This September activists from 21 countries came together in Copenhagen to plan for direct action during the 2009 UN Climate talks that will be held in that city. This is the call to action that came out of that meeting. Activists in North America are beginning to organize for what will be a historic day. More coming soon!
click here for translations in several languages
A Call to Climate Action:
We stand at a crossroads. The facts are clear. Global climate change,
caused by human activities, is happening, threatening the lives and
livelihoods of billions of people and the existence of millions of
species. Social movements, environmental groups, and scientists from
all over the world are calling for urgent and radical action on climate
change.
On the 30th of November, 2009 the governments of the world will come to
Copenhagen for the fifteenth UN Climate Conference (COP-15). This will
be the biggest summit on climate change ever to have taken place. Yet,
previous meetings have produced nothing more than business as usual.
There are alternatives to the current course that is emphasizing false
solutions such as market-based approaches and agrofuels. If we put
humanity before profit and solidarity above competition we can live
amazing lives without destroying our planet. We need to leave fossil
fuels in the ground. Instead we must invest in community-controlled
renewable energy. We must stop over-production for over-consumption. All
should have equal access to the global commons through community control
and peoples’ sovereignty over energy, forests, land and water. And of
course we must acknowledge the historical responsibility of the global
elite and rich Global North for causing this crisis. Equity between
North and South is essential.
Climate change is already impacting people, particularly women,
indigenous and forest-dependent peoples, small farmers, marginalized
communities and impoverished neighbourhoods who are also calling for
action on climate- and social justice. This call was taken up by
activists and organizations from 21 countries that came together in
Copenhagen over the weekend of 13-14 September, 2008 to begin
discussions for a mobilization in Copenhagen during the UN’s 2009
climate conference.
The 30th of November, 2009 is also the tenth anniversary of the World
Trade Organization (WTO) shutdown in Seattle, which shows the power of
globally coordinated social movements.
We call on all peoples around the planet to mobilize and take action
against the root causes of climate change and the key agents
responsible, both in Copenhagen and around the world. This mobilization
begins now, until the COP-15 summit, and beyond. The mobilizations in
Copenhagen and around the world are still in the planning stages. We
have time to collectively decide what these mobilizations will look
like, and to begin to visualize what our future can be. Get involved!
We encourage everyone to start mobilizing today in your own
neighbourhoods and communities. It is time to take the power back. The
power is in our hands. Hope is not just a feeling, it is also about
taking action.
To get involved in this ongoing and open process, sign up to this email
list: climateaction@klimax2009.org
US Contact: infoclimate09-NA@riseup.net
Members of Asheville Rising Tide traveled to Wise County to support this inspiring action organized by local Wise County residents, Earth First!ers, and anti-coal campaigners. As we listened to events in the Gulf unfold in the wake of Hurricane Ike, it seemed appropriate to be acting in solidarity with community activists at the ground zero of climate change, a new coal-fired power plant fueled by mountain top removal coal blasted out of the surrounding mountains. We hope this escalation will contribute another step toward building a mass movement against coal extraction and burning everywhere…