UNFCCC bound

A group of students and I will be attending COP-11 this week and will be blogging from it. We’re focussing on the use of cyber activism in and around the site during the 12 days of the meeting.

For an example of conference blogging, see It’s getting hot in here, started by a graduate of McGill’s School of Environment.

2 Responses to “UNFCCC bound”

  1. liam says:

    Should be an interesting week. I saw a reasonable amount of press coverage on the web in the leadup, which is nice to see (although our friends at Fox News have nothing on the front page that I could find).

  2. CLIMATE JUSTICE CONVERGENCE CENTRE: MONTREAL
    2070 Rue Clark (near Sherbrooke and St.Laurent)
    4 Blocks Northwest of the Palais de Congres

    27th November-8th December 2005

    CLIMATE, OIL & RESISTANCE
    Hear the voices of those directly affected by climate change, the oil
    and coal industry and carbon trading.

    The Climate Justice Convergence Centre is a space where the voices of
    those struggling against oil and coal extraction, refineries,
    pollution ‘offset’ projects, a destabilized climate, oil wars and all
    the other effects of fossil fuel dependence can be heard.
    Photo-exhibitions, films, speakers and workshops will examine issues
    ranging from energy use to tree plantations to the World Bank, the G8,
    carbon trading, nuclear power and genetic engineering.

    web: http://www.carbontradewatch.org/durban
    blog: climatejustice.blogspot.com

    Organizers: The Durban Group for Climate Justice, Energy Action,
    Indigenous Environment Network, Environmental Justice Climate Change
    Initiative, FERN, Transnational Institute, Global Justice Ecology
    Project, The Corner House, Sustainable Energy & Economy Network/
    Institute for Policy Studies, Chesapeake Climate Action Network

    Programme of Events

    SUNDAY 27TH NOV: 2-5PM
    MEETING – Indigenous Peoples Caucus orientation: For Indigenous
    peoples and Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPO) participating
    within the COP11 meeting.
    Coordinated by the Indigenous Environment Network

    TUESDAY 29TH NOV-8TH DEC: 1-7PM EVERYDAY
    PHOTO-EXHIBITION – “Where the Trees are a Desert” on the impacts of
    monoculture eucalyptus plantations in Brazil.

    TUESDAY 29TH NOV-8TH DEC: 1-7PM EVERYDAY
    FILM – Raised Voices: filmed testimonies of those living on the
    fenceline of the oil industry and views from people in the global
    South on issues related to climate change.

    TUESDAY 29TH NOV: 2-4PM
    PANEL – The lessons about pollution trading that Kyoto never learned
    from the US – Part I: The Kyoto Protocol is based entirely on US
    pollution trading models. Did these models succeed? Were they just?
    Did they save money, clean up pollution quickly, or foster innovation
    or public participation? Can they be applied to global warming?
    Reviewing the failures is a prerequisite for finding a better way.
    Speakers: Jutta Kill, Sinks Watch, UK, Prof. Michael K. Dorsey,
    Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College, US and Larry
    Lohmann, The Corner House, UK

    TUESDAY 29TH NOV: 6.30PM
    OPENING NIGHT – The Climate Justice Convergence Centre welcomes all
    with a traditional ceremony lead by representatives of the Mohawk
    Nation of Kanawake. Food by People’s Potato with photo-exhibition,
    music, film and speakers.

    WEDNESDAY 30TH NOV: 10.30am-12.30pm
    WORKSHOP – Introduction to the Kyoto Protocol and the carbon market:
    threats and opportunities. Larry Lohmann & Jutta Kill.

    WEDNESDAY 30TH NOV: 1-3PM
    PANEL – Indigenous Youth, Climate Impacts and Solutions
    Speakers: Wahleah Johns, Black Mesa Water Coalition (USA); Jennifer
    Duncan, Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance (Canada); Eddie Spears,
    Intertribal COUP (USA); Jihan Gearon, Climate Youth Corp –
    Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative (USA)

    WEDNESDAY 30TH NOV: 4-6PM
    BOOK LAUNCH – Trouble in the Air: Global Warming and the Privatized Atmosphere.

    This joint publication of Centre for Civil Society in Durban and TNI
    explores the impacts of the carbon market in South Africa. Connecting
    energy privatization with issues around the enclosure of the
    atmosphere, this collection of essays gives a good grounding in the
    justice implications of the new carbon market. Speakers include
    writers in the book: Mpumelelo Mhlalisi & Muna Lahkhani, Earthlife
    Africa, Graham Erion, York University Law School and Larry Lohmann,
    The Corner House

    WEDNESDAY 30TH NOV: 7.30-9.30PM
    PANEL – Extraction, Pollution, Offsets, Hurricanes &Wars: Different
    Locations, Same Struggle – Part I: The climate is changing mainly
    because fossil carbon is being transferred from below ground to the
    atmosphere. Taking action means joining alliances against oil
    extraction, fossil fuel pollution, environmental racism and
    colonialism, oil wars, and carbon “offset” projects that threaten
    local livelihoods while licensing further extraction. Speakers:
    Charles Scheiner, LAOHAMUTUK, Timor-Leste, Ana Filipini, World
    Rainforest Movement, Uruguay, Asume Osuoka, Environmental Rights
    Action, Nigeria [tbc], Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental
    Network, US, Graham Erion, York University Law School, Canada, Daphne
    Wysham, Sustainable Energy and Economy Network, US, Wally Menne,
    Timberwatch, South Africa, Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, UK
    (moderator)

    THURSDAY 1ST DEC: 1-3PM
    PANEL – Indigenous Stories from the Struggle: Dialogue of Indigenous
    peoples from throughout the Americas, experiencing the links between
    oil and fossil fuel development, health, climate changes and
    Indigenous rights. Speakers: Faith Gemmill, REDOIL, Alaska (USA);
    Elaine Alexis, Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance Northwest Territories
    (Canada); Clayton Thomas-Muller, IEN (Canada); Indigenous
    Representative TBA, Oil Watch (South America)

    THURSDAY 1ST DEC: 4-6PM
    WORKSHOP – Forests and Climate Change – Why trading carbon credits
    from forests means more plantations not less deforestation: Carbon
    trading is often suggested as a way to finance forest conservation –
    or slow greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation. Do the
    assumptions on which this approach is based, hold up? Why is it likely
    that carbon trading will fail to slow deforestation and lead to more
    monoculture plantations? Open discussion about the experiences with
    forest-related carbon ‘offset’ projects and the concerns about the
    carbon trading approach to forest protection. Speakers: Jutta Kill,
    FERN, UK Ana Filipini, World Rainforest Movement (Uruguay), Larry
    Lohmann, The Corner House, Wally Menne, TimberWatch (South Africa) Tom
    Goldtooth (IEN).

    THURSDAY 1ST DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
    FILM CLUB – Climate change impacts on the Pacific Islands: The film
    “Rising Waters- global warming and the fate of the Pacific Islanders”
    will be screened with the director to answer questions and a member of
    the Pacific Island community to speak. Speakers: Andrea Torrice (film
    director) and Pacific Islander tbc

    FRIDAY 2ND DEC:10.30AM-12.30PM
    PANEL – The lessons about pollution trading that Kyoto never learned
    from the US – Part II: The Kyoto Protocol is based on US pollution
    trading models. Did these models succeed? Were they just? Did they
    save money, clean up pollution quickly, or foster innovation or public
    participation? Can they be applied to global warming? Reviewing the
    failures is a prerequisite for finding a better way. Speakers: David
    M. Driesen, Angela R. Cooney Professor, Syracuse University College of
    Law, US, Dr. Michael K. Dorsey, Environmental Studies Program,
    Dartmouth College, US, Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, UK, Jutta
    Kill, Sinks Watch, UK

    FRIDAY 2ND DEC: 2-4PM
    WORKSHOP – The World Bank, G8 & Climate Change: moving forward or
    backward? The World Bank has financed over $25 billion in fossil fuels
    since 1992, and is one of the largest carbon traders in the world.
    Other large banks like the IDB are following suit. Now the G8 have
    asked the World Bank to initiate a “new framework” on climate change.
    This workshop will give an
    historical context for this latest challenge to climate stability, the
    problems with public fossil fuel and carbon trading projects, and ways
    you can take action to challenge it. Speakers: Daphne Wysham,
    IPS/SEEN, Nadia Martinez, IPS/SEEN, Asume Osuoka (TBC), Environmental
    Rights Action/FOE, Nigeria

    FRIDAY 2ND DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
    PANEL – Extraction, Pollution, Hurricanes, Offsets & Wars: Different
    Locations, Same Struggle – Part II: The climate is changing mainly
    because fossil carbon is being transferred from below ground to the
    atmosphere. Taking action means joining alliances against oil
    extraction, fossil fuel pollution, environmental racism and
    colonialism, oil wars, and carbon “offset” projects that threaten
    local livelihoods while licensing further extraction. Speakers: Arief
    Wicaksono, JATAM, Indonesia, Clayton Thomas-Muller, Indigenous
    Environmental Network, US, Norman Philip, Grangemouth community,
    Scotland, Jutta Kill, Sinks Watch (moderator), Lilliam Indira Marenco
    Leal, Oilwatch Mesoamerica, Nicaragua [tbc], Souparna Lahiri, Delhi
    Forum, India [tbc], Renodji Enoch Djimrabaye, RESAP, Chad [tbc],
    Fabian de Jesus Pacheco Rodriguez, Oilwatch Costa Rica [tbc], Jim
    Vallette, Sustainable Energy and Economy Network, US

    SATURDAY 3RD DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
    FILM CLUB – Video letters from the fenceline of the oil industry in
    Scotland: Community members living in Scotland with oil pollution on
    their doorstep learned how to use video and filmed their own stories
    of living on the fenceline of industry. These 5 minutes shorts will be
    followed by an opportunity to speak with one of the community members
    in person about their experiences. Speaker: Norman Philip, Scotland

    SUNDAY 4TH DEC: 11-6PM
    WORKSHOPS – Visions for the Movement: skills and tactics to be an
    effective climate activist. All emerging climate activists are invited
    to attend a day of essential hands-on trainings. Join Mike Tidwell of
    the Chesapeake Climate Action Network as he shares the lessons he’s
    learned fighting global warming for over four years. Then choose
    between eight workshops ranging from campaign strategy to direct
    action to climate justice. The best and the brightest will be in
    Montreal; don’t miss your chance to be trained by them! Lunch
    provided. Trainers hail from: Environmental Justice & Climate Change
    Initiative, Global Exchange, Greenpeace, National Environmental Trust,
    New Voters Project, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, SustainUS,
    Sierra Student
    Coalition.

    SUNDAY 4TH DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
    PANEL – Visions from the Movement. What inspires you to fight global
    warming? Are you concerned with the issues of justice? Is it your
    moral responsibility? Are you excited by the grassroots mobilization
    efforts? Climate heroes from different aspects within the movement
    offer their unique and invaluable perspectives on what global warming
    means to them and how we can fight it. Speakers: Jerome Ringo,
    Chairman of the National Wildlife Federation; Tom Goldtooth,
    Indigenous Environment Network; Mike Tidwell, author and Director of
    the Chesapeake Climate Action Network; Interfaith Power and Light

    MONDAY & TUESDAY 5 & 6TH DEC: ALL DAY FROM 9AM
    ALTERNATIVE PEOPLE’S FORUM
    Workshops by environmental justice activists and indigenous peoples
    groups. Topics include; Climate Justice Overview > Global Warming
    Solutions that ensure a Just Transition > Oil, Refineries, and
    Communities: Impacts and strategies for clean production > Indigenous
    Peoples Offer Viable Solutions to Reduce Carbon Emissions: Wind not
    War > The Global Warming Games > Climate Justice by and for the next
    generation > Lessons learned from Katrina and Rita > State and
    regional strategies for climate justice. Times to be confirmed.
    Organized by the Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative

    MONDAY 5TH DEC: 2-4PM
    PANEL – Who Says There are No Alternatives to the Kyoto Carbon
    Market? The History of an Insult: Today’s international climate
    negotiations revolve around building a global carbon market that has
    already proved to be both unworkable and unjust. The claim that “there
    is no alternative” insults both the wide-ranging and constructive work
    going on elsewhere and a centuries-long legacy of successful
    conservation and regulation of many kinds. Speakers: Ivonne Yanez,
    Oilwatch, Ecuador/Peru, Larry Lohmann, The Corner House, UK, Norman
    Philip, Grangemouth community, Scotland

    TUESDAY 6TH DEC: 7.30-9.30PM
    FILM CLUB – Nuclear power & climate change: The nuclear industry has
    recently reinvented itself as the solution to climate change with
    surprising support from environmentalists. This has invigorated a
    dying industry and much government action on climate change is centred
    around building new power plants. This film looks at the world trends
    towards liberalization of the nuclear industry and the discussion
    after looks at the connections with the climate debate. Speakers:
    Wendela de Vries (World Information Service on Energy, Netherlands)
    and Adam Ma’anit (editor New Internationalist magazine, UK).

    WEDNESDAY 8TH DEC: 2-4PM
    PANEL – GE Trees, Carbon offset plantations and global warming.
    Genetically engineered trees are being touted as part of way to solve
    global warming. Far from a miracle solution, however, genetically
    engineered trees have the potential to exacerbate global warming. The
    contamination of native forests with engineered traits will damaged
    these ecosystems, accelerating tree mortality. Additionally,
    plantations are rapidly replacing native forests, diminishing the
    carbon sequestering potential of the land. Global Justice Ecology
    Project and the STOP GE Trees Campaign will discuss the details of
    this flawed approach to addressing the climate crisis.Speakers: Anne
    Petermann (Global Justice Ecology Project, US) and STOP GE Trees
    Campaign

    Contact: Heidi Bachram at heidi@carbontradewatch.org or Graham Erion
    at graham@erion.ca for more information