Traveller’s Teacup

I saw the link for the documentary “Owning The Weather” only after its screening at COP15. It would have been great to have gone to see it and the panel discussion afterward. The subject matter raises important issues regarding the use of atmospheric technology  Geo-engineering or “Climate engineering” as its commonly known. You may have heard about the Beijing 2007 Olympic’s “cloud seeding” where rockets with chemicals are fired into clouds to make it rain.

Its a healthy debate, but the re-percussion of changing weather patterns (currently to suit man’s needs alone), are still being researched. When a butterfuly flaps its wings in Brazil…

Trailer…

and the little trailer for the screening and panel discussion at COP15…

Here’s a little report on our festival from the United Nations University’s website. I’ll upload a photo gallery shortly

COP15… you know other meetings have failed. Many meetings end up only with a weak unbinding declaration. What i did experience at COP15 was something else… there is something more than that happening… if you are like me and questioning the effectiveness of global governance mechanisms, the documentary trailer below may interest you immensely.

Writing from a hotel room in Stockholm… the film festival was a success, lots of people, lots of discussions, and much opportunity to further tour the stories within international festivals, human rights events, community centres, museums, universities etc…more later but in the short term just wanted to share with you the blog and photo posted on the UNU’s website.

Generally as you may already know, we are all felling sad with how things have stagnated at the climate negotiations currently.. I hope this week, the real leaders in the room will stand up and be a wise global council for the people of the world!… and…. decide to reevaluate the pile of “not negotiable” market agendas that were decided weeks before this event.

If only plants and animals could lobby!

Below is a mobile phone photo i took when Tuvalu’s negotiator Ian Fry (Australian) voiced his concern for the negotiations direction. He was immediately backed by PNG and also China asked for further considerations. You can just make out the COP15 Chairperson Honorable Connie Hedegaard talking (off-microphone) with UNFCCC colleagues. If you have time, please watch the link to Ian Fry’s later speech on youtube  below. I have also pasted the UNU Carterets video if you are interested at seeing the current situation first hand.

After a year of intensive global film-making (8 short films in 13 months!), our little UNU media caravan is trundling out for Copenhagen. This week Megumi and I are heading off to the COP15 to present the “Indigenous Voices of Climate Change” film festival. The festival being MCed by Marilyn Wallace, will be screening over 5 days at National Museum of Denmark 9-13th, Dec 4-6pm.

The festival is a 4 hour program of videos from communities, friends, and colleagues in Australia, Africa, South America, Arctic circle, Central Asia, Iran, PNG… (basically across the globe) presenting community stories that climate change is happening and hurting now. These assessment case studies provide the Conference of the parties evidence, references, but most importantly amplified voices demanding changes to behavioural responsibility. Sadly, this voice is almost missing from the official governmental delegation lists and from the rather stale scientific tit-for tat being splattered across the newspapers of late.

If you are in Copnehagen, please come down to the museum to be a part of this extraordinary global movement. Admission is Free! In particular, don’t miss Indigenous Day on 12th December which promises to be a full day of exhibits, films, panel discussions, dancing, music and other creative outpourings. A full list of the films and screening program can be downloaded here: www.ourworld.unu.edu/COP15_filmfestival

With a UN delegate passes and small HDV camera in hand, Megumi and I also hope report a little from inside the Bella Centre too. Stay tuned to our twitter feed for updates: @cittw, @luvmegumi, @ourworld20