Editor:
Finally, a march we will all be happy to join!
The build-up to COP21, the UN Paris Climate Summit, has been tremendous. National Geographic devoted its entire November 2015 issue to the topic and put it all online. Almost every major newspaper has special articles and large sections of their websites devoted to describing the causes of climate change and the societal and economic changes needed to avoid breeching the 2 C warming limit. We must remember that this 2 C limit is not about our comfort, but is rather the temperature at which the natural processes will “click in,” leading to much more severe warming: warming that will imperil our food supply.
The good news is that several recent economic studies conclude that a shift away from fossil fuels is not only doable but good for the economy (more jobs, less medical costs, etc). Conservative newspapers such as London Telegraph now run headlines reading “Paris climate deal to ignite a $90 trillion energy revolution” and the Bank of Abu Dhabi publishes studies recommending investments in photovoltaics, rather than oil.
Our goal now is just to make sure that the COP21 negotiations don’t get bogged down in a morass of details designed to delay action. We need to keep the ball rolling and show our representatives in Paris that they have the social licence to agree to a treaty that is both strong enough to be effective and fair enough to be accepted. After Paris 2015, there will be no turning back.
A number of international organizations prominent in the fight against global warming such as AVAAZ and 350.org planned thousands of marches to occur on Sunday, Nov. 29, the day before the official start of COP21. Regionally, a group formed to promote a march in Vancouver reached out to organizations on the Sunshine Coast such as Alliance for Democracy and the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association. These local groups are organizing buses to the march. To reserve a seat on the ferries that leave Langdale at 8:50 and 11:30 Sunday, Nov. 29, please go to: http://alliance4democracy.org/march. Those on the 8:50 ferry have the option of joining a group from North Vancouver planning to march over the bridge to the main march at the Art Gallery. Other march details are posted at http://peoplesclimateconvergence.org/global-climate-march-vancouver
Come and greet all your friends on these ferries. They will be smiling because finally we have something to be in favour of!
Jim Pawley, Sechelt
