Solar Generation

Friday 14 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

This morning, I walked from the bus stop towards the conference centre, cannot really believe that it is the last day. Suddenly, there was some sort of empty feeling inside. Before I know, I have had such a happy time with these new friends and all the activities we had done together. We work together; we eat together; we play together; we laugh together; we stay up late and feel tired together….for a common goal to urge action against climate change. Some permanent stamps onto the heart are certainly there, at least for me.

The feeling was greatly intensified when listening to the international youth speech in the main plenary. One American, one Canadian, and one Indonesian represented voices of all the youth in this conference.

“…I have a coin here. The flip of this coin represents gambling with our future…Our future is at stake. As climate change accelerates, and your decisions unfold, we will look back at this moment, this conference. History will judge whether you did enough to give us a planet worth living in.

…The climate emergency is our best and possibly last opportunity to create a global consciousness. We are inspired by those of you who taking true leadership, both at home and internationally. We are ashamed of the so-called “leaders” who are delaying action in this UN process and who are actively compromising our future.

…Youth around the world are raising to the challenge…But all this will not be enough without strong action from you. We have put our trust in you. We need a Bali Breakthrough – now…The world is watching, the youth is rising. Join us.”

Such strong statement ended with little voice of a small girl reading out her poem…

“It’s haunting me A crowd of he’s and she’s I’m not a hero I’m not even a big show Every time I look cameras as flashing me in the eye.

It would surprise them if they knew
I was only a little girl who is scared
the world will die.”

Wonderful speech inside was followed by another action outside. All the youth gathered with huge banners and flags of countries around the world. Thousands photographers squeezed in to take shots of youth messages and send them out to the world.

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

The last day seemed to end early. We wrapped up our booths by 2pm. Everyone now separates to finish up what they have to do; and this is mine to finish. This blog has taken a fair amount of my time here; I sometimes stayed up late having to finish the stories. Sometimes, I feel so tired of it but it has become a part of my life here, my invaluable experience which would like to share with others whom I may not even know. Yet, that fact does not matter because we share the same ideal…the same future. I only hope that the story of SolarGeneration at UNFCCC Bali 2007 will inspire some to join us. It does not matter who you are, what you are good at, or how much you know. We have learnt so much from coming here, attending the events and doing all the activities. What we learnt is not only scientific facts about climate change but what we learnt includes unexplainably a lot more. It is very interesting to listen to ministers discussing the fate of the world, to see how many people are out there trying to save the planet through various means, and most importantly, to know what we are capable of to make a change.

This is an end but is also a beginning. After this conference, we all still have a lot more to do back home…a long path lay before us…

Posted by Woon at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thursday 13 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

Normal sleeping hours were not really enough to recharge my battery after a long day like yesterday; but excitement of the morning got me up back on track again.

This morning, we were trying to find possibility to meet the president of COP again. We waited in front of the plenary room for a big while but when he came, there were swarming people around him. Impossibility, we had to accept.

On the other hand, I found myself so lucky during the disappointment. Standing around the plenary hall’s entrance, I finally met the head of the delegation from Thailand! His Excellency Yongyuth from the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment. I was so excited to talk to him but he was very nice in explaining how we support the Kyoto Protocol. Energy efficiency is the main focus for us while a few projects on alternative energies are in process. Although it was a brief talk with him, I had a chance to discuss with other delegates in the team as well. One of them is actually a lecturer in my university; she is also a member of the National Legislative Assembly. A good response, I felt. More works will has to be continued after getting back home…

Coming back to the booth with a big smile, we were thinking hard for other alternatives to meet the president of COP. Suddenly, our photographer ran in and gave us a great news. “He is out! Come on quick!” Without any further words, we all ran to the front entrance. I actually put on our uniform, the red “Kyoto Just Do It!” t-shirt, while running. And there, we got him! Galih presented him a big postcard bearing a message from SolarGeneration, the lanyard, and the Kyoto fan. Great shots, we got out of that as well as big smiles on everyone face. We did it finally! Finally.

Photpgraph by Paul Hilton

Posted by Woon at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wednesday 12 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

My day started off really early. Last night before going to bed, we all hoped not to get a call from Clem meaning everything is fine and we can sleep until 7am. Yet, life is always tough. I did got a call from Clem at 5am. In less than half an hour, 5 of us left to the Greenpeace office to join Res who was the first one to check the situation. A few of the small balloons were falling, so we produced another set to add in. Although feeling very sleeping on the way there, once started working, I felt pretty happy. Indeed, it is these late night and early morning working experience we share that will remain when we are apart. Everyone joined effort and gave up personal wants to pursue a common goal. Plus, early morning is a nice time when everything starts fresh and peacefully. My walks to transport the balloons from the office to the activity area (between security check and the conference centre) were delighting with the sun rise.

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

We continued to prepare more balloon as we knew more would be needed by noon before we start our activity. Also, we lined up to give invitations right after delegates passed the security check point. Then, it came the time: 1pm. An array of balloons with eyes on them greeted delegates as they enter the path way. A huge banner being held up by 2 big eye balloons was located at the end of the line making a statement “WE ARE WATCHING YOU”. We stood beside the banner in the hot sun. For more than an hour, we waited there…and the most important expected guest did not come: Mr.Rachmat Witoelar, the president of COP/MOP. Under a tight schedule and a slight delay in his previous activity, he was unable to join us any longer.

There is no need to say how disappointing it was. A feeling of being left unheard made me have lunch in silence. Yet, I must admit that the disappointment was not everything; it was not the worst possible feeling we had because, as Res mentioned in the debriefing later at night, we achieved our internal success: team spirit.

Posted by Woon at 4:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday 11 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

Today should be marked for a few reasons. It was today ten years ago that the most essential legally binding agreement to address climate change received its name from where it was founded: Kyoto. It is today that the Kyoto protocol celebrates its birthday for the first time. It is today that one of the Greenpeace International members mentioned to me, “I have never seen so many presses in Greenpeace event before.” Thus, today is truly a remarkable day for us all.

By 1pm., we were already preparing a huge birthday cake behind the booth area. Indeed, it was the biggest cake I have ever seen in my entire life: comparable to a height of a person! Soon, it was time to move the cake to the side entrance of the auditorium. Three people were required to move the cake although it was already on a movable plate. Thus, it was striking enough to draw public attention and automatically invite them to join our special event at 2pm.

Photograph by Paul Hilton

In particular, the presses were very excited about the cake; in a few minutes, we were surrounded by cameras and news reporters. Yet, the excitement peaked when we entered the auditorium and invited Mr.Ichiro Kamashito, the Environment minister of Japan, to cut the cake. The media on the ground and on the stage formed a circle embracing us. At the moment, if the Kyoto protocol was to have feelings, it must have felt a warm welcome mankind has for its existence. We all came to honour and cherish it as I addressed in my speech after we moved out and settled at the side entrance once again.

"I stand before you today as a representative of SolarGeneration, an international youth group initiated by Greenpeace, embracing renewable energies in addressing climate change. We all gather here today to celebrate the Kyoto protocol’s birthday.

Ten years ago, the protocol was agreed upon to battle the most dangerous threat to our planet: climate change. Today, we challenge government to honour the Kyoto protocol. It has passed its childhood years and is now entering its teen years. Thus, it is our responsibility to ensure its mature growth. Industrialized nations must take a deeper commitment now while developing countries should decarbonize their growth in the 2nd commitment period.

The youth expects nothing less than leadership from Japan, as the host country ten yeas before, in honouring the protocol. Thus, on this occasion, I would like to invite the Environment minister of Japanese to sing a birthday song to the Kyoto protocol with us."

Photograph by Paul Hilton

Ministers, delegates, youth, media, and other participants joined in singing such a lovely birthday song. The cake was then distributed to everyone on a plate made of leaves with a little flag of SolarGeneration-Greenpeace on it; the queue kept continuing for more than an hour. From this event, I came to realize that cutting and distributing cakes could be a tiring task when the cake was so huge and the queue was so long. Nevertheless, we were so happy about people’s participation that we forgot that we needed a rest. All we hope is that people will stand by side of the Kyoto protocol, what they came to celebrate and honour today.

Photograph by Paul Hilton

Posted by Woon at 3:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Monday 10 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

It was an unexciting but good day for me. My morning task along with Res and Christy was a factory work to produce a thousand small flags of SolarGen to be put on the Kyoto protocol’s birthday cake. This kind of brainless work might be boring for some but it gave me a free space to rest my mind as well as to talk to my fellows while the hands kept working.

After that, I attended couples of side events. The Bali Convention Centre is where formal meetings and discussions of parties occur while most of the side events offered by various organizations take place in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 15 minutes away by foot. I paid my visit to the Plenary I on my very first day here; yet, this was my first time to the Subsidiary Body of Implementation (SBI) in Plenary II. Subsidiary bodies exist for parties to discuss more in details and settle specific issues. Today’s issue was the drafting paper on the timetable by Ad-Hog Working Group (AWG).

This is by no mean to make anyone understand what I am talking about. Rather, I want to show how complicated it is and share my feeling. I sat in the room listening for more than half an hour and was lost in the conversation. The pattern reminded me of law drafting where at all the time, people referred to specific paragraph or phrase and fight over it. Without solid background understanding, it is very difficult to know what and why they are talking about that issue.

On the contrary, a side event by World Trade Organization (WTO) was much easier to understand. WTO presentation and criticisms from Q&A seemed to battle over the role of WTO in fight against climate change. Some blamed the trading sector and urged it to stay as far away as possible. However, it might be the time when every sector has to cooperate to achieve a common goal of humanity. Certainly, I need to learn more about this issue.

Posted by Woon at 3:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday 8 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

It was a relatively light day we had. The morning was spent with skill sharing workshop on communication with delegates. Many difficulties each of us faced during the past week were raised and discussed. Then, the afternoon was an open slot. I planned to attend a side event while others would join the parade of the Global Day of Action. Yet, today is not our day. I forgot my badge and had to give up my initial plan. Join others, I changed my mind but we all were too late for the parade too! Thus, we ended up enjoying ourselves at the Renon park; it was actually great as we had a chance to talk and know each other outside the working realm.

Soon, it was time to join other volunteers at the warehouse to do a debriefing about our activities, especially the Solar Festival. I realized how important briefing and debriefing are; they are a significant process of learning. We were under a time constraint though. By 9pm., we left to visit the Rainbow Warrior.

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

The first thing we did was putting our hands on the ship as if we shake hand and say hi. For some reasons, I felt at ease on this ship and I believe many of us share such feeling. The captain was also very welcoming; he gave us a tour around. After half an hour, a few people already asked him how to be a part of the crew and I was one of them. The Rainbow Warrior has gone through battles by peace to save our world from human hands; the spirit is there, we can feel.

Photograph by Clementine Thierry

We all had our packed meal there and enjoyed ourselves around. It was an unforgettable scene but I was particularly enchanted by the starry night above and totally forgot that I was so tired.

Posted by Woon at 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Friday 7 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

As we had such a limited time yesterday, we hoped to discuss the main issues more in details today at our 3pm. meeting. The main concerns are the kind of organization we want to have and the mission statement. Having so many interesting events going on here, I initially wished the meeting to be brief. However, it did not seem to be so.

We started off being a bit loss in direction. Yet, the reason soon revealed why it was so. When we do not know what we need, it was naturally difficult to know what we want to have. Thus, we stepped back to have a more firm foundation; the first step is to identify the needs, looking from bottom up. Our special guests from the International Youth Group made a significant contribution as well. “Don’t rush it. Do it when the time is right, not when the time is convenient.” That was the words of advice from their personal experience. Definitely, more research on existing organizations and their needs must be done and that will be the purpose of our network’s existence. For this initial stage, we see that basic skill sharing and capacity building among existing organizations will help us to perform better. Also, we can be another step toward the establishment of International Youth Network as now, we have American, African, and Australian network already. Asian ones should get united too in order to work our way up to international level.

The picture became much clearer. A long path lays before us to walk on. Yet, for now, I walked away from the meeting into the plenary hall with a light smile.

Posted by Woon at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Friday 7 Dec 2007
by Razceljan SG-Philippines

Mr. Solarsunshine painted the surrounding scene when we arrived at the fishing community to join the fishermen for the flotilla together with SV Rainbow Warrior – the “legend”, according to Chris, one of the SolarGen from Indonesia.

The outrigger boats were colorful with the banners on each of them that states: SAVE THE OCEANS; SAVE THE CORAL REEFS; and SAVE THE CLIMATE. Some were translated in Balinese language. The local fisherfolks have already felt the impact of climate change (like coral bleaching, sea level rise, sea water encroachment) to their livelihood and they want to raise this concern to the ‘authorities’ to do something. It was the reason why they joined the flotilla to support the organization’s action to help ‘save the climate’.

After attaching all the banners on the boat, each of us boarded to separate boats and off we went all to sea to convene with the ‘mother ship’.

The Beaufort level was 1 – meaning, the sea was choppy, but big waves curl up upon hitting the coast to the surfers’ delight. The colorful little boats floating in unison towards the emerging silhouette of the Rainbow Warrior was a wonderful sight of collective force.

Photograph by Ivy Londa

As we got closer to the Rainbow Warrior, the Beatles’ song “Magical Mystery Tour” streamed into my brain and I started singing it. But I was actually listening to Jack Johnson’s “Bubble Toes” with my mp3. Our outrigger boat finally got too close to the ‘mother ship’ and the boatman drove in circle of the Rainbow Warrior to my delight seeing the “flagship of Greenpeace”.

The crew members of the boat were working on putting the big banner. They were climbing the mast head. And then I saw Jay from the Philippines (obviously recognizable with his ‘Pilipinas, Go Renewable! Shirt) – the fantastic master chef at the Skill Share last October and now cooking for the crew of the ship.

Photograph by Razcel Jan Luiz Salvarita

I found out that we were not the only group joining Rainbow Warrior. The Indonesian POLISI (police) and Navy’s boat were also around us. A little later, the Rainbow Warrior started moving fast past most of the boats and the police intervention began.

The armed policemen riding the dinghy asked us to move back and not to follow the RW. The dinghy tried to swerve right in front of us to create waves for us to change course, which we did not do. We still pushed through towards the coast though not to the port to land and go back to the guest house. We had a quick debriefing with Mark Dia from the Philippines – the regional coordinator for the Road to Bali project.

All of us enjoyed the excitement in the morning’s action, especially the police intervention. The encounter with Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior sparked great inspiration upon me to keep on with the movement and become one of the ‘flagships’ of my generation.

Rainbow Warrior brings a symbol of hope for a colourful and positive future.

Long Live Rainbow Warrior!

Posted by Woon at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday 6 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

It was such a busy day where I participated in the face painting activity, helped with our P-Bear wandering activity, and joined an Asian Youth meeting right before the youth side event started at 8pm. The activities were as long as the given sentence. I must admit that after the meeting, I felt totally tired but I was scheduled to deliver a short presentation about SolarGeneration along with Razcel at the youth side event. At the point, I really wondered whether I will be able to speak properly for the presentation. Well, the show must go on; and it was not that bad. We gave the over all picture of SolarGeneration and selected 3 countries to show our activities: SG-Philippines, SG-Thailand, and newly launched SG-Indonesia.

Yet, more interestingly, we all had a chance to know many other youth groups from all around the globe. Different continents, different cultures, different activities, we all share the mission to protect our future from climate change threats. Some groups are rather advanced in their organizations and projects while some others are struggling to lay down foundation. Regardless location and level of experience, we were willing to listen and share what we have. Lessons learnt were shared. Connections were made.

Posted by Woon at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday 6 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

After join the international youth activity, we had another activity of own on this early evening. The P-Bear was out wandering once again. He is now a homeless because his icy home in the Artic is melting. The P(oor)-Bear becomes a climate refugee who wants to participate in this conference and demand his home back. To do that, he needs a room to share; he wandered around asking delegates for a little space for him at night. Whether or not he got a room to share, Ivy soon had to take off the suit before she would actually melt! The journey of the P-Bear is yet to be continued…

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

Posted by Woon at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday 6 Dec 2007
by Razceljan SG-Philippines

Together with the International Youth delegation, I joined them outside the center for the action of the day: climate carnival and face painting.

I helped prepared the campaign materials like the “Climate Roulette” and also the poster I made with an illustration of an animated planet with a statement that reads: Earth Hug!

Then we all moved outside and waited for the right time for the country delegates and negotiators to go out for lunch. The media swarmed the area already and by then, we got the ‘go’ signal to start the event. Other delegates were holding the posters while another one was joggling. I joined the two other delegates offering our faces to be painted by a party delegate to paint the future in our faces. My face was the first one to get painted by a delegate from Uganda’s Ministry of the Environment and another delegate from the Philippines painted the face of the girl next to me.

Photograph by Accestia Christy

While looking around, I saw Koreans with a Polar Bear head dress. I decided to borrow one of the bears and used it which was pretty cute. After all the faces were painted, we performed the classis “It’s getting hot in here” dance.

Undeniably, the creative spirit of the youth loosens up the intense atmosphere in the conference – such a good way to feel fine.

Posted by Woon at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wednesday 5 Dec 2007
by Razceljan SG-Philippines

Today, we spent the morning in the receiving room of the campaigner and listened to Shai, GPSEA campaigner who explained the processes in the COP/MOP and also tackled the position of Greenpeace in the climate issue and deforestation. He also shared to us the interesting finding of Habbo indicating 74 percent of the youth recognizing climate change as a “serious problem”.

We were then separated into two groups: first was the creative team and second, the group that will work at the booth. I joined both team as I went back to the center and attended a side event on Asia’s; and then went back to the guest house to help the rest of the team paint the eyes on the dragon kite.

Photograph by Razcel Jan Luiz Salvarita

It was a good break after all – the art therapy was a simple relief from the daily routine inside the center. Artpaix!

Posted by Woon at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday 4 Dec 2007
by Razceljan SG-Philippines

Assignment of the day: mind-boggling Solar Quiz Master game.

The moment we arrived in the center, we spent few minutes discussing the day’s tasks and finalizing the questions for the quiz like: “Kyoto, just do it!” What is it?

a. The last campaign of a famous shoes company
b. A Japanese song
c. SolarGeneration’s message at the UN Conference in Bali

Mind-boggling enough? If one’s smart enough to answer all the questions, a trip to the Rainbow Warrior – the flagship of Greenpeace – is at stake!

I teamed up with Augustin (or Augus of SG France) to design the questionnaire and the posters to advertise the game. We made our way to the Greenpeace office in pedal power transport mode – bicycles were made available within the center to move easily around the area.

Augus started the initial layout while I worked on the poster design using available whiteboard markers. We caught up with Mala, one of the Indonesian delegates, filing GP statements ready for release.

Way past 12 noon, we joined the team for a short lunch at the beach and after which, we separated ways. Augus and I went back to the office to finish the work while the rest of the team went to the Grand Hyatt for the Greenpeace side event on “Reducing emissions from deforestation.”

We got caught in the rain on our way back to the center. Galih, Augus, and Chris helped prepare the mobile poster while the rest of the team did some lobbying to their respective country delegates. By 5PM, Mr. P.Bear (this time it was Woon getting cooked inside) roamed around the center guided by Abi and the SG team inviting delegates around to answer the quiz and write a message on the ‘We are watching you!’ postcard to the UN negotiators. I kept an eye for Philippine party delegates, but I ended up talking with a delegate from Lithuania, who was interested about the result of the quiz and asked if SolarGeneration plans to establish a chapter in Lithuania.

After the rounds at the center, we all convened at the back of the booth for debriefing and an update in the political negotiation shared and made simply understandable by Daniel of GP-USA. He shared three points: 1. Japan’s vision to create a “new framework” out of the Kyoto Protocol – a shame for the 10th anniversary of the treaty, which historically came about in their country; 2. developing countries’ reminder of the technology transfer stated in the treaty; and 3. China’s “interesting proposal” for industrialized countries who haven’t ratified the Kyoto Protocol to negotiate among themselves objectives parallel to the protocol – a funny one-act play for the US to do as the only industrialized country that hasn’t ratified yet.

The day was a combination of creative and ‘serious’ actions all for the planet.

Posted by Woon at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday 4 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

After a long day at the exhibit and being a P-Bear for an hour, I had another important meeting; Asian youth wish to initiate a network to tackle environmental issue. This conference provides us an opportunity to meet other Asian friends who share the same concern. We had friends from India, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia gathered this evening.

Although it was more of an introductory meeting where people get to know each other, we agreed upon the importance of this network that it will allow us to voice up on a global platform. Visions and ideas were shared. Furthermore, everyone was invited to give a brief presentation about how our government respond to climate change issue and what activities are being done by youth groups in the country. That youth-specific side event will be at 8pm. of the 6th December. Obviously, youth is becoming more active and more involved in these issues of our future.

Posted by Woon at 5:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday 4 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

Photograph by Abigail Jabines

P-Bear is so lovely when looking from outside but being inside it is another story…a very different one. This evening, I got to experience what it feels like to be a P-Bear. It was definitely fun at first because you would feel like jumping around in a softy suit like this. Also, it can create such a positive response from people. P-Bear’s friends can talk to people, distribute our flyers to them, and encourage them to do our quiz much easier when P-Bear was around.

Photograph by Abigail Jabines

After 30 minutes, it started to get hotter and hotter in here. I sweated like I was taking a shower in there; but the worst part was when the sweat ran into my eye. Breathing was also difficult. I sudden feel like I know how a real polar bear would feel as the world is warming up! And I was so glad to have "I'm a Kyoto Fan" fan in hand. Kyoto will save real polar bears as the Kyoto fan actually saved me today.

Yet, Ivy ran to tell me an exciting news which made me jump off my spot toward a group of people; she met the Thai delegates whom I was trying so hard to find. It was a challenge of the day to find our country’s delegates and talk to them. I finally found them but only when I was in P-Bear. I went forward anyway and one of them got scared. I did not give up and tried to talk from inside the P-Bear with quite a difficulty. At least, I started off something and that is to be continued….

Posted by Woon at 4:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 30, 2007
Razceljan - SG Philippines

At 30˚C, it’s no ‘white Christmas’, contrary to the songs played on the radio on my way here in Bali, Indonesia. The time is also ‘heating up’ for the upcoming negotiation in the 13th UN Climate Change Conference that will start on December 3rd until the 14th – a critical period to strengthen and “ensure that the Kyoto Protocol is extended and expanded with deeper emissions reductions under the second commitment period.” And the youth of the world could not just sit-and-watch the turn of events: we want to be SEEN and be HEARD of our call to a future where ‘clean, renewable energy is the key.”

We, the SolarGeneration (SG Youth), together with our young creative and enthusiastic Indonesian friends, join together in a collective voice to “stop climate change now” through the Energy [R]evolution!

Last night, the gibbous moon captured us while on the way to the guest house. I was together with Hong of SG-China and Janine of SG-Germany. It was past midnight when we arrived at the guest house. The two of them retired to bed the soonest while I stayed quite a bit at the reception area and read the Jakarta Times with a number of articles on climate change issue, and after which I met with the Greenpeace campaigners and SG member, Woon from Thailand. It felt great to be surrounded with happy and passionate people of which the zest of inspiration sprung like the beautiful, white Jasmine flower under the cerulean sky of this picturesque tropical island that is at threat due to the “human-induced” climate change.

Early this morning, I was greeted by a melodic song of a bird unusual to my early morning back in the Philippines. I joined the team for breakfast and had planning session with Woon for the interactive game at the SolarGeneration booth in the conference center. Hong and Janine joined us and shared their ideas for the game.

Right after noontime, we left for the “basecamp” and met with the creative Greenpeace volunteers working on the campaign materials like the giant thermometer and the planet Earth effigy.

“Come Together” of the Beatles was playing in the airwaves – a very good tune just in time of the afternoon’s get together. I felt good listening to all Beatles’songs while helping out with in making the visual aids for the meeting.

We eventually had a meeting together with a good number of volunteers. Galih, Christian, and Aryo (the interpreter of the group) discussed the flow of the Solar Festival for the next two days at Kuta Beach and assigned groupings for the event. We left the basecamp for a trip back to the guest house for dinner and a short briefing with the team.

Coming together in one spirit and in one goal provides a ‘sense of inspiration’ to keep up what we believe is good for every living creature in the planet – to have a ‘green’ and peaceful environment.

Posted by Razcel at 4:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Monday 3 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

For the first few minutes in the Bali Convention Centre, I could not really believe that I was walking among delegates, ministers, and other important people from all around the globe. Believe it or not, we were there and soon launched our first action in front of the centre. Rezcel fit into the polar bear suit hanging around a giant mysterious object under a black cover. Thousands of press were surrounding and taking photos of the polar bear. Mr.Gavin then gave an opening speech for Greenpeace in the conference and let the polar bear unveil his giant thermometer. The rising climate must be kept below 2oC before the world is on fire. Polar bear was hugging his world hoping there will be a place for him to live on.

Then, it came the setting up the booth in the centre, which become quite popular. A big pile of postcards were signed while quite a few delegates and ministers agree to wear our “Kyoto, Just Do It!” card holders. Moreover, we had 4 interviews done; combining with the media coverage of the polar bear and the thermometer in the morning, we seem to be doing very well!

In the evening, we finally got all team members to gather had an overall briefing as the Indonesian ones succeeded with their previous task of the Solar Festival. We also hear from Shay and Sven; it was fascinating to listen to these experts about what they demand and what alternatives they suppose and why. The whole arguments and suggestions are very well supported, I must day.

Photograph by Razcel Jan Luiz Salvarita

Amazingly, we did not arrive at the hotel so late today; but do not think that we would get away with the early return. We had dinner and another meeting whiched started at 9pm. and actually lasted for another 3 hours! It was supposed to be about solar energy and how it technically works. However, the problem of adaptation is always tied to financing issue; the whole social issue seemed unavoidable. In developing world, high investment technologies like solar energy appear to be a far fetch dream. Nevertheless, our Greenpeace staff, Christian, reminded us something very important: if we lose faith and give up when facing difficulties, no one can help us and nothing happens. We might have a really small window but it is more important that we do not shut that little window down.

Posted by Woon at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday 2 Dec 2007
by Razceljan SG-Philippines

6:25 A.M. – it’s when my alarm clock rings each morning. It’s the usual time my roommate, Chris Miller of Greenpeace USA, also wakes up and do the morning rituals.

After breakfast, we took the bus to the Bali International Convention Center for the registration. I got the same I.D. photo I’ve had two years ago – the only difference is my new curly hair. The GP volunteers came as well ready to install the giant surprise for the opening of the UN conference the tomorrow. We were about to leave for Kuta Beach when an unexpected hindrance spoiled the plan for installation. The artists assigned to install the giant object were not allowed to go inside the conference center because they were not registered, so a decision was made – a selection of registered participant will do the installation. It included Augustin (SG-France), Christian, Agnes, Agus, Mala, and myself.

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

Right outside the fence were the Indonesian artists who coached us how to install the world’s biggest thermometer as I’ve known so far in history. We placed the effigy of the planet Earth right in front of the flagpoles fronting the conference center. After installing the scaffoldings beside the globe, we started to work on putting on top the thermometer with no progress. We just have to ask the expert to do it. So Christian asked the UN Security personnel to allow one of the artists to help us, which resulted well. I entered the inside of the globe to fix the connecting poles. On the other hand, Agnes was trying to engage with the photojournalists to somehow keep the surprise a little more for the BIG surprise the next day. But still, there were a number of the paparazzi zooming in from afar with their extended camera eye.

Our shadows were right under us when we finally installed the thermometer right on top of the globe and covered it with black cloth, but we were asked to move it a little bit on the side for it not steal the scene in the area – it would undeniably become an icon for the rest of the period.

Photograph by Razcel Jan Luiz Salvarita

I joined the Indonesian team back to Kuta Beach where the Solar Festival was ‘getting hotter’ as sundry of bands from reggae to ska, to punk rock, to discoteque set the mood of the celebration. The bands helped promote the campaign for a clean energy future and for Kyoto to “just do it!”

We all went home with bits of sand sticking on our legs; our skin in darker shade; our sea-sprayed shirts; and our tired physical being, yet with untiring spirit to make our presence felt in the crucial period of the Kyoto negotiation.

The day caught me in Sarah Mclachlan’s song “World on Fire”:

We part the veil on our killer sun
Stray from the straight line on this short run
The more we take, the less we become
The fortune of one that means less for some

Posted by Woon at 1:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Razceljan - SG Philippines
December 3, 2007

The weather reports: Bali 30ºC.

In the kind of tropical temperature, what can a polar bear do? I hear you saying, “sweat like hell!”

Yes! I just did “sweat like hell” early today in time of the opening of the 13th UN Climate Change Conference and the 3rd Meeting of the Parties – a crucial period of negotiation for the planet’s future and a good opportunity to strengthen and make Kyoto Protocol strong.

We, the SolarGeneration youth, are watching the sessions with faith and hope that we can achieve “a future where clean, renewable energy is the key” for a sustainable and peaceful living.

It was completely a different experience to be inside the polar bear suit. It even made me wonder how a “real polar bear” can survive the sweltering heat of Bali – one of the most threatened islands in the world just like the rest of the islands in my country, the Philippines.

From my vantage point, the Greenpeace family, some UN officials, the country delegates, the paparazzi and media people were standing and swarming a few meters right in front of me with the BIG surprise right beside me – a huge object standing 6.7 meters in height. The rest of the SolarGeneration youth from different countries, Hong (China), Woon (Thailand), Ivy and Christy (Indonesia), Augustin (France), Andres (Switzerland), and Janine (Germany) were on the sides of the object as well.

Flashes of cameras were in pyroclastic-mode as I started doing the P-Bear performance art – waving, shaking my head, etc. Few minutes later, the Climate and Energy head of Greenpeace International, Gavin Edwards, delivered a statement to the press – the realities of the worsening climate change and shared a solution through the Energy [R]evolution and by stopping deforestation.

Right after his short, yet very hard-hitting statement, P-Bear – a name coined to me – and three of my SolarFriends pulled the string and unveiled the hidden objet right into the eyes of everybody. I think it’s the world’s biggest thermometer in fierce red-orange-yellow hue placed right on top of the ‘burning planet’. The thermometer’s gauge was numbered from 1º C to 5ºC. The 2ºC was marked reminding the negotiators and the global community that “keeping global temperature rise below 2˚C is still possible.”

The monumental thermometer will surely become an icon in the whole duration of the conference to remind the negotiators, as the Greenpeace banner states: “Don’t Cook the Climate!”

* * *
While waiting for lunch with the group, I met my friend Ben Namakin from Micronesia who will be presenting in one of the side events the experience of climate change impact in small island nations in the Pacific. He also gave the breaking news about Australia signing the Kyoto Protocol – as promised by Australia’s new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Australia is not getting “rude”this time.
* * *

Later in the afternoon, we had a briefing with the whole SolarGeneration team with Abigail Jabines, GPSEA Climate and Energy campaigner; Agnes de Rooij, campaigner from GP-International; and Clementine Thierry, SolarGeneration International coordinator. They provided insights of how the events unfold and highlighted the important messages that we have to decipher in case the media would ask for interviews, which had been done several times with the SG delegates.

An in-depth info-sharing was given to us by Sven Teske, the “father of SolarGeneration”. He made us understand the concept of the Energy [R]evolution that Greenpeace and SolarGeneration advocate. He was joined by Shai, a GP campaigner from India, who made it clear for us how the organization campaign for both the clean, renewable energy and to “stop deforestation”.

We left the Bali International Convention Center at past 6P.M. on a bus to the guest house. The sky was in deep hues of purple and orange. Some of the passengers were taking a nap, while others were in conversations. I was in my own time listening to the jazzy tune of Norah Jones’ “Sunrise” – a reminder for another day of action in the tropical island – a haven to surfers, backpackers, divers, but not to a wandering P-Bear like me.

Some links of P-Bear:

http://fr.news.yahoo.com/ap/20071203/img/pwl-bali-climate-conference-18e7becd8b260.html

http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2007/12/03/balis-hottest-job-sweltering-in-a-polar-bear-suit/

Posted by Razcel at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday 2 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

The first thing for this morning was registering ourselves at the UNFCCC. In no time we received our identity card for the conference. Outside the registration camp, the giant thermometer was waiting to be set up. Yet, we faced a problem when a group of security guards came forwards with police dogs. It turned out that only registered people can enter the area and our set up teams were Balinese volunteers who were not registered. Thus, a few SG delegates stayed to help with the setting up instead; the rest of us, including me, stick to the initial plan and headed to the beach.

Set up process was done much faster today; everyone knew exactly what to do and even improved what we thought was missing from yesterday. Then, as the bands started playing, people gathered. The juices and hand printing remained very popular but there were some new things. We distributed postcards for people to write their messages to the UN delegates and we had the first polar bear wandering! People, even me, were very excited. Especially children, they came forward to play and take pictures with the bear. I myself was running around taking pictures of the bear and children on the beach with sun set as a background.

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

Looking at the sun set, I thought it was so beautiful. Indeed, every sun set is unique and beautiful in its own way; none of them is like others. Nature is after all the best creator. Tasting such beauty, it terrifies me when thinking about the raising sea level and the following land loss. It will be a tragedy not to have these wonderful beaches; they are gifts from nature which we have to save from our own hands.

The festival ended with sunset and success while the conference is about to start…tomorrow.

Posted by Woon at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday 1 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

Today, we directly headed to Kuta beach where the Solar Festival is going to take place. The stage was already set up along with few booths. Having only a few hours before the festival start, both SG delegates and the local volunteers joined to prepare the event. Some people set up the information boards about SolarGeneration and Greenpeace: some cut, some pasted, some hanged. Others worked on banner sandwiches which banner-man will use for promoting. Soon, more materials arrived and we split to prepare juices for the Solar Bar. Numbers of banners were put up to make the place look striking and attractive.

The only obstacle I felt was the heat! The sun at noon was so strong that a few minutes out of shadow could make us feel like melting. Also, the sand we stepped on was burning like we were on fire. Under that heat, 4 promoters including me walked around the surrounding areas with the sandwich banners to promote the festival. That was worth it though because was here were quite a lot of people coming. The stage performances were totally gorgeous. We had percussions and dances. Not at all less popular was the Solar Bar where people got free juices powered by solar energy.

In between the performance, we also had the launching of SolarGeneration Indonesia on the stage. Gali, the head of SG-Indonesia delivered a speech with SG-international on the stage as a support. “Youth Act Now!” was the phrase we shout altogether at the end of the speech as our commitment to the world. After that, SG-international was called for interviews by local media. It was one-by-one interviews, so I must admit that I was excited and a little nervous to be interviewed by the mass media for the first time in my life; our first message of who we are and what we are doing here was sent out.

Posted by Woon at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday 1 Dec 2007
by Razceljan SG-Philippines

Early today, everyone was looking forward to go to Kuta Beach for the Solar Festival, but I left earlier together with Ivy and Agnes to attend the International Youth Summit on Climate Change at Harris Hotel; a walking distance to where the festival was located.

I was glad to meet with friends I got acquainted with way back in 2005 at the 11th UN Climate Change Conference in Montreal. It was nostalgic; we brought back the times when we had daily art performances at the lobby of Palais de Congres – the most remembered of all was the “Bed-in for the Climate” – I impersonated John Lennon – where it got a very wide media mileage.

It was a diverse youth culture as the delegates came from different parts of the world – Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Canada, US, India, Germany, among others. All the youth representatives were given a short period to share update on domestic issues on climate change and how the country’s government step up to help “save the climate”.

Just like back in 2005, I joined again the creative group that was tasked to come up with creative campaigns to convey the message of challenge to negotiators to accomplish a positive outcome in the two-week conference.

Photograph by Razcel Jan Luiz Salvarita

Ivy and I left a bit earlier and walked together with Greenpeace campaigners to the Solar Festival. It was a hot afternoon. I can feel the heat pricking my skin. Beachcombers stroll along the wide Kuta beach while surfers ride on top of the waves. I met Woon and Hong, with advertisement boards hanging on the front and the back of their bodies, handed flyers of announcements.

At around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, a jimbe drum circle led the opening of the festival followed with an art performance dance and a traditional, theatrical Balinese dance – both dances were fantastic that it stunned the audience.

The main highlight of the festival was the launching of SolarGeneration-Indonesia. A brief introduction of the group was given by Indonesia SG coordinator Galih. We later joined him on the stage as he sounded the gong for several times as a symbol of welcome and resonated the global call for the youth and everyone to ‘act now’.

The festival had several creative and interactive activities like the Solar Bar – powered by solar energy – where freshly-blended fruit shake were given free to visitors as refreshment in a 30ºC atmosphere. Another activity was the stamping of hands with paint on the strip of cloth as a symbol of commitment and pledge to ‘become part of the solution’.

The sun cast long shadows, the low tide made the local young people happy playing football while some were taking an afternoon run. We left the festival suspended in a state of last-song-syndrome in our heads – the reggae tune “Welcome to my paradise.”

Posted by Woon at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday 29 Nov 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

As soon as I walked out of the plane on Balinese land, I pulled off my light jacket. The issue of climate change seems to greet me as early as I took my first step on the land where the United Nations Conference on Climate Change is going to take place. I also notice exciting atmosphere the country has for this coming 3rd to 14th December from signs greeting and guiding the UNFCCC delegates. It is a good sign that the public is watching and showing to the world’s governments how much we all care about climate change issue; the Kyoto Protocol must be reinforced. Global emission needs to be reduced. Commitments from world’s governments are required to achieve this goal. Thus, SolarGeneration (SG) join as a part of the public that want to voice our concerns and express our appreciation for steps towards application of clean and renewable energy. That is the very reason why we, SG delegates from two continents from the other side of the world, gather here.

However, being the first international SG to arrive, I had a light day going to the volunteer house where creative thoughts become real. What strike my eyes first was a model of the earth with flames on the North Pole and the South Pole; the earth is really heating up! That is going to be a part of a gigantic thermometer in order to send a message that we must keep the global temperature rise below 2oC or we will be drowned under the water from the melting polar.

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

I met and had dinner with the SG-Bali and other volunteers whom I was impressed by their willingness to work and live in such simple condition. Later at night, we got back to the hotel and met Razcel, SG-Philippines, who had just arrived yet seemed to be happy to meet us rather than tired.

Posted by Woon at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)