Feature story - December 8, 2009
For the third consecutive day, Canada was awarded a Fossil of the Day at the United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen (Dec. 7 to 18). Few other countries have ever earned this embarrassing distinction.
Canada earned today's award from a network of 400 leading
international non-governmental organizations, including Greenpeac,e
for the opposition by its negotiators to measuring emissions
reductions targets in relation to the internationally accepted base
year of 1990.
Read the full news release.
"The Harper government is more concerned with public relations
than protecting Canadians from climate change - a 20 per cent
reduction from 2006 levels sounds a lot better than a three per
cent reduction from 1990 levels."-Dave Martin, Greenpeace Canada
Climate and Energy Campaigner in Copenhagen. Read Dave's blog.
A key reason for Canada's failure on climate change is the
support by the Harper government for the climate crimes of the tar
sands. Greenpeace has launched a huge photo exhibition in its
Climate Rescue Station in Copenhagen with images from nine award
winning photographers from the NOOR photo agency.
View Jon
Lowenstein's tar sands gallery
View the
complete NOOR gallery
Other Copenhagen information
A report released Tuesday by the World Meteorological
Organization says that 2009 could be one of the five warmest years
ever and this decade will be the warmest since the start of keeping
weather records in 1850.
People are already suffering because of climate change. The
human tragedy will get worse if world leaders don't act in
Copenhagen. A report by the Global Humanitarian forum says "every
year climate change leaves over 300,000 people dead, 325 million
people seriously affected, and economic losses of US$125
billion."
Canadians could lead the world on Global Day of Climate Action
on Saturday Dec. 12 with hundreds of rallies across the country
About 1,000 events are planned in 92 countries. The message is: The
World wants a real deal in Copenhagen. Find an event at:
http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/action/events/real-deal.php
Canadians want action on climate change. A new poll from
Harris-Decima shows that 84 per cent of Canadians think the Harper
government is failing on climate change.
Take Action on climate change:
Sign the KYOTOplus petition