Kyoto March-London- Sat 12th (1130am)

The world must unite together to fight the awesome threat we face from the destabilisation of global climate...

 http://www.globefox.com/cacc/Kyotofortheworld.html

Plans for International Action to mark the Coming into force of the Kyoto Protocol on 16th Feb 2005 (but focussed on the first Saturday before, that is Saturday 12th February 2005)

Now that Russia has ratified it, the Kyoto Protocol will at last be coming into force. This will happen 90 days after the formal deposition of the 'instrument of ratification' at the UN, which ocurred on Thursday 18th November. The Protocol will therefore come into force on Wednesday 16th February 2005.

This will be a very significant date because we will have the world's first international agreement on emissions reductions actually coming into force. Whilst this will achieve very little in terms of actual significant emissions reductions it is of enormous political and symbolic significance. In particular it will emphasise the isolation of the United States as the only major nation (with the exception only of Australia) not playing its part in this, the only international coperative effort to deal with the awesome threat we all face from the destabilisation of global climate.

We feel therefore that when the treaty comes into force, it would be the ideal moment to both celebrate this groundbreaking event and to highlight the non-participation of the United States and the enormous damage that that is doing to our fight against climate change and to the hopes of all humanity for a secure future. We feel that the best way tdo this would be for there to be demonstrations around the world - in as many place as possible - in favour of effective international action to avert the threat from the destabilisation of global climate and against the irresponsible and obstructive position taken by the United States on this issue. In a nutshell, since the the whole world's future is threatened by the United States and its sabotage of the international effort to fight climate change, then it would be appropriate for the whole world to be protesting against the United States, on this issue.

We are therefore looking for anyone who feels similarly about this and supports this idea. We would be grateful for anything you can do to spread the word about this, and if you are able to take any steps towards organising something in your own country or region, that would be fantastic ! If you do then it would be really helpful if you could get in touch with us and let us know anything you are planning so that we can post it on this website and other people around the world can find out about what is being planned.

To be more specific we have in mind demonstrations at US embassies or consulates around the world, synchronised for the same date (and - ideally - wherever it might be felt appropriate in the US, itself ???). So far we have felt the Saturday before the actual date of the 'coming into force' would be the best day to chose, that is Saturday 12th February.

DEMONSTRATIONS AND EVENTS PLANNED (by country in alphabetical order)

Australia. Plans afoot for a protest in Sydney. Contact Steve Phillips of Newcastle Rising Tide:  risingtide@planet-save.com

Belgium The Belgian Green Party (ECOLO/GROEN) will organise a demonstration in front of the US embassy on February, 12th at 2.30 pm - with a parade of the flags of all the countries that have ratified the protocol. Contact  thierry.meunier@ecolo.be . More info here.

Cyprus Young Ecologists (more info click here ) and the Cyprus Green Party are organising an action for 12th Feb.

Greece Athens Ecological Movement (OIKIA) supports 'Kyoto Climate Parade', Feb 12th stressing positive role of some US states compared to US Federal government. See here. . Action now planned for 12th Feb in Athens. For text of handout see here . Supported by Greek social Forum. Contact  oikia@in.gr

Japan, KYOTO"Kyoto Protocol Appeal Walk" from 18:30-19:00, 12th February in front of Kyoto Station. Organised by the Rainbow and Greens Japan, as part of the Pacific Greens Kyoto Meeting 2005 (Feb 11th-13th). More details here ). Contact  s-watanabe@gikai.pref.kagawa.jp

Latvia Latvijas Zala Partija (Latvian Green Party) have rescheduled their annual conference from Feb 5th to Feb 12th to mark this date.

Serbia and Montenegro The 'Zeleni' ('Serbian Greens') will be handing in a letter to the US embassy in Belgrade. Contact  office@zeleni.org.yu

Switzerland: events being planned, linked to campaign on a CO2 tax law, to be enacted subsequent to Kyoto coming into force. See www.noe21.org Contact  cnissim@iprolink.ch

United Kingdom (England & Wales) Demonstration in London focussed on the US embassy and involving a parade of the flags of all the countries that have ratified the Protocol (128, with Russia). Organised by Campaign against Climate Change and supported by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace , People and Planet , The Green Party of England and Wales , Christian Ecology Link , The Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences and Globalise Resistance. Contact  info@campaigncc.org

Scotland Edinburgh Climate Carnival. Critical Mass Bike ride leaves US embassy, Regent Terrace at 12 noon. Foot procession leaves Parliament square 12.30 for parade to Scottish parliament for 1.15pm: music, speakers, performers. Carnival Workshop, Feb 5th 10 am - 5pm at the Forest Cafe. Contact Lusi Alderson of the Peace and Justice Centre  bumbler100@hotmail.com, 0131 229 0993.

United States of America The Green Party of Washington State Coordinating Council endorsed this proposal at their meeting on January 22, 2005.