A Call to Climate Action: November 30

A Call to Climate Action:

We stand at a crossroads. The facts are clear. Global climate change, caused
by human activities, is happening, threatening the lives and livelihoods of
billions of people and the existence of millions of species. Social movements,
environmental groups, and scientists from all over the world are calling for
urgent and radical action on climate change.

On the 30th of November, 2009 the governments of the world will come to
Copenhagen for the fifteenth UN Climate Conference (COP-15). This will be the
biggest summit on climate change ever to have taken place. Yet, previous
meetings have produced nothing more than business as usual.

There are alternatives to the current course that is emphasizing false
solutions such as market-based approaches and agrofuels. If we put humanity
before profit and solidarity above competition we can live amazing lives
without destroying our planet. We need to leave fossil fuels in the ground.
Instead we must invest in community-controlled renewable energy. We must stop
over-production for over-consumption. All should have equal access to the
global commons through community control and sovereignty over energy, forests,
land and water. And of course we must acknowledge the historical responsibility
of the global elite and rich Global North for causing this crisis. Equity
between North and South is essential.

Climate change is already impacting people, particularly women, indigenous and
forest-dependent peoples, small farmers, marginalized communities and
impoverished neighborhoods who are also calling for action on climate- and
social justice. This call was taken up by activists and organizations from 21
countries that came together in Copenhagen over the weekend of 13-14 September,
2008 to begin discussions for a mobilization in Copenhagen during the UN’s
2009 climate conference.

The 30th of November, 2009 is also the tenth anniversary of the World Trade
Organization (WTO) shutdown in Seattle, which shows the power of globally
coordinated social movements.

We call on all peoples around the planet to mobilize and take action against
the root causes of climate change and the key agents responsible both in
Copenhagen and around the world. This mobilization begins now, until the
COP-15 summit, and beyond. The mobilizations in Copenhagen and around the world
are still in the planning stages. We have time to collectively decide what
these mobilizations will look like, and to begin to visualize what our future
can be. Get involved!

We encourage everyone to start mobilizing today in your own neighborhoods and
communities. It is time to take the power back. The power is in our hands.
Hope is not just a feeling, it is also about taking action.

To get involved in this ongoing and open process, sign up to this email list:
climateaction@klimax2009.org

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

[Global Justice Ecology Project Co-Directors Orin Langelle and Anne Petermann
helped develop this call to action on climate change during a meeting of nearly
100 activists from around the world who came together in Copenhagen, Denmark
over the weekend. The meeting was called to begin discussing actions on
climate change to coincide with the 2009 UN Climate Conference that will take
place in Copenhagen beginning November 30, 2009. Orin and Anne will also be
attending the European Social Forum in Malmo, Sweden beginning the 17th of
September. They will be presenting on second generation agrofuels at a
European agrofuels strategy meeting and participating in various
climate-related workshops.]