On Saturday, 6 December, people around the world joined demonstrations calling on world leaders to take urgent action on climate change. The day of action was timed to coincide with the UN climate negotiations which were taking place in Poznan, Poland between 1 and 12 December. Read more on the political content.
You can read more about the demonstrations organised around the world at: www.globalclimatecampaign.org
Many Friends of the Earth groups across Europe are involved in organising events in their countries.
FoE activities across Europe:
|
Young FoEE
Poznan, Poland: "Wrap it up" action. 2000 pieces of fabric, globe, politicians.
Young Friends of the Earth demands that governments 'Wrap Up' the international negotiations on climate change, and 'Act Now'. They brought young people from 30 European countries to the UN talks. On more than 2000 squares of fabric, young citizens of Europe have painted their demands about what must be done to bring an end to climate change. Sewn together they are more than 20 metres in length, to symbolically 'wrap' a globe outside the conference centre. Environmental Ministers from Netherlands, Germany, Malta, UK, Austria and Poland and the Commissioner Stavros Dimas joined the event hand got a piece of fabric to Act Now and bring the voice of the youth into the negotiations.
The action was part of the "Countdown to Poz'n'Hagen: The Young Friends of the Earth Climate Tour". 50 people from across Europe will be trained to run public actions, lobby and pressurize politicians, work with the media and cooperate with young people from around the world to be prepared for Copenhagen (COP15).
Read more ...
Contact: David Wagner or Sophie Manson
www.youngfoee.org
|
|
|
Austria
Vienna, Austria: ice sculpture
FoE Austria (Global2000) brought an ice sculpture to the front of the Austrian parliament as a sign that urgent action is needed from Austrian politicians.
www.sos-klima.at
|
|
Belgium
Brussels, Belgium: Lifeboat, Demonstration
Inspired by the FoE lifeboat-action in Bonn (2001), the Climate Coalition (70 different organisations in Belgium) built a 15-meter long wooden lifeboat where people could write a message concerning climate change and the political need for strong action.
The action was timed to coincide with the UN climate negotiations which are taking place in Poznan, Poland. The big boat was pulled from Gare du Midi towards Place de la Monnaie, in the centre of the European capital.
Pictures...
Movie...
Contact: David Heller
www.thebigask.be
|
|
Bulgaria
Bulgaria: leaflets, demonstration
FoE's affiliate partner in Bulgaria joined the coalition of environmental groups. They did several actions. They built up again the climate exhibition of FoEE - translated in Bulgarian language and handed out leaflets.
Contact: Valentina Lukova
National Movement Friends of the Earth |
|
Finland
Helsinki, Finland: march of MPs
A march of "MPs" (activists with masks), penguins and snowmen came up on Dec 5th. There were pieces of fabric or large stickers in the MPs' backs showing their stand on the climate bill. A climate law dress party for supporting MPs and activists on the evening of Dec 5th. During the official independence day ball on Dec 6th, penguins or snowmen stood next to their president statues.
Contact: Meri Pukarinen
The Big Ask in Finland
|
|
France
Paris, France: Demonstration, Human Picture, Cyber Petition
Friends of the Earth France organised a street action included in a demonstration organised by the ATTAC movement in Paris. The action put on stage a big Sarkozy who threw away the climate and energy package in a giant dustbin, surrounded by penguins.
See more in the movie: [...here]
Contact: Cyrielle den Hartigh
www.rac-f.org
|
|
Macedonia
School actions
This year's climate day of action is organised in different regions and ten cities in Macedonia. They want to promote it especially in primary and high schools to inform youngsters about climate change's reasons and ways for prevention.
Contact: Ruska Miceva
|
|
Malta
Immanuel Mifsud read poems from his and Adrian Grima's recently launched Rih min-Nofsinhar, a collection of poems on climate change. Vince Fabri played songs on climate change and encouraged the audience to sing along to the lyrics of one of Immanuel Mifsud's poems from Rih min-Nofsinhar.
Contact: info@foemalta.org |
|
Poland
Poznan, Poland: Bicycle ride, clowning, demonstration.
FoE Poland organised
a bicycle ride under the slogan "Bikes for Climate", which aims at promoting the use of this transport means instead of cars, whenever possible. Afterwards the demonstration of 2,000 people started, including 300 young people who demanded "Stop Clowning around with our Future", and the Climate Justice Now network (CJN!).
|
|
Spain
Madrid, Spain: Concert
Friends of the Earth Spain was organizing a concert on November the 30th in the frame of their Big Ask: S.O.S. Clima Campaign. The band La Malarazza played on Sunday for 200 people. Activists and supporters had the opportunity to enjoy the concert and at the same time to ask the government to do more to tackle climate change.
Brilliant ambience and vegetarian food.
Pictures [Here...]
Contact: José Carlos Puentes Sánchez
www.sosclima.org
|
|
See 2007 International Demonstration on Climate Change
See 2006 International Demonstration on Climate Change
|
