It’s Getting Hot In Here

Yesterday the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen passed a hotly disputed “anti-riot law”, less than two weeks before what is shaping up to be the largest single convergence around climate change ever. The law, passed to stymie public protest around the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen, strips people of civil liberties, freedoms, and sanctions (if not encourages) preemptive arrests for any of the 10,000’s of people expected to arrive in Copenhagen to voice concern, march, take direct action, and participate in the UN climate talks.

The new laws layout is fairly straightforward, and inevitably draws a comparison to unlawful US and UK preemptive arrest actions from the last year.

• Preventive arresting: Under the new law, police can detail people for up to 12 hours without any charges, just because they decide you look like a troublemaker.

• Hindrance of authorities performing their duties: Normally the penalty is a fine. Now, they can hold you for 40 days.

• Breach of the peace, or disorderly behavior while staying around after the police have broken up a demo: They have more than quadrupled fines for staying in a demo that the police have broken up is 403 euro and up to 671 euro if you are showing disorderly behavior.

Additionally (yes there’s more), Danish police said “open-air meetings may be prohibited when it is feared that they may constitute a danger to the public order”.

Continue reading ‘Denmark Passes “Anti-Riot” Law 12 days before UN Climate Negotiations.’

“Lead, follow, or get out of the way!”, was what Power Shift Canada told the Canadian Government loud and clear on October 24th. Since then, youth across the country have been rallying, calling and dancing to demand that the Canadian government adopt Bill C-311 (the Climate Change Accountability act) which would mandate targets to cut global warming pollution in line with science. “It’s time to listen,” we told them, and all these efforts have finally started to pay off. The minority Harper government used stalling tactics to delay a vote on that bill in committee most likely until 2010, but the Canadian parliament just passed a motion that Canada should put forward the first target from the delayed bill as the Canadian position in Copenhagen. It passed 137-124 with the united support of all three opposition parties: Continue reading ‘Canadian Parliament Supports Strong Copenhagen Target’

Seeing the photo of an October 24 event in Sydney, Australia reprinted in the Wall Street Journal today reminded me why images are such an important organizing tool.

Long after an action ends,  a great photograph can continue to get a message across. The caption on the photo in the WSJ, for example, reads: “Demonstrators form a ’350′ with umbrellas at the Opera House in Sydney last month. Scientists say the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere should be limited to 350 parts per million.”

That last sentence was nowhere to be seen just 18 months ago when 450 ppm was still the usually quoted target — your work and images on Oct 24 helped strongly shift the debate towards what science demands,  and the pictures continue to reinforce the message that for many people and nations “Survival = 350.”

That’s a message that we’re going to try and make even more visible (literally) during the upcoming Copenhagen climate talks. Over the weekend of December 12, 350.org is working with our allies at Avaaz.org, TckTckTck, and thousands of other partners around the world to host candle-lit vigils at US Embassies, congressional offices, and iconic places across the planet. Hundreds of events are already planned (check them out and organize your own here).

Why vigils? Because a vigil is a strong way to show solemn solidarity with the world’s most vulnerable countries and the millions of people who’s lives are already being impacted by climate change. And because shining a light  is exactly what we need to do for our leaders.

But also, because the vigils will be extremely beautiful. And beauty has power.

It’s official Obama is coming to Copenhagen. He will attend the UN Climate negotiations happening 2 weeks from now. However, this announcement reads like Obama coming to a pot-luck party early before anyone else is there, and forgetting to bringing a dish. His timing is well… not exceptional, and even more disturbing is officially seeing the carbon reduction numbers he will be touting as “leadership” in Copenhagen.

First the date, 12/9:

It’s looking like Obama is going to swing into Copenhagen for the UN climate negotiations on December 9^th on his away to Oslo to retrieve his Nobel prize. What’s the first thing I thought when I saw the date of Obama’s visit?

I was glad he could squeeze the most important meetings since WWII into his schedule. Unfortunately it seems likely that we are to get nothing more than a rally speech from Obama, as he is swinging in on the third day of a two-week process. Most head’s of state are committing to attending the last couple days of the conference to spur along the final hours of the negotiations.

I’m happy to see Obama commit to coming to Copenhagen (maybe he’ll bring Oprah again), and I do feel it has the potential to be productive; hell it has to be productive. Yet, I fear that all we’re going to get is a great rally-cry speech and the  potential to two days of negotiations right at the beginning of the conference due to of all the incredible security, sweeps, and hoopla that comes to town when the big O comes around.

I’m happy the US President is coming; I just question the intention and the timing. It doesn’t take a genius (I’m a perfect example) to see attending the end on the UNFCCC negotiation would be much more effective.

Continue reading ‘Obama coming to the UN climate party early and empty’

I thought it would be worthwhile to post the whole press release that the White House put out today about President Obama’s trip to Copenhagen. I’m sure folks have a whole variety of opinions on the President’s visit and his announcement of emissions cuts “in the range of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020,” so let’s see a discussion going in the comments section.

President to Attend Copenhagen Climate Talks

Announces U.S. Emission Target for Copenhagen

The White House announced today that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he is eager to work with the international community to drive progress toward a comprehensive and operational Copenhagen accord.   The President has worked steadily on behalf of a positive outcome in Copenhagen throughout the year.  Based on the President’s work on climate change over the past 10 months – in the Major Economies Forum, the G20, bilateral discussions and multilateral consultations – and based on progress made in recent, constructive discussions with China and India’s Leaders, the President believes it is possible to reach a meaningful agreement in Copenhagen.  The President’s decision to go is a sign of his continuing commitment and leadership to find a global solution to the global threat of climate change, and to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future.

The White House also announced that, in the context of an overall deal in Copenhagen that includes robust mitigation contributions from China and the other emerging economies, the President is prepared to put on the table a U.S. emissions reduction target in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in line with final U.S. energy and climate legislation.  In light of the President’s goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050, the expected pathway set forth in this pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction below 2005 levels in 2025 and a 42% reduction below 2005 in 2030.  This provisional target is in line with current legislation in both chambers of Congress and demonstrates a significant contribution to a problem that the U.S. has neglected for too long.  With less than two weeks to go until the beginning of the Copenhagen conference, it is essential that the countries of the world, led by the major economies, do what it takes to produce a strong, operational agreement that will both launch us on a concerted effort to combat climate change and serve as a stepping stone to a legally binding treaty.  The President is working closely with Congress to pass energy and climate legislation as soon as possible. Continue reading ‘Obama to Go to Copenhagen, Announces 17% Target’

This is my second post on the need for the Maryland Public Service Commission to reject transmission lines that would take coal burned in West Virginia, and transfer it into my state of Maryland as a source of power. You can find part 1 here. Today I have a column out in the Diamondback making the case against MAPP and PATH, and for offshore wind power. I also want to be sure to plug the rally against the power lines on December 1st at 1pm in Baltimore. You can find out additional information about the MAPP and PATH issue on the Maryland Sierra Club’s website.

MAPP and PATH: Time to draw the line
By Matt Dernoga

I have a minor suggestion for the utility companies. If you’re going to try to portray your attempts to build gigantic interstate transmission lines as a way to transfer renewable energy, don’t connect them to coal plants. Continue reading ‘Stopping Coal-Powered Transmission Lines’

Last week I was in Washington DC to present our Declaration of Independence from Fossil Fuels to the group of Senators who are working hard to pass some laws that will help to slow down global warming emissions. Senator Barbara Boxer, the Chairman of the Committee, invited me to attend a reception to celebrate the passing of the Kerry-Boxer bill out of the Environment and Public Works Committee.

It was pretty awesome, if you think about it. There were like 50 or 60 people there, most of them from Environmental organizations who have supported this bill in one way or another. But there were also five Senators and a couple Cabinet representatives. Senator Boxer and three other senators gave statements and offered words of thanks and encouragement. Then, she introduced….me! This regular kid from California with a huge roll of butcher paper in his arms, filled with over 10,000 signatures from the last unrepresented segment of our society: people under the age of 18.

We can’t vote. We aren’t lobbyists. But our voices are too passionate to be ignored.

Continue reading ‘Youth Voice ROCKS Senate’

Two large, well organized, but apparently unrelated actions today on either side of the globe underscore the rising intensity of the fight for climate justice.

In Australia, about 150 activists were arrested in the capitol as they demanded a strong, legally binding treaty in Copenhagen.  Newcastle Rising Tide takes credit for the action, and you can find more photos here.  The AFP reports on the story here, with this:

“The demonstrators have converged on the front entrance to parliament house, blocking public access to the building,” a police spokesman told AFP.

The citizens were called to action by frustrations with the Prime Minister who they feel has gone back on his campaign promises and not done enough to keep big polluters out of crafting climate policy.

“This has been a true expression of the deep sense of betrayal many Australians feel about Kevin Rudd’s lack of effective action on climate change,” said Georgina Woods, spokesperson for the demonstration. “We voted for this government so they would stand up to the big polluters, and lead the world on dealing with the impending climate crisis.” Read more about it at Indybay.org

Across the world, in Calgary, Alberta, citizens were taking direct action, apparently organized by Canada Climate Justice.  From their blog:

The first of a series of citizen-organized peaceful sit-ins targeting elected officials, tar sands financiers, and the coal and tar sands industries began today at Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice’s Calgary constituency office. Six people – five of whom are constituents of Minister Prentice – entered the office just after 10:00 AM refusing to leave, demanding that the Harper government and all parties act to combat the climate crisis and stop the millions of deaths and displacements that will result from more inaction on global warming pollution.

The most recent update, as of 3pm, was that the protesters were still there and prepared to stay until the police forced them out at the close of business.   You can see more pictures from the day here.

If you have more information on either of these actions, please post it here, as we’ll be watching for updates.

The Drill Rig on Coal River Mountain: One person is inside the cabin, and one is locked in the drill shaft. The banner, draped over the drill's front, says "Save Coal River Mountain"

Early this morning two concerned citizens, Dea Goblirsch and Nick Martin, locked down to a drill rig on Coal River Mountain’s Bee Tree mountaintop removal site, effectively stopping blasting. Two others, Grace Williams and Laura Von Dolen, joined them in direct support, holding a banner with the message “Save Coal River Mountain”.

These nonviolent protestors have taken this action to bring attention to the extreme danger facing residents of the Coal River Valley from blasting near the Brushy Fork Impoundment. They plan to stay locked down until law enforcement removes them.

Resident of Rock Creek, W Va., Delbert Gunnoe, stated his concerns with the blasting, “You know when they put a blast over there, and it shakes the windows over here, at what, ¾-a-mile distance, imagine what it does over there.” Gunnoe continued, “if [the impoundment] did bust…what would be the destruction? The town of Whitesville would no longer exist.”

The four are fearful of the blasting that Massey Energy began in late October.  These blasts are 200 feet from the Brushy Fork Impoundment, permitted to hold nine billion gallons of toxic coal slurry. The impoundment sits atop miles of hollow, abounded underground mines, further endangering its integrity.  By Massey’s own estimates, roughly 998 people will die should the dam break. The emergency evacuation plan states that a 40-foot wall of sludge, cresting at 72 feet, will flow through the valley, reaching 20-feet-high about 15 miles down the road.  Apart from the initial flood, the impact of this potential spill would be felt along the Coal River’s 88 miles.

Continue reading ‘Responding to Harmful Government Inaction, Protesters Stop Blasting on Coal River Mountain’

After an emotional week for the members of the youth climate movement, who have staked so much hope on the promise of passing legislation in congress this year and sealing a binding agreement in Copenhagen, we’ve had to deal with managing our expectations and reframing how we approach the opportunities that are still ahead of us.

I wrote on Monday that we would adamantly continue to play our unique role as the generation who will bear the brunt of the negative impact every time our leaders choose to delay decisive action on climate and energy. I still believe this is true, but I also believe we have an obligation to step back and celebrate the victories that will ultimately help us achieve our vision. Using the slower pace of the coming holiday weekend to regroup, as frustrating as it may seem to some passionate activists, can allow us to gain perspective that will allow us to continue to be relevant in the dialogue surrounding legislation – even if it winds up happening in April – and make the most of Copenhagen next month.

Foremost, we’re lucky that President Obama is our teammate, as opposed to an administration that did not even acknowledge science and reality. The members of the Energy Action Coalition’s partner organizations have called on him this month to provide leadership in our basketball-themed, “It’s Game Time, Obama!” outreach effort, and I’m pleased to report that members of his administration are hearing us. Continue reading ‘Time Out: Youth Climate Leaders Must Change the Game’