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Global Forest Coalition: Global Gathering of Activists in Copenhagen Calls for Action Against Business As Usual at 2009 UN Climate Conference
[September 16, 2008]

Global Forest Coalition: Global Gathering of Activists in Copenhagen Calls for Action Against Business As Usual at 2009 UN Climate Conference


(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
RDATE:16092008

Copenhagen, Denmark--Nearly 100 activists from 21 countries gathered in
Copenhagen over the weekend to begin to lay plans for a massive global
mobilization against climate change that will focus on the UN Climate
Conference scheduled to take place in Copenhagen in 2009.

The gathering of activists and organizations from around the world
ended the weekend by issuing an international call to action against
climate change and in support of climate justice.

Anne Petermann, Co-Director of Global Justice Ecology Project and North
American representative of the Global Forest Coalition, stated, "The
governments of the world have not responded to the looming climate
catastrophe. They have come up with nothing more than false
market-based solutions and disasters like agrofuels and carbon trading
geared toward corporate profit rather than real action on climate
change. The group that met in Copenhagen is collectively saying: 'No
more! The world can't wait. The time is for real action and climate
justice is now'."

The call to action states [1]:

"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.

... 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.

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."

The 2009 climate conference in Copenhagen begins on 30 November
2009--the tenth anniversary of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
shutdown in Seattle, which clearly demonstrated the power of globally
coordinated social movements. Corporations and Parties like the
European Union will be trying to abuse the Copenhagen climate meetings
to sell false solutions to the planet. People around the world are
committing to action if the Copenhagen conference becomes another trade
summit that, like the WTO, serves mainly corporate interests.

Global Forest Coalition's chairperson, Dr. Miguel Lovera added, "There
is a 63% increase in Amazon deforestation rates caused by the agrofuels
boom. The European parliament voted against such indirect impacts, but
is still pushing wood-based agrofuels; possibly including genetically
trees that will have even more dramatic effects on forests and other
ecosystems. How can business as usual be allowed to continue?"

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 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 neighborhoods 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
neighborhoods 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: [email protected]

CONTACT: Anne Petermann, Global Forest Coalition / Global Justice
Ecology Project, Copenhagen
Tel: +45 273 314 76
Orin Langelle, media coordinator GFC, Copenhagen
Tel: +45 273 314 73
Tel: +1 802 482 2689 (After 21 September)
Dr Miguel Lovera
Tel: +595 971 201957

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