English Blogtag:www.avaaz.org,2010:/blog/en//32010-01-07T08:39:55ZenMovable Type 3.33No Pulp Mill, Nordea -- more informationtag:www.avaaz.org,2010:/blog/en//3.4392010-01-07T05:27:09Z2010-01-07T08:39:55ZIn the last two days an incredible 5,000 Avaaz members from across Scandenavia have contacted Nordea Bank, urging them not to fund a destructive pulp mill in Tasmania, Australia. For the first time, Nordea bank announced via Twitter today that they would not finance the Gunns pulp mill in Australia if its widely-publicized environmental impacts were not curbed. It's a spectacular example of the power of rapid public pressure to affect global companies, and of the power of the global network: Australian Avaaz members and partners, facing a threatened environmental disaster, appealed to Scandinavians to take action and moved one of the world's leading banks. Increasingly, corporations face accountability everywhere for what they do anywhere. But the fight isn't over yet! Nordea has to make crystal clear that it won't fund the pulp mill unless specific safeguards are put in place. Click here to read a press release explaining more...Sam Mclean
The proposed Bell Bay pulp mill in Tasmania, Australia was announced by Gunns Ltd. over five years ago.
Gunns is unable to complete the project without significant financial investment, and has so far failed to find such funding.
Nordea and the Pulp Mill
Nordea has been considering financing the pulp mill since 2008 after being approached by Gunns ltd. Today (6 January 2010) Mr. Sjøhelle confirmed that Nordea "would not finance a project in the form presented in the media so far."1
In 2008 a coalition of NGOs including Europe-based BankTrack and Australian organisations GetUp and The Wilderness Society ran an international advertising campaign in the Financial Times which led to more than 15 leading banks ruling out involvement in the project, including all major banks in Australia. Nordea was the only bank to respond that they were considering funding the project. In response to the campaign, Nordea wrote, in an email to the campaigning coalition in August 2008,
"Nordea has been approached by Gunns Ltd. in the initial finance processes of the proposed pulp mill in Tasmania. Nordea has not committed to any financing of the project yet. Nordea is at this stage researching all aspects of the project prior to a finance decision."2
In July 2009, VG Newspaper in Norway ran an expose on the environmental devastation the mill would cause. Nordea Communication Director Rune K. Sjøhelle told the paper:
"We know the project, and Gunns has been in contact with us. Nordea is the biggest bank in the Nordic countries, and the Nordic countres are world leaders on this kind of industry. So it is not surprising that we have been contacted about financing."3(translated to English)
On September 28, 2009, The Australian newspaper wrote " Gunns' financiers" were "thought to include Nordea Bank."4
As of December 16, 2009, the Australian firm Mimram Planning and Development had a page up on its site describing its work on behalf of Gunns to assess the pulp mill:
"Acting for the project financiers - ANZ and Nordea Banks - Mimram, in collaboration with its European associates, recently carried out extensive and in-depth research into how the Gunns pulp mill project complies with the 9 Equator Principles and their Performance Standards, as promulgated by the IFC (World Bank)." 5
Other investors
Another Scandinavian company, pulp and paper company Södra, have recorded interest in financing the pulp mill. Their involvement has been welcomed by campaigning groups after Södra set minimum benchmarks for any pulp mill development in Australia, saying it would need to be totally chlorine-free (TCF), 100% plantation-based and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.6
Any pulp mill development should be totally chlorine free, draw 100% on existing plantations rather than virgin forests, and fully assessed to community standards. Crucially, the proposed site of the mill in the Tamar Valley is not a suitable site.
Environmental impacts
Water
The proposed mill would dump 64,000 tonnes of toxic pollution into Bass Strait, Tasmania7. This effluent will contain dioxins and furans--some of the deadliest substances known to science. These build up over time in the food chain, contaminating fish, shellfish, seals and other marine life. Oceanographers have warned that the effluent will frequently blow back to pollute the shore and the Tamar Estuary8. The pulp mill will consume 26 to 40 billion litres of fresh water each year9. This is almost as much as the combined use of all water users in Northern Tasmania10.
Economy
Independent economists have warned that the pulp mill could cost Tasmania's economy up to $3.3 billion. An economic report, commissioned by the Tasmanian Roundtable for Sustainable Industries (TRSI), found that the pulp mill will cost some 1,220 jobs - with 1,044 jobs lost from the tourism industr and at least 175 jobs from local fishing businesses.11
Air
The Australian Medical Association (Tasmanian branch) says the pulp mill 'could cause an increase in the already existing morbidity and mortality from atmospheric pollutants'12. The pollution from the mill will also threaten the viability of local vineyards, farms and tourism.
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1 Nordea Communication Director Rune K. Sjøhelle responds to twitter petition: http://act.ly/1kz
2Email correspondence from Knut Rorbakken, Group CSR Officer, Nordea Bank, 28 August, 2008.
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Photos from Climate Shame stunt on the last day of Copenhagen Summittag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4362009-12-18T17:56:01Z2009-12-18T18:30:43Z On what was scheduled to be the last day of the Copenhagen climate talks, a diverse crowd of global civil society locked out of the negotiations sent a clear message of "Climate Shame" to Obama, Merkel, Hu, Harper, and other leaders who are most responsible for the current stalling of the negotiations. With the talks now running well past their projected closure time. It's clear, there is one reason why climate negotiations have not moved forward in Copenhagen -- the failure of the U.S. and other developed nations to support emission reduction targets and climate finance at the levels needed to avoid catastrophic climate change. Today a UN document was leaked that stated what many climate experts have been claiming throughout Copenhagen -- that the combined commitments of all nations in Copenhagen would leave the world with 3 degrees celsius of warming and 550ppm eCO2. A rise of 3C...Iain Keith http://avaaz.org/
On what was scheduled to be the last day of the Copenhagen climate talks, a diverse crowd of global civil society locked out of the negotiations sent a clear message of "Climate Shame" to Obama, Merkel, Hu, Harper, and other leaders who are most responsible for the current stalling of the negotiations.
With the talks now running well past their projected closure time. It's clear, there is one reason why climate negotiations have not moved forward in Copenhagen -- the failure of the U.S. and other developed nations to support emission reduction targets and climate finance at the levels needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Today a UN document was leaked that stated what many climate experts have been claiming throughout Copenhagen -- that the combined commitments of all nations in Copenhagen would leave the world with 3 degrees celsius of warming and 550ppm eCO2. A rise of 3C would mean up to 170 million more people suffering severe coastal floods and 550 million more at risk of hunger, according to the Stern review.
We've just heard that Obama has postponed his flight and is in meetings with key world leaders into the night. Let's hope these leaders see the light and raise their ambitions in the final hours. I wouldn't count on it. Either way, we will fight on.
**More photos from today's stunt to follow.
Thanks to Josh Lynch at the Avaaz action factory for this post
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The World Wants a Real Deal -- high res photos from Dec. 12 day of actiontag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4352009-12-12T10:48:37Z2009-12-12T11:13:18ZToday -- December 12, 2009 -- hundreds of thousands of people around the world gather at 3000 events in over 130 different countries with one message: the world wants a real climate deal at Copenhagen. Below is a slideshow with high-resolution photos from these actions around the world. To download them, please click on the image you prefer, you will direct to the "World Wants a Real Deal" flickr account and be able to save a copy from there. This Flickr account is shared by the partners of this day of action: Avaaz.org, 350.org and the TckTckTck campaign. For press enquires please contact: In Copenhagen: Alice Wynne Wilson -- Tel: +45 5273 0467, Email: aliceww@avaaz.org In New York: Lisa Main -- Tel: + 1 347 278 3763, Email: lisa@avaaz.org Created with flickr slideshow....Iain Keith http://avaaz.org/
For press enquires please contact:
In Copenhagen: Alice Wynne Wilson -- Tel: +45 5273 0467, Email: aliceww@avaaz.orgIn New York: Lisa Main -- Tel: + 1 347 278 3763, Email: lisa@avaaz.org
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Japanese Youth Go Green, Call For Japan To "Save Copenhagen"tag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4342009-12-10T17:10:26Z2009-12-10T17:27:09Z It's a huge part of Copenhagen, the financing of the $200 billion fund for climate change adaptation. We cannot get a deal unless richer nations -- also referred to as Annex 1 in legal-speak -- put money on the table to help developing nations grow cleanly and vulnerable countries adapt to the climate impacts already under-way. Countries like the US have made short term financing suggestions but nothing in-line with what is really needed. It's a game of poker, with each country making a bet, and slowly increasing the pot. Now it's Japanese turn, and the new Prime Minister, Hatoyama, has indicated he may be willing to significantly raise the stakes. The Japanese youth delegation know the potential that exists for Japan to be a climate leader on finance. They realize Japan has the opportunity to be a leader in unlocking the additional financing caught up in political posturing...Iain Keith http://avaaz.org/
It's a huge part of Copenhagen, the financing of the $200 billion fund for climate change adaptation. We cannot get a deal unless richer nations -- also referred to as Annex 1 in legal-speak -- put money on the table to help developing nations grow cleanly and vulnerable countries adapt to the climate impacts already under-way.
Countries like the US have made short term financing suggestions but nothing in-line with what is really needed. It's a game of poker, with each country making a bet, and slowly increasing the pot. Now it's Japanese turn, and the new Prime Minister, Hatoyama, has indicated he may be willing to significantly raise the stakes.
The Japanese youth delegation know the potential that exists for Japan to be a climate leader on finance. They realize Japan has the opportunity to be a leader in unlocking the additional financing caught up in political posturing and rhetoric. To crank up this message the youth delegation joined the Avaaz aliens to take demands directly to Japan's delegation; demands that humans can't seem to muster up the courage to ask. Hiroyuki Hori and Jouju Vechi from Tokyo, and Yaicha Bookhout of Missoula suited up and went green to hunt down the Japanese representatives. They were determined to deliver the Japanese youth statement to Japan's negotiators
Word spread to the Japan's offices as the aliens wondered the hallways calling for Japan to take up a climate leadership role in Copenhagen. The aliens were essentially asking Japan to save Copenhagen as without real finances there is no real deal.
Japan quickly sent message to the aliens that the Japanese delegates would like to meet with the aliens and make a statement on what they are asking of Japan!
The Japanese youth got quick response from the delegation, which is promising, however we need commitments not promised statements from. The meeting is set to take place in s few hours and we'll be watching to see what happens.
Will Japan take the bold leadership needed to save Copenhagen or will they fall in line with other annex one countries that refuse to commit the additional funding needed to save the most impacted countries?
As far as these young leaders are concerned, they believe that Japan will make the right decision and become bold leaders here in Copenhagen.
**Thanks to Nick Magel from Avaaz Action Factory]]>
Listen to the Islandstag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4332009-12-09T15:58:36Z2009-12-10T16:24:54ZMoments ago at the Copenhagen climate summit -- also known as the COP15 meetings -- 100's of people lined the entry way to the main plenary to stand with Tuvalu and all small island nations. Earlier today, Tuvalu, a small island in the south Pacific, showed true leadership at these negotiations, showing ambition by attempting to initiate an open conversation on how the world can achieve a legally binding treaty. However just mere suggestion of transparent communication, or "formal contact group", was thumbed away by rich nations trying to continue back-room negotiations that are wrecking havoc on a real deal in Copenhagen. While entire countries like Tuvalu combat raising sea levels, the richest countries refuse to pony up fair financing and set targets ambitious enough to avoid complete climate catastrophe. Rich nations bound determination to continue with a business as usual mentality, or "informal talks", forced Tuvalu to appeal for...Iain Keith http://avaaz.org/
stand with Tuvalu and all small island nations. Earlier today, Tuvalu, a small island in the south Pacific, showed true leadership at these negotiations, showing ambition by attempting to initiate an open conversation on how the world can achieve a legally binding treaty. However just mere suggestion of transparent communication, or "formal contact group", was thumbed away by rich nations trying to continue back-room negotiations that are wrecking havoc on a real deal in Copenhagen. While entire countries like Tuvalu combat raising sea levels, the richest countries refuse to pony up fair financing and set targets ambitious enough to avoid complete climate catastrophe.
Rich nations bound determination to continue with a business as usual mentality, or "informal talks", forced Tuvalu to appeal for temporary suspension of the Kyoto Track of the COP15 (one of the two major tracks hey re) realizing that transparent talks are essential to their survival and to achieving a fair and binding treaty. Word of these developments spread fast through the conference center and as the plenary came back to their reinitialized session 100's were standing there to greet them.
Video below.
The vulnerable communities and countries like Tuvalu are on the front lines of climate change. They're experiencing impacts which, unless we act, will eventually affect all of us. We would be wise to listen to them.
Video: Adam MacIsaac, Josh Lynch, Daniel Boese
Thanks to Nick Magel from the Avaaz Action Factory
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Show us your climate leadertag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4322009-11-06T17:20:53Z2009-11-06T18:27:40ZThe clock is ticking on climate change. In one month, 192 countries will meet at the international climate summit in Copenhagen to negotiate a new global treaty to prevent catastrophic climate change. Everyone, including our political leaders, know what needs to be done in the deal: it must be fair, ambitious and binding. But at talks this week in Barcelona -- which aimed at trying to build consensus on key issues ahead of the final discussions -- progress was idling and political will from rich countries was severely lacking. Heads of state need to step up and be the leaders people everywhere expect them to be. Today, aliens from Planet B went looking for climate leaders in Barcelona. Their message was delivered loud and clear to governments at the UN by TckTckTck -- a global campaigning force including 350.org, Avaaz, IndyAct, Greenpeace, and Oxfam -- watch the video and see...Iain Keith http://avaaz.org/
what needs to be done in the deal: it must be fair, ambitious and binding. But at talks this week in Barcelona -- which aimed at trying to build consensus on key issues ahead of the final discussions -- progress was idling and political will from rich countries was severely lacking.
Heads of state need to step up and be the leaders people everywhere expect them to be. Today, aliens from Planet B went looking for climate leaders in Barcelona. Their message was delivered loud and clear to governments at the UN by TckTckTck -- a global campaigning force including 350.org, Avaaz, IndyAct, Greenpeace, and Oxfam -- watch the video and see photos below:
Here's a photo of the aliens with lead US negotiator, Jonathan Pershing:
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From Here to a Global Climate Treatytag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4312009-10-14T21:37:37Z2009-10-14T21:43:09ZRight now Copenhagen is the most important city in the world. In just 2 short months, the city might witness the formation of a global climate treaty. You've heard of the Kyoto protocol - the climate treaty that the US helped draft 12 years ago? The one that pretty much every other country has signed on to? Well, the US, with 1/4 of global greenhouse emissions, has more excuses than a student with a late term-paper about why it hasn't done its part to help solve climate change. The people of the world aren't impressed. Two years ago in Bali after a dramatic plea from Papua New Guinea in the final hours, the US and other leaders agreed to make a global treaty in Copenhagen in 2009. According to the Bali agreement, the plan needs to have four key elements to bring all nations together (here's the homework assignment). It...Iain Keith http://avaaz.org/
Right now Copenhagen is the most important city in the world. In just 2 short months, the city might witness the formation of a global climate treaty. You've heard of the Kyoto protocol - the climate treaty that the US helped draft 12 years ago? The one that pretty much every other country has signed on to? Well, the US, with 1/4 of global greenhouse emissions, has more excuses than a student with a late term-paper about why it hasn't done its part to help solve climate change. The people of the world aren't impressed.Two years ago in Bali after a dramatic plea from Papua New Guinea in the final hours, the US and other leaders agreed to make a global treaty in Copenhagen in 2009. According to the Bali agreement, the plan needs to have four key elements to bring all nations together (here's the homework assignment). It needs to set mitigation targets for every country (reducing carbon emissions). It needs to protect forests from destruction (which cause 20% of global emissions). It needs to help poor countries develop more responsibly than we did by providing clean technology because the world can't afford to repeat the dirty energy economies of the 20th century. And it needs to help poor countries deal with the present and increasing effects of the climate crisis.The road-map to Copenhagen, agreed on by the leaders in Bali, places a responsibility on every national government, but the path has been most difficult for the United States. Stubborn, short-sighted politics have delayed action for years, but the window of opportunity for a global deal in Copenhagen has added urgency to our fight.When the the timetable was set, climate activists like myself stepped up efforts to get the US on track in the two years from December 2007 to December 2009. We threw ourselves into an election that promised change and took on challenges on a historic scale. But that clearly hasn't been enough. Photo Credit: Robert Van Warden
We brought 12,000 activists to Powershift09 for the largest lobby day ever, and then stopped the U.S. Capitol plant from ever burning coal again. Just last month over 1,800 flash-mobs all over the world placed wake-up calls to world leaders on the need for climate action. And it's working; the global movement we've been working for is here and its beautiful.The one tiny, little problem is that a handful of US senators stand between us and a global climate treaty. In Bali, they said the treaty needed to deal with 4 things, things that the senate (and specifically the finance committee) can provide. Luckily, large environmental organizations are pulling out all the stops to fight for ambitious reductions in domestic emissions - as ambitious as we can get. (But boy are my fingers crossed that we can get something better.)What we're lacking, and this is where you come in, are people fighting for those other three provisions. Adaptation, clean-tech transfer and forest protection receive mere lip-service in the initial draft of the Kerry-Boxer bill.Developed countries need to put money on the table. How much? According to the Climate Action Network International policy paper, $150 billion per year, additional to existing aid, and raised from auction allowances. The European Commission Communication on Climate Financing is talking on a similar scale at least, calling for €50 billion annually by 2020.What that works out to for the US, is in the range of 5% of allocation revenue for international adaptation, 5% for clean tech-transfer, and 5% for forest protection. The House climate bill in June allocated just 1%, 0.5% and 5%, respectively for those provisions. The Senate can do better and needs to do better. Whether we get a global deal or not could all come down to the next few weeks in the US senate.
We're so close to the global climate deal we need, but three of the four major provisions required aren't getting much attention. Let's give the senators on the finance committee a reason to look beyond their petty interests and own up to the responsibility we have to the world. Take a look at the senate finance committee members and how to contact them.Two years ago, we could only hope that a good US Senate bill would be the biggest remaining obstacle to a good global climate treaty. It took millions of calls and letters, thousands of individual meetings and one of the largest days of action the world has yet seen to get us here. We're not done yet. If we can make the case for financing global solutions to the Senate, we can start to see the outlines of history -- the story we can tell our grandchildren about how we fought for, and won, a planet they can still enjoy.Morgan Goodwin is a fellow at the Avaaz Action Factory in DC
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Close Gitmo, End Torturetag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4302009-10-06T17:07:07Z2009-10-06T20:31:45Z Inspired by sustained support for an end to torture from the world community and a clear majority of Americans, Avaaz.org launched a metro billboard ad campaign to remind policymakers that torture is illegal, unethical and a top recruiting tool for the terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network. The ads (which are running at Farragut North Station and in a Washington Paper) feature Osama bin Laden in an "I love Gitmo" t-shirt (an acknowledgement that Al Qaeda uses the prison to recruit terrorists) and include quotes from President Obama and Presidential candidate John McCain. Click here to download the press release Thanks go to the thousands of Avaaz members who donated to fund this campaign. Our global voices are vital if we are to see Guantanamo Bay closed, a total ban on torture, and the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into past practices. If you...Iain Keith http://avaaz.org/
Inspired by sustained support for an end to torture from the world community and a clear majority of Americans, Avaaz.org launched a metro billboard ad campaign to remind policymakers that torture is illegal, unethical and a top recruiting tool for the terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network.
The ads (which are running at Farragut North Station and in a Washington Paper) feature Osama bin Laden in an "I love Gitmo" t-shirt (an acknowledgement that Al Qaeda uses the prison to recruit terrorists) and include quotes from President Obama and Presidential candidate John McCain.
Thanks go to the thousands of Avaaz members who donated to fund this campaign. Our global voices are vital if we are to see Guantanamo Bay closed, a total ban on torture, and the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into past practices. If you would like to make a further donation for this ongoing campaign - click here.
Some of the media achieved from the campaign is listed below:
Times of Malta Agence France Press Yahoo Espana Middle East Online]]>
Stripping in Rometag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4292009-07-09T21:46:28Z2009-07-09T21:59:58ZOn July 8th Italian Avaaz volunteers and members of the Avaaz European climate action factory -- a rapid response group of youth climate activists supported by Avaaz to raise the level of ambition for climate action in Europe -- organised a "strip mob" in front of the iconic Spanish stairs in Rome, Italy. The stunt's message was for bold climate action from the g8 leaders who were assembling in Italy for 2009 G8 Summit. The team danced around to chants of "it's getting hot in here" whilst stripping down to reveal green underwear. They kept green underwear on, but threw their clothes at a dancer dressed as Berlusconi, who has been embroiled in public rows over his friendship with a young model. A large crowd of journalists and tourists cheered them on. Photos and video below. For more information on the Action Factory projects in Europe and Washington DC, click...Iain Keith http://avaaz.org/
Photos and video below. For more information on the Action Factory projects in Europe and Washington DC, click here.
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Pigs in Geneva! - Swine Flu petition delivery gets global coveragetag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4262009-06-11T14:06:29Z2009-07-10T17:23:50Z Thank you for participating in the Swine Flu campaign! We stopped traffic in Geneva on May 27th as we descended on the World Health Organization (WHO) with a herd of cardboard pigs to deliver our petition! The 225 cardboard pigs represented the 225,000 Avaaz members that had signed the petition. We certainly got our message across -- our campaign delivery went out around the world on ABC news, EFE TV, the Wall Street Journal, France 24, Kuwait News Agency, and Intellasia - as well as many other major news outlets. When we handed over our petition, it became apparent how important our campaigning was and how valid our concerns were. Initially, the World Health Organization's Food Safety and Zoonoses director, Dr. Jørgen Schlundt, told us that the WHO and the FAO had not found a definitive link between the H1N1 virus and a factory farm and that the source...Pascal VollenweiderThank you for participating in the Swine Flu campaign!
We stopped traffic in Geneva on May 27th as we descended on the World Health Organization (WHO) with a herd of cardboard pigs to deliver our petition! The 225 cardboard pigs represented the 225,000 Avaaz members that had signed the petition.
We certainly got our message across -- our campaign delivery went out around the world on ABC news, EFE TV, the Wall Street Journal, France 24, Kuwait News Agency, and Intellasia - as well as many other major news outlets.
When we handed over our petition, it became apparent how important our campaigning was and how valid our concerns were. Initially, the World Health Organization's Food Safety and Zoonoses director, Dr. Jørgen Schlundt, told us that the WHO and the FAO had not found a definitive link between the H1N1 virus and a factory farm and that the source was still under investigation. But he then admitted: 1) scientists have seen more disease breeding and mutating between animals and humans with the massive increase in industrial meat production; 2) he agreed that certain company's farming practices (Smithfields in this case) were dangerous; 3) he warned that new operations propagating in developing countries could make 'mistakes' in food safety that could be seriously risky to human health; and most importantly 4) he indicated that the political processes that determine the research and rules on factory farm biosafety are dominated by the industrial meat lobby. He said strong global regulations were essential, but, to date, unless there is a huge scare like BSE and people die, scientists are unable to push through the laws needed to prevent animal borne pandemics.
The message was clear - our public campaigning for investigation and regulation of factory farms is vital to ensure our food safety and counter the powerful meat industry. Our action showed the WHO that the world does not want to wait for another disaster - we want funding for scientists to investigate factory farms and we want preventive measures put in place that ensure public heath standards.
Click below to see the interview with Avaaz campaign director Alice Jay on Efe:
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V Summit of the Americas in Trinidad & Tobago: mission impossible, mission accomplished.tag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4222009-05-04T16:20:40Z2009-07-10T17:26:38ZDear friends, During the Summit of the Americas, Avaaz sailed into the harbour at Port of Spain, Trinidad and delivered a message to President Obama to lift the Cuban embargo. The call came from more than 50,000 Avaaz members from the Americas. Despite tight security, Avaaz Campaigner Paula Brufman and Trinidadian Avaaz members sailed by the site where the regional Presidents were meeting and hoisted a 'End the Cuba Embargo' banner up the mast. Public protest was closed down on the island, but an extraoridnary group of Trinidadian members and volunteers made this peaceful action happen with the consent of the coast guard. Great work! The delivery of our message was quickly picked up by key news agencies and was reported around Latin America. See below for a video of the sailboat delivery and click here to see the media coverage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZPVMmOH6MY At the Americas Summit President Obama announced a...paulagraziela
Avaaz sailed into the harbour at Port of Spain, Trinidad and delivered a message to President Obama to lift the Cuban embargo. The call came from more than 50,000 Avaaz members from the Americas.
Despite tight security, Avaaz Campaigner Paula Brufman and Trinidadian Avaaz members sailed by the site where the regional Presidents were meeting and hoisted a 'End the Cuba Embargo' banner up the mast. Public protest was closed down on the island, but an extraoridnary group of Trinidadian members and volunteers made this peaceful action happen with the consent of the coast guard. Great work!
The delivery of our message was quickly picked up by key news agencies and was reported around Latin America. See below for a video of the sailboat delivery and click here to see the media coverage.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZPVMmOH6MY
At the Americas Summit President Obama announced a shift in US policy on Cuba and since then small steps toward dialogue have been taken. It is exciting to be a part of this vital change in regional policy. We will continue to campaign for constructive engagement and for the US to end the almost 50 year failed policy.]]>
Exxon responds to Avaaz spoof ad: "We don't understand"tag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4212009-04-29T20:29:15Z2009-04-29T21:11:59ZBen Wiklerhttp://www.avaaz.org
advertisement on Washington DC television spoofing ExxonMobil's hypnotically disingenuous ad campaign—you know, the ones where friendly, nerdy people tell you how their work at ExxonMobil will help the environment.
The message of our ad was simple: while ExxonMobil and other fossil fuel companies now talk a good game on climate change, they're still lobbying full-force to prevent a strong global climate treaty. The kind of treaty Obama can help create—if the rest of us give him the political support to do it.
Well, yesterday, ExxonMobil responded to the ad. Apparently, they were mystified.
"They seem to be critical of our desire to communicate our positions on climate change, which we don't understand," said Exxon spokesman Alan Jeffers.
Mr. Jeffers, sorry for confusing you! Perhaps we could be more clear. We have no problem with ExxonMobil's "desire to communicate." It's ExxonMobil's positions on climate change that we're critical of... and the fact that the communications in question don't actually communicate them.
In fact, if ExxonMobil is really eager to communicate their positions on climate change, then they should be welcoming our ad! Take a look:
The truth is, Exxon spent at least $29 million on lobbying in the US last year alone—and is on track to spend even more on a lobbying and advertising blitz this year. While ExxonMobil might not be funding climate denialists to distort science any longer (it lost that battle), it hasn't switched sides in the climate wars. Now, they're just wearing the other side's uniforms. ExxonMobil's strategy is to divert the growing momentum for effective global and national policies by greenwashing itself—and lobbying hard behind the scenes.
Most of their ads showcase research projects or promote the virtues of personal energy efficiency. Unmentioned by the $400-billion-plus company is the fact that their entire business model relies on continually increasing the burning of carbon-based fuels. Watching the ads, a conscientious consumer could conclude that ExxonMobil is to clean energy what the Gates Foundation is to global health. The more appropriate analogy would be Phillip Morris.
(Sometimes the ads are misleading—not just in their underlying message—but also in their particulars: Last year, Britain's Advertising Standards Authority banned an ExxonMobil ad for claiming, falsely, that liquefied natural gas was "one of the world's cleanest fuels.")
ExxonMobil's feel-good ads showcasing hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and tire technology aren't about "communicating their positions on climate change." They're about calming down a public that has become rightly infuriated by fossil-fuel industry obstructionism of real climate action. And they're about distracting attention from ExxonMobil's own lobbying against the cap-and-trade legislation and binding global treaty that the world urgently needs.
We suspect that, in fact, Mr. Jeffers understands this all too well.]]>
Tibet: end the blackouttag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4162009-03-12T22:16:36Z2009-07-10T19:45:54ZDear friends,Tibetans fighting the Chinese government's blackout are cut off from the rest of the world. Donate now, and help Tibetans beat the black-out.As we mark 50 years since the Dalai Lama escaped to India, a dark curtain is being pulled across Tibet -- foreign media detained and expelled, armed troops patrolling the streets, citizens imprisoned for political purposes. And yet many of these violations will not reach the outside world because communications have been cut off.Without our immediate support, those who are cutting vital holes in the censorship curtain won't be able to alert the global media or other Tibetans to disappearances and the denial of human rights. Open communication is the best insurance to prevent future infringements from taking place. Donate today, and help ensure that the flow of information so critical to the Tibetan people isn't shut off completely:https://secure.avaaz.org/en/tibet_stop_the_blackoutA modest donation can have a major impact:For $90...Yuri
Tibetans fighting the Chinese government's blackout are cut off from the rest of the world.
As we mark 50 years since the Dalai Lama escaped to India, a dark curtain is being pulled across Tibet -- foreign media detained and expelled, armed troops patrolling the streets, citizens imprisoned for political purposes. And yet many of these violations will not reach the outside world because communications have been cut off.
Without our immediate support, those who are cutting vital holes in the censorship curtain won't be able to alert the global media or other Tibetans to disappearances and the denial of human rights. Open communication is the best insurance to prevent future infringements from taking place.
Donate today, and help ensure that the flow of information so critical to the Tibetan people isn't shut off completely:
For $90 we can fund transmission of an entire hour of the Voices of Tibet radio network, which provides unbiased news across the Tibetan plateau
$25 each from just 100 of us will support a new technology program that allows Tibetans to avoid censorship and safely communicate their plight with the world and each other
For $100 from 100 of us, we can help upgrade a radio transmitter just over the border in India, so that it can broadcast deeper into Tibet and China for one month.
Only freedom of information and dialogue among Tibetans and Chinese can help bring a lasting and peaceful solution to the Tibet problem. Click below now to make a contribution:
The situation is dire, and some reports suggest it's getting worse. The Chinese government has even cut phone networks to hinder grassroots organizing efforts by Tibetans and blocked their contact to the outside world – including to Chinese progressives. If we don't help Tibetans access new technologies that can breach the communications blockade, their plight could be silenced behind an impenetrable firewall.
Radio stations, bloggers, censorship avoidance technologies are like fog-lights out of the dark - and vital to the survival of the Tibetan people. Here is what the Dalai Lama says about Voice of Tibet radio – which your support today can help keep on the air:
"This is the only radio service in [the] Tibetan language with a Tibetan editorial board in charge allowing us [Tibetans] to comment on events of Tibetan interest from our perspective.... I would appreciate [...] if sympathetic organizations and individuals could help Voice of Tibet continue functioning..."
Donate today and help keep critical programs like this one alive – they've never been more urgently needed:
Freedom of information is vital to the survival of Tibetan culture and a key ingredient in securing Tibetan autonomy. It is also a key way to reach out to progressive Chinese in China, many of whom are looking for alternative perspectives and information. As a global community, we can help ensure access to vital information for Tibetans, Chinese and those of us who are beyond the veil.
With hope,
Brett, Ricken, Alice, Paul, Graziela, Ben, Paula, Luis, Pascal, Veronique, Iain, Milena and the rest of the Avaaz team
P.S. Consider donating to support organizations like Voice of Tibet at this crucial time. They need our support now more than ever. Even a modest donation will go a long way: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/tibet_stop_the_blackout
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Penguins descend on Brussels with Avaaz's petitiontag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4142009-03-12T20:32:39Z2009-07-10T17:32:41ZToday, Coldy 3000 took one step closer towards existence. In just 4 days, over 123,000 Avaaz members from around the world answered Coldy's call and signed a petition urging the European Union to adopt strong efficiency standards for energy-using products. Today, Avaaz Campaign Director, Luis Morago, along with partners from Friends of the Earth Europe, Natuur en Milieu and some penguins delivered the petition straight to European decision makers -- specifically the Head of Unit of Transparency and Relations with Stakeholders, Gerard Legris, on behalf of President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso. The delivery was a great success with plenty of interest from the press and many bystanders stayed, charmed by the penguins' music and dance. In the coming days, we will also be delivering the petition to high representatives of the Czech Presidency of the EU in Brussels. But above all else, we're having an impact! Sources...Iain Keith http://avaaz.org/
Coldy 3000 took one step closer towards existence.
In just 4 days, over 123,000 Avaaz members from around the world answered Coldy's call and signed a petition urging the European Union to adopt strong efficiency standards for energy-using products.Today, Avaaz Campaign Director, Luis Morago, along with partners from Friends of the Earth Europe, Natuur en Milieu and some penguins delivered the petition straight to European decision makers -- specifically the Head of Unit of Transparency and Relations with Stakeholders, Gerard Legris, on behalf of President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso. The delivery was a great success with plenty of interest from the press and many bystanders stayed, charmed by the penguins' music and dance. In the coming days, we will also be delivering the petition to high representatives of the Czech Presidency of the EU in Brussels.
But above all else, we're having an impact! Sources tell us that the debate is getting hotter and much more political, thanks largely to increased pressure from campaigning organisations. Stay tuned to the Avaaz blog for more info!
Here is a video of today's event, and check out the photos beneath!
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A talking fridge?tag:www.avaaz.org,2009:/blog/en//3.4072009-03-09T21:18:32Z2009-07-10T17:29:08ZDear friends,This week, European regulators will start setting new efficiency standards for fridges, TVs, and other products. Strong rules could massively cut Europe's climate pollution, but industrial lobbyists are pushing to weaken the proposals.We've received an unusual message: a video sent back in time from the future ... by a talking fridge named "Coldy." Click the picture to watch the video and take action now:Green technology already exists that would dramatically improve the fridges, TVs, washing machines, and other products that each of us use. Strong green standards, according to expert studies, could have a huge climate impact--greater than taking two thirds of Europe's cars off the road. And these standards would reduce our energy bills by tens of billions of Euros per year.But the most-polluting companies want to sell dirty products cheaply, and avoid green investment. It's up to us to make sure EU negotiators hear the clear voice...Yuri This week, European regulators will start setting new efficiency standards for fridges, TVs, and other products. Strong rules could massively cut Europe's climate pollution, but industrial lobbyists are pushing to weaken the proposals.
We've received an unusual message: a video sent back in time from the future ... by a talking fridge named "Coldy." Click the picture to watch the video and take action now:
Green technology already exists that would dramatically improve the fridges, TVs, washing machines, and other products that each of us use. Strong green standards, according to expert studies, could have a huge climate impact--greater than taking two thirds of Europe's cars off the road. And these standards would reduce our energy bills by tens of billions of Euros per year.
But the most-polluting companies want to sell dirty products cheaply, and avoid green investment. It's up to us to make sure EU negotiators hear the clear voice of thousands of citizens across Europe -- and not just the voices of industry lobbyists. Click below to watch the video and sign the petition -- it will be delivered to negotiators this Thursday:
Ben, Luis, Iain, Graziela, Paula, Alice, Milena, Ricken, Brett, Pascal, Paul, Veronique, and the entire Avaaz team
FOOTNOTES
1. For more information, updates and policy briefs on the European Eco-design policy process (including the studies and draft legislation on the products covered by this policy, such as TVs, fridges, and lightbulbs), see this site by the NGO coalition ECOS, Greenpeace Europe, WWF-EPO and other leading environmental organizations: http://www.env-ngo.eup-network.de
2. Last week, more than 100,000 Avaaz members joined the global call for a truth commission to investigate human rights abuses in Bush's war on terror. Avaaz hand-delivered the signatures to the Senate committee and spoke to key U.S. leaders. Click to see photos and a full report: http://www.avaaz.org/delivery_to_truth_commission
3. Avaaz members will deliver this petition in Brussels with a stunt organized by Friends of the Earth Europe and Natuur en Milieu. For more information, check http://www.avaaz.org/blog/en later this week!
On what was scheduled to be the last day of the Copenhagen climate talks, a diverse crowd of global civil society locked out of the negotiations sent a clear message of "Climate Shame" to Obama, Merkel, Hu, Harper, and other leaders who are most responsible for the current stalling of the negotiations.
With the talks now running well past their projected closure time. It's clear, there is one reason why climate negotiations have not moved forward in Copenhagen -- the failure of the U.S. and other developed nations to support emission reduction targets and climate finance at the levels needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Today a UN document was leaked that stated what many climate experts have been claiming throughout Copenhagen -- that the combined commitments of all nations in Copenhagen would leave the world with 3 degrees celsius of warming and 550ppm eCO2. A rise of 3C would mean up to 170 million more people suffering severe coastal floods and 550 million more at risk of hunger, according to the Stern review.
