climate change
climate change
Green Ultra Right Bombers
So if you are wondering why the long silence since the post last week, well…I am in Durban after all, where things tend to move a little slower than Joburg and about as fast as Cape Town. And it has been busy: the ‘People’s Space’ at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), mostly at the initiative of Patrick Bond, has taken off and is always buzzing with energy, people and a whole herd of news crews from local and international media. There are activists, socialists, NGO people, more activists and a whole bunch of artists as well, mostly thanks to the Climate Train initiative and the great crew that was on board that long trip around South Africa to Durban.
The ‘occupy space’ has also been buzzing and you should take a look at the video post from the Ambush Collective who descended upon it and built a wonderful garden for the future. Which brings us neatly to another aspect of the ‘occupy space’ in Durban. It is not your classic people-driven occupy, but rather a city approved space for people to occupy during COP17, which was negotiated with the city by the civil society representatives on the C17. It is in that sense a new kind of occupy, a government approved and temporary allowance for people to express and engage. While there are so many ideological issues with such a concept, I am trying to be brave and creative enough to let go off those issues and ideas of occupy as we know it from OWS and focus on what has been happening there and maybe, some thinking about what may come of it post COP17. So far, nothing has come of the ‘occupy space’ since the march on Saturday, 3 December 2011 and in the words of my colleague, John Treat, it is now de-funked, which may go some way towards debunking the myth that international NGOs (INGOs) are capable of hijacking the occupy idea. That is something we should all be very grateful for.
And that is pretty much where I feel we can leave this blog as it seems that my assertion that NGOs and other movements in civil society will try to co-opt and cannibalise the ideals and methods of occupy for their current agendas was in fact prescient – but, I feel that maybe I am being too harsh on the people and processes in SA. And there is good reason to be kinder to our levels of (dis)organisation and the nuances of our political history which make engagements with the SA government a challenge fraught with tensions and high-drama instead of a simple critical intellectual engagement and consensus building on moving forward.
The how and why we are here mired in this stalemate is the subject of not just another blog but of several issuances from academics to cartoonists, locally and across the know universe. Yet, we as people of this nation and across all sectors seem unwilling to be brave enough to change or are too content with this divided society we are building. Or maybe it is simply that we do not care enough about how we work or fail to. Almost all conversations with locals and visitors alike tend to lead back to the question of leadership and lack thereof among civil society organisations as the key weakness in our ability to engage critically and effectively with government. And I tend to agree, though I still hold that the concept of an apex representative structure for civil society that is recognised by government is not just outmoded but also potentially harmful to the growth of ideas that manifest as ideals and changes to the stark poverty and inequality in SA. But going back to agreeing with the notion that there is a lack of leadership in the sector and what some sober and principled leadership can achieve: for a start it may help with my desire to see a better engagement process than the current hobbled together rigmarole of government doing things, civil society organisations responding negatively to it and inevitably a court process to find a better solution. I find it baffling that, in a country with a globally lauded Constitution and a rich pool of intellectual talent, we are seemingly constantly finding ourselves at loggerheads with each other over things that, at first glance at least, seem pretty obvious or common sense. A good example is the demands around climate secrets by Right2Know and while the demands themselves make for interesting reading, the fact that we must demand these things, seems to me that the ideals of the Freedom Charter are somehow being lost in this transition to a form of capitalist sanctioned democracy we are building… but maybe that is a blog for another day.
The march on 3 December was a great show of both strength and courage from a range of people and organisations not willing to be boxed into corners by a government that is increasingly moving further right in the way it treats its people. The use of what Rehad Desai calls the “Green Bombers” to intimidate other allegedly anti-government civil society groups was an appalling act of machismo and it is worth reading Rehad’s post about the incident on Facebook.
I am reminded of the outburst from former President Thabo Mbeki about the ‘ultra-leftists’ and how perceptions of political allegiance and positioning are really just perspectives. Maybe Mbeki did not realise how far right he had moved and thus some people did seem to him to be ultra left. Which is pretty much where we seem to be going with the COP17 process. The current deal period is about to expire in 2012 and with no deal here in Durban, it just means that we will have to deal with what is left, instead of doing what is right.
- Rajesh Latchman is the Coordinator of the National Welfare Forum, Volunteer Convenor of GCAP South Africa, guerrilla gardener, cyclist and an unreformed recycler. He writes in his personal capacity.Flickr image:
An Askew View of COP17
Notes from the seaside
Daybreak in Durban was the usual muggy warmth that seems to seep into every pore of your skin just as perspiration is trying to seep out, leaving you feeling grubby and damp and taking three showers before 10am…but that is a waste of water (which is thankfully being recycled) so let’s not dwell here in this damp spot and rather move on to occupying Durban and more specifically occupying the climate change talks…
At 11am, bright and early saw the start of the Conference of People (CoP) General Assembly at Speaker’s Corner just across the street from the heavily barricaded International Convention Centre (ICC), site of the official, formal and much derided 17th Conference of Parties (COP17).
About a hundred people gathered here on this little triangular island and it took me about 10 minutes to work out that about half of them were media folk – obviously looking for something slightly higher up the heart rate monitor than the talks going on inside the International Conference Centre (ICC). I am not so sure they did in fact find it but at least the people here looked more colourful than the grey suited clones streaming into the ICC. I often wonder how people who have such a dull dress sense (and a clear lack of style) can even begin to think creatively about how we can build a just global climate treaty, but maybe that is a blog for another day.
At speakers corner, thankfully, there was no tie and dye to be seen, though there were a couple of headbands and some level of slightly dishevelled hair on people, and they did all smell remarkably clean and there was no shortage of designer labels on clothes and shoes or the cameras either…it is good to see occupy in Durban being led by well-dressed people with tidy hairstyles and a sense of good taste in their clothes too, though it would be awesome to see some real style in the dress sense. It was a wonderful relief to see some people from the ambush turn up in their pseudo prison garb and hopefully tomorrow they will ambush the space and plant some bright and useful plants to help occupy people to live off the land if they choose to stay in Speaker’s Corner for a few years.
So, what was said and done? Well pretty much what has been said for a while about the whole climate change debacle – too much emissions, too much reliance on fossil fuels, too much waste, too much corporate power, too much collusion of governments with corporations and of course, too much negation of traditional ways of living in harmony with the world and it’s people. All good then, and in reality, not stuff that many people walking past on their way to find jobs or get lunch or just meandering aimlessly would happily agree with…but and this is a but of rather large proportions – that virtually none of the people walking past bothered to stay and join the occupation… admittedly, some did stop and check out the occupy action – but given the lack of free t-shirts, lunch or other forms of simple but effective bribery – none stayed to occupy in solidarity with the occupiers...which is a pity.
So the main outcome of the assembly was to hold an assembly each day – in the same space and develop some sort of way of distributing more information about the occupation and hopefully gathering more people to the space. While it may look like a damp squib (and INGO heavy) start to a Durban occupation, there is hope that tomorrow, a whole bunch of slightly more excited people will rock up and help grow the occupy seedling in Speaker’s Corner.
I will do my best to stay on top of this rapidly changing and always on the go occupation and I hope you will follow this occupation and tell the two friends you know in Durban to come join us…it should at least be a great way to meet well dressed international NGO types, if nothing else...
- Rajesh Latchman is the Coordinator of the National Welfare Forum, Volunteer Convenor of GCAP South Africa, guerrilla gardener, cyclist and an unreformed recycler. He writes in his personal capacity.Flickr image:
10 Angolan Provinces Hit by Hunger
The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) says that about 10 Angolan provinces have been severely hit by drought.
UNICEF’s representative in Angola Koenraad Vanormelingen, estimates that hundreds of thousands of families are affected, adding that, "We are concerned with the situation which started last year and has affected 533 000 children in the Southern African nation.”
Vanormelingen adds that there is already US$5.1 million granted by European Union to be used by the Angolan government to fight hunger, with the support of the international community and local NGOs.
To read the article titled, “Ten Angolan provinces hit by hunger: UNICEF,” click here.Source:Africa ReviewStudy Exposes Black Carbon Pollution
Black carbon, the soot produced by burning fossil fuels and biomass, is a more potent atmospheric pollutant than previously thought, according to a four-year international study released by the United Nations.
The study, which has been published in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, notes that emitted by diesel engines, brick kilns and wood-fired stoves, black carbon is second only to carbon dioxide as the most powerful climate pollutant.
In a press statement, head of the UN environment programme, Achim Steiner, is of the view that, "This new research provides further compelling evidence to act on short-lived climate pollutants, including black carbon."
To read the article titled, “UN study exposes black carbon pollution,” click here.Source:News24Climate Talks Enter Second Week
Countries have entered a second week of United Nations climate talks in Doha deeply divided on key issues even as fresh warnings were issued that rising greenhouse gas levels are putting our planet in peril.
After six days of intense negotiations, observers say nations are far from agreement on extending the Kyoto Protocol on curbing emissions of Earth-warming gases, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2) produced from burning fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) - a grouping of 43 countries at risk from warming-induced sea level rise - argues that, "The science is clear: further delay would mean the opportunity to avert a global calamity would be irrevocably lost."
To read the article titled, “Climate talks enter second week with 'hot air' debate,” click here.Source:Times LiveGreenpeace Warns Govts Against Climate Change
As governments meet for climate talks in Doha, Qatar, Greenpeace has warned that the world must wake up to the reality that climate change is already gripping the planet.
The organisation, which also called on leaders to take urgent action to avoid catastrophic global warming, states that this year has already seen devastating storms, droughts and floods causing significant loss of life.
It also demands that a second commitment period be agreed on in Doha and has called for greater urgency and ambition to reduce emissions.
To read the article titled, “Greenpeace issues warning as climate change talks start,” click here.Source:SABC NewsAfrica Pushes for World Carbon Emissions Cut
African civil society organisations are calling on developed countries to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to keep Africa safe from the impact of global warming and climate change.
Coordinator for the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Mithika Mwenda, points out that, "Africa bears the burden of climate change which is not of its making."
Mwenda was addressing African journalists who met in Nairobi, Kenya last weekend to discuss the African civil society position ahead of the 18th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar takes place this week.
To read the article titled, “Africa wants world carbon emissions cut,” click here.Source:All AfricaMinister Calls for Global Action for Climate Change
South Africa's International Relations and Co-operation, Minister Maite Nkoane-Mashabane, has appealed for global action if a catastrophe on climate change is to be averted.
Nkoane-Mashabane addressed the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha today. She officially handed over the presidency of COP18 to Qatar.
She further stated that, "The latest science tells us that urgent action is needed if we are to avoid a global catastrophe in the next generation. We cannot waiver in resolve in our rise to this challenge."
To read the article titled, “Nkoane-Mashabane calls for global action for climate change,” click here.Source:SABC NewsCall to Tackle Widening Emissions Gap
The United Nations' Environment Programme (UNEP) says the greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 could be between 8 billion and 13 billion tonnes above what is needed to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius.
An annual report prepared by UNEP and the European Climate Foundation, studied a range of estimates to assess whether current pledges for emissions cuts are enough to limit the worst effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, the World Bank warned this week that the world is likely to warm by 3 to 4 degrees by the end of the century and extreme weather will become the ‘new normal’, affecting every region in the world.
To read the article titled, “Swift action needed to tackle widening emissions gap: UN,” click here.Source:ReutersAtmospheric Greenhouse Gases up Since 2000
The report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says the concentration of heat-trapping greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is up about 20 percent since 2000.
The report, which was released just days ahead of a major climate conference, reminded world governments that their efforts to fight climate change are far from enough to meet their stated goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit).
Scientists say those emissions are contributing to climate change and that failure to contain them could have dangerous consequences, including rising sea levels inundating coastal cities, dramatic shifts in rainfall disrupting agriculture and drinking water, the spread of diseases and the extinction of species.
To read the article titled, “Atmospheric greenhouse gases up 20 percent since 2000,” click here.Source:Times Live
Printer-friendly version
