It’s Getting Hot In Here

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was established in 1992 to ensure effective follow-up to the Earth Summit by reviewing progress in the implementation of Agenda 21, Rio, Johannesburg, etc. To meet this mandate, the CSD convenes on an annual basis in 2-year thematic cycles, the first year to gather data, case studies, and related info, and the second year to draft policy that will guide development solutions that address these thematic challenges. This year, May 4th-15th, was the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-17); a policy year addressing the themes of Agriculture, Rural Development, Desertification, Land Use, and Africa.

This was my fourth time participating in a CSD conference, and each time I notice this – it is extremely difficult to discuss sustainability, a concept defined most fundamentally by interrelationships, within a framework that compartmentalizes its issues into thematic clusters (ie. agriculture, rural development, . . . climate change, energy . . . water, human settlements, etc.). Certainly each of these themes warrants its own debates, research, and policy recommendations. It is also true that each CSD conference has an “interlinkages” working group with an objective to address the interrelationships between the themes being discussed. My point, however, is that there are interrelationships between themes of previous years, and years ahead even, that should not be left out of the conversations simply to conform to the organizational structure of the Commission. I bring this up not to complain, but to set the stage for the purpose of this blog – to highlight the important relationships between Agriculture and Climate Change that were overlooked at CSD-17.
Continue reading ‘Climate Change and Agriculture at CSD-17′

Raise a Rope for Climate Hope: a youth-driven, community-service, climate-action project

The Wolfeboro, New Hampshire based nonprofit, Global Awareness Local Action (G.A.L.A.) is gearing up to join thousands of other youth from around the world on Global Youth Service Day to help tackle their generation’s most pressing environmental issue – climate change. Their strategies are local in practice and global in scope. Collectively these actions will make a difference.

In collaboration with local youth groups including Kingswood & Kids, Kingswood Youth Center, and the Brewster Environmental Club, G.A.L.A. is proud to share one plan of action – Raise a Rope for Climate Hope. This climate action project will connect advocacy and service. First, Alex Lee, Founding Director of Project Laundry List will give a presentation to raise awareness about the “Right to Dry” bill (S.41). At the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to register for a free clothesline of their choice to be installed by youth teams later in May. Continue reading to learn more about this exciting Earth Week and Global Youth Service opportunity.

Continue reading ‘Raise a Rope for Climate Hope’

Note: If anyone suggested that a campaign with the words “carbon” and “consumer” would somehow benefit the climate, I would have told them maybe when pigs fly. But low and behold! New American Dream has put together yet another fabulous campaign to help people reduce their carbon-footprint. But today is the last day to make the “Junk your Junk Mail” pledge!

The Carbon Conscious Consumer, coined “C3”, is a national campaign/contest that focuses on one easy, habit-forming step people can take each month to reduce their carbon consumption. The steps are:
Continue reading ‘Junk Your Junk Mail Today!’

It was Friday evening, and as I walked up 1st Ave alongside the United Nations in NYC, the final hours of a two-year negotiation process were coming to a close. I could have gone inside and witnessed the final statements, or go across the street to my friend’s apartment and take off my shoes. I chose the latter. Not because I have a lack of appreciation for the hard work that goes into drafting the statements, or because I don’t believe in the statements, but rather because the “grand scheme of things” was singing so loud in my head that I knew I’d be unable to really listen to the mono-diplo-talk that often occurs inside the UN walls. After three years of participating in the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), here are a few thoughts according to me . . .

Continue reading ‘CSD, According to Me’

Old Man on the Mountain would be proud (R.I.P. Old Man). New Hampshire is maintaining its climate action momentum. Nearly twenty NH towns hosted “Step It Up” events last weekend and even more Earth Day events are scheduled for next. Did I mention we are modifying our motto from “Live Free or Die” to “Live Free From Global Warming or Die”?

Continue reading ‘NH Action’

This proverb from the Hopi Elders, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for . . .” has stuck with me ever since I came across it in Yes! Magazine a few years back. As I follow the dialog from IGHIH, I feel blessed to be part of such a wise and compassionate movement. Stay true, stay strong, ask questions, demand answers, be creative, and curious . . . love.   The Hopi Elders say . . . . .

Continue reading ‘Words of Wisdom from the Hopi Elders’

The last time I was in Chicago I had just finished a sixty-hour train ride from San Francisco, only to find out I missed my connecting train to Boston and so would be forced to stay in Chicago for the day. As I walked down the sidewalk to find a burrito, I noticed herds of people walking towards a thumping noise. Before I could blink and say, “wind power,” I found myself in the middle of mosh-pit at Lollapalloza ’06.

What does this have to do with climate change? Nothing. What is the only better way to experience Chicago besides Lollapalloza? Green Festival 2007! Who can win two free tickets, carbon-offset airfare, hotel stay, and backstage passes by completing a simple survey about what climate change issues you’d like to learn more about? You!

Continue reading ‘153 New Hampshire towns take climate action! “Live Free (from Global Warming) or Die!”’

Join thousands of people this weekend gathering to watch Al Gore’s film, “An Inconvenient Truth.” MoveOn.Org and Al Gore have teamed up to make this Saturday a night of climate action. All you have to do is agree to host the event, rent the movie, possibly pop some popcorn, maybe brew some organic shade-grown hot chocolate, and hit “play!” MoveOn will do the rest by inviting all MoveOn members in the area and providing you with press release and guided discussion materials. If you {host} it they will come! If you can’t host, but still want to see the movie, click here to find the closes screening to you and then, ideally, it will be so close you can walk!

Over-consumption is, without a doubt, one of the root causes of our current climate crisis. Consider this – The United States makes up 6% of global population, yet consumes 35-40% of world resources. Our excessive consumer lifestyles have destructive ecological, psychological, and political consequences. Let’s take real climate action today by celebrating the internationally recognized holiday, Buy Nothing Day. Participating in this wholesome holiday can be in so many ways, a breathe of fresh air.
Cheers.