Klimakvalme

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I feel like I've fallen off the face of the Earth...which is what may very well happen to countries like the Maldives, Kiribati, and Bangladesh if the governments represented at COP15 can't get their heads out of the ground and their hands out of their pockets...if the politicians don't start listening to the people instead of the corporations...if the USA doesn't stop acting as an impediment to these negotiations and just commit already.

The city is in a tizzy. There are new people and languages and activities left and right and coming out the ears. It will be interesting to see what happens to the city (which has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2025) after all the climate warriors and politicians go home to their own countries. For now, no one can seem to get enough of the climate, except countries like Kenya and India. They've had enough and would like the industrial nations who are responsible for the anthropogeneric aspects of global climate change to get what's theirs; that is, they need to step up to the plate and take some personal responsibility for polluting the planet; they need to make a plan NOW and then ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING. They don't want vague treaties and promises or symbolic gestures. They want ACTION, and they want it NOW.

There are three major tiers of activities and forums that I see. The first is the official COP15 proceedings. The second is KlimaForum, an alternative people's convention that is very well organized and more about civil action that policy (which might be the only thing that really gets anything done anyways). The third is the very grassroots Climate Bottom Meeting, taking place in the free town of Christiania. It's adorably disheveled and much more focused on individual hands-on action, like eco-villages and people's kitchens. I've hit up the second and third tiers so far; the first is on my list for later this week, specifically Amy Goodman, journalist and host of Democracy Now! the War and Peace Report. If you see her, let me know ASAP.

Parliament has passed new legislation allowing police to preemptively arrest anyone they suspect of harboring plans to actively or passively show their dissatisfaction with the meeting's proceedings. They can also detain individuals for up to 40 days for hindering police work, whatever that means. I also saw that they built temporary cages to use as cells for the many activists they anticipate arresting. All this means is that it's easier for them to make it harder for the people to voice their opinion on the streets. What's up with that, Denmark? It's like ever since I arrived here you've been sliding further and further to the right. Is it something I said? We can work it out, can't we? I promise to be a good active citizen of the world if you promise to be a tolerant, drunk, happy, protest-loving nation. Agreed?

That being said, I am not only in the throes of what is being touted as the biggest and most important climate summit in the history of time, but it's also exam week. I'm almost done with my final papers, then I am escaping this madness for the tranquility of Paris for a few days. This might be somewhat bad timing on my part, as the largest and most international demonstration against the business and politics of climate change is taking place in Copenhagen on Saturday, the day after I arrive in Paris. And the related action planned in Paris took place last Saturday, before COP15 kicked off. Damn.

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Photos

Cokenhagen
The graffiti reads: "Look beyond the green wash" and "Dear Coke, it's great that you're doing something good, but it doesn't cancel out all the damaging s*it you do.

Hopenhagen
The word play isn't even in their own language. How cheesy is that!
This photo was taken at Rådhuspladsen (the town hall square) and the giant floating orb is still a mystery. I suppose it's a globe, but why? I don't know.

Cykellygte
The LED lights on this Christmas tree are powered by people on stationary bikes.

2 and 2
2 degrees = 2 much
A billboard at the train station.