The news from Bali this morning is grim, though there were a couple of glimmers of light, including Kevin Rudd announcing Australia’s acceptance of the Kyoto Protocol. Perhaps there is some hope for those Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagles now, but progress over tackling the bigger issues remains blocked by the USA, Canada and Japan.
The Statue of Taking Liberties
I’m still wringing out my camera after the London event in the Global Climate Change March on Saturday, which also saw Critical Mass out in force, as well as over 6000 marchers. The guys from Surfers against Sewage, in wet suits and carrying their boards were probably the most appropriately dressed for the occasion, or perhaps Lucy as a mermaid with her warning about rising sea levels.
But, as was emphasized by the number of placards opposing the expansion of Heathrow, our government – like most others around the world – is still sitting foot firmly down to the floor of the juggernaut, driving hard for extinction even as they start to make noises about the impending doom.
You can see many more pictures of the march, and of critical mass on ‘My London Diary.’ I, and my equipment, got too cold and wet to really do justice to the rally that followed the march in Grosvenor Square. And of course you can read more about climate change at the Campaign against Climate Change web site.
Demonstrations such as this have a vital role – as I hope to be saying next week in Brasilia, where I will be showing similar images – in bringing environmental problems to public awareness and making it possible for politicians to think what was previously impossible.
And unless they do, it’s increasingly difficult to remain optimistic about the future.
