It’s Getting Hot In Here

Saturday at COP 14 proved to be a refreshing break from non-stop meetings in the stuffy airless convention center. I joined several hundred other people for a fun march through downtown Poznan- chanting for climate justice in many languages and even having the march sing our signature song. Very funny to see so many people in clown costumes (a the theme for the rally was Stop Clowning Around ) singing “Oooh, it’s hot in here, there’s too much carbon in the atmosphere…”

I then went to a fascinating side event called “Many Strong Voices” that brought together people from the Arctic and from the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Very interesting to bring together 2 areas already directly feeling the impacts of climate change on opposite sides of the planet. When the ice melts in the Arctic, it makes the seas rise and the islands disappear.

As a rep from SIDS said so well, “Brazil says the Amazon is the lungs of the planet. The small islands are the conscience of the world.” Some of the strongest statements being made at COP so far have come from the island countries who are demanding targets in line with science because to not do so is literally suicide for them. As the rep said, “We will not shut up until we are listened to.”

As a member of the US youth delegation I am listening. And will do everything in my power to make sure the next administration starts listening and responding now.

Chief Bill Erasmus, the Chair of the Arctic Athabaskan Council made a stirring and emotional statement:

“I am disappointed. I am disappointed with the United Nations. I was told this body was to protect the people. I grew up learning to respect the UN but I’m beginning to think it’s there for colonial governments, not there for other governments. Our governments are not being heard. Canada can not speak for me. They were never given that right to speak for me. Indigenous people cannot speak for themselves in the UN. Indigenous people MUST have a right to lobby for themselves in the UN. Next week Bolivia is taking the lead to open the door so that Indigenous people can speak. No one can tell our story for us. Ottawa is 3,000 miles away. They do not know the North. They cannot speak for us. By Copenhagen Indigenous people must be at the table. I don’t get angry very often, I don’t get emotional very often. But the land and our world is in crisis. We need to admit that and we need to take responsibility.”

I spoke to Chief Bill Erasmus after the session and asked what young people could do to support the call for Indigenous people to have a formal seat at the table. Bolivia is making a formal proposal next week here at COP to establish an expert panel of Indigenous people. Chief Erasmus asks us all to pressure our governments to vote for that measure. Or in the case of the dismal United States at least push them to abstain from voting so as to not ruin a chance for Indigenous people’s voices to be heard.

It is past time that the voices that have been excluded from these global negotiations be heard and listened to.