Paddling out in hand-made canoes from Australia's Horseshoe Beach,
twelve Pacific Island nations early this morning blockaded coal ships as they approached Newcastle, the world’s largest coal port.
Late last night Australia time, as the small flotilla returned to shore, only four of twelve ships approaching the port, including two coal ships, had broken through their blockade.
Now that is what I call an event of awesome beauty. Of heroic desperation. A poignant battle cry so primal in its power it ought to ignite a vehement, almost voracious response from around the globe.
How can we possibly ignore this?
What were you doing yesterday while they took to the sea in this quintessential do-or- die effort to save their home from being lost forever beneath the rising sea?
Me? I was one of those over indulgent NorCal residents blessed with the luxury of losing myself for an hour and a half in a Hatha Yoga class, kicking back with buds to watch the SF Giants land a spot in the World Series, noshing on Quinoa pasta, organic heirloom tomatoes and free range, grass fed Mozzarella di bufala.
"For 20 years we’ve asked world leaders to take action to stop polluting the atmosphere. We cannot wait longer. Now, warriors of the Pacific are rising peacefully to protect the Pacific Islands from climate change.
Our message: We are not drowning. We are fighting."
To say I am ashamed, to say that I feel like billions of us ought to feel shame about our ongoing disconnect, that we have the luxury still of burying our heads in the sand? A gross understatement. Fuck the Mozzarella di bufala! The Evoluet Vegan Dog Food! The Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Basil Bathroom Cleaner!
Fuck the luxury of believing I was really making a difference by showing up with over 400,000 people in New York City to participate in the People's Climate March!
There is no time left for massaing one's ego, here. For small steps. For doing less harm.
We have to aim to do no harm. Ahimsa: To cease harming through actions, speech and thoughts.
To achieve success, we need to desist from all illusions, to find truthfulness with our selves so that we are firmly grounded in our actions.
The October 17 blockade was step one of Pacific Climate Warriors crusade. They begin tomorrow traveling through out Australia in a call-to-arms, "a request that Australians take up the fight to the fossil fuel industry to save our homelands."
It's not too late to Stand with the Pacific Climate Warriors. Sign the petition and pause for a moment on the page to observe as others from nations around the world add their names.
Tomorrow, October 18, the warriors will participate in Australia's National Divestment Day in Australia, a series of protests across the country to demand their “Big 4” banks cease in financing fossil fuels.
"The coal which leaves this port has a direct impact on our culture and our islands," The Warriors said. "It is clear to us that this is the kind of action which we must take in order to survive. Climate change is an issue which affects everyone and coal companies may expect further actions like this in future."
Share your message of solidarity on social media using the hashtag #StandUpForThePacific.
What gives me hope in the follow up to the PCM is the strengthening of the coalition of environmental groups to amplify the messaging around events like what happened in the waters of Australia this morning. Each morning, my inbox is flooded with messages from environmental groups urging their followers to promote and follow actions like today's proverbial David v. Goliath battle in Newcastle.
Here at Daily Kos, The Climate Action Hub was created recently to build upon the momentum generated by the People's Climate March. The Hub will provide space to amplify messaging from NGOs, eco writers, scientists and bloggers here at DK and elsewhere and promote upcoming actions in the lead up to the UNFCCC 2015 Climate Talks in Paris.
Among those NGO's who have already joined this effort are 350’s Rand Wrobel, tcktcktck’s Tierney Smith, HuffPo Environmental columnist and former Executive Director of the Global Call for Climate Action, Kelly Rigg, David Turnbull of Price of Oil, Mary Ann Hitt of the Sierra Club, and Philip Newel of Climate Nexus (ClimateDenierRoundup). Climate Action Network's Ria Voorhaar is planning on publishing their ECO newletter at Daily Kos as a means of introducing the broader community to the nuances and major issues of the climate negotiations. Invites are being sent to several other organizations and writers.
We need all hands on deck in this epic battle.
Who among us has the luxury of waiting any longer?
What are you willing to to? When will you do it?
Step up. Be counted.