Brian Kelly sent me a c/c of the current Power Shift platform, which does embrace the “350″ demand for lower ATMOSPHERIC LEVELS of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and not just lower emissions, but the same collection of demands (a kind of kitchen sink, as movement demands tend to be) ALSO includes the current liberal mainstream position of an 80-95% cut in GHGs by 2050 (by the US). The latter sounds all well and good and reasonable until you realize that even if not only NATIONALLY, but, more aggressively, GLOBALLY, mere EMISSIONS were to be cut by 95% by 2050, more aggressive than the most aggressive position in that range — we would STILL have RISING atmospheric levels of GHGs FORTY years from now, when they are ALREADY too high. In short, even if that demand is met completely, we are toast! Some demand!

Clearly this needs to be thought through more. What are needed are NET NEGATIVE GHG EMISSIONS GLOBALLY, and decades before 2050, which in turn requires a sharp and LOUD break from the liberal position on GHGs by the whole mainstream of the GHG movement — 1Sky Coalition, SEAC, Power Shift, etc. Further, the mountaintop removal people have to shed the “focus” idea on only mountaintop removal, and also embrace the right overall goal — we can’t get to where we need to unless we aim there. Demanding too little is not unheard of in the movement, like ActUp “demanding” a mere $500 million in research and experimentation money for HIV some 20 years ago, when that sounded to some like a lot.

Once the climate movement LOUDLY and MILITANTLY unifies around the more advanced positions taken at Copenhagen (350, 1 degree warming max, net NEGATIVE GHGs and soon, massive (COMPLETE) subsidy of rapid alternative energy development in the poorest countries, etc), then the non-climate centered environmental movement, as well as non-environmental-cetnered groups (like unions, churches, and prgressive local govts) will than most likely follow suit (with the appropriate efforts) and THEN we will be able to get a passle of progressive politicians on board. What was beyond the pale (like seriously talking about “imperialism” as an issue) will then be forced into the mainstream of US politics. Soon it should be made, by a burgeoning movement, into a household word — not just “greenhouse gases” but “350″, “net negative GHGs” and “1 degree rather than 3 degrees” warming etc. (Hansen has shown that two or three degrees Celsius warming is unstable and results in runaway further warming). Another KEY demand is for Congressional Hearings in both Houses, televised, with as much visibility as the circus of condemnation of gays-in-the-military that filled the airwaves in 1993 (for those who can remember it). THEN and only then will there be some chance for the planet, who has no one to defend its future but us shnooks

But when I am honest with myself, I know that it is too late. That we are too far behind. That we are going out, hopefully going out swinging but still. At some point, it’s time to stop rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, acknowledge that we have already hit the iceberg, that the boat is sinking and instead figure out where the hell the lifeboats are and how to get as many people on them as we can. For me that means fighting mountaintop removal. Partially it’s about trying to put the hurt on coal in the hopes of averting some quantity of the coming doom. But largely it’s about trying to preserve the mountains that these communities will need to survive the coming doom and build community power and resilience.

I didn’t do shit about Copenhagen and I won’t do shit about Mexico City. For my part, I’m sticking to local struggles and community resilience. Fighting to save things that can still be saved.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5013

“The President has wrecked the UN (and the planet)”

Bill McKibben and 350.org Response to President Obama’s Speech

COPENHAGEN — Bill McKibben, American environmentalist and founder of 350.org, responds to Obama’s press conference this evening:

“This is a declaration that small and poor countries don’t matter, that international civil society doesn’t matter, and that serious limits on carbon don’t matter. The president has wrecked the UN and he’s wrecked the possibility of a tough plan to control global warming. It may get Obama a reputation as a tough American leader, but it’s at the expense of everything progressives have held dear. 189 countries have been left powerless, and the foxes now guard the carbon henhouse without any oversight.”

To me, one of the best things I saw in Copenhagen was how many groups from more traditionally mainstream politics/analysis/strategies for change were increasingly critical and disillusioned with the process. I talked to folks that expressed hesitancy earlier in the week about participating in the Reclaim Power actions, that were fully behind it just a few days later. I saw Climate Justice become an increasingly dominant perspective – and solidarity with the Global South recognized as essential for the movement. This wasn’t the case just a year or two ago – and if anything, that is progress for us.

Obama’s utter dishonesty and lack of integrity is hard to deny here – and I think a lot bigger portion of the movement will be able to acknowledge that. I’d like to think this will be a radicalizing moment for many people – and we will see more people realizing that movements that have actually accomplished meaningful change throughout history did it through building the power of people, not just trying to persuade politicians and navigate a system that will never deliver the world we want and need.

What will 2010 hold for the climate justice movement? Hopefully a big step back from trying to woo negotiators and politicians, and a recognition that we aren’t going to get meaningful action through the UNFCCC, or through Congress.

I have hopes that the movement will be stronger than ever, and focused in strategic directions that will create real change – but it’s up to all of us to make sure any disillusionment we may be feeling right now is directed as the systems and processes – not at the issues and our committent.

-Matt