Will Your Voice be Heard in Copenhagen?
by Susan Ellis of Keylifejourneys
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr., 1929-1968
What have you personally done about the U.N Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen? Will we be seen in the future as the selfish generation that cared only about having stuff without accepting responsibility for our actions? In Judeo-Christian societies this is a time of year for buying stuff. A lot of stuff. The world is consuming stuff at an unsustainable rate. 30% above sustainability at this time. Check it out. Click "Watch Now" for Annie Leonard's The Story of Stuff.
But how seriously are the negotiators at Copenhagen dealing with the issues? They are being distracted by so called evidence that pollution and waste is not hurting us. The distracters are from the corporations that wish to maintain the status quo - basically the oil and chemical industries. There isn't a single government in the world that has more resources at its disposal than most of our polluting corporations. That is why we need countries joining together to out muscle the corporations. One of the biggest distractions is the Cap and Trade plan. This will enable the same people who gave us the sub-prime mortgage fiasco to make money trading carbon credits. This bartering will not lessen the existence of carbon dioxide in the air. Learn more about Cap and Trade from Annie Leonard
So where are the voices of reason and how are individuals getting involved?
David Suzuki is asking people to phone Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper says Canada will match the US targets. Isn't that progressive? The European community has committed to a 20% reduction in gases by the year 2020 and Japan a 25% reduction against the 1990 level. The US has committed to reduce greenhouse gas production by 17% from the year 2005 levels. That is the equivalent to 3-4% when compared with Europe and Japan.
I did write an email to The Prime Minister. My last paragraph read "Don't bother replying. I know no one is going to read this and respond to my words. A staff member will file it under "against climate policy" and send me the rote letter already written that is sent to such mail." I never got an answer so someone must have read it and realized they could not deny my claim.
Then there is Greenpeace. Adverts appearing in Copenhagen airport show world leaders as they could look in 2020 saying "I'm sorry. We could have stopped catastrophic climate change....we didn't." Photos in the Toronto Star on Tuesday 8th December show that security was breached at the Canadian Parliament buildings as two banners were unfurled from the rooftop. Environment Minister Jim Prentice dismissed it as an irrelevant "stunt." One read "Climate Inaction Costs Lives" and the other said "Stop the Tar Sands."
Ah yes the Tar Sands. Many Canadian Provinces are acting unilaterally to set targets for gas reduction. Ontario's target is 15%, Quebec 20% and BC at 14%. Let's look at the math. Three provinces where most Canadians live doing their bit. Alberta with its Tar Sands will have an increase of 58% in emissions according to a Toronto Star editorial. Mr. Harper comes from Alberta.
There are many people out there who say that our air is still safe to breath. Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. Already it registers at 390ppm.
There is a website www.350.org which provides much information on the implications and opportunities for your voice to be heard.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu states
"Climate change is a reality. Life depends on a sustainable environment. With no world, there can only be nothing--no birds, no animals, no trees, no us. That’s why getting involved in 350.org is so important - it's an effective way to take action to turn around the climate crisis.
"Desmond Tutu was Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 until 1996 and is the 1984 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. Since his retirement, Tutu has continued to work as a global activist on issues pertaining to democracy, freedom and human rights.
Another voice is that of Avaaz.org The website states -
On December 12 we will gather in every corner of the world for the largest ever day of climate action. Our message is clear: the world wants a real deal at Copenhagen!
There will be vigils on the 12th and bell ringing on Sunday 13th To date over 2682 events are already registered in 136 countries. 27 are in Toronto. Go to the website click on the country/city and find out about an event near you.
Now what about this bell ringing? From the Kairos Canada Website comes this invitation -
Brothers and sisters around the globe are already experiencing the devastating effects of climate injustice—show your solidarity with God’s peoples and the Earth!
KAIROS is asking every church in the country to ring its church bells 350 times for climate justice on Sunday December 13, 2009 at 3:00pm (your local timezone).
Sunday December 13 is a day of action for churches around the world. A global bell ringing action is timed to coincide with an ecumenical service that the World Council of Churches is coordinating at the height of the talks in Copenhagen. When it ends at 3:00 pm, churches all over Denmark will ring their bells. We know why 350 times. But let us be reminded.
"Because according to climate experts, 350 parts per million (ppm) is the upper limit for carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in our atmosphere. Until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 ppm of CO2, but now the concentration stands at 390 ppm. Unless we are able to rapidly reduce, we risk irreversible impacts on all of Creation."
Check to see if your Church or faith community has signed up. It dosen't have to be a bell, it can be a drum or gong.
Yes this is the same Kairos that has been funded for 36 years by the Canadian Government for its social justice work and from which suddenly Stephen Harper's government has withdrawn its financial support. Read my blog post on the subject or go directly to their website.. Could there be a connection?
So this weekend is important. Here we have an opportunity for the power of one to show itself. If we each show up we will play our part. I shall be putting the link to this blog entry on Facebook and Twitter. Maybe you should too. In 2020 do you wanting to be saying "I'm sorry" because you didn't make a stand today?
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr., 1929-1968
What have you personally done about the U.N Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen? Will we be seen in the future as the selfish generation that cared only about having stuff without accepting responsibility for our actions? In Judeo-Christian societies this is a time of year for buying stuff. A lot of stuff. The world is consuming stuff at an unsustainable rate. 30% above sustainability at this time. Check it out. Click "Watch Now" for Annie Leonard's The Story of Stuff.
But how seriously are the negotiators at Copenhagen dealing with the issues? They are being distracted by so called evidence that pollution and waste is not hurting us. The distracters are from the corporations that wish to maintain the status quo - basically the oil and chemical industries. There isn't a single government in the world that has more resources at its disposal than most of our polluting corporations. That is why we need countries joining together to out muscle the corporations. One of the biggest distractions is the Cap and Trade plan. This will enable the same people who gave us the sub-prime mortgage fiasco to make money trading carbon credits. This bartering will not lessen the existence of carbon dioxide in the air. Learn more about Cap and Trade from Annie Leonard
So where are the voices of reason and how are individuals getting involved?
David Suzuki is asking people to phone Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper says Canada will match the US targets. Isn't that progressive? The European community has committed to a 20% reduction in gases by the year 2020 and Japan a 25% reduction against the 1990 level. The US has committed to reduce greenhouse gas production by 17% from the year 2005 levels. That is the equivalent to 3-4% when compared with Europe and Japan.
I did write an email to The Prime Minister. My last paragraph read "Don't bother replying. I know no one is going to read this and respond to my words. A staff member will file it under "against climate policy" and send me the rote letter already written that is sent to such mail." I never got an answer so someone must have read it and realized they could not deny my claim.
Then there is Greenpeace. Adverts appearing in Copenhagen airport show world leaders as they could look in 2020 saying "I'm sorry. We could have stopped catastrophic climate change....we didn't." Photos in the Toronto Star on Tuesday 8th December show that security was breached at the Canadian Parliament buildings as two banners were unfurled from the rooftop. Environment Minister Jim Prentice dismissed it as an irrelevant "stunt." One read "Climate Inaction Costs Lives" and the other said "Stop the Tar Sands."
Ah yes the Tar Sands. Many Canadian Provinces are acting unilaterally to set targets for gas reduction. Ontario's target is 15%, Quebec 20% and BC at 14%. Let's look at the math. Three provinces where most Canadians live doing their bit. Alberta with its Tar Sands will have an increase of 58% in emissions according to a Toronto Star editorial. Mr. Harper comes from Alberta.
There are many people out there who say that our air is still safe to breath. Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. Already it registers at 390ppm.
There is a website www.350.org which provides much information on the implications and opportunities for your voice to be heard.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu states
"Climate change is a reality. Life depends on a sustainable environment. With no world, there can only be nothing--no birds, no animals, no trees, no us. That’s why getting involved in 350.org is so important - it's an effective way to take action to turn around the climate crisis.
"Desmond Tutu was Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 until 1996 and is the 1984 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. Since his retirement, Tutu has continued to work as a global activist on issues pertaining to democracy, freedom and human rights.
Another voice is that of Avaaz.org The website states -
On December 12 we will gather in every corner of the world for the largest ever day of climate action. Our message is clear: the world wants a real deal at Copenhagen!
There will be vigils on the 12th and bell ringing on Sunday 13th To date over 2682 events are already registered in 136 countries. 27 are in Toronto. Go to the website click on the country/city and find out about an event near you.
Now what about this bell ringing? From the Kairos Canada Website comes this invitation -
Brothers and sisters around the globe are already experiencing the devastating effects of climate injustice—show your solidarity with God’s peoples and the Earth!
KAIROS is asking every church in the country to ring its church bells 350 times for climate justice on Sunday December 13, 2009 at 3:00pm (your local timezone).
Sunday December 13 is a day of action for churches around the world. A global bell ringing action is timed to coincide with an ecumenical service that the World Council of Churches is coordinating at the height of the talks in Copenhagen. When it ends at 3:00 pm, churches all over Denmark will ring their bells. We know why 350 times. But let us be reminded.
"Because according to climate experts, 350 parts per million (ppm) is the upper limit for carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in our atmosphere. Until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 ppm of CO2, but now the concentration stands at 390 ppm. Unless we are able to rapidly reduce, we risk irreversible impacts on all of Creation."
Check to see if your Church or faith community has signed up. It dosen't have to be a bell, it can be a drum or gong.
Yes this is the same Kairos that has been funded for 36 years by the Canadian Government for its social justice work and from which suddenly Stephen Harper's government has withdrawn its financial support. Read my blog post on the subject or go directly to their website.. Could there be a connection?
So this weekend is important. Here we have an opportunity for the power of one to show itself. If we each show up we will play our part. I shall be putting the link to this blog entry on Facebook and Twitter. Maybe you should too. In 2020 do you wanting to be saying "I'm sorry" because you didn't make a stand today?
Posted by Key Life Journey's Blog at 12/9/2009 6:41 PM 
Categories: opinions and thoughts
Tags: climate change conference in Copenhagen
Categories: opinions and thoughts
Tags: climate change conference in Copenhagen
Comments