(Copenhagen 09) Reclaim Power, that talk, that “riot”, that action, the consequences

international | environment | news report

Friday January 29, 2010 23:50

by Dunk - climate caravan, general climate justice actions

fuspey at yahoo dot co dot uk

(see blogpost for vids and links)

Just over a month ago in Copenhagen’s free town of Cristiania there were firey words spoken, followed by baracades of fire, conflict with riot police and mass arrests of cliamte justice activists. The talk, with Noami Klein and others, led to the later arrest of Tadzio Muller for “instigating a riot” under the new Danish “anti terrorist laws“. The talk was our “party night”, December 14th 2009, 2 days before the RECLAIM POWER demo… PUSHING FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

Below is the video compilation of that important talk, what happened after and what that has led to. Reclaim Power was not an end in itself, it was only that hugely difficult and important first step…

RECLAIM POWER - PUSHING FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

A full post with large amounts of links and many embedded videos is found on the climate caravan blog:
http://climatecaravan.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/reclaim-...ower/

here are some images and vids from those days

That talk
Reclaim Power with Naomi Klein, Michael Heart, Tadzio Müller and Lisa Fithian (1st of 9 vids)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AprRDYua9A

That “riot”
Democracy Now report: Danish Police Raid Climate Justice Gathering
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4zC05gsV7M

That Action
Two days after the Party/ talk / riot night in Cristiania, a bold, self controlled NON VIOLENT group of 4000 people from all walks of life and parts of the world came together, marched in the cold, resisted police violence, made and held a space for open communication and, despite the snow, made their Peoples Assembly.

That dialogue went out live over internet radio thanks to the indymedia radio team.

Peoples Assembly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGY9ruYpx3o

The consequences
The official COP15 was a disaster, everyone is agreed on that. But failure of the “world leaders” to make the necessary effective change, gives further legitimacy to us, the social movements of the world, to build on that first step that we created at the Peoples assembly. So far there are 3 main interrelated outcomes that are already being built upon:

Firstly, during the days in Copenhagen a peoples declaration was worked on by many hundreds of groups from various social movements, KLIMAFORUM DECLARATION – System Change – Not Climate Change ( http://climatecaravan.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/2010/01/...tion/ ) has already been signed by over 500 groups and makes the four following demands:

* A complete abandonment of fossil fuels within the next 30 years, which must include specific milestones for every 5-year period. We demand an immediate cut in GHG of industrialized countries of at least 40% compared to 1990 levels by 2020.

* Recognition, payment and compensation of climate debt for the overconsumption of atmospheric space and adverse effects of climate change on all affected groups and people.

* A rejection of purely market-oriented and technology-centred false and dangerous solutions such as nuclear energy, agro-fuels, carbon capture and storage, Clean Development Mechanisms, biochar, genetically “climate-readied” crops, geo-engineering, and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), which deepens social and environmental conflicts.

* Real solutions to climate crisis based on safe, clean, renewable, and sustainable use of natural resources, as well as transitions to food, energy, land, and water sovereignty.

Secondly, global call out for more peoples assembly’s. Already there have been some and initial reports are circulating through the email lists. Also this weekend sees a decentralised global network of social fora, like here in Catalunya (Spain) as part of the wider global FORUM SOCIAL MUNDIAL network. So we can expect more responses soon.

Thridly, after a sound criticism of the entire undemocratic COP15 process, Bolivia have called for a Peoples’ World Conference on Climate Change and Mother Earth’s Rights , which will last 3 days and finish on Mother Earth Day April 22, 2010 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
( http://cmpcc.org/2010/01/05/call/#more-12 )

VIVA PACHAMAMA

RECLAIM POWER - The action - peoples assembly

KLIMAFORUM DECLARATION - 500 groups from around world have signed up to its 4 demands, 1 from Ireland : Future Proof (kilkenny transition town)

Peoples’ World Conference on Climate Change and Mother Earth’s Rights - Bolivia, April 19 - 22, Mother Earth Day

Caption: Video Id: 6AprRDYua9A Type: Youtube Video
That talk - Reclaim Power with Naomi Klein, Michael Heart, Tadzio Müller and Lisa Fithian (1st of 9 vids)