In Copenhagen alone, between 30,000 and 100,000 people came together on Saturday to rally for strong, brave action on climate change. From all corners of the earth they came, representing faith groups, businesses, NGOs, families and causes galore, marching 6km in the bracing cold to say “hey, let’s get it done in Copenhagen”.
There are many ways to tell the story of Saturday’s climate change rally. “Getting it done” means many things to many people. lilcarbon walked with Paulina and Jenny from a Swedish church group for 3 hours of the march on the Bella Centre.
They came here on an old, slow, 1960’s train to walk together with an assembled humanity united in its desire to preserve “God’s green earth” (lilcarbon’s words.) Their signs were emblazoned with a ticking clock, and as night fell, their candles shone brightly in the dark December gloom.
Despite what discouraging word one might hear on the news, of deniers, of uncertainty, of “tough negotiation” at the UNFCCC climate conference here in Copenhagen, smiling faces on a cold Scandinavian night certainly give one pause for hope.
This speech from Archbishop Desmond Tutu that lays gentle warm fire under the “rightness” of the cause.
Climate change is on the agenda now. More than half the world leaders arrive over the next couple days to weigh in, hopefully on the “side of right”, to push a deal forward. The week will end with one outcome or another, and the fight will move on. No one said it would be easy, but marching along with Paulina and Jenny, one get’s the feeling that we’re going to get it all sorted out.
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