Thursday 1st September 2005 saw the coming together of the UK-wide STOP CLIMATE CHAOS Alliance. In Edinburgh the Scottish launch took place at ‘Dynamic Earth'. Representatives from six major NGOs spoke about the need to mobilise the Scottish Public to lobby their MSPs and demand change if we as a species are to survive.
The STOP CLIMATE CHAOS Movement is presently the biggest movement worldwide. Born out of the 2002 Sustainability Conference, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, its remit is to demand action on Climate Change. It is backed by a variety of organisations - from NGOs, to Trade Unions - all voicing their concern over the many ‘natural' disasters happening worldwide, from the drought in Niger to Hurricane Katrina hitting southern USA.
Climate Change is of concern to all sectors of world society. In particular, it affects those living in resource-poor countries, which do not have the infrastructure or capacity to deal with these ‘natural disasters'. The STOP CLIMATE CHAOS Alliance is calling for climate change to be taken seriously by the Public, and for the Public then to lobby our MPs and MSPs. Presently under the ‘democratic system' politicians often end up thinking only of the short term - the time they themselves are in Office - rather than the long term consequences of policies they put into place.
Climate Change is something we - those living in the West - are responsible for bringing into motion. It is probably an irreversible process with the damage now done, unable to be undone. However we MUST move to stop any further damage being done because of our desire for modernity.
Climate Change is a threat greater than terrorism. It threatens not only world food and water supplies but also individual countries' abilities to maintain their national borders and territorial integrity - this can be seen in the cases of Palestine and Kashmir.
Speakers at the Edinburgh Launch included:
1. Christian Aid Scotland - who reminded the audience that the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, has still not been put right. The majority of the world's population work to feed their families, yet they are denied trade justice. A ‘natural' disaster such as a drought or a hurricane can destroy everything for an individual household.
2. Friends of the Earth Scotland, informed those present of the cost in lives and finance of natural disasters - approximately 150 000 lives and $75 billion are lost each year because of natural disasters. These costs will only rise in the future if we do not act now! Yet those living in ‘developing' countries are being forced to follow the same Western Capitalist developmental model, which has lead to so much destruction at present. It seems that things can only get worse!
3. Oxfam informed us that Climate Change affected resource-poor countries the most - the numbers of droughts and floods taking place in them has increased over time - destroying people's livelihoods. It said that Climate Change in fact would undo any progress made by the Make Poverty History Campaign since natural disasters are destroying communities and people's livelihoods.
4. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds made the point that if the world could be secure for birds and other wildlife only then would it be secure for humans. If this could not happen, all would eventually perish. Climate Change is already affecting agriculture and fisheries - even in Scotland. So much bio-diversity has been lost because of human action.
5. The TearFund representative informed the audience that there was a clear link between Climate Change and poverty. He said that as Christians, the TearFund was very concerned about the destruction of the natural world. Christians believe that humankind has been ‘called' by God to care for His Creation and to take care of the Poor. However because of Climate Change, nature is being destroyed and poor countries are suffering the most, mainly because they do not have the infrastructure to deal with the disasters. The Industrial Revolution, which started 50 years ago in the UK, is probably the cause of the problems we are facing now!
6. WWF said that people should be living in harmony with nature and that Climate Change was one of the stupidest things that humans had done to our planet, because it will be the cause of our own destruction. By 2100 polar bears in the artic will cease to be, while disease and suffering will have increased.
Of course resource-poor countries are not blind to the issues of Climate Change, but their hands are often tied by the institutions that govern them - the World Bank and the IMF, who seem to see success only in terms of Gross Domestic Product and Trade rather than human and social development.
The Stop Climate Chaos Alliance is essential if we are to make our politicians listen and look at the warning sign. Presently they do not seem to be listening. The public needs to mobilise itself in order to influence policy on Climate Change. At present a democratic country like Scotland has no clear policy on Climate Change, though it does have a clear policy on teenage pregnancies! But what is more threatening - a few extra babies or the destruction of Life itself?
Democracy works on short-termism; politicians will not listen unless they believe it will affect how many votes they get in the future. We must make them listen! And urge you to write to your local Politician and demand:
- Cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2010 and a commitment to the EU target of 30% by 2020.
- Climate Change be made a top international priority so that global warming is capped at a temperature of 2 degrees.
- Policies combating global poverty including investing in low carbon technologies and clean energy and the provision of significantly more assistance to developing countries so that they can adapt to Climate Change.
For more, please see:www.stopclimatechaos.org
