Why did the European Press do Such a bad job of covering world wide and continental actions?

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Why did the European Press do Such a bad job of covering world wide and continental actions?

There should be demonstrations everywhere on the European Continent starting last Saturday: THE DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION.

I have not heard any reports on Germany's news radio and the noise has been low level on most other news sources. For example, they focused only on activities in the Maldives or elsewhere--not in Europe.

Aren't Europeans motivated by the issue anymore?

I have heard none of the state or regional news stations in Germany or nearby lands giving events this weekend, i.e. starting yesterday October 24,2009 the attention that is required.

Here is why an organization and action day was started in the first place.

http://www.350.org/en

What does the number 350 mean?

"350 is the most important number in the world–it's what scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Two years ago, after leading climatologists observed rapid ice melt in the Arctic and other frightening signs of climate change, they issued a series of studies showing that the planet faced both human and natural disaster if atmospheric concentrations of CO2 remained above 350 parts per million."

"Everyone from Al Gore to the U.N.'s top climate scientist has now embraced this goal as necessary for stabilizing the planet and preventing complete disaster. Now the trick is getting our leaders to pay attention and craft policies that will put the world on track to get to 350.

Is 350 scientifically possible?"

"Right now, mostly because we've burned so much fossil fuel, the atmospheric concentration of co2 is 390 ppm—that's way too high, and it's why ice is melting, drought is spreading, forests are dying. To bring that number down, the first task is to stop putting more carbon into the atmosphere. That means a very fast transition to sun and wind and other renewable forms of power. If we can stop pouring more carbon into the atmosphere, then forests and oceans will slowly suck some of it out of the air and return us to safe levels."

Is 350 politically possible?

According to 350.org, itself, "It's very hard. It means switching off fossil fuel much more quickly than governments and corporations have been planning. Our best chance to speed up that process will come in December in Copenhagen, when the world's nations meet to agree on a new climate treaty. Right now, they're not planning to do enough. But we can change that–if we mobilize the world to swift and bold climate action, which is what we're planning to do on October 24th.
What is the day of action?"

On October 24, the International Day of Climate Action was intended to cover almost every country on earth, the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history.

There were to be big rallies in big cities, and incredible creative actions across the globe: mountain climbers on our highest peaks with banners, underwater demonstrations in island nations threatened by sea level rise, churches and mosques and synagogues and ashrams engaged in symbolic action, star athletes organizing mass bike rides–and hundreds upon hundreds of community events to raise awareness of the need for urgent action.

Every event was to highlight the number 350–and people were to gather at some point for a big group photo depicting that all important message. At 350.org.

The thousands of events on October 24 were to push or drive 350 and all that it represents into the human imagination, and change the negotiating environment as we head towards the crucial UN Climate Negotiations in Copenhagen in December of 2009. Copenhagen may well be the pivotal moment that determines whether or not we get the planet out of the climate crisis, and your actions on October 24 will help our leaders realize we need a real solution that pays attention to the science.

How was this to have made a difference?

October 24 was intendend to finally put the focus where it needs to be: on the science and the citizens, not the special interests and the backroom deals.

People, in fact, sent in thousands of images of citizens gathering at important places around the world—from the melting peaks of Mt. Everest to the sinking beaches of the Maldives—displaying the number 350 in a creative way. 350.org staff are be getting those pictures for display on the big screens in Times Square and projecting them at the UN headquarters. Those photos are appearing in newspapers large and small—the same newspapers that politicians all over the world use as a barometer of public opinion. We're also delivering copies of the images—and the stories that go with them—to national delegates, environment ministers, and heads of state the world over.

Bill Kibbons,a cofounder of 350.org, stated that the whole continent and planet, needs to be up and active. (Too many people point to leaders or powers-that-be and don't act.)

"Here's the thing about Obama and Copenhagen and everything else. We can't blame our leaders yet, because we haven't built the kind of movements that demand that they do things and that give them the political space to do it. If Copenhagen is a failure, that failure will be measured not in decades, but in geological time. President Obama can't let it be a failure. None of us can let it be a failure."

Kibbons concluded, "Everybody who's listening to this, there's a rally or event happening within a few miles of their home tomorrow. If they go to 350.org, they can find out exactly where it is. Make some noise. We've got no right to complain about our leaders until we've given them the leadership they need. That's how it works."

click here

Final notes from 350.org are:

"But more importantly, grassroots global action will be useful to put pressure on the huge UN Climate meeting in Copenhagen. Together we can remind our leaders that they need to take physical reality—and not political expediency—into account when they're making decisions about our collective future. 350 is a clear and specific goal (unlike vague demands to “stop global warming”) that helps move the negotiations in the direction science and justice demand. We'll make sure your voice is heard, and this debate is re-framed in time to make a difference."

Well, I believe that Europe (and America) have to do more than this. The splash in the press did not hit home well enough in the run-up to Copenhagen.

http://the-teacher.blogspot.com/

KEVIN STODA has been blessed to have either traveled in or worked in nearly 100 countries on five continents over the past two and a half decades. He sees himself as a peace educator and have been a promoter of good (more...)

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