercising leverage for climate demands. We need to renew these sectors. It's not just about money, it's about innovation and curbing emissions. We can tie the financial industry bailout to demands that industry become more innovative and more climate conscious.
We know that any solution to the climate crisis that is not equitable and just, is no solution at all. International youth are at the United Nations tasking the leaders of the world with no less than fundamentally changing the way our economies work. This crisis gives us an opportunity to take a massive step forward with instituting a Green New Deal and investing in a new truly just, sustainable economy.
Pachauri’s call for 350 ppm is breakthrough moment for climate movement
Comments
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retroproxy Posted 8:23 am
04 Dec 2008
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Pangolin Posted 9:12 am
04 Dec 2008
At this point it's insulting to Flat Earthers to compare climate change deniers with them. At least they have they wit and grace to deny ALL of the evidence against them rather than picking and choosing.
Put the Carbon Back
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retroproxy Posted 9:40 am
04 Dec 2008
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naught101 Posted 10:21 am
04 Dec 2008
The difference is that skeptics look for holes in data or logic, and try to correct them, where deniers cover up the data with lies.
The point is, you are lying, either that
a) I've read it all... I've researched this topic extensivly from all angles for many years. I think for myself.
or in that
b) you know all the crap you are pushing is false, as every single point of it has been disproven many times, both on this site and others.
Russ already pointed you to a list that covers everything you brought up. If you have something NEW, that hasn't been dealt with (this is the action of a skeptic), or that you can't find an response to, please let us know, we'll be happy to help find an answer.
check out http://www.envirowiki.info, the knowledge database for environmentalists and activists.
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amazingdrx Posted 1:49 pm
04 Dec 2008
Yep, no need to get excited retro, that's what most of us want here. A 10 to 20 year conversion from fossil fuel energy to renewable energy, not only for the good of the cliomate, but for the good of the global economy.
These monopoly games, oil wars, market bubbles, and terrorism impelled by oil kleptocracies are killing our economic, political, and cultural health. Relying on limited, monopoly held commodities for the energy that powers civilization is not a good long term plan.
Nothing more drastic than a longer version of WW II war production will be necessary. We have 10 to 20 years to win, instead of 3 1/2 years as in WW II.
You go right ahead supporting this new energy economy and we won't mind at all if you disbelieve anthropogenic GHG climate change. BTW, "global warming" is an obsolete phrase.
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin
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Whiskerfish Posted 9:11 pm
04 Dec 2008
I love a man who knows where he stands -- especially a dirty, smelly, coal-smudged, oil slick-soaked, traffic jam-inhabiting, sexually-inadequate old-fashioned sorta not-so-keen-on-the-details kinda fella.
Rrrumphh!
Whiskerfish
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amazingdrx Posted 2:02 am
05 Dec 2008
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin
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