Climate Rescue Weblog

It ain't over till the fat lady sings

2009-11-06T20:53:18Z

It’s the last day of the climate negotiations in Barcelona, I’m sitting in my hotel lobby after attending the final session at the negotiations in Barcelona and reflecting on all that has happened - and failed to happen - this week.

For all of the climate experts out there, please forgive me for oversimplifying what has happened behind closed doors between politicians but I’m just tryin’ to keep it real here.

• Industrialised countries have to stop pointing the finger and blaming developing countries. The issue of climate change is too important to be dealt with through political promises. We need a legally binding agreement that governments cannot ignore.
• The countries lowering expectations for Copenhagen are, not surprisingly, the same ones refusing to act – not to name names but… the United States, EU, Australia, Canada and Japan.
• There is enough time. All the pieces are in place. What we are actually missing is political will and leadership from developed countries.

There has been a lot of talk the last couple of days about a fair, ambitious, legally binding deal being impossible by December. But consider this - they also said we wouldn’t get the Climate Convention in 1992 - we did, they said Bush Sr. wouldn’t sign it – but he did; they said we couldn’t get Kyoto - but we did.

]]> They said we wouldn’t get Kyoto into force, but we did. Then they said we wouldn’t get the U.S. back into the negotiations in Bali – but we did – and this, remember, was the Bush administration. We are at the “darkest hour before dawn” – a moment where it all looks incredibly bleak, but everything is still on the table. We’ve been here before and we won and we can do it again.

Expect the unexpected in Copenhagen.

There is no question that Copenhagen must be where we get a fair, ambitious and legally binding deal to stop the severe impacts of climate change. There is just too much at stake for us to wait any longer. They made us a promise two years ago to come up with a plan to stop climate change and the time has come to deliver that plan. In the words of the delegate from Grenada tonight, “Let’s get it on.”

See you all in Copenhagen.

Who is to blame?

2009-11-06T12:36:09Z

It’s the last day of the climate negotiations in Barcelona and while I sit in the Fira center waiting to see what happens next - activists are taking action and calling the US out for being history’s largest polluter and failing to act on climate change. Banners were deployed at Barcelona’s statue of Christopher Columbus (which points towards the U.S.) reading"Climate Chaos, who is to blame?".

There are a few hours left here in Barcelona for negotiators to make sure the stage is set for a fair, ambitious and legally binding deal to be struck in Copenhagen. Let’s see if they can discover the will to do it.

If you read Spanish (or can hit a translate button) you can follow the action in real time.

Greenpeace kicks up a storm

2009-11-05T16:46:20Z

This morning as the delegates strolled into the conference for another day of business as usual, the sky darkened, lightening struck, winds began to swirl and the rain started coming down sideways.Usually sunny Barcelona saw the makings of a pretty serious mock storm (courtesy of Greenpeace activists) to give delegates here a taste of what the future could look like if a fair, ambitious and binding climate deal is not delivered as promised.

Mission Possible: Restoring the carbon-rich peatlands of Indonesia

2009-11-05T13:51:02Z

Here's the latest from Hikmat -- at the Climate Defender's Camp

I am now on the peatland area of Semenanjung Kampar, half an hour away by boat from our camp.

As far as I can see are bushes, grasses, several trees, and bushes again. Man, this is not the rainforest. Semenanjung Kampar has more than 700, 000 hectares of forest, storing more than 2 billion carbon in it. But the latest data shows that almost half of this forest, approximately 300, 000 hectares is already destroyed for plantations.

I'm in the part that's been destroyed.

]]> The peatland on this particular area is damaged because several canals were built a couple of years ago for illegal logging activity. Now the logging activity has stopped, but the canals remain. Draining and damaging the surrounding peatland each and every day.

In one canal, I see about 50 Greenpeace activists and local community working hard building the dam. Under command of Petteri, the dam looks good. They already finished the first wall and continue to build the next one.

We're stopping the greenhouse gas emissions by restoring this place to the normal condition of the rainforest. Big work, big hope considering this peatland is already severely destroyed. But it is not the Mission Impossible! What’s the point of planning the mission if we already feel it’s impossible to achieve the goal? Just call it Mission Possible, or even Better, Mission of Hope. Because no matter how hard it is, there’s always be a hope.

Scientists say that what we're doing here with the community really can restore the condition of the surrounding peatland.

“Much of the carbon released from peatland swamps is the result of draining so the land, or the logs, can be used,” says Professor Jonotoro, a peatlands expert. Professor Jonotoro has been joining our efforts to stop deforestation for quite some time. This friendly man is also very concerned about the forest here.

Jonotoro is the right person to talk to get to know more about the peatland situation. He is from the Ministry of Forestry, and lectures at Lancang Kuning University in Pekan Baru. According to Jonotoro, peatland is made up of a waterlogged store of semi-decomposed vegetation, which squelches underfoot. The deeper the peatland - it can stretch to a depth of more than 15m - the more carbon it holds. “As the water level drops, more and more of the stock of carbon is released into the atmosphere.”

If set on fire - dry peatland can burn for weeks - the fire can be extinguished on the surface, only to continue burning underground and reappear the next day. The paper and palm oil industry uses burning as one way of preparing the land for their plantations.

“By building this dam, we aim to restore the peatland to the rainforest condition” Jonotoro explained.

I asked him just how much this area has been damaged. And once our damming project is finished - how long the restoration process would take. Jonotoro paused and looking at me sharply. I was afraid he no longer wanted to explain further because I’d already asked a lot of questions since we departed from the camp. But no, he grabbed his field hat and said: “Come with me!”

We walked deeper inside the area - being very careful because peatland is unstable. After 20 minutes walking, we arrived at the area surrounded by head high grasses. There was a pipe there and Jonotoro checked it by putting wooden tools in it.

“That’s dry. This place is losing the water table,” he said. He pulled his measurement tools and it showed that the water was 50 centimeters down.

“The best condition for peatland is 20 to 0 centimeters. When this peatland can achieve that condition, the environment can be restored. Usually, we can see the effect for the ecosystem after around three months. The result will depend on many things. But we will definitely get positive results from the damming"

So - there's hope.

-- Hikmat

Protecting paradise

2009-11-05T10:34:33Z

Selamat Sore...my name is Laura, I am a German Greenpeace-activist, writing to you out of one of the last ancient forests - the Paradise forest of Sumatra (I'm in the photo above at the back on the left).

Just over two weeks ago I was given the opportunity to go, for four weeks, to the "Climate Defenders Camp" in Indonesia. I had no idea what I should expect and I had no idea what I would do there, I was just told it would be a lot of hard work. But of course - I said yes.

It was quite a strange feeling to go to a country or even a continent I'd never been to before. But without any ideas, what would happen and without knowing anybody I would meet, I had a good feeling because I knew, that I would meet people from all over the world, who have one thing in common:

The intention of saving the last parts of the Paradise Forest from destruction for palm and acacia plantations. And most importantly - to save the climate, which is changing partly as a result of deforestation.

]]> I arrived last week at the Camp and at this moment I already left eight days, full of work and new experiences behind me with the main activity of building a dam into one of the canals (you can read all about our climate dam in Petterr's updates).

I have to say that the first time in a new culture have been a little strange for me, but it hasn't taken a long time till I got into the daily process and specialy the people made it very easy for me to feel already a little like home and not that lost, how I felt as I landed in Jakarta.

The canal is just half an hour by boat from the camp and depending on the number of people we are going with one up to three wooden motor-boats, which are making a lot of noise. Usually we are leaving the camp at 7am after breakfast and we come back at at about 6 in the evening.

On the way to the canal we were driving on a river which is leading us from the camp up to a beach along the border of the forest. It's always the same way, but from day to day you see it with different eyes and different feelings.

It's really scary to see the dead forest. Big trees which are laying on the ground with their gray branches lifting up high. Or the sudden smell of fire in the air alongside trees which are still alive. Amazing trees, so big and colourful. And from time to time you see groups of monkeys which are jumping around. And it's seeing these things that is motivating me to go every day to the dam again to stop the destruction of the carbon-rich peatlands - and send a signal to wake up world leaders.

Building the dam was pretty hard and at times it felt kind of tedious - all these heavy logs and sand bags! But with the Greenpeace team and locals the work brought a lot of fun and even though each day was a similar kind of work - it never got boring and it's inspiring to work with all these different people - together.

Monday was quite a long day, because we had to wake up at 5pm and we left the camp at 6pm. The reason for the early start was our goal to finish the first dam, which was not possible, because Bono came again. By the way I have to explain, that Bono is not the singer of U2 here - but a big wave which comes each month around the full moon. It's really amazing and the people here are talking a lot about Bono and they are nearly going crazy if they see the wave coming! Bono came around 2 o'clock and from this time we had to stop for a long while, because the water even reached even our little house near the dam, where we often sit to get out of the sun.

While we stopped another team went along the river to bring more sandsacks, which we built up next to the dam.

Finally - it was done! And then I helped to up two new masts, higher than the older ones, to hang a new banner behind the dam. And so we switched the old banner "Climate Change Starts Here" into "Climate Change Stops Here". But with Bono one of the masts started moving, because the ground became very muddy and so we took the banner down until the water went away again. I think it was around about 4pm as we went away with the boats and I have to say that I was already sleeping as I put my first foot into the boat.

By now I am sitting on a bench in the camp and I would really like to tell you more about the way our camp is working and how it looks, but this I will keep for the next time, before I fall asleep again.

Good Night - Selamat Malam

Bondage in Barcelona

2009-11-04T22:02:45Z

We're all wondering what countries are going to deliver in Copenhagen and from what I'm learning this week, some countries are going to do their best to try and fool us. The climate negotiations have arrived at yet another war over words that might prove detrimental to a deal in Copenhagen this December. Check this one out - developing countries are demanding that negotiators stick to the commitment of a legally binding treaty while developed countries seem to be pleased with showboating their new idea of a politically binding agreement. Sound like just semantics to you? May sound like it but consider this: When was the last time you trusted a promise that a politician made to you before they took steps to make good on it?

When I saw this statement- made by a delegate at the negotiations- I immediately thought it was the best way I could explain the difference to my Mom. Have a read, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

“I do not know anything called a politically binding agreement. They are worth very little. Tell me of any politician that delivered on their (election) manifesto,” Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, a delegate with Sudan.

OK, so maybe it sounds like a whole lot of unwarranted distrust to you, so let’s use President Obama as an example. I campaigned and voted for President Obama based on the promises he made. As someone that cares about the environment, I was inspired by his statements about leading the world in the fight against climate change. After he was elected, he talked about returning science to its rightful place and leading the world in a solution to the climate crisis. But just 32 days out, where is the leadership and return to science that my President Obama promised? How much longer do I trust in promises without any accountability?

Money doesn't grow on trees

2009-11-04T21:55:23Z

On a Tuesday, we held a side-event on our plan to reduce emissions deforestation and degradation or REDD. The discussion featured speakers from some of the region's most affected by forest destruction—Brazil, Papau New Guinea, and Indonesia—as on the ground, intimate knowledge of local conditions are essential to designing a successful protection program.

Ending deforestation is a crucial component to tackling climate change since some 20 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions globally come from forest destruction and degradation—more than all the world’s planes, trains, ships, and automobiles.

Greenpeace has proposed a plan for REDD that strives to achieve real, verifiable emissions reductions with a system that protects the rights of indigenous peoples and maintains the irreplaceable biodiversity of tropical forests with a fund-based financing program.

Brazil has already approved a funding mechanism, the Amazon Fund, which is much touted at the climate talks. Indonesia’s support today of an Indonesian Fund is an indication that a flexible approach to a REDD fund can be a big win not only for the climate but also for the forests, their biodiversity and the peoples that depend on them.

]]> In Barcelona Greenpeace is working to get a REDD deal with the following components:

-One that doesn’t treat tropical forests only as carbon sinks, but recognizes and preserves their biodiversity and the rights of the indigenous people and other forest dependent communities that dwell there.

-One that does not create a loophole for industrialized countries to avoid emissions reductions or logging companies to shift their practices elsewhere. But instead ensures absolute emissions reductions in tropical forests and preserves incentives for industrialized countries to reduce domestic emissions dramatically.

Prevented deforestation should not be turned into emission allowances for countries. Forest offsets would crash the international carbon market and allow the coal industry to continue building power stations in the future.

The biggest loser

2009-11-04T18:17:27Z

Oil is already a losing horse. It is a non-renewable and dwindling source of energy, and according to a study by Association For the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO-USA) we already reached peak oil - in 2005. Since we have already burned the majority of our oil resources from this point on oil only gets more expensive and difficult to find, process, and use. (Not to mention that continuing to burn whatever is left will spell climate catastrophe.) It is high time to recognize the losing nature of oil and move on - and many of us already have.

But the oil industry is having serious trouble coming to terms with its status as 'loser'. Many other losers can probably sympathize. First there is denial: the oil industry continues to ignore winning energy strategies (renewables!) and instead shows off its own unique brand of innovation by finding many new, ridiculously costly and massively destructive ways to flog its own (losing and) dead horse. A good example of this flogging? Tar sands oil.

]]> "Due to their extreme energy intensity, the tar sands have a higher carbon footprint than any other commercial oil product on the planet." - Dirty Oil: How the tar sands are fueling the global climate crisis

It makes no sense to continue to exploit a resource that is costing us so much - environmentally and financially. Except to the oil industry, still enshrouded in a heavy fog of denial and determined to continue with business as usual: flogging the you-know-what out of that dead, dead horse - at the expense of our planet and future.

What can wake up the oil industry? What can convince them to accept that oil is a loser - and tar sands oil is the biggest loser of all?

Copenhagen can.

More specifically, a strong climate agreement can, and this agreement must happen at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen. Today, The Times Online put it perfectly: "The prospect of a successful climate deal in Copenhagen threatens to hit the [oil] industry with a cost that could drive it out of business: international carbon regulation ... As one of the most carbon intensive fuels around, the Canadian oil sands industry would be one of the biggest losers." Not just any loser - the biggest.
(*That was one of two articles in The Times today on the dirty business that is tar sands oil.)

The Energy Editor at The Times concludes that "the battle for the future of the tar sands will be raging in Copenhagen" - but actually it isn't really about the future of the tar sands. It's about you.

The battle for our collective futures is what Copenhagen and a climate agreement are all about. Not letting the oil industry - and destructive projects like tar sands development - take that from us is the struggle.

The shift to renewables is possible - is absolutely critical. The oil industry and other losers will tell you that this shift is too expensive and will take too long. But when it comes to our energy future - we have passed the point of debate.

Jeff Siegal announced the end of the debate very pointedly yesterday: "Come talk to me after the last bit of remaining fresh water we have has been polluted by tar sands operations and mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants ... when the air's toxic and the water is no longer safe to drink - debate on energy costs will be irrelevant."

The messages are already out there: Stop the tar sands. Save the climate. Energy [R]evolution now.

In Canada, our activists brought the message directly to the tar sands themselves:

The G20 were given fair warning in Pittsburgh:

In France a Total (tar sands investor) refinery was occupied and labeled a 'climate crime':

And just this week, in Barcelona (currently hosting the UNFCCC meeting that is the last step in the climate negotiation process before Copenhagen) Save the climate! Salvad el clima!:

We need to take these messages all the way to Copenhagen, where the creation of a just and binding climate agreement can say loudly and clearly to the oil industry: move past the denial, accept that oil is a loser - and leave that poor horse alone! It's really and truly dead.

>>You can send your own personal climate message to Copenhagen.
>>Learn more about our Stop the Tar Sands campaign
>>Tweet in support of #stoptarsands!

Indonesia's rainforests and the climate crisis

2009-11-04T16:35:35Z

Daniel Kessler - from our office in the US, writes on the Huffington Post blog.

I'm on the ground in Sumatra at Greenpeace's Climate Defenders Camp. We're here to let world leaders know that this is ground zero for deforestation and if immediate action isn't taken to end the destruction of our rainforests, climate catastrophe is all but assured.

Southeast Asia is the region most exposed to and least prepared for the impacts of climate change, according to the Asian Development Bank. The ADB warns that the poor — and especially women — are the most vulnerable. Approximately 2.2 billion Asians are subsistence farmers; they are already experiencing falling crop yields caused by floods, droughts, erratic rainfall and other climate change impacts.

As well as supporting biodiversity and forest-dwelling communities, forests and their soils are huge carbon stores; they contain nearly 300 billion tones of carbon. That is 40 times more carbon than we currently emit to the atmosphere every year.

]]> Tropical forest destruction accounts for about a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than all the world's trains, planes and cars put together. Therefore, we can only avert a climate crisis if world leaders commit to deep and binding cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions from both fossil fuels and deforestation at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen.

Globally, more than one million hectares of forest, mostly tropical rainforest, is destroyed every month — that is an area of forest the size of a soccer field every two seconds. Destruction and degradation of forests drives climate change in two ways. First, the clearing and burning of forests releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; and second, the area of forest that absorbs carbon dioxide is reduced. Their role in regulating the climate is so crucial that if we destroy the last tropical forests, we will likely lose the battle against climate change.

Indonesia's rainforests and peatlands

On the ground, it's easy to see the massive destruction that has taken place here. A drive through the Kampar Peninsula reveals acre after acre of forest conversion from healthy rainforest to palm oil plantations. There is no sign of animal life or biodiversity — just row after row of palm. The roads are congested with trucks carrying out palm kernels and the sky is filled with the smoke from hundreds of fires set to clear the land for planting.

Indonesia is a stark example of the need for a robust plan and the provision of international funds to protect tropical forests. According to the latest available figures, it has one of the fastest rates of deforestation. This emits so much CO2 that Indonesia is the third largest climate polluter, after China and the US.

The reason these emissions are so high is twofold. It is caused by the rapid rate of deforestation, and the drainage and burning of the carbon rich peat soil the forests grow on. Deforestation of tropical forests is driven by global demand for products like paper, palm oil (which is used in toothpaste), chocolate, and as a biofuel. Since 1950, over 182 million acres of Indonesia's rainforests have been destroyed completely and others have been seriously degraded.

In a recent report, the Indonesian Government identified the oil palm, pulp and paper, agriculture, and logging industries as those primarily responsible for draining peat, for destroying its forests, and for causing the country's enormous CO2 emissions. It predicts that, unless action is taken, these emissions will continue to increase.

However, the government continues to hand out the concessions that allow these companies to destroy the remaining rainforest. The Indonesian government has laws to protect some of these carbon-rich peat areas but it fails to enforce the law and even continues to grant permits to companies to destroy them. Under Indonesian law, it is prohibited to develop or clear the forest and to drain any peat if it is deeper than three meters. Over 80% of Kampar's peat is deeper than that, but companies are still granted licenses to destroy its forests and peatlands. Only 10% of the peatlands that remain intact are officially "protected". The remaining 90% is under immediate threat, encircled by encroaching pulp and paper companies. They have been allocated for conversion in spite of the law.

The Copenhagen Solution

International governments give companies that are destroying the rainforest here an incentive to keep up business as usual and drive climate change by allowing imports of paper and palm oil products that come from forest destruction. With the UN Copenhagen Climate Summit just around the corner, the Heads of State of developed countries must show real leadership and secure a robust climate deal in December that includes a global funding mechanism that will transfer $42 billion annually from industrialized countries to poor forested countries like Indonesia, Congo, and Brazil, with the aim of ending deforestation by 2020. Such a deal must deliver substantial emissions reductions from deforestation as well as protect wildlife and respect the rights of forest dwelling people. It must also ensure that money does not end up in the hands of those responsible for forest destruction, like those in the logging industry.

Greenpeace is also calling on Indonesia's President Yudhoyono to commit to zero deforestation by 2015 in Indonesia and to implement an immediate moratorium on the destruction of forests and peatlands to give the climate some breathing space while the forest protection plans are put into action.

President Obama can do his part by coming to Copenhagen to attend the negotiations himself and help push other world leaders to commit to funding solutions to end deforestation. Obama must show leadership now by pushing Congress to pass legislation that will cap our emissions at the levels scientists say is safe and that will help pay for a global funding mechanism for forests. The bills in Congress are too weak and the international talks are veering off course. Now is the time for action from President Obama.

--Daniel

“Please save our home”

2009-11-04T13:16:43Z

Aerial view between land clearing and Acacia plantations owned by the two giant pulp and paper producers, Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd. (APRIL) and Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) at Pelalawan, Riau province, Indonesia
©Ardiles/Greenpeace

From Bustar -- Campaigner at the Climate Defenders Camp

“Our homes are from the forest, our transports are from the forest, our lives are from the forest... Please help us to save our home” Then Mr. Yusup wasn't able to continue his words - as he fell into tears facing US Ambassador for Indonesia and First Secretary of UK Ambassador for Indonesia on their visit to the Kampar Peninsula - invited by Greenpeace. They came to witness in person the latest condition of the Kampar Peninsula as well as to humbly encounter the Teluk Meranti communities and listening directly to their hopes and devastation.

This visit took place before the opening of Climate Defenders Camp. I had the privilege to guide the guests and became the interpreter for them and the communities - who were very enthusiastic regarding this visit.

The excursion for our guests started from Pekanbaru Airport in Riau and continued with a helicopter flight. As soon as we left the airport - there was a clear effort to disrupt our journey by people who were opposed to our work here. They used weather conditions as an excuse and the deforestation company attempted to meet the ambassador but was openly denied.

The helicopter flight to Teluk Meranti took less than one hour and on that journey the ambassador had the chance to witness the current forest destruction - and how it literally impacts climate change and the magnificent beauty of what’s left in Kampar Peninsula.

]]> The helicopter who took the US Ambassador landed in a football field in the midst of Teluk Meranti, pleasantly welcomed by us and the communities who have eagerly awaited their visit. From the football field, the ambassador was taken by motorcycle by one of the locals to the meeting point. As soon as he got off the bike -- the forest communities were not able hold back the messages that came from their hearts. They asked for urgent international support to help save the Kampar Peninsula forest which is important for their local economy.

The ambassador also had the opportunity to observe our Climate Defenders Camp which was almost finished at the time and discovered the drastic situation in Kampar forest. He greeted local communities while they were collecting forest wood for their houses and other village necessities.

“Indonesia is a sovereign country and therefore it is the Indonesian government's responsibility to save the forests and communities. We intend to help in accordance with our capacity however this society lies at the frontline and the choice to save the forest is in their hands” said the ambassador’s prior to leaving the Teluk Meranti village.

The US is the biggest carbon emitter in the world. They are responsible for cutting their greenhouse gas emission in order to save our climate. The destruction happening in Indonesia is strongly related with the demand from consumer countries - one of which is US. Thus developed countries such as the US also take a huge part of responsibility in saving Indonesian forests.

This month, President Obama will visit Southeast Asia and hopefully this message of change can be directly delivered to the President through the ambassador - and ensure that President Obama is one of the leaders to push the change in saving the forests, climate and world society – including those in Teluk Meranti.

------Bustar--------

Arctic sea ice redux

2009-11-04T09:15:41Z

The Arctic Meltdown expedition ended a month ago already, but this hasn't stopped me from still obsessing over Arctic sea ice and how it's been changing.
The news wasn't good this summer, and still isn't today.

]]>
First of all, the results of the study of the sea ice minimum that occurred in September are a bit depressing. Clearly, multi-year sea ice is disappearing, leaving space open for younger ice, more likely to melt the next year.
In addition, the latest results from October show that the sea ice is recovering much slower than in previous years. It is now at the second lowest extent on record for October, barely above the freaky low record from 2007.

I start my days with a comparison of the sea ice extent today and thirty years ago. It doesn't look pretty.

From Africa to the Arctic, the world is feeling the effects of climate change. There is no more time for discussions, we need action.

Mèlanie Laurent joins the Climate Defenders Camp

2009-11-03T23:09:57Z

Actress Mèlanie Laurent is witnessing deforestation - where climate change starts

From Hikmat, media officer at the Climate Defenders Camp in Indonesia

No flashlights. No red carpets. Don’t talk about fancy five-star hotel because here we don’t even have a proper toilet.

But Inglourious Basterds superstar Mélanie Laurent seems like she's really enjoying life at Greenpeace's Climate Defenders Camp, in the heart of Indonesia's tropical forest, Semenanjung Kampar, Riau Province.

“I miss my comfortable bed, though. But I really am enjoying my stay here,” said Mélanie in the middle of a sunny morning conversation.

We had just finished breakfast. Everyone was gathering in the main area of the camp. Not luxurious but we've got everything that we need: Coffee, milk, bread, fried rice, and friends.

About twenty activists were preparing their gear for the damming activity. They were willing and ready to pull another hard and tiring day of work. Mlanie had already prepared for the trip to Kerumutan Conservation Area to see the beauty of the untouched peatland forest on this beautiful Sunday morning.

]]> Kerumutan is two hours by boat. I am sure Mélanie will enjoy the surroundings. But mother nature's beauty is not always the scenery for her trip to Sumatra. Mélanie has been on this Greenpeace trip since last Friday, and she has witnessed a lot of horrible forest destruction.

On our way to Kampar Peninsula last Friday, we stopped at Pangkalan Bunut, at PT, the Arara Abadi concession area. Mélanie was just stunned seeing the massive peatland forest being destroyed by canals and being burned for land clearing.

“It’s horrible. I am really sad to see how this once beautiful forest now more looks like a war zone,” she said. She couldn’t stop capturing this massive destruction with her digital camera.

Mélanie understands that forests are the lungs of the world and shouldn’t be destroyed like that. The 26 year old actress wants that to stop, and she knows that Greenpeace's Climate Defenders Camp is here to stop deforestation.

“I am impressed with all of Greenpeace's efforts here. What makes me more impressed is the spirit, I’ve visited the dam-building activity and see everyone working really hard. But I’ve never seen anyone looking down, everyone was working with passion and the spirit is high.”

Through the sparks in her beautiful eyes I can see that she really meant what she said. And I believe when she said she really likes the life at the camp. Blistering heat, bugs and mosquitos can not keep her from enjoying herself. For the past two days Mélanie has mixed with all the activists and local communities at the camp. Having lunch and dinner together, sharing the beautiful scenery of Kampar River, even hanging out and singing together during night time.

“In this camp, everyone treated everybody with respect. I am glad everybody treated me the same, not as an actress. Without flashlights and public attention, I can really enjoy myself here,” Mélanie smiled.

No flashlights and no red carpet for Mélanie. Just a lot of friends who share the common interest and objective: to stop deforestation!

-Hikmat

Walk outs and Danish Fossils in Barcelona

2009-11-03T13:40:42Z

UPDATE: The walk out has ended, Kyoto Protocol negotiations will resume again tomorrow. Turns there was some drama and the walk out by the Africa Group proved to be an effective way to get developed countries to realize that business as usual will no longer be tolerated!

The climate talks in Barcelona started with high drama when all negotiations under the Kyoto Protocol (apart from industrialized country targets) were suspended. There was a walk out in the morning and long drawn out moments of silence in the afternoon. Not exactly what springs to mind when you think of successful negotiations, is it?

The suspension means that work on mechanisms, response measures and rules for land use and forestry has ground to a halt. The upside of the suspension is that the inadequate targets that industrialized countries put forward are now under the spotlight. The downside, of course is that the Kyoto architecture and rules that need to be improved are further jeopardized by the delay. For the simple version of what happened, check out the breakdown from Geoff Keeys, our campaigner from New Zealand.

In other news, Denmark was awarded first place ‘Fossil of the Day’ for promoting a ‘politically binding’ agreement as an alternative to a ‘legally binding’ agreement. This is a deliberate attempt by the hosts of the Summit in December to muddy the legal waters. What we need in Copenhagen is an agreement that is legally binding at the international level. For Denmark to suggest anything less, is just providing a way out for governments that are already downplaying or attempting to weaken their responsibility of the outcome. Take Canada for instance, they also received an award for their role in the attempt to shirk legal responsibility.

Stay tuned for more news from inside the talks, I'll be getting the low down from our campaigners and updating you as soon as I can manage to understand it.

We made the morning paper!

2009-11-03T12:10:30Z

Greenpeace activists spent the first day of the climate talks in Barcelona demanding action on climate change from world leaders. After more than 10 hours at the Sagrada Familia, activists scaled the cranes once again to unfurl a 600 metre banner with the message "World leaders, climate make the call" Our call for action continues today as a photo of the action landed on the cover of El País!

Action Pact in Barcelona

2009-11-02T10:59:05Z

The public demand for action on climate change is palpable this morning in Barcelona.

Today marks the beginning the final round of climate talks before December's UN climate summit in Copenhagen – the negotiators have one week to set the stage for the promised deal to stop climate chaos at the summit in December.

As we speak, 23 activists are taking action the Sagrada Familia, demanding world leaders to make the call and push the negotiators to act in Barcelona. While our climbers worked to deploy 3 banners at the Sagrada Familia, those of us not in harnesses joined our partners from TckTckTck to give negotiators a wake up call as they entered the conference center for beginning of the talks.

Hundreds of alarm clocks rang out simultaneously sounding the climate alarm for the negotiators - who seem to have fallen asleep at the wheel-to wake up, put their feet back on the accelerator and help get these negotiations back on track.

If negotiators are going to lay the groundwork for a fair, ambitious and legally binding deal (these are all of the things that the experts say we need for the deal to work) then they need direction from the world leaders. Stand up and make your voice heard, demand a pact to act on climate change.

Watch this space - I’ll be in Barcelona all week, following the negotiations and letting you know if world leaders are making the call for this week’s negotiations to succeed.