Global Protests to Mark UN Climate Talks
by Treehugger Interns on 10.15.06
Image © Andy Bodycombe, 2005
There is no doubt that concern about climate change is growing in all quarters. Yet whilst purchases of carbon offsets are on the rise, and An Inconvenient Truth is showing healthy box office returns, we are yet to see political demonstrations on a scale that matches the crisis we are facing. This may all change on November the 4th, as demonstrators across the world take to the streets to mark the UN climate talks in Nairobi, Kenya. They will be demanding tough action and binding targets on climate change. So far it looks like at least 45 countries will have some kind of event, including Australia, Bangladesh, Finland, France, Taiwan, USA and the United Kingdom.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign about these events is that many of the organisers, such as the UK based i count coalition, appear to involve a broad alliance of groups, including traditional environmental campaigning organizations, groups specifically targeting climate change, and even overseas aid and development organizations. Now is the time to be putting aside differences to demand immediate and decisive action from our political leaders. See you on the march.
[Written by: Sami Grover]
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10.00am Cycle protest assembles at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, South side (Holborn/Temple tube). Goes via ExxonMobil offices, Australian Embassy and Downing Street to arrive at US embasy at 11.30 am.
11.00am Rally opens : Messages from around the world, performance poetry & musical protest with "Seize the Day" and others.
12 noon Main Rally at US Embassy, Grosvenor Square.
Speakers include George Monbiot, Colin Challen MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Norman Baker MP, Zac Goldsmith.
1.00 pm March for Global Climate Justice from US embassy to Trafalgar Square
1.45 – 2.00 pm March joins “I-Count” Mass Gathering in Trafalgar Square
1.00 - 3.00
pm “I-Count” Mass Gathering in Trafalgar Square
Agh! So much info, so little space... For those of you looking to get active the weekend of the International Day of Climate Action, read on. For those of you planning to stay home, there's TV too.
1) Alert: The new documentary The Great Warming (box office TBD) will be released across the U.S. on Nov 3rd, the day before the Climate Action Day, and the 2 groups are working together to mobilize people. The Great Warming is the film that's reached from the eco-choir to connect with religious greens, and if the grassroots success of the coalition, website and film (90% of which is secular in nature) is any indication, we may be able to expand the crowd - and this would be a crowd that the GOP might be more inclined to hear out.
2) Sageroots effort: the people of our town, the inimitable Moab, Utah (first EPA Green Commuinty in the USA) are sponsoring a 35mm print of The Great Warming that will travel the country starting Nov 3rd, then be donated for school use. Your town, group, school etc can do the same. It costs $1300, it helps get the word out, it feels EXCELLENT, and I highly recommend it (see "Adopt a Theater" at www.thegreatwarming.com). This town-to-town share idea could have lots of applications...
3) THTV: not sure which may be a better match, but there are clips at The Great Warming's website that might be good for THTV, including an OnPoint interview with the producers.
4) "Hmmm... that sounds familiar." Yup - if you saw the Moyers on America special, "Is God Green?" last week, The Great Warming was the credit flashing across the feet of Rev. Richard Cizik, the breakaway Evangelical leader who's been pushing for active environmentalism. TGW interviewed him (first, I might add) as well as other leaders in religion, science, activism, human health, policy, eco-business and more. All this in 85 minutes, with HD footage of global warming impact around the world to boot. Hope you can see it; hope you like it!
"An Inconvenient Truth is showing healthy box office returns ... "
You've got to be joking.
According to boxofficemojo.com, the average daily gross of the theatres still showing this movie, as of Oct. 12, is $63. Yes, you read that right -- $63 and zero cents, GROSS, PER DAY.