Thank you to everyone who contributed to 350’s work before, during and after the Paris summit. Together, as a global community, we aimed high, and what we accomplished is huge.
Our “Road Through Paris” plan aimed to build movement power and accelerate the transition from fossil fuels starting in August — and the amount we’ve been able to accomplish together since then is astonishing.
For a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon, there was a healthy and happy turnout at the Portland march for climate justice at Tilikum Crossing. Roughly 500 people of all ages and backgrounds showed up to participate in the day’s activities, and to support the efforts of the Paris climate talks to make a significant impact on climate change. Activities included open participation in an umbrella flash mob, bucket drumming, singing and Read more
It’s December 12th: Inhospitable weather today for a march and rally, I wondered how many people would show up. I got off the #4 bus at Division and SE 8th Avenue and was surprised by a couple of friendly people deboarding the bus after me. “Are you going to the climate march?” one asked me brightly, before two more joined us, all of us wrapped tight in our raincoats and hoods. We had to cross Read more
It’s October.Representatives of 196 nations will be meeting in Paris next month to forge an agreement reducing world-wide carbon emissions. Climate groups strategize about opportunities to hear grassroots voices of local people. Perhaps a rally and march December 12, the day after the conference is scheduled to conclude. Perhaps there should be a campaign leading up to that march. What should the campaign be called? Road to Paris? Read more
I’m going to be honest. When I’m exposed to rain water, my emotions can become that of a wet cat: inordinately displeased and uncomfortable. Needless to say, when I was headed to the Portland Opera House for the Climate March I was less than amused about the weather. Don’t get me wrong, I know that Read more
Today over 200 people representing at least 22 congregations of the Jewish, Christian, and Buddhist faith traditions walked two miles through NW and Downtown Portland in an interfaith pilgrimage to call for a just treaty as climate negotiations continue at the COP 21 meeting in Paris, France.
We began at Havurah Shalom, Reconstructionist Jewish Community, by singing “Don’t Let the Light Go Out” and prayer led by Rabbi Joey. Meg Ruby and Peter Sergienko from St. Michael & All Angel’s Episcopal Church read a prayer for our local and national leaders and the negotiators at Paris to act for climate justice. Michael Midghall presented the Pilgrimage with a book of statements by the leaders of the world’s religions calling for climate justice. Read more
We are officially in the home stretch of global climate talks. The final ‘draft’ text has been approved by negotiators and handed to environment ministers to be decided in the next week.
The draft text has some promising, and some very worrying parts. Here are the biggest issues 350.org sees about what’s currently on the table:
With fossil fuel lobbyists, powerful governments and other people at the hands of big polluters pushing for a weak deal — it’s more important than ever that we make our demands clear. The solutions are obvious: we need to keep at least 80% of fossil fuels in the ground, finance a just transition to 100% renewable energy, and make sure communities on the front lines of climate change have the resources they need to respond to the crisis.
Can you help us tell governments what the solutions are? Click here to share on Twitter:
Big fights are coming this week to cap warming at 1.5C. Here are a few articles that sum-up where we’re at and what’s to come:
** re-posted from Duncan Meisel, 350.org
Yesterday was Day 1 of the Council of Parties (COP) 21 UN climate talks in Paris. It was the ‘Heads of State’ session, so it was a lot of speeches from a lot of politicians and designed to give a strong mandate for the talks through December 11th.
350.org delivered a petition calling for 100% renewable energy by 2050 and keeping at least 80% of fossil fuels under ground, alongside Avaaz, to Marshall Islands President Christopher Loeak. The Marshall Islands is one of the countries with the most to lose from rising seas, and who then went to the floor of the talks where he said this:
This December, as world leaders gather in Paris to discuss the fate of planet earth, grassroots leaders are taking action and showing that solutions will come from the ground up.
“A culture that places so little value on human beings, that it allows them to be thrown to the waves, is also going to allow poor people’s countries to disappear beneath the waves because that is a threat to today’s profits.”
— Naomi Klein
Hundreds of thousands of people are making their way to Europe these weeks, fleeing from violence, often being met by violence again upon crossing our borders; sometimes – increasingly – met with love and compassion (as well as the occasional bottle of water, toy, or blanket).
You have probably heard the story: climate change, unchecked, drives extreme weather events and resource scarcity, exacerbating conflict and socio-economic dynamics. Case in point: Syria. While the causes of the Syrian conflict are primarily political, some recent research suggests that a prolonged drought just before the 2011 uprising may have played a role in the ongoing civil war (although this should be seen as only one contributing factor). Read more
