Photographing environmental issues for a sustainable future.
Posts Tagged ‘COP15’
Young Rally Through The 11th Hour
Any "adult" who laments today’s youth are apathetic, uninvolved and politically disinterested hasn’t been reading his or her newspaper. Every paper, whether The New York Times or China’s Reference News, is covering the massive outpouring of youth energy and activism convening in Copenhagen.
The city is packed–absolutely packed–with young people from around the world, many crashing on friend’s couches, in local hostels or, worse, sleeping outside in frigid temperatures in hopes of influencing these last few hours of United Nations Climate Negotiations. Although some have clashed in protests with Danish police , the majority are rallying peacefully and remaining hopeful through the 11th hour.
Check out our recent video on the diversity of YOUTH ACTIVISM in Copenhagen . . .
Week 2: The Brass Tracks
by Gabriel London
It’s week 2 of the Copenhagen Climate Conference and the Bella Center has never been more crowded. Copenhagen Dispatch with Olivia Zaleski #4 marks a new chapter in our coverage because we get into the brass tacks of negotiation: developed vs. developing nations. The conclusion of this conversation in Copenhagen will either yield us a deal or come up short. And your voices – dear viewers – can make all the difference.
As we began the week, with the protest fresh in our minds , we thought we would find a story inside the Bella Center that pitted the developing world against the rich nations like the US and UK. What we uncovered along the way , however, was not so much an insurmountable divide between the rich and poor nations, but instead a unifying bridge, embodied by Ed Milliband , head negotiator for the UK, and Ambassador Dessima Williams , UN representative from Grenada and chairwoman of the much discussed bloc of island nations, AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States ).
We’re hitting the home stretch and word is that Hillary Clinton herself will be here to lend the US its strongest negotiating hand . We gonna chronicle it up to the end (well, almost, because it seems we’re headed home Friday as Obama arrives!).
Copenhagen is buzzing. Stay tuned for all that’s left to come . . .
STAY EDUCATED!
FOR MORE ON: – The Struggle Faced by Small Island Nations visit this recent collection of videos and reporting featured on: The Huffington Post .
And for Ed Miliband and the UK’s Ambition for a Global Deal in Copenhagen visit: actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk .
“Please Help the World,” The Opening Film of COP15’s Opening Ceremony
“Please Help the World,”
directed by Mikkel Blaabjerg Poulsen
“Please Help the World,” a frightening short film about a young girl who implores politicians to help the world after waking from a nightmare about the impacts of climate change.
COP15, DAY 1: Does Collective Energy Mean Collective Action?
It seems the world has arrived . . .
not just in Copenhagen–but at a universal moment of collective action.
This morning, a reported 34,000 people from every country in the world poured into the giant plenaries of Copenhagen’s Bella Center. Many were there to negotiate, some to advocate, others to deny, protest or simply take in the spectacle. Whatever the reason, the energy was collective.
Kicking off this message, Danish Prime Minister, Mr Lars lokke Rasmussen and top UN climate official Mr Vyo de Boer.
“The time has come to reach out to each other and deliver…the time to issue statements is now over” said de Boer. “Never in the 17 years of climate change negotiations have so many different countries made so many pledges. The time to act is now . . . to ensure people don’t suffer in the future.”
De Boer’s words echoed–literally–through the center’s fifty-some pre-fab halls as thousands of attendees collectively tuned into, “Please Help the World,” a frightening short film about a young girl who implores politicians to help the world after waking from a nightmare about the impacts of climate change. But in contrast to the film, the opening ceremony and the first day in general was hopeful and optimistic.
BUT I wonder what the sentiment is outside the brightly lit spectacle of the Bella Center . . . is the world optimistic, doubtful–does anyone even care?
Let me know what you–at home–are thinking, anticipating, hoping for. Do you think an agreement is possible? What should happen? What MUST happen?
Leave your thoughts below and tomorrow I’ll show you why leading IPCC scientist Dr. Stephen Schneider is hopeful, but anxious for the next two weeks.
Stay tuned.
Covering Copenhagen
All eyes will be on the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen starting next week — and we’re pleased to offer real-time, daily coverage of the conference happenings here on Earthkeepers . Introducing our Copenhagen reporting team:
OLIVIA ZALESKI is a journalist focused on environmentalism as it relates to business, corporate best practice and executive thinking. As the regular "green correspondent" for CNNmoney.com , Olivia can be found hosting CNN and Fortune Magazine’s Emmy-nominated series, "Business of Green ,” as well as hosting "Home Work ," the popular green do-it-yourself series for Money Magazine. In addition, Olivia reports for Hearst Magazine’s "The Daily Green" and appears regularly as, ABC’s "Good Morning America Now " green expert. She has also contributed her commentary and advice to programs like Discovery Channel’s TreehuggerTV, PlumTV, the CW and nationally syndicated morning news program The Daily Buzz. Follow Olivia’s twitter account here or check in daily to the Earthkeepers blog for the latest from COP15.
GABRIEL LONDON is a documentary filmmaker and writer. As the founder of the documentary film production company, Found Object Films , Gabriel has produced and directed films that bring overlooked stories to a national audience, dealing with issues ranging from the death penalty to climate change. In the process, he has used his work to participate in advocacy campaigns, work for which he was awarded a Soros Criminal Justice Award . His films have been broadcast nationally on networks ranging from MTV to SpikeTV and as part of film festivals including IDFA, Urbanworld Film Festival, and Live Earth.
For the next two weeks, Olivia and Gabriel will be sharing the view from Copenhagen through videos and blog posts, interviews with key leaders attending the conference and coverage of key events. (For Copenhagen coverage in 140 characters or less, you can also follow Olivia on Twitter .)
Saving the world in 14 days is a daunting challenge … and we’re hopeful that leaders gathering in Copenhagen are up for it. If you haven’t already joined our campaign to encourage climate action at Copenhagen, do it now .
Then, come on back to Earthkeepers to follow along as Copenhagen unfolds.
