Not Part Of The E.U?! WHAT?!

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Posted by lupita on December 20, 2009 – 7:10 pm
Filed under Copenhagen

“Christiania” says a big sign that leads into this village like square were about 800 people live. Although this is in Copenhagen, Denmark., it doesn’t have the same rules that apply to Copenhagen. This town, is basically like a a small community with their own set of rules and regulations.

As we entered, we were cautioned not to take pictures inside. We wondered why since this is technically like a village. We then say huge signs that said NO PHOTOS!! We asked and were told that the E.U. wants to get rid of this small community where people live, bond, and talk. We don’t know why, but it just seems odd too me that this little community can still survive when the Danish police can wipe them out in a second if they really felt like it.

Christiania is really a nice place that leads to lakes that we sadly didn’t get to see because it was too dark, and has lots of little vendors that have some…uhm…lets just say interesting stuff.

EJ DINNER!!!

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Posted by lupita on December 20, 2009 – 6:42 pm
Filed under Copenhagen

Thursday  we had a really wonderful dinner at this restaurant called the Caribbean. It was a dinner that was put together for EJ people.  It was a really amazing. Throughout the night, while eating and chatting and mingling, I had the opportunity to introduce myself and to meet some really amazing people. Tom Goldtooth, Dr.Bullard, and Victoria Adejuwon are only some of those people. The people that I had met that night, are people who have been working on this movement for a really really long time. It really hit me today, the confidence and trust that I feel that they have in this generation. I like that, but it also feels good to have somebody there thinking that we, this generation are capable of helping with this problem. Im honored to have that weight on my shoulders, and will try my best to make an effect on this movement.

Besides those sentimental talks, we enjoyed eachothers’ company, and ate yummy food, sang together, and talked together. I felt like I belonged to something. A movement. A cause. A reason worth fighting for climate justice!

The United States Social Forum

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Posted by giernandez on December 19, 2009 – 6:51 pm
Filed under Copenhagen, US Social Forum

Klimaforum has just finish Friday, COP15 finish “negotiations” Saturday. So whats next? The US Social Forum.

The US Social Forum is an event that takes place here in the US to tallk about Social Issues that are present currently in our society. People all over the US as well as from other countries meet up to talk about these issues. There would be workshops, action plans, speakers, and other events that people can attend. The First US Forum happened in 2008 in Atlanta and the second, in 2010, will happen in Detroit. It is an opportunity for different organizations, groups and people to learn more about the issues facing the the US and the world, network and build relationship with different organizations and individuals and have fun. It will be a 5 day conference that will take place from June 22th to June 26th. Registration is free and organizations that are interested on hosting a workshop or a session is welcome. Read More »

Klimaforum: The People’s Conference

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Posted by giernandez on December 18, 2009 – 12:40 am
Filed under Copenhagen

As you all know, we were not able to go to the COP15, The UN Climate Change Conference. So you are probably wondering, what exactly are we doing here in Copenhagen? Aside from enjoying the snow, sight seeing and partying (Just kidding), we have been attending the Klimaforum: The People’s Conference. Klimaforum is an alternative conference intended for people that wasn’t able to get in the COP15 as well as grassroots organization to meet, network and learn from each other. The Klimaforum is absolutely free, it host workshops, talks, debates, presentations, performances, film viewing and much much more. This is a free space for people to voice their concerns, spread awareness, plan action and have fun. Read More »

Windmills & Coal Plants. And a dinner with EJ leaders.

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Posted by ellen on December 17, 2009 – 7:54 pm
Filed under Copenhagen

Today was a powerful day for the ESLI Youth Delegation!

We woke up to a rocky start, literally… but had two experiences whose positivity and hope balanced the disappointment from earlier this week.  First, we had the pleasure of being invited on a small Greenpeace fishing boat out into the harbor!  It was freezing, wet and sometimes sea-sick because of today’s bad weather – BUT they took us out to have an exclusing look at Denmark’s windmill farm!

It was definitely a sight to see – especially because what would be built RIGHT next to the windmills, but a coal-fired power plant!!  The visuals were so great.  How ironic, right?

Stay tuned for pics and videos (camera cords are in Ellen’s stolen suitcase!).

Then, we had the HONOR of joining a historic dinner hosted by the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative, of 30-40 EJ leaders from the US that had made it to Copenhagen.  There were folks from all over the country.  Many of the people there were some of the most respected, inspirational leaders of the EJ movement – Dr. Robert Bullard (Clark Atlanta Univ. EJ Resource Center and EJ pioneer), Dr. Beverly Wright (Deep South Center for EJ in New Orleans), Tom Goldtooth (Indigenous Environmental Network), Michael Dorsey (Durban Group for Climate Justice), Felicia Davis (EJCC/Black Women’s Roundtable), Jose Bravo (Just Transition Alliance), Mari Rose Taruc (Asian Pacific Environmental Network), and many others.  And the other folks that were there – about 10-12 of us – represented emerging environmental justice leaders, including Brower Youth Award winner Kari Fulton and the ESLI Youth Delegation!  We were thankful for the knowledge and experience that those leaders brought into the room – and for the relationships we were able to start or support while there!  There was definitely a strong spirit of solidarity and responsibility that was passed on to the new generation.  A few of the older leaders made statements in our go-around introductions that targeted the youth that were there and recognizing their appreciation for our presence.  Dr. Beverly Wright said tonight was the first time she felt satisfied that the movement they had created from the ground up was okay to pass on and to allow youth to inherit the work of the environmental justice community.

Videos and pics of this will also be posted soon. :(

Video Of The Reclaim Power Action on 12.16.09

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Posted by lupita on December 17, 2009 – 10:39 am
Filed under Copenhagen

See the video at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2009/dec/17/copenhagen-climate-change

on the Reclaim Power Action that happened on Dec 16th, in the morning. From the inside of the Bella Center, and the 3 different locations from the outside. There plan was to meet up together, but the police intervened with brutal force and unnecessary violence.

Another video: http://ekstrabladet.tv/nyheder/112/article1270946.ece

Check it OUT!!

You’re (not) Welcome!

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Posted by giernandez on December 16, 2009 – 8:06 pm
Filed under Copenhagen

December 16th, Wednesday, is our third day in Copenhagen. There has been a big demonstration in front of the Bella Center. It is the “Day of Action,” a People’s Assembly. It is when different non-government and non-profit organization come together to protest to put pressure to the world leaders to act now and do some action after 15 years of failed negotiations. Today is suppose to be a peaceful demonstration, but not for long.

The Plan

Flyer for the People's Assembly

Flyer for the People's Assembly

The plan was for the people from the outside, people that can’t attend the UN conference or been denied to the conference, to have a demonstration outside the Bella Center. The people from the inside will then march out of the Bella center to join the rest of the people for a peaceful demonstration. This was to show and put pressure for the UN to act and not stall once again this issue that has been a problem for 15 years. Read More »

“Green is NOT white!”

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Posted by lupita on December 16, 2009 – 6:57 pm
Filed under Copenhagen

“Green is NOT white!”

So then why does it feel like only the rich countries like the U.S, Australia, Canada, and the European Union are dominating this Climate Conference and shutting out over 100 countries from the Global South!? This feeling is common in both the adult delegation as well as the youth. The adult delegation of these 100 developing countries has been threatening on several occasions to walk out of the Bella Center because of the lack of being heard and the US decision to stall negotiations. There has also been lack of communication from the US youth delegation towards other youth delegations of color.

I for one feel that if the US youth delegation and any other delegation that comes from a rich country for that matter, don’t show solidarity with other delegations then there shouldn’t be a delegation at all. We have made delegations to get together, and to unite with each other for a better future that will affect all of us. We did NOT join delegations to support only our own countries, and not attempt to make people-to-people ties with one another.

Coming from the US, this is just embarrassing. We, as a whole, adults and youth, are not representing very well, and it has been observed. We are all making decisions that are not improving our status, and many people are depending on us to start doing something. I for one am going to do what I can.

Over the next several days I will be in contact with other youth delegations such as the African Delegation, and the Indigenous People youth delegation, and others from all over the world. I will also get the stories from other adult delegations that will emphasize on the US and communications and how they think things will go in Copenhagen. I will be recording some of these interviews and writing their statements down. I will then compose a letter to Obama and send him the footage to show how many people depend on him and the US to do start doing something about climate change.

UN : A People’s Process??

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Posted by ellen on December 16, 2009 – 3:14 pm
Filed under Copenhagen

Hi all!!  Lupita and Gier have already posted their accounts of our experience of being completely shut out of the UN negotiations this week.  This is my piece on what happened.  Though we’re definitely still having an amazing experience here in Copenhagen, what happened to us and the rest of the NGO-world was unacceptable and really eye-opening to how much the UN can leave out the voice of the people and cater to rich countries with hands in corporate pockets.

Anyway, we’ve directed our energy to continuing to meet and network with youth and other activists from the outside – attending Klimaforum, and meetings and events around the city.  So, bear with us and our recent angry posts – more positive, inspiring stories to come!  Don’t forget to please let us know your thoughts, it’s GREAT to hear from our support system back at home.

Lastly, we’ve been taking amazing photos and videos of our experience – but my connection cords to upload them are in my suitcase which was lost en route to Copenhagen! (Yup, I’ve been wearing the same clothes for three days).  We also have a hard time finding a good internet connection.  Hopefully we’ll be able to get some up soon.

UN : a people’s process?

Dear UN:

We are losing faith in you quickly. Please advise.

With love,
Future Leaders

As Copenhagen boils with anxiety about today’s mass climate justice action at the Bella Center, all I can do is lower my head at the United Nations in complete disappointment.

Shutting out thousands of representatives of civil society from entering the UN conference this week, without showing a drop of compassion, has put me teetering on the edge of renunciation. We came to the UN conference to represent ourselves, as young leaders from the US and youth of color who believe that our presence here matters, and that the story we share can benefit the international community. What we faced Monday night and Tuesday morning, standing in the incredible line of 2nd week registrants waiting to get their badges – waiting a total of 7 hours in freezing temperatures, was offensive. And, from what we found out, we were lucky that it was only 7 hours – people we interviewed had stood for 9 hours on Day 1, only to be turned away on Day 2’s attempt after another 3-4 hours. A pregnant women, a high-profile expert consult to the Mozambique delegation, waited both days only to be forced to leave because of fear of her and her baby’s health. And not once did we receive clear updates on our potential to register as we stood in line. Not once did they show any compassion to the thousands of dollars and false hopes these thousands of people had spent to make it merely 20-30 feet from the Bella Center, only to be told that the UN could not accommodate numbers anywhere near to what was expected. Many got on early flights home.

Read More »

We Tried, They Failed.

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Posted by giernandez on December 15, 2009 – 6:29 pm
Filed under Copenhagen

Arriving here in Copenhagen in Denmark, I had a lot of expectations. I was hoping to meet different delegates from different countries, different non-government organization, different activist and especially youth representatives. I had a lot of hope for the UN Climate Change Summit but that all change today, December 15th, Tuesday.

We arrived yesterday, December 14th, Monday, dealing with jet-lag, layover, delays, the weather, exhaustion and many more, we were excited to go in the Bella Center to register and get our credentials. Bella Center is the center where the COP15 , the UN Climate Change Conference, is taking place. We arrived in the Bella center at 2pm and immidiately lined up to get registered. Two hours upon are waiting, the registration stop and all the people that lined up was turned down and was sent home. Registration don’t end until 6pm but they have decided to end it early leaving all of us out in the cold. We started interviewing people and we learned that some of the people there has been waiting for 5, 6 and even as long as 9 hours to get in. We met a group of Japanese Journalist and they have been waiting for 5 hours but some of their collueges has been there since the 8am in the morning, meaning that they have been waiting there for 9 hours! Read More »