Tag: UNFCC (Page 2 of 2)

Act Locally, Act Globally – Think of Us All As Part of One

June 18, 2013 / Suzanne Maxx / 1 Comment

Join us next week and use this 20% Off Discount Code “SPT20WTN”

Change seems to be accelerating. Change, not just with our climate, but also with the “systems” humanity has created, spurred by Globalization. Whether that be the legal system, political system, financial system, health care system, or educational system— the systems in place to provide the world’s basic needs. Have we learned to scale our systems to meet Globalization’s challenges? Humanity can learn from how nature scales to support the whole— Biomimicry of man-made systems seems key to the stewardship of our earth and for an organically sustainable future.

Global transformation is in the works, and is needed within all systems including those within our one global governing body – the United Nations. Friday ended the two week climate talks in Bonn, Germany. The disappointment was all too familiar as it seemed like yesterday, but it was a year ago when World Team Now produced the event as part of the UNFCC’s Rio+20, and also an event at The People’s Summit. We went down to Rio once again with great expectations for more progress than what was able to be achieved inside the United Nations’ RIO+20 conference’s time. So now, it is distressing that there was a huge snag caused by foot dragging by Russia in a key entity, the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI). At least there was some progress in the overarching 2015 international climate action agreement. Why wait until disaster? We clearly need more projects that influence public perception. “To see is to believe” for most, so we need more examples to inspire the masses to embrace change.

At World Team Now, we are growing, and eager to see the change that happens once our non-profit World Team Now can be supported by our World Team multi-media platform, and broadcast. Our World Team project too needs to be demonstrated to be fully understood, and to that end our development of our pilot project continues. While we are working to have this World Team model up in full scale, we have been occupied with events. In California, for example what we did in Malibu with Earth Day (photo album here), with our “Ride & Drive”, and “The Circle-Up Around Renewable Energy”. We owe a shout-out to all of those who showed up to participate or volunteer, and for the support of Nissan of Thousand Oaks, and Edwards/Wildman. We hope to be sharing some of the edited footage soon at WTN’s upcoming event September 26 and 27. Another example is what World Team Now is doing in NY to support ACORE’s Renewable Energy Financing Forum (REFF)-Wall Street. Join us and get 20% off registration by using this code “SPT20WTN”. REFF is the perfect activity, included with more than 20 Energy Industry Events for New York City’s Energy Week, June 24th-28th.

Please save the dates for World Team Now’s upcoming annual event in Malibu September 27th & 28th, 2013. Watch World Team Now’s Event’s page for more details about the timing.

Speaking of timing, two great renewable energy demonstration projects born in Switzerland also have “New York” as a destination. PlanetSolar, is the world’s largest solar boat, and it includes an interesting research component with the project it just arrived in New York. The soaring approach to change done state by state has value. The Solar Impulse is a renewable energy demonstration project with great potential. You can take flight and follow in real time on their final segment of the “Across America” trip, and join the history in the making as they land in New York early July.

PlanetSolar reaches New York, the second american stopover of its 2013 campaign

The two states where World Team Now is based are proudly taking leadership positions in the environmental transformation needed to address climate change— let’s hear it for California and New York, especially Mayor Bloomberg’s action plan to address the affects of climate change . The water situation and the issue of drought is rapidly becoming more serious, due to climate change. Often, to execute solutions at a scale needed to address the affects of climate change, bonds are created. California is taking the lead with creating a Water Bond. World Team Now was present when Senator Fran Pavley, Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, hosted the Hearing; “Encouraging Regional Water Solutions: Implications for a Statewide Water Bond” at Pepperdine University. Californians are set to vote on the $11.1 billion water bond in November, 2014.

More action needs to be able to take place on a state level and even city level, which gives more weight to the “Think globally, act locally” mantra— but not to preclude think global act global actions which are needed as well— the local can catalyze the global. It is a huge victory to finally permanently close the troubled San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant in California, not just for the immediate risk of radiation, but also in respect of the long term issue of what to do with the radioactive rods which are byproducts of nuclear reactors. With no safe disposal protocol for these rods, even closed plants will continue to pose risks to the public and our planet forever The pressure is on for Southern California Edison to strive towards truly renewable energy— the kind with no radioactive byproducts to threaten public safety. It is time for us citizens to spearhead energy independence, be active in supplying a diversity of local renewable energy resources (supporting grid stability as a benefit), and to learn how to responsibly use energy.

But it is time for the whole of us in society to consider “Act locally, Act globally- Think of us all as part of ONE”.

COP17 & Our World’s “Crazy Climate”

December 5, 2011 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/32366389]

As 99% of the world cries out with various forms of the Occupy Movement, one thing seems to be clear to almost all— the systems we have created for humanity to live within need to be reconsidered, and ultimately transformed. These are crazy times and to look at our systems globally is to wonder, with all of the magnificent brilliance of humanity, how did we end up here? Why do our political, medical, legal, educational, financial systems seem ineffective in truly serving humanity at large? How can we continue to make decisions about one country or state, when this is one world and the boundaries are shrinking with the realization like parts of the body— what is done to one part (or country) affects the whole body or (world). Why can’t we take this to heart and take action about climate change and agree to significant environmental policy for our world and our future? If not at COP17, maybe Rio+20 will be the time— after all Brazil is shaped like a heart.

The United Nations conferences have been the global games for tackling environmental issues facing humanity and our planet. COP17 is taking place in Durban, South Africa and how many in the world are even aware? Yes, the daily agenda is dense and intense— making it easier for most of us to ignore as week two begins. This past week the US media had little coverage on COP17. Was it primarily because much of the world perceived the United States’ leading monetary capitalism as the giant elephant in the room that prevented the rest of the world from taking steps forward?

Finally, the New York Times did a thorough article on the Kyoto Protocol, which is the closest we have come so far, to significant global environmental policy— although flawed it still may be better than not having anything. Here is a good article on the EU ‘s fight for climate policy. Unfortunately, the US Congress attempts to pass energy or climate policy has stalled as the issue is gridlocked between Democrats and the Republicans. Perhaps an African approach would be more successful? S. Africa’s actions with renewable energy and approach to understand the link to economics deserves attention.

COP17 update:

Suzanne Maxx for World Team

On Friday there was talk that China would indeed consider signing a deal at COP17— if so the United States might no longer have an excuse. Memories of COP15 and bearing witness to the frustrating way the United States and China were communicating with the rest of the world still haunt many of us.

The Weekend

C17 took an active role in organizing the march of about 5,000 people through the streets of Durban this past weekend. Tck,tck,tck, a campaign World Team Now is involved with, helped rally the civil action that is an important part of all the U.N. conferences. This UNFCC conference was no different— as marches bring more than talk, paper, and policy and into lives showing masses of humanity together in action.

Concert

As a GCCA partner, World Team Now celebrates Artist Project Earth (APE), holding a benefit concert for victims of East Africa’s famine on Sunday December 4^th, during COP17 in Durban.

APE has a long history of raising funds to help those suffering from the effects of natural disasters. To date, three albums have been launched in collaboration with Cuban musicians and Western artists, including Amy Winehouse, Sting, Coldplay, U2, and Gorillaz. Global sales have topped the one and a half million mark allowing the organization to fund nearly 300 global projects which address natural disaster relief and climate change awareness. World Team Now stands in support of this work.

Hope, at the Last Minute

As usual the last two days of the conference, the 8^th and the 9^th, when the heads of state are all present, we can hope action will happen. As much as we would like to see progress here, unfortunately the end may be when the Kyoto Protocol expires— the last chance looks to be Rio in June, but hope still remains for the Kyoto Protocol at COP17. Remembering the legacy of President Lulu and seeing how amazing he was in Copenhagen at COP15, we ask Brazil to keep on the path of transformation at COP17 as in this AVAZ campaign. It would be great if we would awake to perceive these last 20 years of trying to come to an agreement as just a bad dream, and be present to a new reality for our world…

COP16, A Step Forward

December 14, 2010 / Suzanne Maxx / 1 Comment

In Cancun Mexico, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, COP16 ended the two weeks of negotiation with a modest agreement sign by 193 countries, included for the first time are both US & China. The U.N. delegates are calling this “a victory”, and many organizations within the environmental movement consider this a step forward.

COP16-Youth Move World Leaders

December 9, 2010 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

Last Year the Youth Rallied at Copenhagen’s COP15 and this year there was even more action at COP16. Youth demanded Climate Justice from World Leaders, and they might have indeed helped to create a change..

Mirna Haider, a 21-year-old from Lebanon, today delivered a frank moral message of responsibility from international youth to United Nations leaders at the climate talks.

Haider, a youth climate leader from Lebanon, pressed negotiators during Friday’s high level segment to be more ambitious during the crucial second week of negotiations and highlighted the schism between the urgent case made by scientists and the inadequate solutions proposed by politicians.

“To be young and aware today is to be confused; to wonder why you can stand in front of us and both call for change, and refuse to change,” Haider said.

But Haider also added that she remains hopeful: “To be young and aware today is to know that a bright green future is possible.”

Haider spoke on behalf of about 1,000 young people from more than 40 countries that had traveled to Cancun for the two-week climate talks, many of whom represent large domestic youth constituencies.

A passionate and frustrated Haider spoke out against negotiators’ lack of transparency and interactions with civil society. “You’ve locked yourself in hotels and isolated yourselves from the communities who you are affecting.”

Haider finished by referring negotiators to a powerful statement that has become an unofficial slogan for youth groups at the UN: “You have been negotiating all my life. You cannot tell me you need more time.”

This motto is part of a unified action campaign run by youth organizations at the UN negotiations that intensified the negotiations.

Through science-based emission reductions youth held interactive demonstration.

Cancun, Mexico 9-12-10 – In an interactive demonstration of the threat of rising sea levels, the international youth climate movement (YOUNGO) showed support for communities vulnerable to climate change disasters.

A 3-metre-wide world map showed the altered coastline of a world in which 2°C of warming has occurred. Passersby, including Mexican government delegates (photo: http://tinyurl.com/2ucnfwp) added their fingerprints to climate change affected areas on the map to call for limiting temperature rise to 1.5^oC.

Youth at Cancun are pushing to keep temperature rise level below 1.5^oC, in line with updated science. This in contrast to the target of 2^oC outlined in last year’s Copenhagen Accord, which young people from at-risk communities say is inadequate.

“Small island states are among the most vulnerable to rising sea levels, but developed countries will suffer, too,” said Krishneil Narayan, a youth delegate from Fiji. “We need science-based targets or entire communities will experience disastrous flooding or even disappearing underwater.”

In addition, while the Copenhagen Accord aims to limit temperature rise to 2^oC, its non-binding nature means that countries’ current emission reduction pledges would not meet even this target. Meanwhile, negotiators have struggled to find consensus on setting targets for the second round of the Kyoto Protocol—the most prominent legally binding international treaty on climate change.

As the Cancun talks are wrapping up with high-level ministers negotiating behind closed doors, youth and other affected constituencies are clamoring for raised ambitions and increased urgency on an agreement that addresses the concerns of communities vulnerable to intensified storms and higher sea levels.

Alina Pohkrel, a 19-year-old youth climate leader from Nepal, said to country delegates: “You have been negotiating all my life. You cannot tell me you need more time.”

Justice, and a Victory for Alassane Ouattara?

December 2, 2010 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

Victory for Alassane Ouattara?

As the UNFCC conference Cop16 is underway in Cancun Mexico, there is transformational action with results on Africa’s Ivory Coast where Alassane Ouattara has won the long awaited elections.

“Justice for the people, we are all, very, very happy,” said Sinan Kamagate a native of the of the Village of Bolndoukou in the Ivory Coast and supporter of World Team Now.

Sinan Kamagate comes from a linage of activists and political leaders; his Father was Abdula Kamagate stood his Grandfather for independence and reform. He explained, “Corruption has been the rule on the Ivory Coast for many years. This event is the results of many groups coming together, and the voice of the people”.

Here too, the question is; whether the results will be binding, and whether sustainable justice can be for the Ivory Coast with these election results? This is the same question at stake on the global arena, for binding global policy for international environmental justice.

Act Locally, Act Globally – Think of Us All As Part of One

COP17 & Our World’s “Crazy Climate”

COP16, A Step Forward

COP16-Youth Move World Leaders

Justice, and a Victory for Alassane Ouattara?

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