11/23/2009 08:41:04 AM EST
LAST CHANCE FOR STRONG STANCE
posted by Lafaye
"Based on our knowledge of recent trends and the time it takes to change energy infrastructure, I think that the Copenhagen conference next month is our last chance to stabilise at 2C in a smooth and organised way...If the agreement is too weak or if the commitments are not respected, it's not two and a half or three degrees that we will get, it's five or six - that's the path that we are on right now."--Corine Lequerre, Lead scientist, Global Carbon Project
Global Climate Change Treaty Unlikely
APEC leaders drop climate target for Copenhagen
The United States resists demands to pledge quantified emissions cuts
I used my love of hoopdance to create this short film in hopes of drawing attention to the very real problems facing our planet. I call on the media to give climate change, pollution, and ecosystem destruction the attention they deserve. It isn't right that the public needs to turn to documentaries to get the full story about the environmental catastrophe facing our planet. I call on the common man to demand change that both our species and our planet needs for survival.
Dear Cenk: Climate change is the most important and significant challenge facing our generation. I urge you to give more attention to global warming and associated issues on your show in the last remaining weeks before Copenhagen. Please encourage President Obama to commit to strong environmental legislation with the same veracity you use when discussing health care reform.
Enjoy.
Climate change is the most significant challenge of our time. The fallout from global warming will be felt worldwide and has the potential to permanently devastate critical aspects of both human life and the global ecosystem.(see BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/
in_depth/8142048.stm)
If current patterns of pollution and consumption aren't altered our children and grandchildren have this to look forward to:
--Increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events as well as larger drought affected areas and food shortages in lower latitudes.
--Wide ranging implications for human health such as death from extreme weather events and infectious diseases moving into new areas as warmer temperatures increase their range.
--Several million environmental refugees as rising seas flood cities.
Furthermore, human activity is stressing the world's ecosystems beyond their capacity to adapt. It is currently estimated that 20-30% of species face extinction thanks to a combination of climate change, associated disturbances and land-use patterns.
While semantics and exact projections are still debated, the jury is in. Over 99% of scientists claim global warming is real and happening now; while 56% of the public still believe that mainstream science is still questioning these very truths (poll taken in UK).
Despite the overwhelming body of evidence about this grave problem and its implications, political leaders and the general public remain complacent about both the pollution and corruption rampant in many multinational companies, as well as our own unsustainable patterns of consumption.
On December 7th-18th the UN climate change conference will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Many scientists are predicting this is one of the last chances to alleviate the fallout of climate change. However, as with Kyoto and virtually every other climate agreement since, political leaders continue to give lip service to environmental legislation but drag their heels and refuse to risk short term financial stability or anger corporations whose donations keep them in office.
The devastation from lack of action is too permanent and too devastating for the public to be complacent about. As with so many other great social movements in our history, great change has only come when the common man, the grassroots, have demanded it. The time to act is NOW. I call for both the media and the public to place politicians feet to the fire and demand strong, binding legislation at Copenhagen.
Enjoy.
