Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - Climate Action News this week

Copenhagen Climate Treaty Negotiations News and Action Update

Polls show that 75% of Canadians want the Government to do more on climate change, and we are collectively responsible for the more than 1000 actions that have taken place across the country over the past few months. We have a groundswell of powerful grassroots momentum.

Yet the Harper Government is failing us in Copenhagen. This week, leaked secret documents written by the Canadian Cabinet revealed that the Canadian Government has been misleading negotiators in Copenhagen, other countries, and the Canadian public about its intention to meet its' already weak greenhouse gas emission reduction targets to address climate change. The government's role in the negotiations is so bad that it is increasingly the focus of public outrage and scorn. For example, yesterday activists tore down the Canadian flag at the Canadian Embassy in London.

The Copenhagen talks are struggling. Earlier this week African nations suspended their participation in negotiations, and right now the police are targeting civil society activists for protesting outside the Bella Centre, which is the location for the negotiations in Copenhagen.

Read more of this week's top news stories: http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/cop-15/index.php

NEWS AND ACTION UPDATES

How you can get involved:

Prime Minister Harper needs to hear that Canadians demand action on the greatest environmental and humanitarian threat facing our planet. We need to appeal to Harper to help save Copenhagen instead of pushing the negotiations in the wrong direction. We need a fair, ambitious, and legally binding treaty and we only have a few days left.

1) SIGN THE AVAAZ PETITION
Between now and Friday, let's build the biggest Canadian petition in history so we can deliver it to Harper when he arrives in Copenhagen. Together we can stand up to Harper and show him that Canada wants a real climate deal. Sign the petition now, then forward it to everyone you know:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/harper_enough_is_enough

2) PHONE A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
Call Parliament at 1-866-599-4999 now. Ask to be put through to a member of parliament in your area (or a leading government representative such as Ministers Prentice, Flaherty and Raitt) to demand action to help save Copenhagen.

Calling an MP is easy; watch a Sierra Youth Coalition member call Parliament from Copenhagen.

3) ORGANIZE A DEMONSTRATION
Organize a demonstration at the office of a nearby member of parliament or elected official. One action strategy is to hold an extended vigil outside the office demanding you are staying until Canada supports a fair, ambitious, and binding treaty in Copenhagen. Tell them it is time to restore Canada's image and make Canada proud by signing a fair, ambitious, and binding treaty.

A sample press release is available for you to download here.

A guide on how to organize demonstrations is online at: http://www.350.org/vigil-guide

Send us photos and a summary of your event and pictures to Jacob McBane at jmcbane@climateactionnetwork.ca so we can post your event on the Climate Action Network Canada website.

Canada is blocking crucial UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen and secretly rolling back our efforts to fight climate change. Enough is enough, the planet needs us now.

Highlights (and Lowlights) from the first week in Copenhagen:

Leaked cabinet documents expose Canada's secret cap and trade proposal. Read the Climate Action Network Canada news release. Read our fact sheet on the leaked documents.

At the United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Canada continues to rack up Fossil of the Day awards.

david miller accepts fossil award on behalf of canada

Click here to view the YouTube video of Toronto Mayor, David Miller, accepting two Fossil awards on behalf of Canada

On Monday, Canada was the target of an elaborate prank by the Yes Men for Canada's failure to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Fake environment canada website part of elaborate prank

"The idea was to confuse the Canadian government, which set up a war room to positively spin their position in the debate even though everyone here knows that their position is a cruel joke," Yes Men member Mike Bonanno told the Associated Press"

For daily updates on what is happening in Copenhagen, visit: http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/cop-15/index.php

Tarnishing the Maple Leaf: How the Tar Sands Drive Canada's Climate Positions

A CAN Canada Publication

tarnishing the maple leaf report

Read the report.

Canadian Youth Delegation in Copenhagen

The Canadian Youth Delegation to the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen is standing up for Canada's youth who know that the decisions made today will determine our future. The CYD is mobilizing Canadians, and showing the world that the majority of Canadians want a fair, ambitious and binding deal at Copenhagen.

CYD action COP 15 1

CYD action COP 15 2

The World Wants a Real Deal

Global Day of Climate Action

Between December 11-14, 2009, Canada had the highest number of actions per capita in the world. These events included candlelight vigils, Church bell-ringing, rallies, walks, and climate caroling.

Worldwide, more than 3000 events were scheduled.

Pictures from more than 20 events

across Canada can be seen at http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/cop-15/photos/

Climate Justice Vigil

Ottawa, ON, Canada

Here are a few images from the vigil hosted in Ottawa, Ontario by Climate Action Network Canada. It was held at the Human Rights Monument. Mark Fried from Oxfam Canada and Sarah Jane Saska from Climate Action Network Canada addressed the crowd. Everyone sang climate carols before parading down to Parliament hill where Stephen Harper was speaking. There, carolers gave out candy canes (with important climate messaging) and continued their climate carolling! -Sarah Jane Saska (photo credits: Andrew Conroy)

Last chance to hug a polar bear

Click to see more pictures from Ottawa's Climate Justice Vigil.

Video: Ottawa's Dec. 12 Climate Caroling Greets Stephen Harper on the Hill

Candlelight Vigil

Toronto, ON, Canada

Holding candles and singing Copenhagen-inspired christmas carols, Torontonians marched from the indoor rally hosted by the Toronto Climate Campaign, Students against Climate Change, and Climate Action Network Canada, to the Queens Park Legislature. Against a city backdrop, approximately 250 staged a candlelight vigil and listened to speakers and prayers from Jack Layton, Federal NDP leader, members of Kairos and Climate Action Network Canada. -Jess Bell (photo credits: Anil Kanji)

Toronto climate vigil 2

Click to see more pictures from Toronto's candlelight vigil

TckTckTck Wall and Vigil

Vancouver, BC, Canada

In Vancouver, hundreds streamed in and out of the Central Library to write a message on the Tck, Tck, Tck Wall. In the evening, over 100 people gathered for a candle light vigil at the Vancouver Art Gallery. They then marched through the streets singing, eventually arriving at the Central Library. -Sean Devlin (photo credits: Gary Guo)

vancouver vigil 2

Click to see more pictures from Vancouver's TckTckTck Wall and Vigil.

Falling Behind: Comparing Canadian and U.S. Efforts on Clean Energy and Global Warming

A report by PowerUP Canada

PowerUp canada logo Canada has come under significant international criticism on climate change. The Canadian government's primary and most persuasive reply is that the country will "match U.S. efforts."

There are sensible reasons for Canada to "harmonize" with the United States, but this report demonstrates that Canada is not matching U.S. efforts, that our delay in doing so already has serious implications, and that every moment we fall further behind increases the cost and missed opportunity for Canadians.

Read the report.