Copenhagen has been referred to as the most important diplomatic gathering in the world’s history. In preparation for the climate talks in December, Current Green is going to bring you a slew of interviews from a a range of perspectives and locations from around the world. Today we caught up with Jim Hogan, co-founder of www.desmogblog.com, and author of Climate cover up: The crusade to deny global warming.
Other video interviews in 360 Degrees of Copenhagen series:
Where do you get your news about Copenhagen? You wouldn’t be alone if you were turning to your fav a la fav social network and joining groups and lists.
Facebook has the following fan pages you can join:
Facebook Go Green Cop 15: To be honest, I’m not exactly sure who is running this page, and the purpose seems to have something to do with encouraging the conference to go green, or be green, or do the green thing…or the right thing…anyhoo, it has over 3 thousand members.
And then there is the: U.S. Department of State – COP15 UN Climate Change Conference 2009. The content is dry, but there is something endearing about the state department making a Facebook page (rumor has it this page sees more activity with their 284 fans than any other page they have created).
There are a slew of people on Twitter sharing news and opinions about all things Copenhagen. Your safest bet to find a voice you want to listen is to hang out on Twitter Search and watch the terms “copenhagen” and #cop15
Ok~ and now for a shameless plug from your sponsor: Current Green has our own little group (it was birthed 5 minutes ago) on Copenhagen. When you join the group you will get a weekly digest of news related to the topic, and I will send along the latest and greatest videos in our series, 360 degrees (or perspectives) of Copenhagen.
Ok~ so where do you go to get your Copenhagen fix? Do you have a favorite list on twitter? A favorite journalist? Inquiring minds want to know….
It’s a crisis in story telling. Most main stream media sources are not effectively communicating the importance or relevance of the Copenhagen Climate Talks. It might also be a crisis in marketing: since the general terms being used to describe the most important climate talks in history (to date) are being referred to as Copenhagen (makes me think of beer and vacation) and cop15 (makes me think of… well…nothing).
But do not fear!! The internet video is here!!!
I have two favorites at the moment that I want to share. I think this one (just released by Do The Green Thing) does a great job of giving explainer about what is going to happen at Copenhagen climate talks:
Then there is this video. Frankly, it didn’t do much for me, but it touches on one the most important issues that is under communicated: By the time Copenhagen rolls around, the negotiators will already have their marching orders. If you want to enjoy any idea of hope of influencing the potential outcome of the talks…NOW IS THE TIME.
And then there is this video produced by tcktcktck. It’s got star power and drama and makes me think back to Live Aid when I was a sweet young teen and believed anything was possible…that we actually can change the momentum of the way things are headed and save the problems of the planet. I enjoy living in that moment: I hope you do too and enjoy this video.
Ever wanted to know which lobby group is doing the most to sabotage effective action on climate change? Well…ATTAC Denmark, Corporate Europe Observatory, Focus on the Global South, Friends of the Earth International and Spinwatch have created a campaign to make it known to the world, and they’ve even decided to make learning fun via their Angry Mermaid Contest. You have until December 13 to vote, when their winners will be placed on the world’s biggest losers reality show (just kidding..but you do need to cast your vote by December 13th if you want to play).
From the creators of the Angry Mermaid campaign:
Crucial UN climate talks take place in Copenhagen this December. While people, organizations and social movements around the world are calling for strong action to prevent climate change and ensure climate justice, big business has been lobbying to block effective action to tackle the problem, while also seeking to benefit from it. Lobbying is defined as attempting to influence the decision-making process.
The Angry Mermaid Award has been set up to recognize the perverse role of corporate lobbyists, and highlight those business groups and companies that have made the greatest effort to sabotage the climate talks, and other climate measures, while promoting, often profitable, false solutions.
The Internet connection in Hawaii is very much like the general mentality of Hawaii: easy going, chill, not in any rush to get going. So with that said, I’m going to give you a sneak peek into a few of the good people I have met over the course of the last week at the [re]think Hawaii conference. Couldn’t help but notice and enjoy a refreshing perspective that gamers are bringing to the “so, how are we going to deal with these environmental problems?” conversation. Thinking outside the box and the pixels.
The first is Henk Rogers, you may know him as the founder of Tetris, I now know him as the guy who speaks about passion, purpose, and big ideas about saving the planet with Blue Planet Foundation.
The second introduction is to Jill Buck of the Go Green Initiative who shared about an inspiring collaboration that blossomed over the weekend (with another gamer no-less, @adamontherun):
I was sitting at a conference designed bring the usual and unusual suspects who innovate and fund and lobby for renewable energy together to cross-pollinate their ideas. While watching, two things struck me: the first is that the people who had conflicting viewpoints did not have a platform to converge and publicly articulate their opposing viewpoints (making it challenge for anyone trying to understand the pros and cons of the various sources of alternative energy). And then, as I watched a room full of people sitting in circles, all I could think about was battle strategies. Eco battle strategies.
Now, I don’t think about battle strategies. I think about the state of the environment, I think about environmental news and information. I track how media makers tell the stories about the environment, I watch for new innovations, and where we are as a culture are relating to the theme of “green.” But I think it’s fair to say that most governments, and businesses that have a goal to achieve have clear and focused metrics, strategies, and tactics.
However as the sustainability movement continues to develop, there is not one leader, we have various goals, and the participant defines the direction.
My definition of living sustainably is to live a life in balance. To explore deeper it means not to over consume, and it means the things I do consume: food, products, and experiences, do not cause harm and are not tainted with the sweat labor of inequality, that means (Gulp) working less, living more, a focus on relationships, it means (gulp x2) a new definition of success that has more emphasis on quality than quantity.
For someone else, it might mean starting a new business that incorporates sustainable practices and business models as a way to catch the newly emerging green trend, for someone else it might mean making small changes in their lives.
Either way, the opportunity of the moment is before us. The challenges that we are facing can appear insurmountable (the oceans are emptying of fish, freshwater sources are polluted, mining and deforestation is continuing to take place, record levels of dumping of toxic waste and garbage into our water sources…etc., etc., etc.) when you realize that the interests to make huge amounts of money (a quantity that has no tangible or real connection to the natural resources that are utilized to gain it) is in direct conflict with the interest to live sustainably on the planet, and most definitely doesn’t jive with the basic principles that are taught in every Outward Bound and Nols wilderness course: “leave no trace.”
The challenges of the times are upon us: we are living on a planet that is sending the message loud and clear that we cannot continue at the rate we are going and expect it to continue to sustain us. The need to act decisively and quickly is calling people around the planet into action. I have a Google alert for “eco hero,” and enjoy waking to seeing that this search is becoming more and more populated each day as more and more people are answering the call to action.
So who do you follow and which message do you take on as your own?
William McDonough discusses sustainability concepts via cradle-to-cradle, Annie Leonard talks about the story of stuff, and Bill McKibben is talking about 350, David de Rothschild is talking about plastics, Ask Umbra is in support of civil disobedience, Share table is promoting a culture of sharing, many people are promoting eating less meat as a way to conserve resources and energy. Everyone has a different date and amount they say we need to reduce CO2, and there are even more voices speaking about Copenhagen.
Yet the question arises, when there are so many people leading, and leading in so many different directions, who do you follow? Who do you listen to? With so many varying issues to address all at once which issue do you choose and why?
Inquiring minds want to know. Meanwhile, I’m keeping my eye on this kid: Alec Loorz, founder of Kids Versus Global Warming.
On December 7, 2009, the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy will gather delegates from all over the world to meet in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, (aka COP15). The goal of the event is to result in an “ambitious global agreement” that will include every country of the world. The event is complex, at times confusing, so we figured the least we could do is provide a 360 degree perspective of the conference via leading up to the event.
Joshua Wiese, program director of Adopt a Negotiator, webcams in from England to provide updates on the climate talks that have taken place in preparation for Copenhagen. As acting director of The Adopt a Negotiator project, Joshua coordinates a group of 12 dynamic young people from around the world as they track their climate negotiator throughout the process leading up to this December’s COP15. Here is what they’ve been up to.
The latest update from Bangkok – what’s new?
An update on some of the good news out of Bangkok, and, of course, some of the bad, as we get closer and closer to Copenhagen:
Lastly, Joshua talks to us about what YOU can do to pressure our world leaders to act on climate change in Copenhagen:
Joshua and his envoy are off to Barcelona for the next round of climate talks, there are five sessions left before the World’s leaders meet in Copenhagen for climate negotiations. To track Joshua, and his envy, you can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and of course at Adopt a Negotiator webbsite.
Sex sells…but will it get people to contact their political leaders in the name of climate change?
That’s what 22 year old model Cameron Russell was aiming for when she produced the video below of models stripping in the name of climate change. Cameron explains,
We were so inspired by the pictures we saw coming in from around the world on 350.org , that we wanted to help. We figured we’d try to get the point across the best way we know how–with clothes, or really, with the lack of clothes.
Who ever said that 350 parts per million is our “natural state”? After all, the past million years or so has CO2 levels see-sawed between about 180 and 285 parts per million. The 350 is a ‘best estimate’, best calculation as to the safe level of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere for a prosperous human civilization.
Right now, humanity is adding enough Co2 into the carbon cycle (mainly, but not solely, from burning fossil fuels) to add about 2 ppm per year. We need to drive down our emissions that drive increased CO2 levels and then continue the process so that we are actually reducing CO2 levels.
So what next, pole dancing for climate change ? (I’m imaging polar bears in bikini’s. Is that sick and wrong?)
Honestly, I wanted to to nothing more than put in my winter garden this weekend, but atlas, the largest climate event in history was taking place, so I hopped on my bike and coerced a friend to take the biodiesel ferry with me across the bay so we could take part in the 350 event in San Francisco.
OK, so here’s the dealio: It was an amazing event that ignited the imaginations of people around the world to get involved with climate change. When ever you are feeling lo, head on over to the 350.org flickr site and bask in the inspiration.
The strength of 350 is a clear, focused, informed message that spoke to people who might not self identify as activists.
The message: There is a problem: we have too much CO2 in the air to live in a healthy way on the planet.
A solution: Send a message to our negotiators at Copenhagen to take decisive action.
The variety of people who showed up at the SF event was a testament to their ability to bring together people across platforms who are interested in protecting the environment. Code pink was there, Green Peace was there, dogs who eat vegan were there, polar bears where there.
Umbra of Grist caught up with founder of Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org at the NYC event in Times Square.
What I found at the event in San Francisco was the mixing of old world of activism that points and yells at the problem and says, “broken!” and the new world activism that only has time to say, “here is a solution.” The speakers were there to keep us entertained and informed while we formed a big 350 (I was in the 3). But honestly, I couldn’t hear most of them. It’s not that they weren’t speaking loud enough. They were, after all, yelling. They were yelling at me. I don’t like being yelled at. There is a reason why activists yell, for many years they had to because no one was listening. They had to do radical things to capture the attention of the media and the public.
Now I should confess that I don’t like the word activist. Its a bit like “feminist” somewhere in the mix of life, the media, and society the term took on a “dirty” and negative association.
And while some of my dearest friends and people I deeply respect self identify as activists, and while many of my dearest friends even associate me as an activist (I show all the tell tale signs: I have gone to marches, I’ve contacted my political leaders, I over share on facebook about environmental news) when I try on the identity, it feels more like rusty stifling armor than a well fit glove.
Here is when I dropped the identity forever: When living in Virginia a few years back I drove up to New York City to attend what was at that point the largest protest on the planet against the Iraq war. It was an an amazing event. There were so many of us marching that the police took down the barricades. It was…peaceful, and there were people of every race and age present.
The next day I looked in the newspapers and nothing was there. A two line report in the back page of the New York Times reporting that some hoodlums had jumped on cars. All of a sudden I felt sick to my stomach. Something was wrong. Very wrong. And I couldn’t put my finger on it.
That’s when I found the following quote by Mother Teresa:
I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.
What she said resonated. I haven’t attended anti-rally as a participant since. (I have attended in the role of the media, because I believe they are important stories to tell.) But I wanted my personal participation, my voice, and energy to go toward events and organizations that are focused on finding the solutions.
With that said, I attended the 350 rally as a participant because I heard a “yes” in their message. Yes to a clear goal. Yes to our political leaders making decisions that will create policy that will think seven generation ahead..and yes to that it will take creativity and fun to engage the world in this issue.
The interview with 350 I posted on Current provoked an interesting discussion and criticism about 350 not gathering people to take more concrete action, and Janforgore questioned why didn’t they surround 350 power plants. I think you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. 350 had a mission: raise public awareness, show political leaders that people around the world are engaged with the issue and will support them. Mission accomplished. What you choose to do at that pool of information is up to you.
Meanwhile, here is an excerpt from a sample speech that the 350 organizers gave to their organizers around the world to read:
We rally around the number 350 because it is the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, and so 350 defines what is necessary for the earth to continue as we have known it. We have relied upon the patterns of rainfall and ice and sea level that have marked this world for the ten thousand years of human civilization. If these patterns shift dramatically, the first victims will be the people living closest to the edge–people who have already begun to suffer from drought, from flood, from the spread of disease. We will not stand by and let that happen.
The second thing I’d like to say today is that you’re part of something that matters. The climate crisis is such a huge issue that it’s always hard to see what difference any of us can make–especially when our foes include some of the most powerful entities on earth. We can’t match them in money, but they can’t match us in numbers, in spirit, in dedication. And we have a secret weapon, which is the power that comes from scientific observation. Today we are taking that number 350 and making it the centerpiece of the debate over climate. We are reminding the world’s leaders that they can give all the speeches they want, but that won’t change the way that physics and chemistry operate. We are standing up for scientific reality, and in so doing reframing this debate in a way that will echo through the UN Climate Talks in Copenhagen and beyond.
And the last thing I would like to say today is more personal: it’s a great privilege to be able to get out of bed in the morning and think to yourself, “There’s nothing more important than this that I could be doing today.” Take a moment to think about the amazing fact that across the globe today, people are doing just what you’re doing, hoping just what you’re hoping, believing just what you’re believing–and together we are making these deeds, hopes, and beliefs add up to something truly transformational.
On December 7, 2009, the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy will gather delegates from all over the world to meet in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, (aka COP15). The goal of the event is to result in an “ambitious global agreement” that will include every country of the world. The event is complex, at times confusing, so we figured the least we could do is provide a 360 degree perspective of the conference via leading up to the event.
Honestly, I wanted to to nothing more than put in my winter garden this weekend, but atlas, the largest climate event in history was taking place, so I hopped on my bike and coerced a friend to take the biodiesel ferry with me across the bay so we could take part in the 
change. When ever you are feeling lo, head on over to the 
