The Future Starts Here: Parliament debates 10:10
Posted by annied in campaign on 19. Oct, 2009 | 1 Comment
This week our Government has the opportunity to take a bold leap towards immediate cuts in our emissions. The Liberal Democrats have tabled a motion to garner cross party support for 10:10 Based on one simple ask, 10:10 calls on all of us to commit to a 10% reduction in our carbon emissions in 2010. On Wednesday, the motion being discussed will call on parliament, the government estate and the public sector to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 10% in 2010 compared to 2009 levels. Gordon Brown, his cabinet, the shadow cabinet and the Liberal Democrat party have already signed up. At the time of writing, the 10:10 campaign has gathered over 35,000 supporters from all sectors. The motion may just have enough support to pass.
Blog Action Day: Ecopsychologist says that it’s time to “constructively frighten people.”
Posted by annied in campaign, climate change on 15. Oct, 2009 | Comments Off
Brayne:“The challenge is: how do we mobilize the fear centers of the brain in a way that doesn’t immobilize people. If you shout at them they shut down, if you don’t tell them what’s happening they do nothing…. We have to make this relevant to people’s personal survival.”
Brayne is convinced the way to do that is for the governments to tell their people the truth: at this point it’s a question of adaptation and mitigation– not avoiding a global temperature rise of two degree Celsius. We must change our collective behavior as a species and we must change now. We must paint a grim picture of the future and convince the public that it will happen.
Greenpeace Mounts Westminster
Posted by annied in Green News on 12. Oct, 2009 | Comments Off
“Let them do their bit and they’ll come down when they’re ready. They’ll need something to eat or the toilet in a bit,” said one police man. Police presence is notable on the street, as is Greenpeace’s base camp behind St. Margaret’s Church. Not to dampen the London police’s optimism but Greenpeace’s activists are likely prepared for hunger and toilet eventualities.
Global Mobilization for Indigenous Peoples: the story from Peru
Posted by annied in rainforests on 12. Oct, 2009 | 1 Comment
Most people in the West would be horrified by what is going on in the name of ‘national development’ in Latin America: in Peru, the violence last week in Ecuador against the Shuar protestors, massacres of Awa communities in Colombia, and the very worrying situation in Paraguay where the Ayoreo people are living in voluntary isolation due to a cattle ranching land dispute. There is huge risk in terms of carbon trading offset schemes and avoided deforestation schemes. These may seem like a very important step on the way to tackling climate change, but it is important to remember that unless indigenous land rights are secured, there is very little to indicate that such projects, saturated as they will no doubt become with billions and billions of dollars, will be any different to other mega-projects occurring on indigenous lands.
Young British Green Bloggers (part 1): Niel of Climatico Analysis
Posted by annied in Green News, green media, greenblogs, young on 09. Oct, 2009 | 1 Comment
Part 1 of our series on young British green bloggers: Niel from ClimaticoAnalysis.com chats with the bloggess about how he got involved in environmental issues, his cycle, and green sins.
Young British Green Bloggers: blogging the transition
Posted by annied in greenblogs, young on 08. Oct, 2009 | 1 Comment
The green-blogosphere is US centric. But who’s out there that homegrown British?
The Tories, EU bashing, and your food supply
Posted by annied in DEFRA, Environment Agency, Green News, climate change on 06. Oct, 2009 | Comments Off
As the Tory Conference continues in Manchester, and David Cameron trashes the EU, let’s take a minute to remember just what the EU has done for the UK. There is a common myth in food and drug regulation that just because a problem isn’t evident in a lab, there won’t be a problem in (uncontrolled environment) the real world.
One Giant Leap for Sandbag (one small step for Ed)
Posted by annied in DECC, campaign, climate change on 29. Sep, 2009 | Comments Off
“The West needs to do more or it’s an excuse for everyone else not to do more.” Though Worthington laments, “They’ll probably do it anyway just embarrass them.” She is confident about non-Western’s countries, in particular China’s ability to adjust their carbon emissions, “When China says it’s going to do something, it generally does it.”