As part of a Global Day of Action on climate change, the Be The Change campaign hosted a Climate Rescue Carnival, which also involved over 350 of those who visited the carnival getting together to spell out "Climate SOS" at Western Park in Auckland, New Zealand, 8 December 2007. Aucklanders were the first across 85 countries to send a message that urgent global action is needed on climate change.
Greenpeace volunteers in 19 countries joined or led a variety of protests, demonstrations and outreach events to ensure that Ministers who arrive in Bali, Indonesia for the final week of negotiations agree on a strong plan to tackle climate change.
'"There is only one week to go to agree on a mandate to negotiate a stronger Kyoto Protocol, with deep emissions reductions for developed countries, plus an agreement to tackle deforestation," said Gavin Edwards, head of the climate campaign, from Bali. "A loud and clear message from capital cities around the world will be pivotal in keeping the pressure up on governments to not leave Bali empty-handed".
Updates from protests around the world:
New Zealand, Auckland
[ photo by Dean ]
As part of the Be The Change coalition, we held a 'Climate Rescue Carnival'. there was food, drinks, music, info, face-painting, and a biodiesel powered bouncy-castle for the kids. Over 500 people formed a human banner spelling out 'Climate SOS'. ( Read more)
Thailand, Bangkok
[ photo by Vinai Dithajohn ]
Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Thailand joined the Global Day of Climate Action by releasing the new edition of " Save the Climate Handbook" with a forward from Dr. Sumet Tantivechakul, Thailand's renowned scientist about how sustainable economy can reduce global warming at Chatuchak weekend market, one of the world's biggest weekend markets. The activity also had a solar bar and Climate Clinic demonstrating the use of solar energy and where people could calculate their carbon dioxide emissions. There was also a music performance by Ionian band. Moreover, people could write their messages to be delivered to the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali.
Philippines, Quezon City
[ photo by Luis Liwanag ]
Hundreds of students, bikers, runners, volunteers, and supporters took part in a Renewable Energy Parade. They called call for the immediate passage of the Renewable Energy Bill in the Philippines as a means of catalyzing a massive shift away from the use of climate change-inducing fossil fuels. ( Read more)
Czech Republic, Prunéřov
[ photo by Ibra Ibrahimovič ]
Yesterday, Greenpeace activists ended their occupation of a thermal coal power plant. One of the climbers said, "This plant is a symbol of how coal not only threatens the world's climate but devastates the land and people's lives." ( Read more)
India, Bangalore
Over a thousand Greenpeace India volunteers used placards to spell out messages in the stands at the first day of the India-Pakistan cricket match (watched by millions).
They made their messages match events on the field. For example, every time a batsman hit a four, they showed a message saying, 'climate change knows no boundaries.'
"I volunteered for this activity with Greenpeace because it's my world to save. I don't need to be a super hero and teaming up with others I will do what I can to collectively make a difference." said Shams, a student from 2nd year PU St. Joseph's College who held a letter placard with the message 'Climate Change is World Emergency'.
Finland, Helsinki
Greenpeace together with Finnish League for Nature Conservation skied across the centre of Helsinki, calling for and end to emissions to bring back the snow for the skiers. The fair lady of Finland was hanging far behind the rest of the skiers, referring to Finland being left behind in international climate commitments. The happening was a part of international climate action day on 8th December 2007.
Turkey
In Turkey, protesters brought alarm clocks and set them all to go off at noon as a wake up call on global warming.
Luxembourg
Yesterday, in the centre of Luxembourg City, our activists installed a 9 x 6 meter flag "Change" (the logo of Greenpeace Luxembourg's green power campaign) above the flag of the "blue deer". The "blue deer" is the symbol of Luxembourg, the European capital of culture 2007.
While the culture year ends today, the age of energy revolution starts. The Greenpeace flag will remain on top of the flagpole until Sunday, so thousands of people coming to Luxembourg City to celebrate the closing party activities of the culture year will see our message.
Hungary
Our protest, both inside and in front of, a economics conference angered a few people, but was well received by most attendees.
Russia, Moscow
[ photo by Igor Podgorny ]
Yesterday, Greenpeace Russia activists hang a banner over the Moskva River with the Kremlin as a backdrop. Russia ranks third in the world in terms of emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Mexico, Mexico City
[ photo by Gustavo Graf ]
Greenpeace Mexico participated with a trajinera, a typical Mexican boat, going to Kyoto Plus and asking for the climate to be saved. The message of the banner says: 2° = GLOBAL DANGER.
China, Hong Kong
[ photo by Alex Hofford ]
A HK power plant, announced its own climate change policy on Dec 7. So we did an action before their announcement. We suspended a banner writing "Climate Change Starts Here" at the 30-m tall ash silos outside the plant. The aim is to push the Hong Kong government to regulate CO2 emissions from power plants and shoulder the responsibility of combating climate change as an international city.
Sweden, Stockholm
[ photo by Johanna Hanno ]
Over a thousand people joined the demonstration. Bad weather but good spirits. Some people were dressed up as animals: a polar bear and a homeless orangutan sitting at a bus stop. We had a rickshaw where people could hop in, go online and create their own monkey to our virtual monkey mountain - in order to help get rid the Swedish subsidies for palm oil as a biofuel.
Belgium
People had to brave heavy rain and railway strikes but despite this around 4000 people turned up for to call for ambitious targets to tackle climate change.
USA
[ photo by Jeffrey Sauger ]
Protests happened across the USA urging leaders to take real action on climate change. In this picture, activists in Kalamazoo form the outline of the state of Michigan to call for action by Representative Fred Upton. (More photos)
Germany
[ photo by Santiago Engelhardt ]
Thousands protested across the country, including at one of Europe's largest coal plants (near Düsseldorf). Millions of people also turned their lights off for five minutes at 8:00 pm - saving roughly 1,000 megawatts of electricity, which means about 25 million lightbulbs.
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