Taking to the streets in Copenhagen
Saturday, December 12, 2009 | 01:47 PM ET
Submitted by Caroline Lee
Today, I joined 100,000 other citizens of the global community to demonstrate in the streets of Copenhagen, calling on world leaders to take bolder action on climate change. An ocean of people stretching farther than anyone could see waved messages such as “Bla bla bla...ACT NOW” and “There is no Planet B.”
There was something powerful being in the midst of this commanding yet peaceful movement, which sent a loud and clear message to leaders that lack of progress on the climate change issue is unacceptable. It was a refreshing break, situated halfway in the middle of negotiations full of formalities, jargon and business suits.
People are rising up to call on our governments to do more. David Miller, mayor of Toronto, marched alongside us today. Back home, mayors, premiers, industry representatives, academics, indigenous peoples and youth are all sending a unified message of stronger action on climate change.
It was truly empowering to engage in today’s massive calling-out to leaders. And we are not alone — demonstrators around the world today are holding candlelight vigils to stand in solidarity with developing countries, which face the worst effects of climate change.
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Comments
Nic
sherbrooke
There is no uniform response, since some of us dare to differs.
I am not a climate change deniers, it is quite obvious that it is changing. However nothing let me believe that the climate change is intrinsically a bad thing.
What is the problem with CO2 ?
Since CO2, a plant food is harmless, the nature will be just fine with an higher temperature since the plant will have more food. So as far as the nature is concerned, the only drawback is the short term (100-200yrs) loss of species compensated in the long term (+2500yrs) by the apparition of many more. Look at the fossil history.
The geopolitical pressures brought by the raising see level are troubling but the affected areas are mostly corrupt countries maybe the sea water will wash this corruption away.
The only good thing in the fight against climate change is that we are also figthing real pollution like dioxins, furans, estrogen-like chemicals and lead since their emission is correlated with the fossil fuel consumption. But I would prefer less hypocrisy and a conference on teratogenic pollution but this require thinking and knowledge so I can continue to dream...
Posted December 12, 2009 02:25 PM
Stan
Saskatoon
Odd, the police estimated the crowd at 25,000.
Who is doing the estimates for the organizers, the CRU?
BTW, have any of you protesters even read the proposed treaty drafts?
Odd how hard it is to find one.
If I had a plan to save the planet I'd be showing everyone how it works.
Posted December 12, 2009 09:18 PM
Okwarakon
How many people are going to believe that this is really ALL about global warming?
This situation not only has to do with Global warming....the damage that MONEY has done in order to continue to pollute has caused all this.
Pay attention people; the Creator has tried to tell you all this in the past, and you refused to listen.
The Creator has also said, THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD....it's the END of the WORLD as WE KNOW IT.
2012 and all the signs have been there, but people refused to listen.
The earth has tilted on its access, and this has been proved scientifically, it will be all good in the end, as the CORRUPTION will END, and we will all get back to the basics.
The LOVE of money is the root of all evil, and this has been proven time and time again.
Peace and Love for each other is the ONLY way to resolve this, sit down and talk to your families and loved ones, and hopefully these MONEY mongerals will do the same.
Skennen'kowa (greatpeace)
Posted December 14, 2009 10:00 AM
Marc
Oakville
How are we going to get the entire world to submit to a global socialist government ?
We need something "universal" and something really big and something that is for eveyone's "good" !
I've got it !
We'll tell 'em that the earth is going to over heat if they don't let us control their pathetic little lives !
Posted December 14, 2009 02:49 PM
Stan
Saskatoon
Caroline, please explain how shutting down the clean industry here and moving production to the much dirtier industry in China will reduce pollution.
Chinese industry pollutes more per unit of production than ours.
The proposed treaty will increase costs to our industry but not to Chinese industry.
So more production will move to the already dirtier but now even more competitive industry in China.
So more pollution not less.
Why are you supporting a treaty that will increase pollution?
Don't you care about the environment?
Posted December 15, 2009 05:10 PM
Shirley Smiley
Thanks for the update Caroline, keep it up!!
Posted December 17, 2009 11:15 AM