"The only way to get negotiations back on track not just for Bolivia or other countries, but for all of life, biodiversity, our Mother Earth is to put civil society back into the process." Pablo Solon, Bolivia’s ambassador to the UN. Bonn, Germany. April 10.
As negotiations at this weekend's climate conference in Bonn catapult to chaotic closure, U.N. climate chief Yvo de Boer expresses doubt that an international climate agreement can be reached later this year in Cancun, suggesting instead that the focus shift to climate justice: specifically, ensuring the poorest regions in the world receive the funds necessary to adapt to the disproportionate impact the rapidly changing climate is already inflicting on undeveloped regions. Link
"There is a general agreement on the question of adaptation, in that the money should go primarily to small island countries, to least developed countries and to African nations," de Boer says.
"I hope that the decision in Cancun will be that irrespective of how those countries feel about the Copenhagen accord they should be eligible for adaptation support."
Skirmishes renewed at UN climate conference
BONN, Germany — Climate talks nearly ground to a halt before they began in earnest Sunday, with delegates squabbling over how to conduct negotiations for the rest of the year on a new agreement to control global warming.
Talks about talks appeared at times on the verge of breakdown over seemingly minor procedural issues, but that reflected a deep divide on how to treat the hastily crafted political deal struck at the Copenhagen summit last December by President Barack Obama with a small group of other world leaders.
The lengthy battle ostensibly was over the authorization of a committee chairwoman to prepare a draft negotiating text for the next meeting in June.
Front and center at the Bonn talks, Salon passionately criticized the United States for withdrawing $3 million from its Global Climate Change Initiative because of Bolivia's fierce opposition to last December's Copenhagen Accord. And, in doing so, he calls attention to the impact just one degree raise in temperature will have on vulnerable countries, like Bolivia.
And thus, the focus shifts to Cochabamba, Bolivia, home base for the World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth, As the April 19-22 conference approaches, critics are churning into high gear, questioning the authenticity of Morales' new role as the world's environmental savior, given the priority he has placed on the extraction of his country's natural resources -- oil, gas, lithium -- and the drastic deforestation caused by massive harvesting of coca crops.
Normally, the Earth’s forests remove large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and most of this carbon gets locked up in living and decaying vegetation. The world’s tropical forests perform a vital function as they collectively absorb approximately 4.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually, and the Amazon is the single largest rainforest sink.
However, when people clear forests for agriculture or other uses, they frequently burn a large portion of the aboveground biomass, which releases carbon into the atmosphere. The tropical forest, then, can be a boon but also a carbon curse which exacerbates global warming. link
10 years back: Cochabamba Water Wars
A decade ago this week the city of Cochabamba exploded into the streets in what became known as the "final battle" of the Cochabamba Water Revolt. A decade ago this week my days consisted of leaving my house early on bicycle, riding as far into the city center as I could get before getting threatened by protesters intent on cutting my tires, and then proceed the rest of the way on foot to bear witness to the events from their core and make my way back up the hill home to send off dispatches over the Internet. In the midst of all that I dodged a large rubber bullet that a motorcycle policeman thought would be fun to fire at a gringo, learned the wonders of tear gas inhalation, and blatantly lied to my mother that I had never left the house. Bolivia Water Revolt: 10 years later
Note: Even today, the facts surrounding the Bolivian Water Wars remain contested, with Bolivian based Democracy Center publishing an exposeon Bechtel's water price hikes; Antonia Juhasz reporting on Bechtel's $14 billion profit; and the IDRC suggesting that, prior to privatization, Bolivia had continuously failed to ensure equitable water access for 62% of the country's indigenous peoples. (See also the PBS timeline)
The Cochabamba 'Agenda' addresses the "Crisis of Civilisation"
Next week's conference, in "defence of Mother Earth" has the support of over 240 grassroots and indigenous movements, non-governmental organizations, activists and intellectuals, all demanding "a charter of rights for the planet." Numbered among the conference goals: laying the groundwork for an international climate justice tribunal, organizing a methodology for the voices of the world's people in global warming discussions, and introducing additional commitments for inclusion in UN negotiations.
"For a long time, the voices of indigenous peoples and social organisations have not been heard. Their movement has been growing underground, in rural areas and the outlying suburbs of cities," environmentalist Carmen Capriles, of the Bolivian chapter of Campaign 350.org, told IPS.
Their knowledge, as farmers or livestock raisers, means they can promptly identify the climate phenomena that their way of life and economic wellbeing depend on, she said.
Currently, virtual working groups are discussing such topics as structural causes of the climate crisis, climate debt and adaptation, harmony with nature, climate refugees, indigenous people's rights and wisdom, greenhouse gas emission cuts and technology transfer. Visitors can participate in the discussions by registering at the conference website.
Momentum growing ... Avatar in the Amazon
As temperatures rise to a near feverish pitch in anticipation of the upcoming summit, Morales has extended personal invites to directors James Cameron and Oliver Stone. Cameron already plans a return visit to the Amazon this week with Avatar star Sigourney Weaver to protest the huge Belo Monte dam planned by the Brazilian government.
Now, Mr. Cameron said, he has been spurred to action, to speak out against the looming environmental destruction endangering indigenous groups around the world — a cause that is fueling his inner rage and inspiring his work on an "Avatar" sequel.
"Any direct experience that I have with indigenous peoples and their plights may feed into the nature of the story I choose to tell," he said. "In fact, it almost certainly will." Referring to his Amazon trip, he added, "It just makes me madder."
No word yet as to whether Cameron will stop off in Cochabama on his way home. NYT article
Back to the Blackboard in Bolivia: Sidebar
"[Morales] wants us to use a wider sense of Mother Earth and our guardianship of Earth, and derive policies on issues such as climate change from a deep ecological understanding rather than from Powerpoint presentations in hotel conference rooms in places such as Bonn" BBC’s Richard Black comments on Bolivia’s press conference at UNFCCC talks in Bonn.
So, let's return to the old fashioned blackboard ... and consider who might best represent the rights of Mother Earth in Bolivia .... some individuals who probably won't be in attendance ... but should they? Would They? Could they? DARE they?
SHOULD THEY? THE ARTIST: "Blackboards are awesome. Think of all the amazingly great stuff that's been written or drawn on blackboards... Lavagna in Italian. Slate in English. Gesso or gessetti for the chalks. Calcium carbonate and animal hide glue and water... All natural ... Chalk is one of mankind's earliest marking tools, art mediums, magic wands, and teaching instruments. Chalk boards are memory and knowledge tablets, yet their contents are always fleeting and impermanent, except when their contents are noted down by others in some fashion ... I would like to have an art show where all my drawings are done on chalkboards! Would that be cool or what?" Artist Mark Reynolds, Professor of Sacred Geometry
WOULD THEY? THE POLITICIAN: Why even future US Presidents use blackboards... but what exactly was he illustrating? "The first step in community organization is community disorganization. . . . An organizer must stir up dissatisfaction and discontent" – Saul Alinsky, Rules for Radicals hmmmm...
COULD THEY? THE GENIUS: Imagine if this guy facilitated a Cochabamba working group?
DARE THEY? "fLAT-EARTHERS & TRAITORS."
Stay Tuned. Take Action
Vote in the Tweet Poll: "Can we the people influence #climate change negotiation process?"
Follow the Conference on Twitter
Register at OneClimate Net Bolivia
Add your voice to a global chorus celebrating life on earth at Six Billion Reasons
Embed interactive widgets into your website
Photocredits
Bolivia: Cochabamba Rally during the Water War by World Learning
AVATAR by Costel Mago
Artist Mark Reynolds illustrating principal of sacred geometry
Obama at the blackboard by Ethan Hein
Rebel Einstein... by Chris Blakeley
The Glenn Beck Blackboard Challenge.- Blank by News Corpse
June 11, 2008 — Morales calls for 'reparations to the earth'
GreenRoots is an environmental series created by Meteor Blades and Patriot Daily for Daily Kos. This series provides a forum for educating, brainstorming, discussing and taking action on various environmental topics.
Please join a variety of hosts on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 6 pm PDT. Each Wednesday is hosted by FishOutofWater.