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TechnoratiActivists to Peg Climate Actions to Science
LONDON - In a week when world leaders concluded that it would be "unrealistic" to aim for a legally binding agreement at the upcoming UN Climate Conference, there are signs that activist groups are working to create their own systematic plans for reducing global emissions.
![[This handout picture by the environmental group Greenpeace shows activists hanging a banner reading "Climate Chaos, Who is to Blame?" hanging from the Cristobal Colon statue in Barcelona. (AFP/HO/Pedro Armestre)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/climateactivists_pegscience.jpg "climateactivists_pegscience.jpg")
The UK Camp for Climate Action
is known to be considering a proposal made at a recent national
gathering for a coordinated series of direct actions which could lower
UK emissions in line with scientific recommendations.
The proposal, currently being discussed by supporters of the movement, asserts that: "Using the presently available science it is possible to estimate a cumulative total in emissions which will push the globe towards dangerous temperature levels, and the UK's fair share of the remaining allowable emissions. From this a plan of emission cuts can be drawn up that will keep us below that limit. The direct actions... that will achieve these emission cuts can then be determined."
"If [political leaders] will not act then we must," the proposal argues. "We know what needs to be done and we should just get on and do it."
The grassroots movement has already claimed a number of high profile successes this year, following protests at London's Heathrow Airport and at several coal-fired power stations.
The proposal is to be discussed against the backdrop of a recent UK government announcement that fossil fuels will continue to form a central pillar of the country's energy strategy -- a decision that has prompted angry reactions from campaigning groups. Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, has dismissed criticism of the policy as "not serious," arguing that it is the most "environmentally stringent" in the world. However, a recent report from the internationally respected Tyndall Centre highlights a significant disjuncture between the government's ambitious rhetoric and reality.
The report noted that Mr Miliband's stated desire to "limit climate change to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius" implied far more ambitious emissions cuts than those currently planned, requiring a "significant shift towards rapid and large scale mitigation leading to complete decarbonisation of the energy system by 2030."
As one supporter of the Camp for Climate Action put it: "These are the levels of cuts needed and we will ensure they happen if governments fail to take adequate action."
If the proposal gains support within the climate activist movement, a plan to achieve the transition could be put into effect as early as January 2010, with a coalition of direct action groups working together in order to bring about the cuts. In accordance with mainstream scientific advice, a 9 percent annual reduction of greenhouse gases is likely to be the goal, raising the prospect of further protests targeting the UK's major emitters.
The "Great Climate Swoop," which saw more than 1,000 people descend on Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal-fired power station in the county of Nottinghamshire earlier this year, might be seen as a model for future protests, although lower-profile actions are also understood to be in the pipeline.
What is clear is that the mass-action being organised in Copenhagen next month does not represent the culmination of activists' plans, but will instead herald a new wave of more concerted and coordinated measures to force emissions cuts in line with scientific demands.
Commenting on rich countries' apparent hesitancy to come to an agreement in Copenhagen, an activist summed up his position by saying: "On a sinking ship, it is no use almost patching the leak because the captain does not want to overwork the crew or upset the passengers. Half measures are no good."
As a number of campaigners have pointed out in recent weeks, nature doesn't do negotiations. By pegging their actions to the calls of mainstream science, it seems that climate activists are committing themselves to a busy year ahead.
29 Comments so far
Show AllUS politicians won't act on global warming, nor on accelerating or even making fundamental new changes and approaches to energy ...US OIL companies and teh US chamber of Commerce simply will not permit it.
since these are about {"investments"....
here's an article on what China is doing with some of its "SOVEREIGN FUNDS"....
for people that MIGHT be interested in the news or even , if they are in the "investment" game, where they might want to put their investments.....
--
american politicians AND industries DON"T WANT TO CHANGE their "business practice?"
americans better put their hard -earned savings and investments ELSEWHERE where it's more useful and AHEAD of the OLD BACKWARD US game of "fossil fuels" ....
why should americans give "loyalty" with their money to US "industry" and corporations whose behest on continuing their OLD WAYS of polluting is "obeyed" by the USA ....and NEITHER show any loyalty TO americans themselves?
if the USA and Corporatocracy doesn't have any loyalty to americans - but only to its "bottom line DOLLAR" by adhering to its OLD WASTEFUL , INEFFICIENT ways...
why should americans return the "loyalty" with THEIR money just because they're "americans?"
that's like continuing to "come home" to the person that beats you up every day....
it's called MASOCHISM.
maybe if americans PUlled their own money and savings and investments OUT of american corporations and the US 'treasuries' and put them ELSEWHERE where it's more useful .....
the Ruling Elite will take notice.........THAT"s ONE way the american people themselves can show their own power....
USE THEIR OWN MONEY as their "Freedom of speech" the WAY corporations do ......by WITHHOLDING it from US corporate polluters and thieves of americans' OWN money. ...and giving it to "strangers"...that oughta make the ruling elite tremble a little bit.
================
CHINA'S SOVEREIGN FUND BUYS 20 % STAKE IN HONGKONG CLEAN ENERGY COMPANY
15:58, November 19, 2009
China Investment Corporation (CIC), the nation's sovereign wealth fund, would spend 5.5 billion HK dollars (709.69 million U.S. dollars) to buy about 20 percent stake in a Hong Kong-based new energy company, said a report posted on CIC's website Thursday.
The company said it had entered into a binding framework agreement with GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd (GCL-Poly), and would subscribe for 3.108 billion new shares at a price of 1.79 HK dollars per share.
The two sides also agreed to set up a joint venture, or JV Company, to invest and develop photovoltaic or other solar energy projects with an initial capital of 500 million U. S. dollars.
CIC will hold 49 percent shares of the joint-venture, and GCL-Poly, 51 percent.
"This transaction marks an important step for GCL-Poly. With our industry expertise in the renewable and clean energy business and our newly gained financial flexibility, the deal will strengthen our financial position and enhance the company's leading role in the renewable energy industry," said Zhu Gongshan, the company's chairman.
GCL-Poly said in a statement that it intended to use the net proceeds raised from the subscription for general working capital, repayment of borrowings and exploration of new business opportunities, including investment in and development of the joint-venture company.
Founded in 2006, GCL-Poly, is the country's largest polysilicon producer and got listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2007.
Shares of GCL-Poly surged 12.21 percent to close at 2.59 HK dollars at the midday while the Hang Seng index dipped 0.53 percent.
Source:Xinhua
This is a seed of the necessary revolution: in the beginning is the word and revolution is it.
In the balance, western government is now shown to be irrelevant, mendacious, malicious and much worse; all the way to hyperactively genocidal. Let us make revolution happen. Constructive disobedience is the means.
The aim of government in the west is to support what has come to be known as the Economy even at the expense of mankind and the earth.
We have to redefine economy. This is easy. We just go to the original meaning. To do something economically means without waste, which is simply the perfect opposite of what Economy means.
In joke, I have called the Economy Godzilla. Surely there is a better name for it?
If we each put our minds to it, work at it, consult about it, the revolution will not happen tomorrow but it will happen.
Creating a network alternate to the US-corporate dominated one that links local communities from around the world into an economic sphere around the connection between environmental protection, sustainability, health, equality, democratic values, peace, non-profit cooperation, and green jobs would be a lofty but worthy and doable goal.
Science? Like everything else, it's only a tool. You can be smart and use it for righteous causes, such as caging/taming non-christians. Or you can be stupid and use it to protect the filthy earth, and support paganism, moon worship, false godz.
Very witty, rtdrury. Very witty and very true.
Well, I suppose it is what we do with the tool that counts.
What the heck are you talking about?
Ugh!
Sequester political carbon units.
i didn't know where to place this link -- but climate, food and poverty and resources seem to be most connected to this thread:
it is very worrisome and frightening and heartbreaking:
countries with money, including china, the oil producers, to feed their populations seek land in poor countries which cannot feed themselves but have great lands to cultivate for food...
namely - AFRICA.
beyond all the politics - but perhaps well within economic systems that should be more just and viable for everyone..including the "haves" and have nots and "growing haves"..
I feel that the world - AND the countries with money - should NOT JUST take land from africa to protect only their own populations' needs for food .
if they can use money and technology to enhance and cultivate AFRICA's lands for food -- the VERY LEAST that they should do is
ENSURE that the Africans - the people of our OWN Human Race - our own foreparents -
should get at least HALF of benefit. there is enough food that can be grown to feed what the world's population has - but it should not come at the expense of the people of Africa - NO MATTER what the reasons are elsewhere , and no matter how beneficial elsewhere.
this subject has LONG sat in my mind and heart - for years already - as I quietly feared THIS VERY development eventually coming around.
I long ago asked myself:
the people in africa have been so left behind - largely from the legacies of colonialism that they do not have the institutions to protect themselves - from within their own chaos, or from outside - but they are the people from whom we all came
and they are the people who have largely through the centuries not abused their land, but mostly lived BY it...
and YET their land, AFRICA is the RICHEST of all continents....
and it is NOT RIGHT - simply not right - that on top of their untold suffering already - that ANY other country, regardless of which one it is,
take benefits from the land of africans if it only leaves the africans,
once more -- with nothing or little .
this would not be right. it would be cruel to the people that gave us our own race and existence.
they are OUR people , our foreparents.
and the world, in searching for FOOD resources - should collectively use its expertise to both grow food in africa if it is so needed - BUT NEVER to do so without FIRST ensuring FOREVER that the people of Africa have the greatest benefit.
this is something we should all be very , very aware of and in some way, if we can, try to make others aware of.
WE are ALL AFRICANS. and if we do not ensure that africans benefit the most from the legacy of Africa - its resources, its riches - then NONE of us deserve to be their children, no matter who we are.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/magazine/22land-t.html?_r=1&ref=global-home
I think the "if" is pretty well answered. Have politicians acted on peace? On economic justice? We have to stop clapping for Tinkerbell.
I see not a shred of evidence that makes me think politicians will act appropriately on clean energy, climate change, pollution and CO2. In fact Obama corrected his lapse in hiring Van Jones by finding a reason to get rid of him.
Everything is up to us.
Joe
Get onto this from the American Farm Bureau Federation:
Nov. 19, 2009
"Legislation previously approved by the House, and a similar bill approved on a party-line vote by a Senate committee, would impose higher energy and food costs on consumers. The bills also would create an energy deficit due to limited alternatives. Farmers and ranchers would see higher fuel, fertilizer and energy costs. And the cap-and-trade provisions would do little more than downsize American agriculture and our ability to produce food in this nation. None of those are acceptable results to us, and we will continue to tell our members of Congress, 'Don't cap our future.'"
These farmer blokes are directly feeling and complaining about the longer droughts, ever lower water tables, etc. but they just can't relate it to their irrational energy use. More than 10 calories of fossil energy goes into every calorie of food they produce. Do they also believe that the sun rises in the west?
http://acp.climateprotect.org/page/s/epanov09
a petition opportunity to tell EPA to increase fuel eficiency standards
(I no longer drive - but it is an opportunity...)
This old Indian isn't going to worry about it all. All I am going to do is live my life, obey the law, pay my bills, & render unto Caesar what is Caesar's until my own mortal life is concluded.
I wonder if Jesus some 2000 years ago when he said, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's knew that while it may look like Caesar is building some really grand swell world upon the earth all it will do eventually is turn into hell on earth?
Difficult to know what Jesus knew some 2000 years ago.
I noted from your previous post that you are having health problems. How is it going?
Direct action and the people empowered by it, will be met with great resistance and violence, perhaps even death for some, from governments and corporations who have large stakes in maintaining, into the far future, the present hydrocarbon based energy system and their own power. Tyranny shall make a stand. However, it is a vulnerable system, built upon an unwieldy structure and mode of implementation that is easily disrupted; it need only take a little imagination and a large group of people to affect its operation. Bombs, guns or other deadly weapons, the state will surely use, are not needed for protest here, when a modest group, say of 10,000 motivated people, with only pick axes and shovels in their hands and a road to dig up, can quickly and effectively shut down an entire modern city. If it should to go so far, it will no doubt be labeled an act of terrorism, but in fact and in deed it will be a grassroots movement, made up of ordinary people, armed only with simple tools from out of their garden shed.
Stig,
I believe you are on to something here. Pulling out your tire iron every time you are stuck in traffic and digging a hole in the asphalt was a episode of "Married With Children" a few years ago. Al Bundy, the epitome of the underpaid working poor (a shoe salesman), had had enough of the big government doing nothing about urban automobile misery, so organized all the other motorists stuck on the road in a traffic jam to attack the road. He said something like: "this clogged road, which you as taxpayers paid for, is the problem". He instructs them: "My people listen to me! Open your trunks. Pull out your tire irons. And commence tearing a hole in the public road which you paid for..."
As for the fear that everything will be labeled as "domestic terrorism" I suggest we widen the term to include "FINANCIAL TERRORISM" by banks who looted the US Treasury and "CONGRESSIONAL TERRORISM" by congressmen who support exporting jobs, and "CORPORATE OFFICER TERRORISM" for those management fiends of the Fortune 500 who knowingly harm the public welfare.
We have a great deal of TREASON going on BY OUR LEADERS in America today. We must have an INDEPENDENT PUBLIC AUDIT of all government expenditures the last ten years. Then we must freeze those moneys and return them to the treasury and the taxpayer.
TJ
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson
people would disobey these "ruling class" institutions if they saw that the TRUE terrorists are the governments that protect the corporations - which are themselves instruments to HIDE the faces of the MINORITY that sets up and then imposes these tyrannical schemes and "ways of living" on the rest of the population.
of course it is quite clear by now that the USA is the biggest example of an entire political culture that is designed to protect the interests of the FEW - hiding behind the facade of the "corporation" - against the people..while coercing the people to abide by the "rules" set up for the corporate interest...and this includes even the matters of "law and order"..even the constitution is used for that purpose and expediently brought up or discarded as convenience requires - all under the umbrella of "lawfulness"...but in reality is a form of terrorism upon the population as a whole.
TERRORISE them to fear for their security, their economic well-being, terrorize them for being unpatriotic, or not one of the "team", terrorize them for being disorderly, terrorize them for being criminal or lawbreakers, terrorize them for being "irresponsible". terrorize them for not "giving their share" but all of it designed to make them OBEDIENT to the laws, the order, the structure designed by and maintained by the corporations with the imprimatur of "government".
in many countries, there are clearly populations that live in terror of their leaders but it is clear that these leaders are quite openly undemocratic, ill-disposed towards liberties, etc...and all these notions of western "liberty".
in others - the cultures are themselves quite alien to the notions of personal liberties while it is not necessarily the case that the people are themselves fearful of their governments, on the contrary - the governments FEAR them .
but in the USA - it is perhaps the one coutnry where the idea of "democracy" is itself USED as a coercion to TERRORIZE people into believing that they are being "law abiding citizens" - believing that they are "free-ER" than other peoples and YET are actually behaving in a carefully submerged way of being terrified of their government, the institutions that are attached to it, the rules and regulations that are sanctioned by the government which are IN FACT
the rules and regulations promoted and designed BY PRIVATE entities such as corporations...
disguised as "economics" disguised as "elections", disguised as "choice", disguised as "abiding by the law"...disguised as "cooperation", disguised as "efficiency". disguised as "living the american dream". disguised as "freedom and democracy"...and of course attached to that intimately, disguised as "SECURING our freedoms"...
Useful comments. Perhaps you (and others reading this) might want to review my draft video on the reorientation of environmentalism. This would encourage the kind of actions you mention. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP4hwUOOPcc. Much appreciated!
Thanks frankr29, a very interesting video presentation, in particular your model of addressing environmental needs and limits, that any successful economic system must necessarily conform to, if it is to work to the benefit of all, without destroying everything else in the process. It reminds me of a proposal by a friend and farmer philosopher who's credo was "keep the best and sell the rest". In short he saw that it is not enough for a farmer to simply grow food, and that it was his actually role, as a steward of the land, to do his utmost to improve the quality of the soil, so that it could be the very best it could be, and of course produce just the best food possible; yet only for local or near local consumption. This mode of stewardship would extend to the very watershed itself, where water would be returned as clean or cleaner than as it was received. Indeed, he sees local watersheds working as legitimate, geographic and political borders from within which to control and monitor the effectiveness of this process. Extrapolating this form of ameliorating ecological stewardship, across all manner of production, would seem a logical next step.
Anyways, it appears there are many people, such as yourself, who's thoughts are coalescing and converging in the same direction. Lets do more than hope that we can take advantage of them.
diminished participation in, hell, cessation of, the cycles related to the creation and use and disposal of most products, up to and including metals, fuels and electricity, is not only admirable, but necessary...
this diminishing will affect economically, as it will, out of hand, cause the closing of a vast number of current employers...
this leads to: inability to pay for housing...
we simply must discuss property ownership, or we will all wind up crushed by the banks...or, working this planet into lifelessness...
Global Start Date: September 22, 2012...all the world's citizens...acoustic, agrarian living...contracts voided...the new beginning...local food, water, shelter...governance and defense...individual engagement and accountability in daily sustenance...
We all must commit to do something to get the community more aware of nature. I live in rural New York State and we have discussions of oil and gas drilling going on with landowners only thinking of making a buck - a actually small buck-- and risking the water which so far is pure here.
I came across a report entitled "Wetlands and Water Shed Management"- a guide for local governments written in 2003 by Dr Jon Kusler with a large bibliography and very good discussion points.
I plan to organize a community club sort of like a book club were we will together understand the issues and we will make an effort to be in touch with local government and give reports to the town boards etc.
This is my new years resolution--
Any luck? An awful lot of rural people who would otherwise be poor depend on gas- well royalties here in Pennsylvania.
Instead of "stopping the drilling" the focus must be on tough regulation that simply specifies, unambiguously, no degradation of surface water or groundwater. Every one of these Marcellus Shale wells should be required to have an array of groundwater monitoring and remediation wells around the wellhead. Also, specialized treatment and zero-discharge of brine waste.
Attacking energy suppliers is a losing game that will turn neutral people against the climate movement. The problem is demand, not supply.
http://frepubtra.blogspot.com
"The problem is demand, not supply."
If it were only so simple... The truth is a three dimensional puzzle with quite a number of puzzle pieces, and light shining mostly from single directions. It's not easy, but we can teach ourselves to identify better approximations of the truth.
Our consciousness can be put to good use or bad. But there's no sense in applying it toward anything but pure good, because if you believe there is value in something less than pure good, chaos/entropy need no help from you in maintaining mediocrity. So don't waste your energy. Now that we've established that there exists only one legitimate pursuit for human consciousness, the pursuit of good, let's see how it applies to this economic sector of human society, the so-called markets.
Markets are interactions like all natural processes. Supply can influence demand and demand can influence supply, both at the same time even, creating cycles, which may even be vicious, i.e. positive feedback which can spin out of control. This is what caused the giant malignant tumor that is the "USA Today", which can only be recognized from a perspective that values stuff other than the crap being produced/consumed in that very vicious cycle. One side of the human mind wants to dominate/control and another side wants luxury/convenience. Shine the light on both and you see the twin jets that spin the radical capitalist turbine.
If we want to use our conscious minds, which are part of the gift of life, for this species at least, so it's stupid not to, we should prioritize fixing the economy to free ourselves from this vicious cycle of plunder/slavery/destruction. So we have to limit the power and freedoms of supply and demand. Yes, that is correct. RESTRICT FREEDOM. Supply cannot influence demand, PERIOD. Supply can sit there and humbly take orders, or we will swing the giant cast iron spiked ball upside the head of supply. Demand has to take responsibility, and support the society's better interests. Demand means individuals making conscious decisions in the economic/civic arenas with the hippocratic oath to DO NO HARM.
So we have to restrict both supply and demand, so let's get to work. We start by implementing the new paradigm in our local daily exchange and advance from there.
Great post rtdrury,
The gift of life aspect of your little essay, is most interesting. We take it for granted, that we always know what's going on thanks to the news and thanks to our leaders. But do we? We are complex multi-cell animals that have evolved special instruments to detect what is going on outside our bodies. The issue is perception. Right now, we perceive that heat is invisible, but this is not true. Infrared sensors show a different perspective on our world than we see.
I submit, that due to domination of what used to be a free press, most Americans are living under false perceptions as well. I submit that without multiple small competitors, there is no free market at all. I submit there is no Freedom for poor people in the USA. The problem isn't too much Freedom, but a lack of it for the citizen. The poor citizen has no access to news outside the MSM. The Bi-Carmeial Congress for citizens has been replaced by the Board Room on Wall Street. The Unitary Executive has been replaced by the CEO. The Justice system has been replaced by Intelligence Agencies who execute justice on the spot.
If the average citizen knew what we know, he'd be sharpening his pitchfork. He'd demand the Army help him flush out Washington DC. Retired Vets are waking up every day to the fact that Banksters have looted the US Treasury. Homeless foreclosed victims are figuring out that they've been swindled out of their birthright by Israeli-American International Bankers.
To preclude this social unrest, in 1930 after the other Great Depression, FDR made a new social compact with the jobless and hungry and started a national jobs program to foster the development of a middle class.
What the hell is Obama doing?
Nothing. Nothing at all.
TJ
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson
In our modern, Bernaysean, mass marketing and PR driven economy, demand is largely generated BY the supplier!
Consider all the mainfestly unnessary, and energy-wasteful goods that no one would have ever thought to ask for, like ponderous, poor-handling, expensive-to-fuel and maintain SUV's whose popularity was not a result of popular clamor, but strictly a result of successful consent-manufacturing advertizing.
And consider the various TV ads (for car insurance and other stuff) that go out of the way to characterize using public transit (especially buses) as only for "losers".
Also, you are inserting US-values and expectations into actions in the UK and Europe. Such actions, even a runway sit-in that briefly stopped operations at Heathrow Airport, have been generally well-resieved by the British public. Such actions are likely to be wildly popular in France, where that take egalite' and fraternite' (i.e. solidarity) very seriously.
You are absolutely right. The climate movement is making a huge strategic error.
It is hard to imagine governments of capitalistic societies
making a commitment.
My view is probably skewered by living in the u.s.
Dave Foreman makes a strong argument in,
"Confessions of an Eco-terrorist",
calling himself a biophiliac.
The correct title of Foreman's book is, "Confessions of an Eco-Warrior". That's quite a difference!