As we still fight WTO in Geneva today, as we prepare for COP15 in Copenhagen
“The day the political landscape changed forever“, was how Fritjof Capra referred to events of N30, Tuesday 30th of November 1999, in his book The Hidden Connections. He was referring to the day when 1000´s of global justice activists came together and succeeded in shutting down the first WTO (World Trade Organisation) talks in the US using (mostly) non violent direct actions (NVDA) in the north western US city of Seattle. This was the event which brought the “globalisation” debate to the mainstream. It has been misleadingly described as anti-globalisation, what it should be accurately described as is anti corporate globalisation.
10 years on and again there is rubber bullets, tear gas and flames in the streets. This time in Geneva, as people from all over the world converge in the lead up to COP15, the climate change talks in Copenhagen… amongst others, the Social and Climate justice caravan.
A thing born once in Seattle amidst tear gas and protest > happy birthday indymedia
10 years later – attempts to shut down the WTO in Geneva
From rubber bullets, tear gas and flames in the streets of Seattle to the streets of Geneva today
This Is What Democracy Looks Like – the story of the battle of Seattle
Anti-WTO demonstration in Geneva (euronews- no comment)
5th Junio 2009 – Esta fecha marco del Día Internacional del Medio Ambiente. En esta dia en 2009 2 cosas increaible passer: una bueno, una muy malo: la peli HOME y la massacre en la Salva Amazonia Peruana en Bagua. Esta reportage presente 3 videos sobre la situacion real de Peru y par ayudar nuestr@s herman@s en Bagua. En esta punto de cambio climatco, no podriamos perdir la salva amazonia, YA!
This week (monday 2 – friday 6) the Barcelona International Climate Change Talks are happening, five days of formal negotiations, in the lead up to COP 15. Since Saturday there have been a series of actions in the cities streets as well as at the conference centre to raise awereness, to unite eco movements and to try to force change during this window of opportunity in the conference centre at the far side of Montjuic. But will it be enough to get us out of our AGE OF STUPID? Perhaps not, news has just come through today that African countries have abandoned the talks. Talks Timeline
Awajun, Wampis, mestizos y blancos unidos en defensa del territorio, luchando para derogatoria de los DS
Awajun, Wampis (native tribes), mestizos (mix of native and spanish blood) and whites united in defense of the land, Struggling to repeal the Court Orders
An ongoing, many month old peaceful protest in the Bagua region of the north western area of Peru was brutally attacked this week by state forces, resulting in the deaths of, at least, 25 native Indigenous Amazonian Peruvians. A motorway in the “curve of the devil” region had been blocked by local communities of the area who feel their land, health, livelihood and community is threatened by the government’s giveaway of the area, and its precious resources, to multinational oil and gas exploration. They are perhaps right to feel sad, threatened and terrified, knowing how things have faired in neighbouring areas with a similar story, Sion, Equador and beyond… Perhaps even as far a field as Rossport.
The Gracia community garden radio documentary trilogy and accompanying article Springtime in Europe and the Earths life’s cycle is in bloom again. The 3 parts of the radio documentary capture magical moments in the recent history of one of the most exciting projects in Barcelona at present, our community garden in Gracia. This article was written after a lovely Valentines weekend of much open, shared and participative activity; the highlight of which was our collective mural day in the garden. It is hoped that some of the life, current ideas, projects, tools, spaces, bargains, oddities, dreams, passions and goings on of the city and her peoples are communicated here-in.
Friday… Thinking about winning
Saturday… Painting pictures and feeling like we are winning
Sunday… Sharing passions, playing and doing, Remembering the South.
The climate camp “movement” is growing: engage, teach, learn, demonstrate alternatives, skill share, be moved, prepare, take direct action
Al Gore: “I believe we have reached the stage where it is time for civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants.”
Next Monday The largest act of civil disobedience will happen against global warming in the US. A large protest has been called at a coal-fired plant in Washington, D.C, 11,000 people are expected. In the days leading up to the protest, youth climate activists are organizing a conference called Power Shift ’09. Thousands of student activists plan to lobby lawmakers on Capitol Hill, urging them to rebuild the economy through bold climate and clean energy policy.
Looks like the “climate camp movement” is continuing to grow globally and momentum is building in the lead up to COP15… Ireland too are organising thing for this summer. Also Greenpeace´s “lawful excuse” court battle win might open the flood gates for more direct action…
On September 24, 2008, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore told the Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York city:
“If you’re a young person looking at the future of this planet and looking at what is being done right now, and not done, I believe we have reached the stage where it is time for civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not have carbon capture and sequestration.”
To find out why things are so critical have a quick view of the trailer of his recent film; An inconveniant truth:
For some time here in Barcelona, and globally via email etc, many of us have been talking about an inititiave that is simple, practical, ecological, cheap to do and can be a massive benefit to healthy urban communites. Some precedents exist already: New York City is perhaps the best that I have heard of. Perhaps Erik might be able to provide links for this. Some say it is impossible to do it here, I disagree, I think it is not only possible, but that it is feasible, and as the “eco awareness” grows and the city looks for answers to its eco problems, this is a simple, small, nice step.
This mail is to propose the idea to you, see what you think, seek support, seek your knowledge, ideas etc. Its also an invite to learn about, visit, share experiences and learning with us in the existing catalyst and example of this idea, that is alive and growing as I type: the new community garden in Gracia, Barcelona.
This article is in regard to the Zero Carbon Caravan(ZCC) and related ideas in lead up to COP15, in Copenhagen December 2009,which will be one of the most important times in our collective human story. The creator of theZCCidea is Chris Keene, supporter of CAT (centre of alternative technology) in Wales. CAT are responsible for the ZERO CARBON BRITAINproject.
The article written here, arises from email to Chris and it will change as our ideas do. This very exciting project, of critical value, simply adresses the pressing issue of our time…. Adapt or Die
In Brazil, more than one hundred thousand people are gathering for the ninth World Social Forum. A crowd of some fifty thousand kicked off the event Tuesday with a march through the Amazon city of Belem. The World Social Forum gathers social movements from around the world under the theme of ‘another world is possible.’ It’s timed to coincide with the gathering of corporate leaders in the Swiss town of Davos.
Watch latest vids from WSF TV. Listen to AMARC live radio broadcasts.
All infos on main site: WSF 2009 @ Belém – Pará – Brasil: 27 jan – 1 feb
Posted by fuspey 
Posted by fuspey 
Posted by fuspey 
The Gracia community garden radio documentary trilogy and accompanying article
For some time here in Barcelona, and globally via email etc, many of us have been talking about an inititiave that is 
RSS - Posts
