Wow! It looks as if I might be spared having to explain to my grandchildren why my country blocked efforts to avoid a global holocaust! At the last minute, thanks to some heroic efforts by green activists and millions of supporters around the world, Canada agreed to targets for greenhouse gas emissions. Don't think for a minute that we will stay on course without a great deal of continuing public pressure, but at the moment, we have cause for celebration!
If you haven't already heard all about what happened in Bali, I urge you to check out the Avaaz report. There's also a good news article posted on the German indymedia.org site.
The highlights:
- US and Canada team up to undermine the talks. US blocks summit consensus. When Kyoto treaty countries try to move ahead without the US, they are blocked by Canada.
- Global community of green activists, led by Avaaz, organize massive action: petitions, ad campaigns, marches, phoning campaigns. At the summit, Avaaz members bring protest inside the conference: only march allowed inside the venue; largest climate petition in history; daily press conferences; "fossil awards" for the worst countries in the negotiations; constant lobbying of officials.
- In the final hours, Canada backs down completely, allowing Kyoto countries to agree to strong 2020 targets on carbon emissions. US team now entirely isolated and actually booed by the world's diplomats, agrees to call for "deep cuts" and "reference" the 2020 targets.
- Much work remains to achieve new global climate change treaty by 2009, but we're on our way - and we won't turn back!
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