Climate change: post-Copenhagen, what happens next?
Copenhagan fell short of our expectations, true. But Copenhagen isn’t the whole story, by a long way. All over the world, individuals, organisations and networks are coming together to make a difference. And difference is being made. A great turning is happening, away from the industrial growth society, towards more sustainable ways of living.
This movement is still in its infancy, but it’s already huge. Change happens from the bottom up, as well as top down. Each one of us can make a difference. And you don’t need to be an activist (unless you want to). For many of us, just slowing down, taking time out to be with ourselves, to feel our own bodies and hearts, our own unique responses to what’s happening – that’s important too. In fact, it’s crucial.
Check out the links below for a host of different ways (different strokes for different folks) that you can help to turn the tide, and help stop runaway climate change. Enough people move – each of us in our own unique way – and the politicians will move with us. It seems to be working so far. Copenhagen wasn’t what we wanted, but it was still a landmark, an incredible achievement by the world’s politicians to have got that far.
With the help and backing of a much larger percentage of us, will they not accomplish far more?
Warm wishes to you all,
Mandy
Great Turning Times: http://www.greatturningtimes.org/
The Great Turning Times is a web resource that can help us find our power to respond to global crisis. The Great Turning is a name for the essential adventure of our time: the shift from the industrial growth society to a life-sustaining civilisation. The site brings together ecology, psychology, spirituality and global issues, listing events, (including workshops) news and resources to support the shift.
10/10: www.1010uk.org
10:10 is a climate change campaign with the aim of getting individuals, companies and institutions to reduce their carbon footprint by 10% during 2010. If you want to know how to cut your emissions, or join with other people who are doing the same, 10/10 can help.
Transition Network: www.transitiontowns.org
Helping communities (towns, cities, villages, forests, islands… ) make the transition to more sustainable ways of living. This is a great website – clear, informative, helpful. There are hundreds of Transition Towns groups throughout the UK. To find a group near you, check the site for google maps showing group locations.
Transition Culture: http://www.transitionculture.org
Rob Hopkin’s blog about the transition approach as a positive response to peak oil and climate change.
Paul Hawken: speaking… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1fiubmOqH4
If you’re feeling frightened, overwhelmed or powerless about climate change, watch Paul’s youtube video to get a sense of the other side of the story, of just how many grassroots organizations and individuals are involved in working towards ‘the great turning’ towards a more sustainable society. It’s about humanity’s response to what’s happening, and our power to make a difference. Beautiful.
Paul Hawken: Writing… http://www.paulhawken.com/multimedia/UofP_Commencement_05.03.09.pdf
Here’s a quote I like: ‘When asked if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the future, my answer is always the same: If you look at the science about what is happening on earth and aren’t pessimistic, you don’t understand the data. But if you meet the people who are working to restore this earth and the lives of the poor, and you aren’t optimistic, you haven’t got a pulse. What I see everywhere in the world are ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty to this world. The poet Adrienne Rich wrote, “So much has been destroyed I have cast my lot with those who, age after age, perversely, with no extraordinary power, reconstitute the world.” There could be no better description. Humanity is coalescing. It is reconstituting the world, and the action is taking place in schoolrooms, farms, jungles, villages, campuses, companies, refuge camps, deserts, fisheries, and slums.’
Chris Johnstone: http://www.chrisjohnstone.info/index.htm
It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of something as huge as climate change. Chris Johnstone is a writer and very inspiring individual who specialises in positive change, and helping people to find their own ‘personal power’ to make a difference. Lots of information, resources and inspiration on this site. Good links also.
Centre for Alternative Technology: www.cat.org.uk
‘CAT is concerned with the search for globally sustainable, whole and ecologically sound technologies and ways of life’. Its aim is to explore and demonstrate a wide range of alternative ways of doing things, so people can see what options are available to them.
The Work That Reconnects (Joanna Macy): http://www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects.html
‘How do we train to take part in the Great Turning? Books, lectures and debates are not enough by themselves. We must also learn to see in new ways and experience for ourselves the powers that are essential to the healing of our world.’ The Work That Reconnects is a pioneering form of group work (based on systems theory, spiritual teachings and deep ecology) that began in the 70s. It demonstrates our interconnectedness in the web of life and our authority to take action on its behalf. It has helped many thousands around the globe find insight, solidarity, and courage to act…’
Be the Change Symposium: http://bethechange.org.uk/
‘The Symposium takes a fresh look at our most critical current concerns – environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfilment – and explores and exposes what connects them. A unique, one-day workshop experience, it offers insight into the nature of our world, with leading-edge information, dynamic group interaction and inspiring video clips from some of the world’s most respected thinkers and doers, including Paul Hawken, Desmond Tutu, Julia Butterfly Hill, Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry.’ Be the Change organises a UK conference each year on how to participate in a positive cultural shift.
Campaign against climate change: http://www.campaigncc.org/
The Campaign against Climate Change ‘brings people together to push for the urgent and resolute action we need to prevent the catastrophic destabilisation of global climate.’ It was founded in 2001 in response to Bush’s rejection of the Kyoto Protocol and has been involved in co-ordinating and organising some of the largest anti-climate change demonstrations in the UK.
Big-Picture.tv: http://www.big-picture.tv
Lots of live streaming video clips of inspiring people.
Mark Lynas: http://www.marklynas.org/
Freelance writer focusing on climate change and ecological issues in general who often writes for the Guardian. Plenty of comment and analysis on climate change and the politics thereof. Check out his recent bulletins from Copenhagen, and some post Copenhagen analysis. Plus he offers links to other climate change related sites.
Positive News: http://www.positivenews.org.uk/cgi-bin/Positive_News/welcome.cgi
If you’d like to hear more about what’s going right in the world, then try Positive News. It focuses on people, situations and organisation that are working to create a more healthy, humane and sustainable world.
WWF: www.panda.org
WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of our planet’s natural environment, and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. Key aims are to save biodiversity and reduce humanity’s impact on natural habitats. The site offers easy to understand and visually illustrated information about climate change and biodiversity, and ways in which we can help, and make a difference.
Stop Climate Chaos: www.stopclimatechaos.org