Climate Protection Movement Coming Together - From 350.org to Pachamama's Children
by Jan Lundberg
01 May 2010
There is good news on the climate activism front, based on first hand information coming in to Culture Change. But first, some necessary background:
The global struggle to save the climate and ensure our common survival takes various forms. The movement is not limited to just a few well known approaches, such as "politically realistic" legislation, conferences, or boosting renewable energy. As an example of a new force post-Copenhagen, there is momentum from last month's Bolivia gathering, particularly since the title of it included the Rights of Mother Earth.
It's a good sign when folks can look beyond their own areas of emphasis and bond with others offering something else that also holds promise. Networking and coalescing have always been a priority, but the growth of the grassroots movement has been hindered somewhat by separate groups sprouting up and vying for attention to themselves. That trend may no longer hold sway.
The climate protection movement includes millions of diverse people
fighting for a better world: better than what we will end up with if big
industry and big money have their way. And better socially than the
unjust, oppressive system that has prevailed and given us "oil company
weather."
Those involved in this movement embrace or anticipate a less materially
wealthy lifestyle. Some see advancement of technology as an indispensable
source of convenience for more comfortable living than humanity's salad
days of tribal, natural living. A Green Party activist and professor once told me, "I'm not gonna live in a f---in' teepee."
The climate movement does not include those who
feel that maximizing technology represents life itself -- they may suffer
from fear of nature, and they cannot resonate with simple living that
relies on basic skills in a close community context. Such attributes for
sustainable living go hand in hand with some affinity for Mother Earth,
or Pachamama as she is known here in the Andes.
Many players in the climate change field are intent on appearing
concerned, constructive and part of “the solution” but are in reality
pushing the status quo of fossil fuels -– as if rejecting them would be as
absurd as denying themselves forever the need for water or sex. The U.S.
government is in this camp, blithely driving along into petrocollapse.
Some of us resist being taken along for that ride, and are jumping out.
The real climate movement has had divisions (analyzed by Culture Change
for two decades), but there is no more time for disunity. One reputable
nonprofit organization continues to promote “clean cars” while knowingly
accepting coal as the primary electric energy source for years to come.
Some prominent activists have excelled at describing the real
threat of climate change while turning around and falling far short in
their approach for a cure: simply cutting energy use takes a back seat to
trying to convert the present petroleum-oriented infrastructure for a
“greener” consumer economy. This contradictory tendency cannot endure, as
the greenhouse effect keeps accelerating and the arrival of peak oil trims
expectations for limitless growth of the economy.
But there is a larger wing of the climate protection movement that engages
in what can be termed purity and soul, despite the emphasis on the
technological fix.
Bill McKibben´s 350.org has drawn a line in the sand for anyone to
understand and defend or abuse. If Earth’s atmosphere does not stabilize
at 350 parts per million CO2, we are all cooked. 350.org’s growth and
public support reflect both renewable energy industry goals as well as
individuals’ dreams of a cleaner environment. 350.org has proven to be about a goal rather than an agenda influenced by a bias for a particular means. The group has
embraced energy curtailment and lifestyle change as a key element for
climate activism. To this veteran campaigner, there just might be a
closing of ranks for the struggle to save the planet from a fate like that
of Venus.
The Global Climate Race is 350.org’s latest push to involve youth in a new
direction for energy production. The kick off date is May 5. The point
person is Talia R., who wrote in the April 28 announcement via email that students
in “competition between America, China and India will rise to
the challenge of the climate crisis with the most, and the most creative,
clean energy action.”
After receiving the announcement of the program, I wrote back right away
in favor of cutting energy use as the preferable means of slashing
greenhouse gas emissions. After some back and forth, wherein I made some
points about petroleum issues that impinge upon planning for a “clean
energy” future, T.R.’s initial reassurances to me about the program’s
commitment to energy curtailment were proven real:
Hi Jan,
We'll definitely find a way to include using less energy as part of the
competition. In fact, based on your comments we slightly revised the press
release:
And, yes, I've passed on your great letter to our team.
For those interested in the background-issues I raised, here is the correspondence. I had informed T,R. I was going to do this
article. As "Volunteer" with 350.org she corresponded with professional capability and passion for the cause. My first message was:
Dear Talia,
Could energy curtailment please qualify as one of the competing methods of
slashing greenhouse gas emissions in the Global Climate Race? We could
help with organizing and publicizing this enhancement.
Perhaps it's not too late to push hardest for curtailment of energy use
when it is so much more effective and faster than enlarging upon or
installing new systems for renewable energy. The climate crisis demands
quick action rather than trying to modify the existing system and culture.
I wish you luck with your program, but we need a race such as you are
launching to unplug the global warming machine, be it cars, appliances,
long-distance food, etc. What do you think?
Renewable energy systems depend on petroleum in various ways, especially
when they are for adding power to the grid. As you may know, peak oil is
about here now globally, and the implications are that economic growth is
about to end and go into reverse.
This will affect the food security system (although there might not really
be one) as well as transport. These factors should dictate how we respond
to the climate crisis: most rapidly as well as structurally. Collapse of
the petroleum-dependent economy is ahead. The need to enhance local
economics means we must primarily pursue energy curtailment, especially of
corporate or petroleum products, and we must envision renewable energy as
a strictly local endeavor for the bare essentials of living (not for a
computer/TV/refrigerator in every home). If through such an approach, and
planting many more trees, we somehow get below 350 ppm CO2, that´s not
just a bonus, but rather essential for our common survival.
One problem with proceeding as if we need more and more energy for a
constantly rising population size is that it sets us up for being
susceptible to the schemes and propaganda of dirtiest power industries,
nukes, coal and tar sands and their politician friends. They argue we
need the energy. But do we? Do we really need cars and oil, when
bicycles and walking suffice for daily life? I have heard that renewable
energy systems for the grid simply enhance the load at certain periods,
allowing more consumption, rather than replace base load of dirty fuels.
When Bill McKibben stated, "If we can't get the biggest polluters and the
biggest economies to change, then we'll never win," I submit that they
probably will only "change" when fuel is no longer available, or when
people are starving and rioting. At that point, changing the
infrastructure (that is based on cheap oil) can´t happen, as made clear in
the Hirsch Report on peak oil for the Dept. of Energy in 2005. But there
is hope, because curtailment can put the dirty corporations out of
business rapidly, if enough people try.
When I read "Projects are likely to include light bulb exchanges, lowering
thermostats, education events, installing solar panels on campus, having a
campus president sign on to a climate pact, and more" I believe the "more"
must aim at low-hanging fruit, such as car-free campuses immediately,
holding classes outside when weather permits so that buildings can shut
off all energy systems, and sending the students out into the community to
curtail energy use -- via civil disobedience as one method of many.
Depaving, in order to install food gardens, removes space for cars, thus
reducing traffic congestion (it's true), and cuts down on the urban heat
island effect. Doesn't the climate require these strong actions?
I look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to pass along these
ideas to your students and your colleagues, including Bill McKibben. As a
former petroleum industry analyst I would be happy to assist further.
For more information on peak oil and alternative lifestyles visit
www.energybulletin.net and www.postcarbon.org, as well as the sites below
with which I am affiliated.
Thanks in advance,
Jan Lundberg
in Bolivia post-climate/Mother Earth conference
www.culturechange.org
www.sailtransportnetwork.com
Pledge for Climate Protection circulated in Cochabamba: culturechange.org/cms/content/view/201/52/
This is the announcement she and 350.org had sent out:
Competitive Web 2.0 Global Climate Race Begins for Students Competitive
Web 2.0 Climate Race Begins for Students Worldwide
April 28, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA) -- On May 5, 2010, 350.org will launch
the Great Power Race, a clean energy competition between America, China
and India. This web 2.0 race will reveal who can rise to the challenge of
the climate crisis with the most, and the most creative, clean energy
action.
Read the full press release here, or, copy and paste the following URL
into your browser:
350.org, 2017 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 United States
Her response to me on April 29, 2010:
Hi Jan,
Thanks so much for your email. You are right on about energy curtailment,
and I'd like to let you know that it is the backbone of our competition.
As you suggested,
"holding classes outside when weather permits so that buildings can shut
off all energy systems, and sending the students out into the community to
curtail energy use -- via civil disobedience as one method of many,
depaving, in order to install food gardens, removes space for cars, thus
reducing traffic congestion (it's true), and cuts down on the urban heat
island effect"
- these are the actions and projects we're expecting students participating
in the Great Power Race to develop, execute on campus and promote using
social media.
We think that through the excitement of competition, the game-like aspect of
social media, along with global encouragement and collaboration, students
will in many ways define a strategy for communicating and enacting daily
lifestyle changes like rethinking their methods of transportation, and
dictating where their food comes from within their respective communities.
The climate crisis requires strong actions. And it also requires
organization, and "on the ground" media attention. We look forward to
students in the Great Power Race becoming journalists for their efforts.
Please let me know if you'd like to discuss the Great Power Race further. I
appreciate you taking the time to write to me. I found your words
encouraging and inspiring.
Thanks!
Best,
Talia R.
The press release on the web:
Competitive Web 2.0 Climate Race Begins for Students in America, China,
and India
On May 5, 2010, 350.org, in collaboration with global partners, will
launch the Great Power Race, a clean energy competition between America,
China and India. This web 2.0 race will reveal who can rise to the
challenge of the climate crisis with the most, and the most creative,
clean energy action.
"Youth across India are already working on solutions to the climate
crisis. The Great Power Race will be an opportunity for us to highlight
and build on their efforts." - Roselin Dey, 350.org Indian Organizer
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 28, 2010 -- Students in America, China and
India leverage social media and take to the streets in the first ever
Great Power Race, a clean energy competition pitting country versus
country to reveal who can rise to the challenge of the climate crisis with
the most action.
Marchers for 350 take to the streets of Hong Kong. The HK 350 Rally is
part of the hundreds of actions taking place in China coordinated by
Chinese Youth Climate Action Network. This was one of over 5,200 events
happening around the world as part of the 350.org International Day of
Climate Action on October 24, 2009.
350.org announces that on May 5, 2010, the Great Power Race will begin
with a registration round where America, China and India compete to see
who can recruit the most campuses for the race. 350.org is coordinating
the project with major youth organizations from each respective country:
the Energy Action Coalition (US), the Indian Youth Climate Network, and
the China Youth Climate Action Network.
350.org expects over 500 campuses in each country to register, marking
this as the largest competitive international environmental movement for
clean energy and climate action.
When the race is on, campus groups in America, China, and India must
develop their clean energy projects, recruit the most students to get
involved, and launch the effort on their campuses. Projects are likely to
include light bulb exchanges, lowering thermostats, holding classes
outside, education events, installing solar panels on campus, having a
campus president sign on to a climate pact, starting food gardens, and
more.
The clean energy industry claimed $162 billion in global investment in
2009. The three countries competing in 350.org's Great Power Race each
made investments towards clean energy.
"Every nation is not created equal in this climate crisis," explains
350.org Founder Bill McKibben. "If we can't get the biggest polluters and
the biggest economies to change, then we'll never win. "
China's clean energy investments equaled $34.6 billion in 2009, while
America's totaled $18.6 billion, and India dedicated $2.3 million,
according to data released by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
"We're going to focus some particular attention on China, America, and
India with a Great Power Race — campuses will compete to see who can come
up with the most, and the most creative, climate solutions projects,"
continues McKibben.
350.org recognizes that citizens around the world now have access to
technology that allows for a revolution in grassroots organizing.
The web and social media will play a vital role in the Great Power Race.
Students can sign themselves up, register their university or college, and
recruit others online and on mobile.
"Youth across India are already working on solutions to the climate
crisis. The Great Power Race will be an opportunity for us to highlight
and build on their efforts," says Roselin Dey, 350.org Indian Organizer.
Students can also track registrations and other Great Power Race
statistics on 350.org's Great Power Race website launching May 5, 2010.
Students will leverage Facebook , Flickr, YouTube, Twitter and other
websites to compete, organize and collaborate.
350.org uses a novel approach when coordinating global campaigns like the
Great Power Race, combining the web and SMS networks, distributing
lightweight Flip video cameras, training young people in climate workshops
on multiple continents, and advertising in hot spots like Times Square.
Stay up to date with the Great Power Race at 350.org's blog.
About 350.org
350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to
unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis—the solutions that
science and justice demand. Their mission is to inspire the world to rise
to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency
and of possibility for our planet. Join 350.org on Facebook by searching
for 350.org, and on Twitter @350 and #350ppm.
Media Contact:
Find hi-res photos and videos of clean energy and climate action around
the world along with complete contact information at 350.org/media.
prweb.com www.350.org
Culture Change mailing address: P.O. Box 3387, Santa Cruz, California, 95063, USA, Telephone 1-215-243-3144 (and fax). Culture Change was founded by Sustainable Energy Institute (formerly Fossil Fuels Policy Action), a nonprofit organization.
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