2014

You are browsing the site archives for 2014.

GCC News from Peru!

We are happy to report that Global Climate Convergence organizers Jill Stein and Roshan Bliss have just returned from Lima, Peru where they took part in the Alliance for Global Justice’s climate delegation as well as the locally organized People’s Summit.

Both events were organized to protest the ineffectiveness of the U.N. climate meeting (known as the COP 20) taking place in Lima. They were also designed to provide international forums to discuss the people-powered and democracy based solutions we need to the truly solve the climate emergency.

Washington Post: The grassroots political story behind the New York fracking ban

Long before Wednesday’s ban on fracking by the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, small towns in New York state were fighting for their rights to ban fracking no matter what the state wanted. Last summer, the towns — located in counties with the best shale gas prospects — won an important victory in the state’s highest court. On Wednesday, the New York health commissioner said the health risks of drilling outweighed the benefits of tapping the rich shale reserves. As we originally explored this year in early July, here’s the story of the small towns that helped lay the political groundwork for that conclusion.

A series of mobilizations involving civil disobedience, boycotts and creative community alternatives are being planned to lay the groundwork for the People’s Global Climate Strike in December 2015 to coincide with the Paris UN Climate conference. The stated objective is to halt the engines of ‘economic and ecological destruction’ and replace them with ‘community-based solutions that put people and the planet over profit’. The success of such non-violent social movements depends on broadening consciousness and social engagement including moral and financial support from greater segments of the world’s population.

,

Cumbre de los Pueblos entrega propuestas a la COP 20 y se prepara para encuentro en París

Prensa Cumbre, 11 de diciembre, 2014.- Esta tarde la Comisión Política de la Cumbre de los Pueblos frente al Cambio Climàtico entregó al ministro del Ambiente y presidente de la COP 20, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, la Declaración de Lima. El documento sintetiza las demandas de una diversidad de organizaciones, movimientos, colectivos sociales, sindicales, de mujeres, campesinos, indígenas, juveniles, entre otros, peruanos e internacionales, sobre la responsabilidad del actual sistema en el cambio climático.

Common Dreams: People's Summit in Lima Envisions Bottom-Up Movement for Global Climate Justice

Social movements and civil societies from around the world are gathered in Lima, Peru this week with an ambitious goal: to “develop an alternative form of development, one that respects the limits and regenerative capacities of Mother Earth and tackles the structural causes of climate change.”

The “People’s Summit on Climate Change” is hosted by grassroots organizations and networks—including the Workers General Confederation of Peru, Andean Coordinator of Indigenous organizations, and Workers Autonomous Central of Peru.

Breaking: "I Can’t Breathe" - As Protests Erupt in NYC, Eric Garner’s Nephew Speaks Out on Grand Jury Ruling

The Justice Department has announced it will launch a civil rights investigation into the death of Eric Garner after a grand jury decided not to charge a white New York police officer for causing his death by placing him in a chokehold. Garner, who was an African-American father of six, died in July after being placed in a chokehold and wrestled to the ground. The grand jury’s decision set off protests across New York City that shut down parts of the city including the Brooklyn Bridge, the West Side Highway and the Lincoln Tunnel. Protesters also staged a die-in in Grand Central. At least 83 people were arrested.

Common Dreams: Climate Democracy is the Solution

Democracy isn’t a barrier to solving global issues like climate change. It’s humanity’s best hope.

Shortly after the Copenhagen UN climate talks in 2009 collapsed, James Lovelock, a godfather of modern environmentalism, was asked by Guardian reporter Leo Hickman what should be done in light of the failure. Lovelock issued a call for what can only be described as a climate dictatorship…

The Alliance for Global Justice is taking a diverse Climate Justice Delegation to Peru in order to meet with people involved in a comprehensive range of issues including labor activists, students, climate activists and people fighting resource extraction through mining, combatting militarism and taking a stand against imperialism. Delegation members Roshan Bliss (youth and education activist) and Jill Stein are traveling to Peru to represent the GCC during these meetings with activists. The Delegation will also attend the People’s Climate Summit that will be taking place during the UN Climate Summit in Lima.

Rally Against the DARK ACT for GMO Labeling Rights

Representative Mike Pompeo from Kansas introduced H.R. 4432, also known as the DARK (Denying Americans the Right to Know) ACT in order to stop states from passing laws requiring GMO (genetically modified organism) labeling. Not only would H.R. 4432 prohibit Congress and new states from passing laws – it would nullify GMO labeling laws that have already been passed. It would also allow for the labeling of products containing GMOs as “natural.”