Author: carolinefnew

I'm an environmental activist and a grandmother, and I write a blog, http://newgreen.blog. I'm also writing a novel that's a dystopia of sorts, after an ecological apocalypse. But it's partly funny - which may not be true of the reality!

“Don’t worry, it’s only history.”

The co-counselling workshop in the Gambia is over. Eighteen participants have made their dusty ways to their various homes. They are pleased, they want to participate further and use the tool for their activism. They kept their focus over a packed, intense programme. They were funny, lively, committed, co-operative, friendly, intelligent.  Now just five of … Continue reading “Don’t worry, it’s only history.”

‘Sustaining All Life’ in the Gambia

Back in December 2015 I met S, a young Gambian activist, at a workshop in Paris art COP21. The workshop was a speak-out, or Forum, run by my organisation 'Sustaining All Life'. Several young African activists from Activista spoke about the devastating effect climate change has had on their families. S told us about the effects … Continue reading ‘Sustaining All Life’ in the Gambia

Whatever happened at COP22?

A great weight fell out of the sky. A cartoon figure, a frightening caricature of a human with unlikely hair. It landed smack in the middle of the careful preparation and hopeful prospects of COP22 and caused a certain disruption. Displaced fragments of plans and strategies flew all over the place, and some of them haven't yet … Continue reading Whatever happened at COP22?

The Paris agreement comes into force. Good luck Marrakesh…

Over 55% of signatories to the Paris COP21 agreement have now ratified it, so it comes into force. Happy? Not yet. 'Ratification' means that the individual countries have gone through whatever processes they had to at home to legally bind their country to this international agreement. The Paris agreement remains a success of good will and … Continue reading The Paris agreement comes into force. Good luck Marrakesh…

Women to Kilimanjaro

Another world is possible. In fact, another world already exists; one in which previously colonised peoples are fighting for justice. Most of us in the economic North have never heard of the struggle of African women for land rights. We tend to be ignorant about the countries our nations ruled and stole from, as if the harm we … Continue reading Women to Kilimanjaro

Standing Rock Camp and the Dakota Access Pipeline

The threat from climate change to human existence and wellbeing is even more urgent than we thought, argues an article in New Republic. Data from a Norwegian energy consultant, Rystad (and they'll sell you the details for a mere $54,000) shows that to have even a two thirds chance of staying below the catastrophic increase of … Continue reading Standing Rock Camp and the Dakota Access Pipeline

Bees

Have you noticed the absence of environmental issues in the media whenever there are big party political struggles, as currently in the UK, or where capitalist profits are at stake? The public visible world concerns economic growth or lack of it, interest rates, proposed burka bans, migration, terrorist attacks, the Olympics, the intentions of China or Russia. All these … Continue reading Bees

An unusual meeting

At the end of June, I went to the middle-class conference in Toronto which I referred to in my last post. And since I’d decided to emit all that carbon, on the way home I spent two weeks with old friends in Newfoundland, where I once worked. It was hard to follow the news in … Continue reading An unusual meeting

Knowing and not-knowing

This is a post about the middle class - my class. We are an odd bunch. Our role in capitalist society is to make it run well. To administer it. To justify it, to legitimise it. To contain and comfort its victims. To punish them. To divide them. To manage its workers. To heal them. To … Continue reading Knowing and not-knowing