Such a Crazy Week!
I just participated in the largest climate march in history, 100,000 people from all over the world who gathered together in a shared desire for a fair, ambitious and binding climate deal here in Copenhagen, Denmark. We held torches for Climate Justice, acknowledging the fact that 75% of the ghg emissions in the atmosphere have come from the global north while 75% of the negative impacts of increased temperatures is predicted to occur in the global south.
The march was an incredible halfway mark to an amazing experience that is now halfway over! I’m still not sure how that happened, somewhere in between standing outside the conference center in a bathing suit chanting “out in the cold to stop the heat” and attending endless youth meetings inside the conference, my intention to blog everyday somehow evaporated in the frozen Danish air. I’ve written a few political posts, bashing Sarah Palin and lamenting the incredible power of Congress over these negotiations but I’ve been a bit negligent in describing what I am actually doing here in Copenhagen! Here’s a link to my full page of photos but I’ll highlight just a few standout moments.
Last weekend, I participated in the Conference of Youth, an experience that made me feel incredibly honored to be a part of such an intelligent and motivated youth movement.
The week itself passed even faster! On Monday we rattled up the conference with a fun flash dance in the main plenary hall.
Tuesday I got the policy wonk in me satisfied from a meeting with Jonathan Pershing, the lead climate negotiator from the United States. The meeting just emphasized my belief that the U.S. Congress has entirely too much control over these negotiations!
Wednesday we decided to crash an Americans for Prosperity (a oil industry front group and major climate deniers) who attacked us as “Nazis” and “crazed Hitler youth.” The infamous Lord Moncton then repeated to tell one of my Jewish friends that he is killing people in the third world (for which we got an article in the Times!)
Then, on Thursday, I got interviewed by the Wall Street Journal (article not release yet) for my role in an “Out in the Cold to Stop the Heat” action where I might have paraded around in a pink bathing suit.
Friday I helped start a group to deliver youth policy briefings to Congressional members when they arrive next week. I also participated in a Rapid Responder phone-a-thon to youth back home, sign up here if you want a personal update from Copenhagen or check out our facebook page.
Thanks for reading!
karlis says:
You should take the getting out in the cold to the next level: consider throwing a nud-i-tea party for the congressfolk when they get there. They might be interested!
Scott Sheppard says:
Inspired by your activism, for the first time in 50 years, we decided to save a tree and send our annual Christmas letter electronically instead: http://tinyurl.com/yck2ggf
Scott Sheppard says:
I don”t get it. We have a bunch of world leaders about to attend a summit where they can reach some agreements on climate control. Protesters who want climate control are trying to disrupt the conference. They want a “People’s Assembly” instead. Have these protesters never heard of representative government? I admit that the agreements reached will be largely voluntary (e.g. Congress has to actually pass anything our President agrees to) but allowing governments to act is the correct start – not something to be disrupted. Assuming the protesters got their way, how would reduction in climate damage happen any faster? Everyone sitting around holding hands and singing Kumbaya won’t get it done. You are there. Inquiring minds want to know.
Lisa Curtis says:
Hey Scott, thanks for reading! I definitely know what you mean about being frustrated with the protests. I attended the Kilmaforum, the “People’s Summit” a couple of times and was a little taken aback by the level of vehemence the Klimaforum speakers showed towards the people within the Bella conference Center. At the same time, the conference itself was incredibly frustrating. It was hard to be there as people who have spent the majority of their lives fighting for climate mitigation and to watch the political leaders fall back on the same north-south divide . We all knew that we weren’t going to get anything legally-binding but I think all of us were hoping that we would at least have something with a timeline and clear targets. I was part of the “Climate Shame Vigil” at 2 am on Friday night, protesting outside of the Bella Center. I knew the protest wouldn’t do any good, they’d already made their decision but the fact that I was there somehow seemed to help. I think a lot of people gave up a lot earlier than I did and decided to stage crazy events like trying to take over the Bella Center. I doubt they truly intended to take it over–what would they have done with it if they’d gotten inside??
If anything, this conference has taught me the value of doing things at the local level. I’ve lost a lot of faith in the ability of politicians to fix the problem. On a happier note, I love your Christmas letter (especially the fact that you did it electronically, I don’t think my own parents did that!) and please tell everyone hello for me!
Lisa Curtis says:
LOL I wish that had happened, thats such a brilliant idea!