It’s Getting Hot In Here

Cross posted from 350.org…

The climate change negotiations here in Poznan, Poland are on pause today in recognition of the Mulsim holiday, Eid al-Adha.

As we await the coming days of crucial negotiations leading towards a new global climate treaty, we are not about to sit idly by. Rather, we joined with over 200 people here in Poznan’s Freedom Square to form the beautiful image on the left.

Inspired by the AOSIS and LDC countries’ shared vision to reach 350 ppm co2, we created the shape of a human form on a threatened small island raising up the 350 target — the goal we must set for the sake of many countries’ very survival and a safe global climate.

Many thanks to all who joined in the event, braving the cold and wet. Hopefully this photo, along with many 350 photos being displayed here in Poznan, can capture the hearts and imaginations of some more delegates in these negotiations and help move the talks in the right direction.

Aerial art directed and photographed by John Quigley/Spectral Q

Cross-posted from 350.org…

My body is beginning to re-adjust to the appropriate time zone after returning to our 350.org office here in Burlington, Vermont, USA from India just 2 days ago. It is overwhelming to reflect on all that I did and learned in India for August while meeting with partners and allies across the country. The movement to fight climate change is now growing to new levels in India with exciting potential for changing the course of local, national, and international action on this crisis. This new growth is only just in the nick of time.

It’s incredibly sad to read reports of the floods in Eastern Nepal and the state of Bihar in northeastern India. As a result of unforgiving monsoon rains, a dam burst in Nepal 11 days ago, and now the Kosi river flowing from Nepal into Bihar breached its banks and changed course, pouring into hundreds of villages and towns. The death toll from floods and well as water-borne disease is rising day by day, and ultimately millions of people are being affected.

What’s worse is that India is no stranger to such disasters. Being in India this month I heard numerous personal tales of floods that are hard to conceive. Most memorable perhaps are the 2006 floods in Mumbai where nearly a meter (37.1 inches) of rain feel in a 24 period. While I was fortunate to not get caught up in anything on that scale, the stories became all that more real for me as I wintessed streets of Hyderabad turned into rivers in some sections of the city earlier in the month. All these floods are compounded by imperfect human development — urbanization without appropriate drainage, dams unable to contain the monsoon rains. Yet, the severity and frequency of these floods is being linked by many to the changing climate of South Asia as a result of global warming — it’s hard to build cities capable of withstanding a meter of rain in 24 hours.    Continue reading ‘Changing Course in India’