A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

Berlin and Prague through Seattle to Copenhagen

Keith Parkins | 17.11.2009 15:18 | Analysis | Climate Chaos | Social Struggles

If 1989 saw the birth of democracy and 1999 its coming-out party, then 2009 in Copenhagen will see its coming of age.

1989 was an eventful year.

Today saw the start of the Velvet Revolution twenty years ago. Last week we commemorated the fall of the Berlin Wall twenty years ago.

It was not politicians who brought about these changes. It was the people on the streets.

A decade ago in Seattle people shut down the WTO talks.

This summer the people of Iran took to the streets to try to topple the repressive regime. They almost succeeded. They will be back.

Activists are converging on Copenhagen for the COP15 climate talks in December. It will not be the politicians who fiddle whilst the planet burns who will decide the agenda, like Berlin, like Prague, like Seattle, it will be the people who will decide the agenda. Business as usual is not on the agenda.

The agenda the people are carrying to Copenhagen is simple: deep cuts in carbon emissions.

Further reading

Richard Black, Greenland ice loss 'accelerating', BBC news on-line, 12 November 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8357537.stm

Gary Duffy, Brazil proposes carbon cut target, BBC News on-line, 14 November 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8360072.stm

Naomi Klein, Climate Rage, Rolling Stone, 11 November 2009

http://www.naomiklein.org/articles/2009/11/climate-rage

Naomi Klein, Copenhagen: Seattle Grows Up, The Nation, 12 November 2009

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/11/13

Wambi Michael, UGANDA: "Mount Elgon Eviction Has Reduced Us to Beggars", IPS, 13 November 2009

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49253

Keith Parkins, The day the wall came down, WordPress, 11 November 2009

http://keithpp.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/the-day-the-wall-came-down/

Keith Parkins, Expansion of Farnborough Airport rejected!, Indymedia UK, 12 November 2009

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/11/441621.html?c=on

Keith Parkins, The Shape of the Table, WordPress, 16 November 2009

http://keithpp.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/the-shape-of-the-table/

Keith Parkins, From Berlin and Prague through Seattle to Copenhagen, WordPress, 17 November 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8362596.stm

Websites

http://www.climate-justice-action.org

UK Indymedia

Berlin and Prague through Seattle to Copenhagen

Comments

Global IMC Network