climate change: time for action

Climate change is not coming. It is already here. It presents arguably the largest ever threat to humanity. Yet the response is frighteningly inadequate.

We know that our elected leaders and the corporate interests they represent are not going to lead the way to the change we need; they are in fact our main obstacles. Despite being in full possession of the facts, they want to carry on making it worse.

As UK Environment Minister Margaret Beckett conceded

[at the 2004 climate talks] in Buenos Aires it was only just possible at the very, very last minute to squeak through an agreement to do or say or consider anything that even had the word 'future' in it, or any phrase that could be interpreted as committing the global community to talking about the future.

If we want the change so desperately needed, it won't be handed out from above but demanded from below.

All around the world people like us see what is happening and are concerned, angry, scared and daunted. The scale of the threat is so huge, where do we begin?

We begin by getting those who feel this way together.

There is a growing grassroots movement that realises we need to put climate change in all its terrifying urgency at the heart of social thinking and action.

This summer, in northern England there will be the Camp For Climate Action.

Running from 26th August to 4th September, it will be a mix of workshops, meetings, socialising, information-sharing and, above all, action. It will bring together thousands of people from the UK who want to act to stop climate change before it's too late. It will be a place that encourages discussion on what we are faced with, what the alternatives are, how we can achieve them and the diversity of tactics and action we will need to get there. It will be a base for direct action against some of key sections of the fossil fuel economy.

When the camp is over, it will hopefully not be the end; rather, the beginning. At its best, it will be a kickstart for a movement that's been waiting to happen, a movement long overdue, a network of people, a conspiracy of action, of actively taking responsibility, of facing up to it with determination and hope.

For more info check the article I've just written about it, check the camp website, book your time off 26th Aug-4th Sept, tell others about it and let's get busy!