[fse-esf] The Heat Is On, nr 4 Copenhagen process update Dec06

[Tord Bj ö rk]

The Heat Is On, nr 4 Copenhagen process update Dec06

Content 
(you find a version with links at
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?p=834)

1.   Four mass activities can create the most dynamic people's summit ever

2.   Time to comment!: System Change - Not Climate Change - Klimaforum
declaration.

3. Call for celebration, funerals and alternatives at Climate Bottom meeting
and at many other activities today

4.   Demonstrations

4a.  December 12: speakers, backing from 462 organisations, and a System
Change not Climate Change bloc!
4b.  5 000 in anti WTO demonstration in Geneva November 28
4c.  40 000 in Stop the Climate Chaos demonstration in London December 5

5.   The Danish letter that saved us from a split

6.   New call-out for Reclaim Power December 16

7.   The new media-hype: The Never trust a COP

8.   A dynamic Via Campesina in the key position

9.   Friends of the Earth European Climate campaign meeting

10.  Students revolt in Austria and the linkage to Climate change

11.  Repression

11a. Police tactics at COP15
11b. Unsuccessful protest demonstration in Denmark
11c. Police in proactive operation hand-cuffing activists on false grounds


Introduction

Conflicts between dualistic and consensus political cultures among actors
initiating mass actions in Copenhagen have been sharp. But important steps
have now been taken in Denmark towards more fruitful relations. Meanwhile
the confrontations in the official process gets more and more sharp. The
prime minister in Denmark sounds like a new Bob minister in Bagdad repeating
his sound bite there will be a legally binding agreement. None else seems to
care. But the last days a new tone is there. An non-binding agreement that
is far from the historical binding agreement once stated as the only
possible outcome is now promoted by main actors as governments in rich
countries, UN general secretary and some new industrialised countries. A
non-binding agreement against the interest of impoverished countries and far
from solving the climate crisis even possibly bringing us on a wrong course.
The Danish minister of Climate is enthusiastic about the decision by the US
president to attend COP15 at the final negotiations in his attempt at steam
rolling any hope for the binding agreement that once the Danish minister of
climate claimed was the only option. In the world of spin doctors things
move fast. You can follow the official game in many newspapers.

Lets take one of many out of the box, Berlingske, a leading conservative
Danish daily: Rhetorically acknowledge the gravity of the issue and maximum
2 degrees increase in temperature, long term goals for reducing emissions
globally by half until 2050 including funds for the South and almost no
goals for the coming decade, rather 5 percent decrease instead of the 20 to
40 percent which UN scientists at least have been aiming at. No immediate
specific targets for countries, no sanctions for not following an agreement,
no specific resources for Southern countries. The last point one could add
that it would be in accordance with media spin and oppressive negotiations
to give some money to some Southern countries in the last minute that are
far from close to what is needed, just to be able to state there was a
climate justice component in the deal.

In this number 4 of The Heat Is On you will instead of the official power
relations reporting get inside updates on the dynamics of the mass actions,
the development of the relationships between different movements and
political parties in Denmark and internationally. Both concerning political
content, the cultural spirit, repression and other aspects of interest for
popular movements. There will also be some travel reports and impressions
from Copenhagen just before the COP starts.

For the official messages from mass activities and main actors you can find
an updated overview with links on:
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?page_id=511

For the best inside information, the best is always to get involved.


1. Four mass activities can create the most dynamic summit ever

All four mass activities in Copenhagen have unique qualities and will
together bring a dynamic momentum for building a movement of movements for
climate justice. With Danish separatism in organising the four
manifestations and international unity in bringing them together an open
space is in place for uniting action and discussions, celebrations and
protest, committed strength and openness for broad participation, resistance
and building of alternatives. This gives the opportunity for both
individuals and organizations to express themselves and act according to the
needs of the situation with climate justice values at the core of the open
space.

A demonstration with wider support than any environmental demonstration ever
from 60 countries with freedom of expression and a broad appeal. A gathering
of almost ten presidents at the same time from progressive governments in
the South at the same time at a mass meeting in Europe for sustainable and
alternatives. A Klimaforum A Reclaim power action uniting forces from the
outside and the inside to establish an alternative to COP when official
delegates walk out and join hands with everyone that wants to have a climate
justice now agenda and not an agenda in the interest of rich countries and
corporations. A fifth mass activity might occur at the end of COP15.

Read more in an indepth analysis of the four mass actions, their specific
qualities, the Danish and international organisations behind them and how
they all related to wider political cultural patterns and their background
in the history of different movement ways of working and summit protests.

The COP is naked part I- The Copenhagen People´s Revolution.
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?p=742

The COP is naked part II­ how our ability to see it emerged.
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?p=733

Earlier articles on similar issues:

Danish political culture and coming activities in Copenhagen
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?p=717

Avoiding the post COP doldrums part I: Another tactic than Anglo-American is
possible
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?p=726

Avoiding the post COP doldrums part II: Historical experience
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?p=719

The two climate campaigning stories
http://www.aktivism.info/socialforumjourney/?p=721



2. Time to comment!: System Change - Not Climate Change - Klimaforum
declaration.

A first and second draft of the declaration of the Klimaforum declaration
has been presented.:

During the last few weeks a lot of comments on the first declaration draft,
some thematic inputs and some regional inputs have come in. The final
process looks very promising.

Please find draft two of the declaration and the updated appendix attached
in the links below. This declaration draft will be the basis for the final
negotiations in Copenhagen from the 8th - the 10th of December in the
DGI-building. 3 plenary sessions, which are open to all will be the
cornerstone of this finalization of the declaration.

Attached you will find the time schedule of the of the finalization of the
declaration. The first plenary session starts Tuesday the 8th at 10:00am in
the green room of the DGI-building. Address: Tietgensgade 65, 1704 København
V.

We are looking forward to see you in Copenhagen!


On behalf of the Scandinavian coordination group

Kindest Regards,
-- 
Mathilde Kaalund-Jørgensen
Coordinator of the declaration process
 Read more:
http://www.klimaforum09.org/Declaration


3. Call for celebration, funerals and alternatives at Climate Bottom meeting
and for many other activities today

Read more at blogpost

3a. Climate Justice Now

CJN! Have their first planning meeting today. They call upon everyone to
come and celebrate at the CJN! Assembly at the Klimaforum on Sunday 13th of
December: 15:00 - 18:00. "Bring your ideas to take the fight for climate
justice back to their homes, onto the streets, and into the UN. Indigenous
leaders, farmers, women and workers, community activists, singers, poets and
story tellers will educate, inspire and give testimony. The hot issues in
the negotiations will be debated and ideas for action / alternatives shared.
Join us to learn about climate justice and to build our movement."

3b. Climate Bottom Meeting - Windows of Hope Burying the American Dream

The Climate Bottom meeting started December 5. The Climate Bottom meeting is
one of the most ambitious initiatives during COP primarily taking place at
Christiania but also at Klimaforum and the city centre.
Read more and have fun at: http://climatebottom.dk

There is a lot more to chose from only today even before the official
conference starts apart from preparatory meetings. Have a choice of Danish
summit activities:

3c. Ride to Copenhagen

Is the collective final effort of a 15 000 km and 16 month long bike tour
from Australia to Copenhagen read more at: http://rideplanetearth.org

3d. Climate pilgrims