The Politics of Love
In the Gandhian tradition, in the tradition of Martin Luther King, and indeed in most religious and spiritual traditions also, we are told that we must maintain our integrity, refusing to attack and insult our opponents and enemies, and instead to extend our love to them.
When we choose fight against their actions, and even condemn those actions, but while extending love and forgiveness to our enemies as people, then we are strong within ourselves.
See this in action during Van Jones' award acceptance speech last night:
Check out the rest of the brief blog at http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/27/jones-beck-love/
I feel it approprate to reference one of Gandhi's sayings appearring on this site - that 'Justice will come when it is deserved, by us being and feeling strong.'
Framing: We can solve it.
Recently on 'It's getting hot in here', one of my favourite climate-movement blogs, there has been some discussion on language and framing in the climate debate, as well a surprisingly long debate on "whether renewables can solve it" in the comments of my last blog on the site.
In response to both these things, and after a long hiatus from posting on the Climate Justice Fast site, I have been prompted to share this extract from "Beyond Yes We Can" - a piece that I wrote this time last year, in a period of post-Poznan reflection.
Post-Copenhagen, much of what I wrote then still applies.
The End of COP15, and the end of the Fast. So how do we all feel?
Distress, confusion, hurt, anger? Hope, passion, energy?
Emotion! Let it all out, people!
Personally, I am feeling a very strange and beautiful feeling today, as we concluded the fast, after 43 days entirely without food, coinciding with the disappointing end of COP15. It is a mix of feelings - disappointment at politics mixed with hope for the future, met expectations (regarding the politicians' lacklustre performances) mixed with passion and love, excitement and inspiration (for the peoples' climate movement), and finally, a very strange sensation of taste in my mouth and nutrition in my belly once more.
For COP15, the tension and the expectations were high. A 'fair, ambitious and binding' deal was called for by 12 million people across the world. We got none of it. Instead we got a huge disappointment. COP15 will not go down in history as the moment when the world, humanity, people of all nations and creeds, came together and united for the common good of all future generations.
What a pity. It is actually pitiful. A complete shame.
So what the hell happened, and what do we do now?
It is snowing in Copenhagen
It is snowing in Denmark.
In the last two weeks, we've been told in a number of cute climate-speeches by Danish politicians that that it hasn't snowed in Denmark in December for the last 5 or 6 years. It's a story backed up by Danish grandmothers, turkish grocery-store owners and taxi-drivers across the city.
But yesterday, the city was covered in a beautiful dusting of white. The big, fluffy flakes that fell throughout the day appeared just like those in my sub-tropical childhood's imaginations that were so inspired by the Danish fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen.
I, and many others here in Copenhagen, feel that this snow can only be a good sign and a blessing for the movements that are gathering around the COP15. A sign of hope.
Yesterday, Thursday 17 December, there were tens of thousands of people around the world, and especially here in Copenhagen, who choose to go without food alongside us, for 24 hours, as a symbol of their dedication to the climate movement, and in solidarity with all those who are currently suffering the effects of climate change.
Bringing Moral Force to COP15
Bring Moral Force to COP15 in a Vigil for Survival
THURSDAY DEC 17 - Copenhagen
All events are at the ØKSNEHALLEN, Halmtorvet 11, 1700 København V
(Next to Central Station and Klimaforum)
1000 people will join fasters who have reached the 42nd day of a hunger strike for climate justice, in a Candlelight Vigil for Survival.
WHEN: 17:00 (sharp)
RSVP: http://www.avaaz.org/en/real_deal_rsvp/?id=149592
We will gather in the Øksnehallen space for a solemn and powerful event recognising the urgency and gravity of the moment--and urging leaders to rise to the world's call to action.
Humanity is Hungry for Survival
Dear Friends,
This week an unprecedented 115 world leaders will converge in Copenhagen to forge a global agreement on climate change. It is thanks to the efforts everyone concerned about climate change that these decision makers will all be in the same room. However we, together as a global community, need to ensure they make the right decisions.
The bad news is that with only one week left, the international climate negotiations are still deadlocked. The good news is that this is our opportunity to step things up.
COP15 - it begins! And they’re saying all the right things…
Right now, I am sitting in the 'Plenary 2' room of the COP15, which started just a few hours ago. I'm sitting on the carpet on the floor in fact, because it is packed out and there are no chairs left. And the 'Plenary 1' room is totally full as well (only people with tickets could enter, no laptops, jackets or bags allowed), so here in Plenary 2 we're just watching the talks on video.
So what have they been saying? And does it matter?
Good days, bad days
It has now reached the end of my 28th day of fasting. Four complete weeks without food.
It is perhaps the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life, but then, it has also been incredibly rewarding and eye-opening. A grand test of my self-discipline.
There have been good days and bad days. Most have been good. Today, on the other hand, was not so good.
Day 23 Update from Anna
Day 23 Update from Anna K, including some thoughts on 'what it will really take' to solve climate change. More writings on this topic coming soon.
Food and Equity
It's been a little while since I've written - been very busy preparing for COP, moving houses in Copenhagen, and so on. But with all this 'not eating', it's encouraged me to reflect on diets and their contribution to the climate problem.
In truth, the indulgent eating habits of many in the over-developed, over-consuming world are amongst our most inequitable daily habits. They are probably also amongst the easiest of our habits to change. Unlike those other low-carbon lifestyle changes, like 'stop driving your car and catch the bus instead' - where the alternatives simply may not exist, or may be really really inconvenient, due to poor government services (get to work lobbying them, people!) - the alternatives to our high-impact western diet are very readily available: just choose the vegetarian option!
Day 14 update from Anna
An informal video-update on how I'm doing, what it feels like, how burning tomatoes relate to world politics, etc. Enjoy.
And a big shout-out of thanks to everyone who is supporting us and supporting the climate justice movement. Remember - it's not enough just to support Climate Justice Fast! - each one of us needs to take action in the strongest possible ways that we can - speak out about injustice whenever and wherever you see it, join civil disobedience movements, get involved in your local climate action groups, and change your lifestyles. Together, with the right efforts and right intention, we can and will win.
Birthday Blog - how the movement is gaining power
For my birthday yesterday, I decided to try my hand at a longer video-blog, looking back at the last few years of climate activism and what power the movement holds now. Please check it out and let me know what you think.
You can follow our regular video-blog updates on how we're doing at http://www.youtube.com/climatejusticefast
The most climate-vulnerable nations are our moral leaders
The Climate Vulnerable Forum started a few days ago in the Maldives, with heads of state from all the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world, whether low-lying islands; drought-stricken African nations; glacial nations like Nepal, Peru and others; or countries with flooding deltas like Bangladesh.
President Nasheed of the host-nation the Maldives made an inspiring speech outlining his strategy for these most vulnerable nations to take to the Copenhagen summit, and to make their nations carbon-neutral by 2020. It will be difficult, but it can be done!
Climate Justice Fast stands in solidarity with these inspirational leaders and their vulnerable nations.
True Insanity
Today, day four of the fast, I received this message from a friend of mine, who I know through my non-climate activities.
“I just saw the climate fast web site, wow. Take care.
Don't know who is more crazy, you for doing it or me (and the rest of the world) for not.”
I think he got it just right – a few people have said that this is a 'crazy' action, that we would 'be mad' to do anything that risks our health, but then still others I've spoken to have said that this was their initial reaction, but on thinking more deeply about it, they realised the truth.
Why I got ‘Climate Justice’ tattooed on my neck
Three reasons:
1. The principle
2. The permanence
3. I like tattoos.
From the least important to the most important, these three reasons explained…
