Climate hero faces 10 years in jail – Support Tim DeCristopher
Two weeks ago Tim DeCristopher, the US climate activist charged with disrupting an auction of land parcels for fossil fuel exploration by entering the auction and bidding for land, was found guilty in a Salt Lake City courtroom. He now faces up to 10 years imprisonment, with his sentencing scheduled for June 23rd.
Sentiment With Action
This article was published in Adbusters #91, the 'I, Revolution' issue. Right at the back. But that's cool, because I read magazines back-to-front. Don't know why, just do. 
It’s late. Maybe 2, or 3am, and I’m scanning my email inbox for anything important I might have missed. Eventually I notice a message that lists the names of two famous activists – Bill Mckibben and Naomi Klein – in its subject header.
The email is a ‘call to action’ soliciting support for Tim DeCristopher, a climate change activist who faces 10 years in jail after disrupting an auction of oil and gas leases in Utah.
I’m interested in this, and not just because of the facts – that by his fake bidding, DeCristopher prevented the Bush administration selling off 14 parcels of land for fossil fuel extraction – and is being prosecuted despite the new US administration ruling that the land had been inappropriate for sale. I’m actually interested largely because I’ve recently been thinking a lot about jail, and wondering about what role it might play in the peoples movement for just action on climate change. So I want to know more about Tim DeCristopher.
Great News: Ted Glick Avoids Jail
Fantastic news today for all climate activists around the world: Ted Glick, Climate Justice Faster and policy director of the US NGO Chesapeake Climate Action Now was spared the ordeal of a jail sentence for peacefully unfurling banners reading "GREEN JOBS NOW" and "GET TO WORK" inside the U.S. Senate Hart Office Building last September. Hundreds of fellow activists and climate concerned citizens from all over the world wrote letters in support of Ted to his judge and packed out his courtroom in solidarity, and it seems to have some effect. What was looking almost certainly like at least a few months, and quite possibly years, of jail time became simply a good behavior bond and community service, as Ted walked free from the court amongst friends and supporters.
CJF Faster Ted Glick Faces Jail.
Despite the Gulf disaster, no one from BP has been arrested and sent to jail. But today I write to inform you that one of America's best global warming activists, and a Climate Justice Faster, is probably facing several months of jail. Why? Because he peacefully dropped two banners on Capitol Hill that said: "GREEN JOBS NOW" and "GET TO WORK."
Before and after
Hi all. I'm just posting this photo to head off any 'CJF denial' (there has been some- misinformation on the net claiming that the long term fasters weren't really fasting, or that we were still taking in nutrition other than water). Such statements are just lies.
Day 44- One Day (fast ends)
*Today, at 10AM, I ended my fast, after 43 days and 11 hours of taking in nothing but water and salt*
One day.
Day 42- Message to fasters
This is a special message I wrote last night to the over 3000 people around the world who are fasting today for climate justice. The text is here.
Melbourne Vigil on One Day Solidarity Fast
Climate Justice Fast! Yarra Climate Action Now! and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition present:
A Melbourne event – A silent one hour lunchtime vigil for Climate Justice.
Come and stand in support of the long term climate justice fasters and for decisive, meaningful action on climate change at Copenhagen.
* Meet at 12:30pm Thursday 17th December outside Myer on Bourke St Mall.
* Wear black. Bring a climate related banner if you have one
* We will have masking tape to put over our mouths, in an X to reflect the climate justice fast logo (optional).
=== Climate Justice Fast is asking people to fast for a day in solidarity, as part of international 'Hunger for Survival'. http://www.climatejusticefast.com ===
Come along to the Melbourne event regardless of whether you are fasting, to show solidarity, and to highlight the climate emergency to Christmas shoppers on Bourke St Mall.
Details here
Tuvalu Survival
And so, the COP has stalled. It is only day 3, and already we have reached crisis point. Tuvalu, accompanied by fellow small island states and some small African nations, has blocked consensus, holding out for a legally binding treaty that will return atmospheric greenhouse gasses to a safe level, and would give their nations a chance of survival.
Michael Morphett ends his fast.
Just a quick blog to officially note that Michael Morphett ended his Climate Justice Fast! yesterday, after 32 days.
Can the West be ‘taxed’ on climate?
This is an opinion piece just published online in 'The Punch' about the famed 'hip-pocket reflex' of Australian voters and the danger it entails for us all in the face of climate change and political jostling.
Day 30!
Today marks day 30 of CJF, one month exactly since 6 people, myself, Anna Keenan, Diane Wilson, Sara Svensson, Michael Morphett and Chuck Cain last took in any nourishment other than water. It's also the eve of the great Copenhagen climate summit, where CJF will be in force (albeit without yours truly), delivering our message of the absolute urgency and moral importance of climate action. I thought I would take this opportunity, then, to offer some brief thoughts about our campaign so far.
Day 23- Paul (The Gita and Peter Singer)
This is quite long and rambling. All stuff I wanted to say, but will take out a chunk of your life to listen to. As Tenacious D says, 'for psycho fans only' :)
Whose fault is the CPRS?
Today I had the following blog published in The Punch, an Australian online opinion forum.
Lies, lies, and more lies.
When setting out to take part in Climate Justice Fast!, I steeled myself for a lot of negativity. After all, hunger striking is controversial- that’s part of the reason it can be so effective in focusing attention on issues and spurring debate. However, I have to admit that while preparing for a barrage of criticism, I completely forgot to prepare myself for being completely, and blatantly, lied about.
Maggie’s Birthday.
Today marked the first birthday of Maggie Elizabeth Ahearn, my beautiful niece. Our family gathered in a park in Melbourne to mark the occasion, in what was doubtlessly an occasion filled with joy. As, I’m sure, are most all 1st birthday parties.
The Human Feedback
Upon reading Clive Hamilton's 'Is It Too Late to Prevent Catastrophic Climate Change', a stark and frankly depressing review of recent scientific appraisals of humanity’s ability to avoid catastrophic climate change, I was immediately struck by one thought: ‘something is missing here’.
Canberra, Day 2
Today was a nice day in the warm Australia Sun outside Parliament House in Canberra. Kamrul Khan, the director of the Bangladesh Environment Network Australian chapter, came down and fasted for the day in solidarity with us, and kept us amazed with stories of fighting for independence and being a political prisoner as a youth in Bangladesh. We are all inspired, and full of hope.
(Below is the statement the Canberra CJF participants prepared together for the media)
Bangladeshi CJF Solidarity: Kamrul Khan
Kamrul Khan, the director of the Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) Australian chapter, discusses his reasons for fasting in solidarity with CJF.
Banladesh is one of the nations worst affected by climate change.
You can see the video of this interview with Kamrul Khan by clicking 'read more'.
Do extreme actions ‘alienate the mainstream’?
As one of the organizers of what many consider to be quite an extreme action, I have often been confronted with the opinion that extreme actions ‘alienate the mainstream’, and by so doing harm the formation of a broad-based social movement. In fact, the truth may be quite the opposite.
Climate Justice Fast!: a personal history
Hi. I thought I might get the ball rolling with our blog page. The following is a personal look back at my experience with Climate Justice Fast! so far. I sincerely hope that it does not give the impression that the fast was my idea alone, because nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, a number of the people involved had the same idea simultaneously, and have had the good fortune to cross paths. This is simply my own story, which is one of many.
