CLIMATE
CHANGE, DESPAIR & EMPOWERMENT ROADSHOW IN N AMERICA
MEDIA RELEASE
April 7, 2007
Contact : John Seed johnseed1@ozemail.com.au
John Seed is taking to the road with the Rainforest Information Centre's "Climate Change Despair and Empowerment Roadshow" in order to catalyse and support a strong climate change movement across N America. Meanwhile, Rainforest Information Centre director Ruth Rosenhek continues the roadshow in Australia where it has already been presented in some 50 cities and towns.
"These are no ordinary times that we live in," says Seed, founder of the Rainforest Information Centre in Australia. "Glaciers melting, oceans dying, floods and cyclones on the rise; every day you hear about the latest impacts of global warming. Climate change has hit the mainstream media.
"Less known perhaps is that we are now witnessing the extinction of 20,000 species a year when the normal rate would be about 1 species a year. In fact, this is the end of a geologic era, the Cenezoic Era, and as we usher in a new era, the decisions we make will influence the turn of events in terms of the planet and all life forms on this planet.
"Just like the demise of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago signalled the possibility for many other species to evolve and burst forth, the current crisis opens up a time of possibility, an opportunity for innovation in all aspects of our lives as we grapple with finding a new way to be humans on this planet.
The Rainforest Information Centre roadshow brings forth this larger perspective to encourage local communities to think, feel and to make decisions in terms of the larger Earth community.
"In the light of the Stern Report and now the IPCC report, it is of the utmost importance that the US and Australia, the two Kyoto holdouts, join the rest of the world's nations in global cooperation to fend off the most catastrophic climate threats" said Seed. "We need to invent new ways for our human economy to work within and with all the other many economies, such as forest economy and ocean economy, for the mutual benefit of these other systems, not in exclusion and destruction of them.
"Likewise the educational systems, political systems, religious institutions etc. need to be re-assessed in terms of the larger planetary community
"We need to make decisions that explicitly and transparently put priority on maintaining the conditions of life into the future.
Seed points out that many people feel despair and helplessness. They wonder 'What can I do?' or "Isn't it too late?' At the presentations, he discusses how these feelings can be transformed into the fuel for inspiration and action.
He then goes on to address the false and 'business as usual', solutions being touted by major political parties such as so called "clean coal", nuclear power, biofuels and carbon trading.
"Democratic grassroots action is the only solution. Governments and politicians will not provide the necessary leadership," Seed told IPS.
He also warns that political and business leaders in developed countries are falsely blaming the lifestyles of the public for climate change.
“We mustn’t fall prey to political and business leaders who want us to believe that we will be able to offset the environmental costs of new coal mines by screwing in efficient light bulbs,” said Seed.
"Less than 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions result from our personal choices," he pointed out.
The main drivers of global climate change are structural and political. On top of their extraordinary profits, oil and coal companies around the world receive billions in public subsidies. In the United States, fossil fuel companies received 20 billion dollars a year, while Australians pay 300 dollars per person each year in similar subsidies, he said. The same is true in Canada.
Participants are encouraged to join or form Climate Study/Action groups to look at where the real solutions are to be found.
"Climate Study Action groups are not only a vehicle for citizens to work with and lobby government for strong climate change strategies, they also are a means for us to support each other in the changes we need to collectively make".
In the next 6 weeks the roadshow will tour Florida, Arkansas, Ontario, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York
For more information see www.climate.net.au/
For roadshow schedule see www.rainforestinfo.org.au/deep-eco/schedule.htm
Author, musician and film-maker
John Seed is a long-time rainforest activist and facilitator of experiential
deep ecology workshops.
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/deep-eco/johnseed.htm
johnseed1@ozemail.com.au