Battle of the Bella (#COP15)
Follow all of Jayme’s copenhagen coverage at http://youngvoter.org/cop15
Cold, Snowing, 100’s of police, 1000’s of marchers, banners, Amerie on the radio…
Angry, frustrated, trains shut down, young, old, global climate movement.
All words used to describe my experience at the Reclaim Power protest. While folks in the U.S. were safely tucked in their beds, thousands of young people from around the world gathered in the streets of Copenhagen to demand access to the Bella (convention) Center. To demand real policies that will reverse climate change and save planet earth.
It saddened me to see a man, eyes fire-red from being peppered sprayed, snot hanging from his nose, talking about how all he wanted was to have his voice heard. It was at that moment that reality set in. There are millions of people around the world already suffering from climate change. Their frustration is not unlike the thousands of displaced workers in Milwaukee looking for something to put them back to work. These protesters were just trying to express what they know to be right, but don’t have access to do so.
From my viewpoint, the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Global warming, increasing unemployment, and escalating wars all the while people around the world are crying, “enough!” And our leaders can’t let go long enough to listen and figure out a way to push the stop button. This, like so many other similar experiences, come down to the same thing…POWER.
No matter how disempowered I might feel right now, I will be up tomorrow to do it all again.
Wow.. This Blog gave me chills. It is really real out there what you guys are trying to accomplish and no matter how much we try to ignore or avoid it during our day to day activities, the emotional rawness, passion and energy of the people who have come out to Denmark by the thousands really hammers the idea in: That this is crucial. Important. Necessary. Desperate.
It’s That Serious.
Thanks for the reminder and the nudge to CONFRONT it in the day to day. Because otherwise we won’t have any days left for any type of reaction
Great work Jayme! Props on getting to the center of the debate, dogs, tear gas and all. Keep doing LYVEF proud!
This post is so awesome!! thanks for reporting from the front lines.. it seemed pretty nuts, are you guys okay?
I am here with Heather Box and Marcia Lee. We are ok. But it was like something out of the movies. Keep us in your prayers
Be safe… We are all so very proud of you and Heather…
“We are the ones”
Stay safe your in our prayers. Keep it up ladies.
Stay away from the yellow vested guys. Great stuff. Very little coverage here. Keep us informed. Praying for you all.
We heard today that the negotiations will go through the weekend. Most people here are working very hard for a deal but there are a few impossible road blocks – one of those is the US Senate – we need them to pass a climate bill and make a mandate for change otherwise anything legally binding needs Senate approval. Any deal being discussed right now is not on the level of the deal we need to handle the issues of climate change right now, the lack of rain the displacement etc, let alone what will develop over the next 20 years. It is crazy to be out here- Jayme and I are trying to balance being brave and being safe.
Jayme….That is so amazing to see a phenomonal woman take action! Gal, I love u spirit and ur soul speaks so loudly that it can not be ignored…You and everyone with u there r great u have my support… Love u Mrs. Baker!!!!