NMIPL Blog

COP 15, December 19, 9 pm
Delegates of many nations worked through the night with Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki Moon on a climate paper. It is not official, not all could agree to it, but this is where we stand.
This is my last note from Copenhagen, I leave early in the morning and from the weather reports it sounds like the cold and snow are now embracing the East Coast of the US. Perhaps this is true in more ways than one. A paradigm shift is needed to enter into the future. We are the ones born in this time to work on this together.
See you in New Mexico at work.
Peace and good,
Joan

COP 15, Saturday, December 19, 9 am
The news came through a recorded message of President Obama last night around 11 that COP 15 negotiations had ended. After a breakdown, once again earlier in the day, a conclusion had been reached. A paper, not a binding agreement had been produced with the hopes that a binding agreement could be reached in 2010. The paper allows for emissions reductions to remain within a 2 degree temperature rise, nationally appropriate action plans in an appendix to the paper, a mechanism for international climate financing and transparency with regard to international commitments.
A legally binding agreement will be very hard to negotiate in the future because there are so many views and realities of climate change, President Obama noted. It is no longer debatable that there is climate change and the issue is being dictated by science which requires stronger steps into the future, he also stated.
Given the corporate and political challenge in the US and the fact that no legislation has passed, perhaps it was too much to hope for a stronger outcome at COP 15. Unlike the rest of the world, it is also the reality that some do not believe climate change exists. If we are to move forward, perhaps it is by promoting the positive care of the future with energy efficiency, solar, wind, conservation and love of the beauty and the children of the planet.
As the fireworks sounded outside my window at midnight, marking the end of COP 15 there were no visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. Rather, there are many reflections moving within me on this winter solstice eve in this cold northland where sun rises at about 9 am and sets at about 3 pm.
We are still in the night, waiting for the light. In Christian tradition this is the Advent time of waiting with hope into an incarnation of love and life. Some other religious traditions might speak of it as a time waiting for a new consciousness that some expected might be birthed at this historic meeting. Never before have so many diverse nations and peoples gathered together in one place to sing, dance, speak, negotiate, demonstrate and plead for the cause of survival and life.
I consider myself a hopeful realist. Yesterday, I was very disheartened. Today, I am a disheartened, hopeful and ready to act human being standing with brothers and sisters of New Mexico and all who dwell with Mother Earth. We have much work to do. We have many prayers and meditations to be faithful to. We have hearts that must continue to long for the birthing of Love, Compassion and Action for Life.
Today, I am glad that I do not go to Bella Center. How could I look into the beautiful faces of the island peoples, the indigenous peoples, the people of Africa and other developing countries who came at great financial and heart expense to be courageous and speak at this conference only to leave knowing that their nations may soon be drowned in 2 degree temperature standards of rising water or to face more drought and hunger. As someone from one of the African nations said, for the developed world it is about keeping 3 meals a day, for us we would like to have three meals a day.
It was interesting that President Obama made the announcement of the decisions rather than Ban Ki Moon or another leader representing the UN. In the Denmark paper today, it is the picture of our President that I see with headlines that say this was a meltdown meeting. Great moral and ethical responsibility comes with being a nation that considers itself a leader. Are we leading? Can we lead? Leaders listen and somehow are able to collect the voices and the common good into an earthen bowl that can be filled with actions and sustenance for the common good.
For me, perhaps the most amazing reality of this incredible meeting was the gathering of civil society sharing meals, listening to stories, and working for life. These bonds cannot be denied. The truths spoken are recorded in the hearts and minds of all on the planet (even the water, plants and creatures were listening and witnessing.)
We have much work to do. Our work does not come out of drudgery, but hope and love and faith. Each time that Ban Ki Moon addressed the assembly he noted the religious leaders present in the civil society. Perhaps our role in addressing climate justice and justice for Mother Earth is more important than we have recognized to this moment.
Nearly a week ago I met the dancing, singing Danish youth in the town square who told me they had to dance and sing amidst the climate change concerns because they are humans and not robots. May we live and act out of our humanness this day into a solstice dawning.
Peace and good,
Your sister,
Joan

COP 15, December 18, 2:30 pm

I am so disappointed and frustrated with the United States and President Obama who spoke a short time ago. To me his talk was arrogant and bullying and the world community sitting here seems to feel the same. He proposed:

*Mitigation to reduce emissions of 17% of 2005 levels by 2020 while even Europe is proposing 20 percent reduction of 1990 levels and 30 percent if the world would join together.

*Transparency and a way to evaluate this by all nations

*Financing meaning 10 billion dollars by 2012 for fast financing and 100 billion dollars by 2020 joining with other industrialized nations.

President Obama proposed action to words. Here in the NGO hall there was no applause, but a pall.

President Morales of Bolivia and Chavez of Venezuela were given the floor to speak before the closing of the informal session.

They spoke words that many were feeling. They said the time had come to respect all and that President Obama offered nothing, has not been here with the other presidents for negotiations and then he came in a small door and left after his speech by a small door.

They said that they are leaving the meeting and that they cannot support what has happened in the proceedings that the hope is in the people and that the people worldwide must be polled to come up with an agreement because the people of the world want strong action.

President Chavez said that Obama received the Nobel Prize of War and that if the US was serious they would offer commit to real reductions and real money like the billions to bail the banks and the 700 billion a year for war. If Mother Earth was a bank she would have been bailed out.

Although these leaders leave, they leave with the hope of the people of the world organizing around saving lives and the earth. The fault that the conference has failed lies at the feet of the US and the capitalist system of greed and capitalism.

President Chavez said they support the Kyoto Protocol until there is a real agreement. While his words were very strong saying ultimately that in the world the US empire will leave the world as the President did through a very small back door and in an undignified way.

After these speeches almost everyone here applauded out of relief of truths that had been spoken about inequality at a UN gathering of this magnitude where the future of the planet is at stake and greed continues to hold power over the majority of the world.

Forgive the numerous communications this day, but it is such a grave turning
point for the planet.

More later.

Your sister in hope and reality,
Joan

COP 15, December 18, 11 am

I am sitting at the Forum for NGO members waiting for the televised proceedings. Using still another borrowed computer whose text is very small and a keyboard geared toward French…so please forgive errors.  I wanted to give you an update from the ECO news letter that comes out every day from NGO organizations and bits from folks around.

*It seems delegates and leaders worked through the night and there is hope that an agreement will  be unveiled today. There is confidence that with so many heads of state present that there will be an agreement. The strength of emissions reductions and financing for mitigation and adaptation are big questions.

*While the US has stated they will work with nations to come up with 100 billion dollars collectively to address climate change needs of developing countries, a fair, ambitious and binding agreement places the need at 195 billion dollars of public finance by 2020.

*Because mitigation targets seem to hover around 3 degree rise in temperature, adaptation is essential and more costly than actions for adaptation. The existing text contains good and bad elements for adaptation:

Good= Attention to most vulnerable people

Good= For the first time climate change induced migration is addressed

Good= Stronger language on support for regional centres and cooperation

Bad= No mention of historical responsibility which clearly should guide the provision of fdinancial support

Bad= Finance will likely fall short, especially if we are heading to 3 degree rise

Bad= Key industrialized countries diverting money from promised development budgets into adaptation

Bad= Does not facilitate a paradigm shift in attitude from seeing developing countries affected by climate change as entitled to support, rather than the needing waiting for aid handouts dependent on donor whims.

*Because of civil society organizing and sending some 50,000 post cards asking for an ambitious and nuclear free climate agreement, there may be hope for sustainable development….

*A leaked report from the UNFCCC secretariat which assesses the impact of the upper end of the emission reduction pledges on the table from all Parties warns that without strong additional action, global emissions will peak later than 2020 and remain on an unsustainable pathway that could lead to concentrations equal or above 55ppm with the related temperature rise around 3 degrees C.

Let us pray, let us wait, let us hope for Blessings for Mother Earth.

Peace,
Joan

COP 15, Friday, December 18, 8 am, BME Day
Good morning! A brief note before heading off to the Forum Hall for NGO’s who can’t get into the Bella Center. I am calling today the BME Day or Blessings for Mother Earth Day. Amidst the political words, words, words, many of us have been and will continue to pray, fast and act for blessings for Mother Earth and all people and all species.
President Obama arrives today and traffic will be congested, it is very cold and more snow is expected. I am praying for a glimpse of sunlight to break through the Advent darkness awaiting the turn of the solstice. So many beautiful people of all races, languages and faiths have made a pilgrimage here from around 190 countries to say yes to life, even while certain powers of finance and politics are huddled beside them trying to keep the status quo named greed for a few rather than beauty and life for all.
Greed is one of the two G elephants in the room. It has been spoken of by the developing countries and by many NGO’s and human rights workers, but not in the polite circles for fear of offending. Throughout the city are various public art displays and photographs of the face of economic disparity and a system that is broken and destroying Mother Earth. I hope to see one of the art pieces this morning on my way to the Forum. In praying for transformation, light and healing I am praying for graciousness to envelope greed to transform our human hearts. Graciousness is the spirit of the wonderful Desmond Tutu who the other day said, we want to invite the others to join us on this the winning side, which is the side of life and love where there are no sides, but all is one.
Another elephant in the Bella Center has been gender. While again and again it is noted that women, who in the vast majority of the world are the farmers, the water bearers, the children care givers and food providers and the ones who are most vulnerable and adapt quickest to the changing planet–the gender gap is large. Before I left New Mexico, one of the NMIPL board members, who is male sent a photo of a 350 event where all were women. He continually asks where are the men, compared to large numbers of women in the movement. Then he noted that those making the decisions at high levels would be in suits and ties. So it is. Yesterday, one after another the heads of state addressing the assembly were men. Would the scenario look slightly different here if more women sat in some of these seats?
The other day I attended a session on Carbon Financing. All of the presenters worked in business and finance and all were men. Almost the entire room was filled with suits and ties. After each presentation, almost as an after fact it was stated that, if the environment was not helped by Carbon financing then it would have met its purpose. I know these are good people, people of various faith traditions, but it is so easy to become off balance when you are part of a system that is not working.
The system must change, not the climate.
We await anxiously here for a positive resolve for life this historic day in humanity’s life span. Until later.
Peace and good,
Joan

COP 15, Thursday, December 17, 9 pm
Warm greetings from a VERY cold and snowy and chaotic Copenhagen. Amidst all, the Danes have been so hospitable these challenging two weeks.
Today, I spent much time viewing the proceedings on enormous screens in a hall for NGO’s and also took in an exhibit on the Arctic thaw near the place of the Little Mermaid, whom I shall visit tomorrow morning before heading to the hall again. NGO’s from island nations, Africa and Latin American were walking about various places today (freezing I am sure). Since NGO’s were not allowed in the Bella Center everyone tried to find a spot to wait the time through, praying for a meaningful negotiation.
At COP 15 there have been a number of elephants in the room, that have hardly been mentioned. One came glaring to my eyes as I read COP 15 Post, Daily Climate Conference News. Prominently, page 11 is a full page star spangled Lady Liberty ad entitled; Message From America to the American Delegates in Copenhgen and the Rest of the World. Quoting the Constitution throughout it states: We Reject Taxation without Representation even if it is attempted by our President through an international `political`agreement like the Copenhagen 15.
Finding this ad in a publication supporting action on climate change was at first shocking and then disheartening. I immediately borrowed a friend’s computer to google to follow the money trail of the American Solutions for Winning the Future. I did not go to their website www.AmericanSolutions.com but googled an analysis of who the money holders are. Corporations and their part in climate change has hardly been touched upon at COP 15, yet, they are the ones controlling the governments, conversations and politics.
The American Solutions is funded by some of the wealthiest men in the United States (another elephant in the Bella Center, the gender issue). Those behind the ad and the threats include: Carl Linder of Chiquita, George Argyras who reportedly contributed millions to elect George Bush and was awarded Ambassadorship of Spain though he does not know Spanish, Stanley Hubbard of Hubbard Broadcasting in Minneapolis, Peter Thiel who is a young millionaire engaged in hedge funds, Dick Farmer known for union busting and Roger Milliken a textile industry billionaire. My friend needed her computer so my research was short, you can do your own.
I am again reminded in being here that many of us in the US need to open our eyes wider to an analysis of where information stems that does not support the science of climate change? Who are the voices saying we do not have enough money to help brothers and sisters with adaptation and mitigation when we bailed out banks and spend the most money in the world on the war industry? Who are the voices saying we cannot make goals of high emissions standards?
If we do not open our eyes, ears and hearts soon the rest of the world will leave us behind standing ever so alone in a world community that chooses to work together for a future for the children and all species.
I am off to bed. I plan to visit the little mermaid and a special artistic statue next to her that was created for the climate meeting….if I get a picture I will share it with you.
Thank you for your prayers, fasting, acts of kindness, phone calls and light to our world this day.
Peace and good,
Your sister,
Joan

COP 15, Thursday, December 17, 11:00 am

Blessings this day and I hope you are praying and fasting that a meaningful
agreement happens here in Copenhagen.

Winter has set in here. It snowed last night and the public transportation
was slow and stalled this morning. The cold weather and stalled
transportation describe the process in the COP meeting with the leaders from
more than 120 world countries.

NGO’s are basically shut out of the meetings and the gracious Danish people
have provided a large hall near the city center to watch the proceedings,
which are many leaders giving speeches pleading for an agreement because
survival of the planet is at stake.

Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd said the test of each leader
returning home after the meeting is whether they as mothers and fathers can
look their children in the eyes and say they did everything they could do.
The children are watching.

Representative Ian Fry of Tuvalu said, “I have the feeling of dread that we
are on the Titanic and we are sinking fast, but we can’t use the lifeboats
because someone on the ship is saying we need to discuss whether we are
actually sinking.”

Secretary of State Clinton just spoke and also made reference to a boat and
said that in a common boat when crossing the river all must cross peacefully.
While precious time has been lost she stated that we all must raise our oars
together and the US is ready to do its part.

The US will only move forward if there is an operational agreement made by
all the nations together. The US will only go forward with an agreement if
other nations are on board. While the challenges are in the details
including financing, she pledged that the US would meet 80 percent
reduction, fast start financing and to work with 100 billion dollars for
adaptation and mitigation by 2020 with other countries. She failed to offer
information about how much money the US is committing and made no mention of
long term financing abd insists upon transparency for every nation.

President Obama is still scheduled to set foot upon snowy ground in
Copenhagen tomorrow…please pray…

More later.
Much peace and good,
Your sister,
Joan

COP 15 Wednesday, December 16, 7 pm
Blessings this day and please keep praying for COP 15 and if you are able fast on Thursday for movement to an agreement in the last two days.
Tension filled the Bella Center today. Late morning I decided to pray in the meditation room for a time and upon coming out their was a large gathering of indigenous and African people moving through the Center calling for their voices to be heard and moving toward the outside of the Center to meet with people coming from downtown to cry out to leaders who do not seem to be listening.
Thousands gathered outside Bella Center, some trying to climb fences to get in. No one got too close, though there were some injuries by police and some arrests and of course travel in the city was once again disturbed. Actually the Danes have been very patient with their visitors these days.
Another Franciscan sister and myself walked in solidarity with or indigenous brothers and sisters to the outside of the Center. After a time we got in the queue to go back in. The line for entrance had been stopped for well over an hour and they announced that no NGO’s who were on the outside would be allowed in. Some had been waiting in line for hours. Yesterday, some waited in line for 6 hours. The treatment of NGO’s at the meetings has left some of us wondering if they really do want the presence and voice of civil society.
The time of polite listening and waiting is over. It is encouraging that within the Centre voices of the Indigenous, Island People’s and Africans have been heard. The test will come if the hearing moves to action.
I spent the rest of the afternoon learning about gender, women and climate change in Southern Africa and about the issues of Tibet, the Third Pole and grassland and nomad herding concerns under the Chinese rule at the Klime Forum. I also spent time reflecting. More on those reflections in another chapter.
Tonight the President of the COP 15 resigned from presiding over the meeting. She said this was planned to take place as the meeting moved into high level negotiations with all of the heads of states arriving. Yet, it seems that no one was aware of this plan.
It all feels rather chaotic. Maybe it is the chaos before a positive outcome. The Earth Community needs an agreement to address climate change. We cannot wait longer. Join me in continuing to pray and put forth intentions of light and success.
Peace and good,
Your sister,
Joan

15, Tuesday, December 15, 10 pm

A quick update before heading to bed on a snowy winter night. The sun sets about 3:30 and rises about 8:45, so the nights are long.

Al Gore offered his perspective on the COP thus far and pleaded for parties to set aside differences to hold the common good and look to the future generations. We do not have the luxury of time, in fact, to settle the details of an agreement he suggested a meeting in July in Mexico City rather than December. He also said Congress must meet a deadline of April to have a bill passed in the Senate.

He said, ¨The fundamental question is who are we as human beings if at some future date the next generation lives in a world with declining prospects and no possibility of reclaiming the beauty of this planet. They will look back at Copenhagen and ask why did you let this fail? What were the arguments? Didn’t you realize that we were at stake?

Drawing upon the belief in the higher nature of people, Gore said he believed we can come to an agreement.

To end the day on a lighter note, CAN, Climate Action Network has a fossil of the day award each day. The US took honors today with by sharing second place with Colombia for creating more mire in the reforestation and forest preservation proposal and the US took first honors for disagreeing with other countries on a shipping proposal that could assist in raising money for adaptation.  One must find humor here and CAN does a marvelous job and educates at the same time.

The opening session of the high level negotiations have begun. More dignitaries will come and more NGO’s are being literally place out in the cold. Yet, we keep hearing how important the civil society is.  We will see how clearly our voices have been heard.

Let us continue to pray for light in this solstice time.

Peace and good,

Joan

COP 15, Tuesday, December 15, 1:45 pm

I feel fortunate to not be one of the 1000’s who were registered to get into COP 15 today with 2 badges, but who stood in the queue (line) for hours. I arrived at 7:30 and was in before 8:00…a blessing.

Fewer and fewer NGO delegates are allowed in as dignitary numbers swell. Over 45,000 in total registered for throughout the meetings and fire capacity inside is for 15,000. Thousands of civil society people are outside at the Klime Forum and in the streets protesting the unfairness of the meetings.

I have tried to remain in a position of holding the slogging process while also feeling my heart wrench from the many injustices of inequities. I as a US person am part of the developed nations causing the greater part of emissions threatening life and yet my country and others in the north hold the strongest voices stopping the process. These are described as negotiations of all voices, yet, smaller countries and those less economically large do not hold equal voice. Our US population is small compared to many of the voices here. Our corporations are large and this voice is large. This struggle is literally about life and death for many nations. They are desperate to be heard and to have a binding and effective agreement with FINANCING.

Tomorrow at 12 noon there will be a massive joining of civil society with delegates from inside COP 15, the global north and south and alliances protesting outside Bella Center 15 years of failed climate negotiations with mass non-violent civil disobedience. It is a call to unite a “People’s Assembly”. According to Mithika Mwenda of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, “Africans from inside the Bella Centre are proud to be reaching out and standing with our brothers and sisters outside. We stand with them against a deal that will kill Africa. President Obama cannot come here and sign the death warrant of literally millions of Africans. Instead, he should come and march with us, listen to us, and commit to a just, long-term deal that stops climate change and keeps our people alive.”

I do not know what you are hearing about the conference in the US. Here the negotiations are up and down and it is amazing that the president of the COP 15 is still pushing for something. Again and again I hear, there is no other time to make and agreement but now. People here depend upon prayers and actions for justice.

While I wish I could be doing more here and wonder what I am doing many moments, I believe my presence here collectively with brothers and sisters throughout the planet speaks a voice of justice and integrity for people and earth. We do not have the money of the lobbyists of large corporations, we only have each other. Today I had a little lunch of cheese and bread with a brother who is a government delegate for Nigeria who is part of the negotiating process inside. I thanked him for his courage and said that I worked with the faith community and was supporting him. He thanked me with eyes of gratitude and asked for prayers.

I attended an Oxfam session with Desmund Tutu and Mary Robinson and voices of four beautiful brothers and sisters from Tuvalu, Bangladesh, Peru, and Uganda who shared their moving stories. Afterwards, I took each of the witnesses’ pictures and told them I would tell their stories to people of faith in New Mexico so that they could work with them as brothers and sisters. They thanked me said, we need you and we need your prayers.

One conversation lacking here amidst the voices directed at the negotiating parties calling for respect of human rights and earth rights is the part that corporations play in climate change. Corporations have rights and finances and strong lobbying voices. Friends of the Earth just offered a press conference announcing the Angry Mermaid Award for the worst business lobbying on climate change which journalist, Naomi Klein presented. It was a people’s award using a process with various stages and nominations through the internet.

The Winner IS…..Monsanto for promoting genetically modified crops as a solution to climate change and pushing for its crops to be used as biofuels and for contributing to deforestation and devastation of small farmers.  www.angrymermaid.org.

This blog is becoming a novella, forgive the too many words. For now, I trust you are working or making some little action for climate justice and life this day.  More later tonight.

Peace and good,
Your sister,
Joan