adventures in greenland
15,000 scientists write to say this is our last chance... and offer 13 things we humans can do to stave off even worse climate change. Instead of feeling even more scared, I am cheered... So the secret is nearly out! There will come a point, soon, when people will demand that governments move. And it … Continue reading Unusual business needed
Tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn (by my standards) I am off to the Green Party conference, so as to get there in time for a meeting of the Climate Change Policy working group. We are both united and divided. At five o'clock on Sunday a plenary session of the conference will choose between … Continue reading Setting targets for reducing carbon emissions
Recently we had a 'snap' election in the UK. Prime Minister Theresa May wanted a mandate for a 'hard' exit from the European Union. She was left with egg on her face, and no mandate. But what does 'having a mandate' mean? If you ask someone a question to which they can only reply 'yes' … Continue reading Global warming: a clear mandate needed!
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.”
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
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?
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…
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
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
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
A new world is on its way. We are building it, one day at a time.
