Earth Hour '08: Did It Matter?

Below is the Time Magazine's article "Earth Hour '08: Did It Matter?" by Bryan Walsh.




The average American produces about 20 tons of the major greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) every year. That might sound like a lot — and Americans do have among the biggest carbon footprints in the world — but the entire world emits around 27 billion tons of CO2 each year, through transportation, electricity use, deforestation. Look at those numbers for a moment, and you'll realize there's very little that any of us can do on an individual level to stop climate change. Live like a monk, take away your 20 tons — stop breathing if you'd like — and you'll barely scratch the surface.



It's numbers like those that can make Earth Hour so easy to criticize. Starting at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, in Christchurch, New Zealand, citizens from around the world turned off their lights for an hour, to draw attention to the connection between energy use and climate change. From New Zealand, the event moved westward with the sun to Australia, Manila, Dubai, Dublin, New York, Chicago and finally San Francisco, where both the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge went dark for an hour. Carter Roberts, head of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which sponsored Earth Hour, said the global event was designed to "make a statement about our commitment to solve the climate change problem and symbolize the commitment that people will make throughout the rest of the year." (Hear Roberts talk about Earth Hour on this week's Greencast.)


Earth Hour didn't suffer for a lack of gimmicks. Servers wearing glow-in-the-dark necklaces sold eco-tinis at bars and restaurants in Phoenix. A local yoga house in Michigan offered sessions by lamplight, and the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago arranged check-in by candlelight. All in all, the WWF estimated that tens of millions of people around the world participated in Earth Hour. Watching the lights wink off in major metropolitan areas now doubt looked impressive, but it's worth asking: What was the point? As Roberts himself noted, the energy saved by turning off the lights for an hour "won't make an enormous difference." So, if it won't cut carbon emissions, why bother then with Earth Hour, or Earth Day or Earth Live, last year's daylong concert for the environment?


Because climate change is essentially a political problem, and the language of politics is symbolism. Just because an act is symbolic doesn't mean it empty. The only way to truly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to take the pressure off global warming, is an international regime that puts a cap and a price on climate pollution. And the only way that will happen is if politicians around the world become convinced that climate change is an issue that matters to people, one that will make them change the way they live, buy — and vote. "Unlike most of the issues that we grapple with, climate change is global," said Roberts. "The pressure is on us to do the right thing." If shutting off the lights for an hour on a Saturday night and doing yoga in the dark makes that political support, well, visible, then Earth Hour will have been worth it.


The environmental movement is reaching a delicate moment. We're well past the point where going green is novel, where just doing your bit to save the Earth deserves endless praise. We've become inured to the existence of global warming, to its inconvenient truth, yet we sense that the solutions we've been given — change a light bulb, change your life — fall far short of the scale of the problem. We risk green fatigue because, after all, what can we do about it? But this is the moment when we need to keep pushing in every way we can. The technologies that will help us decarbonize energy are developing, but they need a push — and that will only happen if we keep climate change near the top of our political agenda. Earth Hour, Earth Day, Earth Year — we'll need it all.
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Walsh got it right when he pointed it out that climate change "is essentially a political problem", and that " ....the only way to truly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to take the pressure off global warming, is an international regime that puts a cap and a price on climate pollution."

Actually, a solution to the ever-worsening climate change has been crafted as early as 1997 - the Kyoto Protocol.



The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing Greenhouse gases that cause climate change. It was agreed on December 11 1997 at the 3rd Conference of the Parties to the treaty when they met in Kyoto, and entered into force on February 16 2005. As of November 2007, 175 parties have ratified the protocol. Of these, 36 developed countries (plus the EU as a party in its own right) are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the levels specified for each of them in the treaty, with three more countries intending to participate. One hundred and thirty-seven (137) developing countries have ratified the protocol, including Brazil, China and India, but have no obligation beyond monitoring and reporting emissions. Among various experts, scientists and critics there is some debate about the usefulness of the protocol, and there have been cost-benefit studies performed on its usefulness.



Question: If there already exists a protocol that aims to reduce Greenhouse Gases that is supported by the majority of the world's nations, what remains to be the problem?



Answer: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.



The United States (U.S.), although a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, has neither ratified nor withdrawn from the Protocol. The United States was, as of 2005, the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.



The current President, George W. Bush, has indicated that he does not intend to submit the treaty for ratification, not because he does not support the Kyoto principles, but because of the exemption granted to China (the world's second largest emitter of carbon dioxide). Bush also opposes the treaty because of the strain he believes the treaty would put on the economy; he emphasizes the uncertainties which he believes are present in the climate change issue. Furthermore, the U.S. is concerned with broader exemptions of the treaty. For example, the U.S. does not support the split between Annex I countries and others. Bush said of the treaty:


"This is a challenge that requires a 100% effort; ours, and the rest of the world's. The world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases is the People's Republic of China. Yet, China was entirely exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. India and Germany are among the top emitters. Yet, India was also exempt from Kyoto … America's unwillingness to embrace a flawed treaty should not be read by our friends and allies as any abdication of responsibility. To the contrary, my administration is committed to a leadership role on the issue of climate change … Our approach must be consistent with the long-term goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere."



But of course, it is clear that the opposition voiced out by the US regarding the protocol's unfair provisions (ex. China's total exemption from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol) is but a lame excuse used by Dubya Bush to cover on his government's reluctance to the protocol's requirements. U.S. being the world's most-hated imperialist country, simply lacks the will to limit the wastes of its own multi- and transnational companies. U.S. fear too that the Kyoto Protocol maybe a scheme to either slow the growth of the world's "industrial democracies" or to transfer wealth to the third world in what they claim is a "global socialism initiative."



With the U.S. suffering an impending economic recession, the world's greatest polluter will always try to block any policy or protocol that would promote genuine sustainable development, knowing that keeping other countries poor and dependent on them remains to be their only hope of maintaining the title of being the world's greatest superpower.

Sedition

Illuminate these streets

Flames of a cause

That won't burn out

A shining light in a cold world

On a cold night, passions hurled

At a banner

Turned upside down

We're in distress

Fight for them, they call it treason

They seek our end, we seek a reason

Sedition

On a street blockaded

We press on

The spark we light, for revolution

And more will fight, we press on.

Kamatuoran Lanao: Iligan Police GMA’s string-puppet

Iligan City—“Their lies are becoming obvious.”

This is the statement of Br. Roseal Cabatcha, TOR, convenor of Kamatuoran Lanao Coalition, referring to Iligan City Police for trying to prohibit the group today from launching the “Black Friday Protest” at the front of the City Post Office for not having a permit.

But the group said they have applied for permit on March 12, 2008 but was rejected by Police Senior Superintendent Virgilio Ranes because they (police) will be “having many activities this week, and monitoring threats and criminalities (sic).”

“They said they are busy and this is the reason why they can’t provide the security, so the permit was denied, but why over a score of policemen in civilian clothes are here asserting the ‘no permit, no rally’ policy?” Brother Cabatcha emphasized.

Rallyists complained of police cruelty. “They were dragging our members because they said they want to interrogate them inside the police station,” said Kristian Mark Urbano, the group’s Public Information Officer. “We were there (police station) these past two days but they gave us cold shoulders, and why force us now to stop the rally and go with them for a negotiation? Clearly, it’s not our fault,” he stressed.

The group also failed to secure a permit on their March 8 Women’s Day Rally because Superintendent Ranes said “the issue is over.” The Coalition cried foul and said it is not the police’s duty to rule on issues, and still pursued their Walk for Truth in heavy rains.

“Now, their conscious effort to block protest actions is becoming crystal clear. Mrs. Arroyo has mobilized her fascist machinery up to the lowest level to ensure her stay in Malacanang. And just like their crooked boss, Superintendent Ranes and his flocks are displaying their anti-democratic character by quelling people’s dissent over a hated regime,” Brother Cabatcha added.

Kamatuoran is a Mindanao-wide coalition of organizations calling for truth over the series of scandals wracking the Arroyo regime. It is active in its call for the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo from her office for corruption, fascism and puppetry to United States. Its local coalition in Lanao is composed mainly of religious groups and people’s organizations.

As the Holy Week approaches, the rally featured “Juan dela Cruz” carrying a cross of issues ranging from corruption, exra-judicial killings and other problems. Kamatuoran Lanao Coalition convenor Sr. Minda Obnimaga, RGS, of the Sisters Association in Mindanao (SAMIN) said that this facet represents “the Filipino people’s heavy burden coming from the anti-people policies and deeds imposed by Mrs. Arroyo unto the Filipino people.”

The group vows to hold similar protest actions in the future, “even devoid of permit,” the group said.

YOU ARE THE RALLY

You will stand up for something.

With everything you've got.

Embrace your guitar.

Hold it tight.

Hold a banner to your chest.

Hold it high and sure.

Stand in front.

And center.

Stand straight.

Chin up.

Make a face.

Make a fist.

Walk.

Run.

Dance.

Jump.

Teach.

Sing.

Act.

Gather yourself.

And then gather people.

And then scatter both.

Every now and then.

But you will show up.

Because you know.

A revolution never happened when people were absent.

Your revolution is not on the internet.

Your revolution is live.

You are the plan.

You are the movement.

You will show up.

When you do this, you will know that fabricating angst is a waste of time.

Because there are real things to feel.

And because.

Someday, other people's pain will be yours.

And, in return, other people will bear your pain.

And when you get the balance right.

Change will show its face.

You will also relax when you can.

Dahil minsan lang ang buhay.

Cheers, my friend.

These are your 'good old days.'

The time in your life when you 'still had ideals.'

And because you decided on it --

This season will never end.

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This was written by Gang Badoy for Rock Ed volunteers on 23 January 2007, in commemoration of the 22nd Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

Visit Rock-ed's really cool website at http://www.rockedphilippines.org/

Group braves rain, pursues walk for truth devoid of permit

Iligan City—Members of KAMATUORAN! in Lanao today braved the rain and pursued the ‘Walk for Truth’ in major streets of the city chanting “liars go to hell.” Clad in “oust Gloria” headbands, the rain-soaked protesters held the launching activity of the Coalition in front of the city’s post office which they said will formally kick-off the local campaign in “searching for truth amidst the insidious effort to suppress it.”

KAMATUORAN! is a Mindanao-wide alliance established at the height of the NBN-ZTE Deal scandal, resisting the prevailing moral bankruptcy in the country’s governance, and calling for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s removal from office. The Lanao formation is mainly convened by religious groups from the Sisters Association in Mindanao (SAMIN-DIOPIM), Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR-Lanao), Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP-Lanao) and the Philippine Independent Chuch (PIC), along with the people’s organizations and individuals from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP-Lanao) and the academe.

Earlier, the group lambasted city’s PNP Senior Superintendent Virgilio Ranes for denying them permit to hold the activity in an Endorsement Letter to the City Mayor dated March 6, 2008, stating “the issue is over” as the reason.

Kristian Mark Urbano, the Coalition’s Public Information Officer said the PNP is not an authority to rule on issues, emphasizing “the basis of granting or denying a permit springs from the police’ assessment of the security situation, and the possible disturbance of the peace and order condition because of the activity, and not from his (Ranes) personal assessment on the timing of the issue and the protest action. It seems that Superintendent Ranes doesn’t know his job.”

Urbano added that the police officer’s arrogant act is dubious. “Is it a part of the grand national scheme to quell dissent versus the President for her to continue clinging to power?” he asked.

Having white and red as motif of this afternoon’s seemingly festive activity, the launching coincides with the commemoration of the International Women’s Day. Hanan Balindong, a woman leader of the Coalition’s member organization, Youth Act Now!-Lanao, said that Mrs. Arroyo “is a shame to women. While our women and people suffer the brunt of economic crunch, she’s amassing millions of pesos from kickbacks in government contracts.”

As a part of its campaign, the coalition is set to host a “Campus Tour for Truth” with NBN-ZTE deal scandal key witnesses Mr. Joey de Venecia III and Joey Lozada before the end of the month. Youth Act Now in Iligan is set to have the Five O’clock Habit, a daily protest action every 5pm at MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology gate to pressure “GMA to tell the truth regarding the latest scandals that continue to wrack her administration.”

In the tune of ‘Bayan Ko,’ the group ended the activity in clinched fists past five in the afternoon. White and red balloons were released symbolizing truth and the militant assertion to have this.

Let's all be an inspiration to the rest of the world!

To begin with, I want to introduce my self. My name is Olafur Skorrdal, poet/composer living in Reykjavik, Iceland, at the moment. I have a boyfriend from Iligan City, and there fore follow the news from there. I came across your blog at http://oneveryangrymouth.blogspot.com/ and saw that there was a voice who cared. As a son-in-law of Iligan City, I follow the news from the Philippines with some eagerness. There are sad things happening, as you know, and the will of the country - the will of the people - needs to be heard.

In my country lives a growing population of people from the Philippines. Brave people, in my opinion, coming here to this cold and dark country, fascinating, optimistic and kindhearted. And to see how you are ready to stand up for your country and demand justice, is admirable. This fire has long since died out in my fellow countrymen - I am sorry to say.

I admire your writings and hope that you will keep on writing even after the people has had to show it's power, then for the third time in just over 20 years. Politicians seem to forget history, while we, the people, can't ever forget it - it's our treasure and best teacher. That's why I have so much faith in what is happening, that I wonder if I should come and join.

Well... I could rant on for many pages, but I think I will leave it at that for now. I wish you all the best in the future - I hope your dreams may come true. Keep on fighting for what you believe, for who you are and what you stand for. Let no one tell you that you can't do something - believe that you already can!

With respect and admiration,
Olafur Skorrdal

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My very angry mouth only ceases to sputter angry words of wisdom whenever I encounter this sort of appreciations. I am very much pleased not just because my voice is heard as far as Reykjavik, Iceland. I am more pleased to know that there exist some people who do care about what is happening in the continuing struggles for a genuine liberation here in the Philippines.

And it makes me wonder: How could it be that there are exist non-Filipinos who care about what is happening in the country, and yet a multitutde of Filipinos seem to opt for a passive existence? Have Filipinos really lost all hopes that with we can liberate ourselves from the chains of a fascist and morally-bankrupt US-Arroyo government if only we unite and struggle as one people?

People all around the world are somehow inspired by the "people power" of our country. Gathering the people in millions to call for the ouster of a president is no easy trick. And yet we Filipinos pulled that trick twice (and hopefully thrice).

I strongly disagree with the black propaganda circulated by the government, headed by the luckiest bitch (that's according to gov. Salceda of Albay) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (who by the way, according to how CHED Sec. Romulo Neri described her, is evil) that people are suffering from PEOPLE POWER FATIGUE.

Remember this: People who suffer poverty, oppression, neglect and violence every single day of their lives will never grow tired of rallying. People who can't provide enough food for families will never frow tired of rallying. The youth whose future is continually threatened by the [P]resident evil of Malacanang will never grow tired of calling for her ouster. The Filipino people will never grow tired of massing up in millions as long as an illegitimate, puppet and fascist "bitch" continues to stay in power.

I believe its high-time the Filipinos inspire the people all around the world, people like Olafur Skorrdal, and show what Filipinos are made of!

Militants in Iligan City join nation-wide mob

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) led a crowd of more than 300 protesters callign for GMA's ouster today, Feb. 29, at Iligan City plaza. Together with Kalihukan sa Mindanao alang sa Kamatuoran (KAMATUORAN!) and Youth for Accountability and Truth Now! (YOUTH ACT NOW! - Iligan Coalition), the group held an inter-faith prayer rally with prayers and reflections from religious leaders of different faiths.

Anjo Bacarisas, Chairperson of BAYAN-Lanao, addressed the issue of GMA's loss of moral ascendancy as a key reason why the illegitimate president should step down. "Arroyo and her 'hoodlums' continue their plunderous schemes as the Filipino people languish in poverty and discontent", said Bacarisas. He added, "If GMA has a tidbit of decency left in her evil heart, she should resign. But if she resists, then the people will have to take it to the streets and there will certainly be no more room for her graceful exit"

YOUTH ACT NOW! - Iligan Spokesperson Julius Pagarigan chided Arroyo for her "selective memory loss". "The last time I checked my history book, it was people power who catapulted her to the helm of power. And GMA's defiance to heed the people's dictate only confirms her greed for supreme authority", Pagarigan nonchalantly said, to which he earned a loud cheer from the crowd.

The group ended the rally with a torch parade and a noise barrage.