Alice Mary Higgins's blog

While there is much frustration and disapointment at the missed opportunities in Copenhagen, there are still a few reasons to be hopeful in the months ahead. Here are just three...

In a snow covered Copenhagen, some have been turning their thoughts towards Christmas – the lights in the Tivoli gardens still sparkle even if the shine has gone off many of the corporate sponsered Hopenhagen banners which have bedecked the city over the last few weeks.  However there are others who are looking still further ahead. 
 

 ’Let us In!’’Let Us In!’ The Shouts and Crys on Monday night were not coming from Protestors but from the many official participants; scientists, academics, civil society observers, NGOs, media, corporate lobbyists and even a few political representatives who had all registered months in advance to be here at the talks in Copenhagen.  

On the morning of Sunday 13th December in the Rådhuspladsen, Copenhagen’s main Town Hall Square, thousands gathered for one of the most inspiring moments of what had been an extraordinary weekend. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was presenting 512.984 signatures for climate justice over to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer, including over 8,000 from all of you who have joined Trocaire's campaign!

Ana Mahe and Meave Mclynn give a campaigners account from the crowded and colourful streets of Copenhagen where Trocaire campaigners joined 100,00 others to demand climate justice this Saturday.

It was a cold, sunny, crisp day in Copenhagen as We made our way to the 'Flood', a follow  up from the Wave that many of us had been a part of in Dublin and Belfast on December 5th. This meant we already had our outfits at the ready as we joined thousands of other campaigners dressed in blue to symbolise a wave washing through the early morning streets. The first adventure in what would be an extraordinary day of action.

This week seven Trocaire campaigners have travelled to Copenhagen to add their voices to the thousands demanding a fair global climate deal, Here Siobhan Scullion describes their journey there across land and sea!

Wednesday 9th-Friday 11th : Full of enthusiasm and excitement we all gathered at Clery’s Clock with our banners and bags, to begin our pilgrimage to Copenhagen, where the eyes of the world are watching and waiting for an outcome to what has been proclaimed the ‘world’s most important climate summit meeting’.

Recent  high-profile statements from some political leaders including the Danish prime minister and US President have sought to downplay expectations from the crucial climate talks in Copenhagen in December.  They’re talking about settling for a “more realistic outcome”. But Christian Dominguez, one of Trócaire’s partners from Bolivia, offers a different interpretation of what it means to be realistic...

With only two months to go, we are stepping up campaigning for our climate change online action  to the Minister for the Environment so if you know anyone who might want to add their voice and take our action, then get them on board now!

Over the last few days Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, has been hosting a powerful gathering of some of those worst affected by climate change.  African Parliamentarians and African Civil Society came together for a special summit on ‘Climate Equity'.  Equity is a huge issue for African countries who have done least to cause climate change - a person in Malawi produces only 0.7 tonnes of carbon a year whereas someone in Ireland produces nearly 17 tonnes! - yet are getting hit by its worst effects.