Day 5 Policy Updates: Taking Stock, Talking Lots

by Nathan Thanki The informals continue. Today saw the ADP convene meetings on adaptation and technology which got fairly heated. The big sticking points are the issue of intellectual property rights (IPRs), which has been reintroduced by the G77 but is causing the developed countries much anguish. Yesterday developed countries began referring to IPRs as "the thing which must not be named" in...

Day 4 Policy Updates: Loss and Damage text

by Nathan Thanki In general negotiations continue in "contact groups" and informals which are by and large closed to observers (though try your luck!) and in informal-informals and bilaterals in the corridors. In the contact group on loss and damage, chaired by ministers (rather than negotiators) from Sweden and St. Kitts, the G77 proposed a draft text yesterday (Tuesday) which was supported...

Once more into the breach: Reclaiming Power at the frack pads and in the UNFCCC

by nathan thanki This past weekend, while a massive group of ies made the insane 15 hour journey to Pittsburgh for Powershift 2013, those of us who remained gathered together for Global Frackdown 2. Having recently sent over a dozen volunteers to canvass for Protect South Portland in their effort to block Tar Sands via a waterfront protection ordinance, and with half our group in Pennsylvania,...

Holding a tension: grassroots and global activism

by nathan thanki In my previous post I alluded to some exchanges of ideas in Lofoten at the Young Friends of the Earth Europe camp. All of last week, including during both 25 hour train, bus, and boat journeys, we’ve been attempting to initiate and contribute to frank discussions on the perceived divide between "international" and "grassroots" activism.   Now it is clear that those of us...

Collaborating for Climate Justice: Lofoten camp

by nathan thanki Hello from the top of the world. This week the beautiful Lofoten islands have hosted not only our team of six from Earth in Brackets, but also the annual Young Friends of the Earth Europe camp of 100 inspiring and inspired young activists from Russia, Canada, Nigeria and all over Europe, as well as Natur og Ungdom's 300 strong summer camp for Norway activists. We are here to send...