COP26 News Summary day 0

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Sir David Attenborough’s call to arms for ambitious nature recovery at COP26

Sir David Attenborough has today appeared in a new video calling for “bold action” at COP26 to help nature recover.

In the short film, released by The Wildlife Trusts to coincide with the start of the global climate summit, Sir David highlights the role of wildlife in addressing the climate emergency.

He says: “Nature has extraordinary powers to lock up carbon dioxide; to provide clean air and water; to help protect us from flooding and extreme weather; and to provide the food which sustains us.”

But Sir David comments on the decline of wildlife, saying that nature has reached “breaking point”.

COP26: Rainbow Warrior plots a course for Glasgow in defiance of river ban

Greenpeace said it had been warned by port authorities not to sail up the River Clyde to the global climate conference, but added the vessel would still attempt the journey.

If the voyage is successful, the four youth activists on the Rainbow Warrior plan to meet fellow members of the Fridays for Future climate strike movement on Monday afternoon outside the summit to deliver their message.

Nicola Sturgeon on Cop26: There are turning points in human history. This must be one of them

The stakes could hardly be higher. The consequences of the world failing to agree on the action needed are potentially catastrophic. Already we are seeing the devastating effects of the climate crisis.

Those impacts are no longer distant or theoretical. They are being experienced now. Just this year we have witnessed wildfires in Greece, massive flooding in Nigeria and Uganda, a food crisis in Madagascar – as well as devastating flooding in western Europe.

The recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change could not have been clearer about the necessity of action. Compared to pre-industrial times, global temperatures have already risen by more than one degree on average.

And, as the UN Secretary General made clear last month, the definite promises made by member states at that stage – assuming they were all delivered – were sufficient only to keep temperature increases to 2.7°C. He said that would create a “hellscape” on earth.

Humanity faces ‘stark choice’, UN chief warns at COP26 opening

At the formal opening of the conference, Patricia Espinosa, UN climate chief, told delegates that humankind was at a “pivotal point in history”.

The message was wholeheartedly endorsed by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who said she “couldn’t agree more”.

The summit kicks off this weekend before world leaders attend the summit for an official opening ceremony on Monday.

Speaking to delegates earlier, Epinosa warned: “Humanity faces stark but clear choices. We either choose to achieve rapid and large-scale reductions of limiting emissions to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C or we accept that humanity faces a bleak future on this planet.”

Last seven years hottest on record, UN experts say as Cop26 kicks off

The last seven years have been the hottest on record – with sea levels rising to new highs and climate-related destructive weather extremes in 2021, UN experts have said.

In its annual state of the global climate report launched as the UN Cop26 summit gets under way, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said that 2021 is likely to have been the fifth to seventh hottest year on record.

While it is not quite as hot as some recent years, due to a “La Nina” weather phenomenon in the Pacific – which has a cooling affect on global temperatures, it still averaged 1.09C above pre-industrial levels, the WMO said.

The last seven years since 2015, when countries secured the Paris Agreement to curb temperature rises to 1.5C or well below 2C to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, have been the hottest in records dating back to 1850.

And the UK’s Met Office warned the world’s temperature has reached an average exceeding 1C above pre-industrial levels for the past two decades, the first time a 20-year period has been at that level since the records began.

Extinction Rebellion march through Edinburgh in COP26 protest

Extinction Rebellion activists marched through Edinburgh in solidarity with protests taking place across the world during the COP26 climate summit.

The demonstrators walked from George IV Bridge, Bank Street, North Bank Street, Market Street, Jeffrey Street and Canongate to reach the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood at about 1pm.

A rally was then held, with short speeches by representatives from charities and action groups addressing issues contributing to the climate crisis.

Participant Mike Grant, 61, from Rosewell, Midlothian, said: “I am marching today to make clear to those gathering for Cop26 that the people demand far bolder and far faster action now.

Children’s hospital staff arrive at Cop26 after 800km cycle journey

A group of cyclists who work in children’s hospitals and as medical bosses arrived at Cop26 after cycling 800km (500 miles).

The 39 activists, members of Ride For Their Lives, cycled from London to Glasgow to raise awareness of the health damages air pollution can cause, particularly in children.

The group have carried with them the Healthy Climate Prescription letter, a document signed by organisations representing 45 million health professionals around the world.

The letter says “the climate crisis is the single biggest health threat facing humanity”, with air pollution at the top of the list of deadly impacts.

It calls for a rapid and just transition away from fossil fuels, the cause of both problems.

Scapegoating China over climate change is craven – and inaccurate

FORMER business secretary Alok Sharma, Boris Johnson’s appointee to chair Cop26, sought to put China in the dock today with his widely publicised comments “we expected more” — hardly the best way to win consensus ahead of a critically important conference.

There are two issues here. One is truth. The other is the contrast of approach between two different social systems.

In terms of carbon emissions per head, China today stands at 7.3 tonnes and the US at more than double that at 15.2.

More striking, however, is the speed of China’s development of zero-carbon technologies. In 2016 the EU generated 101 gigawatt of solar power and China 78.

Today the figures are reversed: China 204 and EU 134. Equally with wind power. In 2014 the EU generated 128 gigawatt and China 114. Today China produces 281 and the EU 201.

And in terms of relevant technologies China is well ahead. It produces 80 per cent of the world’s solar panels. It has over two-thirds of the world’s high-speed electric trains. It has as almost as many electric cars as the US and the EU combined — and 57 percent of its Belt and Road energy investments are for renewables as against 28 per cent two years ago.

Continue ReadingCOP26 News Summary day 0

COP26

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COP26 delegates will be arriving to torrential rain in Scotland which has washed away bridges. If bridges are getting washed away now, what will happen with a further 1.5C increase in global temperature? Aren’t we already seriously in the siht?

We have arrived at this position because of the way we have abused our planet. The solution is to stop abusing our planet and to make real, meaningful, actual changes.

My suggestion of one way to stop business as usual has received mixed responses. If you’re protesting as a fashion statement or to have something to discuss at your dinner parties with climate-destroying ultra-rich actresseses, then that’s probably fine. If you want to stop business as usual that is destroying our planet, you need to do exactly that.

ed: I’m not suggesting that COP26 or Glasgow should be disrupted.

Continue ReadingCOP26

How to effectively stop traffic

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The trick about effectively stopping traffic is to use traffic to stop traffic and then you can go off and stop traffic elsewhere. This also prevents motorists assaulting protestors stopping traffic, sometimes using their vehicles.

These are only suggestions: you are responsible for your actions and relative safety. The actions suggested here are very probably illegal.

These suggestions are to ensure that there is no more business as usual while governments fail to properly address the climate crisis.

Traffic lights: Traffic lights can be used to stop traffic. The Great Train robbers used a battery to light the red train traffic light so that the train stopped. No need to do that – just smash them.

A good lump hammer and a length of metal rod will do it. Make sure that you wear eye protection from smashing glass – or at least turn your head away – and thick gloves to protect from electric shock. Make sure that you can reach the lights – maybe take some small steps. It’s best that you have accomplices to prevent you from being attacked by motorists as you smash the lights.

Buses: Buses are great because they’re pretty big vehicles and they have an off switch on the outside. Turn the off switch as the bus is waiting in traffic. Be nice to the driver, he’s only doing his job and you are obstructing him. Explain why you are immobilising his bus, offer him a flapjack and suggest that he get on his radio to tell control that he is stopped. Tell him that if he goes to turn the outside switch to run again, you’ll just switch it off again. If he tries switching the outside switch to run, switch it off and open the bonnet at the back and disconnect the ignition leads. It will be hot in there so wear thick gloves.

Explain to the passengers why you have commandered their bus – a good opportunity to discuss the climate crisis.

When the next bus arrives it will need to pass the immobilised bus. There’s an off switch on the outside…

Cars: The best way to immobilise cars is to take the keys. If someone is trying to run you over, take the keys and throw them far away or down a drain.

More damaging ways – which I suggest that you avoid. Pliers or water pump pliers will rip tyre valves out. Get a good grip and pull hard. Tyre valves can be cut with a Stanley knife but you probably shouldn’t have a knife like that in public. Motorists will often drive with deflated tyres ruining their tyres. Cars can be turned on their sides or roof (immobilise by taking the keys and consider letting the occupants out first). Sharps can be used to destroy car tyres.

If you’re going to stop cars with your bodies try to get bicycles between you and the cars. Motorists are far more willing to drive into people than bicycles because bicycles might damage their cars.

30/10/21 23.45 Apologies that I assumed that the bus driver was a man. I very rarely catch buses since I am usually cycling.

Continue ReadingHow to effectively stop traffic

INSULATE BRITAIN Be Impossible, Demand the Realistic

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Well done Insulate Britain. I have been considering organising an action locally in solidarity, risking imprisonment as you do. I think that I would do some simple criminal damage to increase my effectiveness rather than sit about waiting to be arrested – it’s surprising what you can achieve with some simple hand tools.

People are going to be increasingly willing to take action and risk imprisonment as the climate crisis is not properly addressed. It takes very few to insist and achieve no more business as usual.

XXX

dizzy deep

INSULATE BRITAIN Be Impossible, Demand the Realistic Charlie Waterhouse

Stopping traffic is nothing. Roadworks stop traffic every day, as do accidents. Floods are now stopping traffic regularly. The response from the Government and right-wing media shows us that we are doing the right thing. Prince Charles’ intervention, saying that he understands people’s frustrations as well as the problems tells us we are doing the right thing. 

And now is the time to do the right thing; to get off the fence; to really face up to what is happening. 

The Government has a choice: it can actually do something about the crises we face or it can stick its head in the sand, criminalising those who are clamouring for change along the way.

And you have a choice too: keep your fingers tightly crossed, say your prayers, and hope against hope that someone else will come and save you. Or you can do your bit and be the ancestor your future family desperately needs. 

“The exercise of imagination is dangerous to those who profit from the way things are because it has the power to show that the way things are is not permanent, not universal, not necessary,” observes the author Ursula K Le Guin.

It will take fewer of us than we think to turn ‘annoying’ into ‘revolutionary’; imagination into paradigm shift. But tomorrow is too late. Be Impossible, Demand the Realistic.

Continue ReadingINSULATE BRITAIN Be Impossible, Demand the Realistic

Climate change: UN emissions gap report a ‘thundering wake-up call’

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https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59049770

National plans to cut carbon fall far short of what’s needed to avert dangerous climate change, according to the UN Environment Programme.

Their Emissions Gap report says country pledges will fail to keep the global temperature under 1.5C this century.

The Unep analysis suggests the world is on course to warm around 2.7C with hugely destructive impacts.

...

Just a few days before COP26 opens in Glasgow and another scientific report on climate change is “another thundering wake-up call”, according to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

Continue ReadingClimate change: UN emissions gap report a ‘thundering wake-up call’

2020 was worst year on record for UK government secrecy

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https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/freedom-of-information/2020-was-worst-year-on-record-for-uk-government-secrecy

openDemocracy has an exclusive report exposing the depth of the government’s attack on the Freedom of Information Act

Last year was the worst on record for government secrecy, new research by openDemocracy has revealed.

Just 41% of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to government departments and agencies were granted in full in 2020, down from 43% the previous year.

This is the lowest figure since records began in 2005.

The findings are published in openDemocracy’s new report, ‘Access Denied’, which exposes the extent of the government’s attack on FOI.

It follows a major investigation by openDemocracy last year, which revealed how a secretive Cabinet Office unit called the ‘Clearing House’ vetted sensitive requests for information.

A judge subsequently criticised the government for a “profound lack of transparency” that might “extend to ministers”.

parliamentary inquiry into the Clearing House – launched by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee in the wake of openDemocracy’s revelations – opens this week.

The Access Denied report also finds that some government departments have far lower FOI disclosure rates than others, with the Cabinet Office among the worst offenders, along with the Foreign Office and the Department for International Trade.

Transparency campaigners say “urgent action is required” and that there needs to be a “sea change in attitudes towards FOI within Whitehall to avoid it spiralling it into an accountability black hole”.

...

Continue Reading2020 was worst year on record for UK government secrecy

What is it to be a Fascist?

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Fascism is about authoritarian rule and it is regarded as opposed to democracy.

So Fascism is about authoritarianiam, following a strong leader. I don’t think that Boris can do that but Priti is going for it.

5.40 But then Priti is Murdoch (Press baron old fart hopefully dying soon :)’s choice little.

I’ve got it – little Fascist tool. Hiya Ruppie, nice to have your attention. Have a good afterlife ;)

Hey Ruppie, I’ve said it before, but hope you die soon. Best wishes but you should know that you’ve always been a total cnut. I want you to know that when you die ;)

You can’t say that to family, can you? [ed: He might hear ;)

ed: Fascism is about people submitting to the authority of some twat with a loud mouth, uniforms, ribbons, banners and shiny buttons. [ed: They can do it without the shiny buttons and all that …]

[Fascism can do without the buttons. It is about submission to and an acceptance of a right-wing ideology where there is an acceptance and acquiesence of a corrupt right-wing ideology, an unquestioning acceptance of a corrupt, perverse authority]. There’s also the issue of a totally flaccid non-opposition.

or crap hair

I don’t think that crap hair does it actually

and Priti I think you need a proper Mesamorph body to be respected as a proper Fascist really sorry.

Oh dear :)

Bye PP, C’est la vie.

Continue ReadingWhat is it to be a Fascist?

This blog is censored by official UK censorship

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You know this, don’t you? Nobody except one policeman or excessive s***ers (suffering from !) are allowed to comment

So, if I was to do a serious piece about Climate ahead of COP26 – nobody would be allowed to comment on it.

ed: 21?

Listen please while I’ve got your attention. You don’t have to agree with me but …

Ciimate? Let me phrase this differently. Survival.

C’mon then Priti Fascist, comments are allowed. Please notice that I didn’t ask Fascist.

ed: new thread about what it means be a Fascist

Continue ReadingThis blog is censored by official UK censorship