<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"">CJA</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">1000 CANCUNS <span> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">COP 16 CANCUN </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">THE PEOPLE’S REPORT BACKS </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Before the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or
COP16 Cancun began on November 29<sup>th</sup>, Climate Justice Action (CJA) sent
out a newsletter supporting La Via Campesina’s callout for 1000 Cancuns. We
also requested information from groups, individuals and organizations who may
be planning for 1000 Cancuns, OR who will be and are in Cancun attending the
conference. The following is a report back on actions, events and projects you
have told us about from your home and city, or directly from the ground in
Cancun Mexico. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">The report backs are separated into two series. This is the first.
It is a reflection on the days of November 29 to December <sup>4th </sup>- the
official first week of COP16- plus some 1000 Cancuns actions and report backs
that occurred a few days before the conference began. The second series of report
backs will be sent out at the end of week two of the conference and will still include
some report backs from week I. If you are interested in writing a report back
or sending us information on your 1000 Cancuns action, or if you’re
participating in a climate justice event in Cancun please send an email to <span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:info@climate-justice-action.org" target="_blank">info@climate-justice-action.org</a></span> or
directly to <span style="color:black"><a href="http://goog_1137575122" target="_blank">gorecki.julie@gmail.com</a></span><span> </span>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="'Abadi MT Condensed Light'"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">In solidarity with our friends and allies towards building <i>system change not climate change</i>, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Climate Justice Action</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">24 NOVEMBER</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">La Via Campesina’s call out for 1000 Cancuns is being heard around
the world. Here is the direct link to the list of updated global actions
planned around 1000 Cancuns:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"><span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=971:list-of-events-organized-for-thousand-of-cancuns-around-the-world&catid=50:thousands-of-cancun-for-climate-justice&Itemid=195" target="_blank">http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=971:list-of-events-organized-for-thousand-of-cancuns-around-the-world&catid=50:thousands-of-cancun-for-climate-justice&Itemid=195</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">26 NOVEMBER</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black">Moving “Beyond Parts Per Million”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">26 November 2010, Montreal - Just a few days before the start of
the COP16 in Cancun, Climate Justice Montreal and Climate Justice Co-op,
released the first edition of <i>Beyond
Parts Per Million: Voices from the Frontlines.</i> The title of the publication
recognizes the environmental crisis is “beyond” climate crisis solutions
proposed by scientific numbers of carbon parts, statistics and false economic
global market solutions.<span> </span>Page
three of the publication explains the “need for a paradigm shift within the
climate movement…a shift that recognizes that climate change is the result of a
system based on infinite growth, on a finite planet… a shift towards building a
movement that can shut down destructive industries and replace them with strong
communities.” The image shown on the cover of the publication is a silhouette
of a plant intersected with a wrench. It is a powerful visual that seems to
imply the intersection between social justice and environmental struggles. The
image also suggests the commitment and hard work put forth by climate and
social justice communities and activists who tirelessly strive towards the
objective of ‘fixing’ the social and environmental destruction of the climate
crisis and those who have imposed it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Appropriately the sixteen pages of content do the same. Ranging
from topics such as chemical industry cities, to indigenous struggles, to
climate justice and gender, <i>Beyond Parts
Per Million</i> tells global stories of “frontline communities” who are
directly affected by the environmental destruction. That solutions are not only
“beyond” science and failing structures of economy, but are also about waking
up to the reality of contaminated water, rising cancer rates, gendered
violence, complete destructions of ecosystems and life cycles, and a long list
of environmental catastrophes that are destroying communities and decent living
conditions. As the last line of page 3 reads, “In short we need a shift that
realizes that the protection of life, land and culture will require solutions
that are not considered politically feasible, and that means moving beyond
polar bears and parts per million.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Check out and download a copy of the entire publication here:
<a href="http://www.mediacoop.ca/story/climate-justice-montreal-releases-beyond-parts-million-voices-frontlines-climate-justice/525" target="_blank">http://www.mediacoop.ca/story/climate-justice-montreal-releases-beyond-parts-million-voices-frontlines-climate-justice/525</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black">European Assembly
for Climate Justice Kicks off with Strong Critical Mass Spraying “System Change
not Climate Change” in front of EU Buildings</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">26<sup> </sup>November 2010, Brussels- The European Assembly for
Climate Justice in Brussels kicked off with an energized critical mass of about
120 riders. The route consisted of Brussels busiest streets. The riders were
successful in occupying a high traffic road, where a stop was made to shout
loudly in front of the Council of the European Union building. Activists
chanted climate slogans, drummed and shouted for climate justice to an audience
attending an event inside. Afterwards a spontaneous action took place where the
words<span> </span>“system change not climate
change” were sprayed on the road that exists between two European Union
buildings, so all who roam within the buildings could see the message. Even though
it was a cold and frosty night, the group’s energy remained high and climate
justice messages were heard. To end the evening activists reconvened where the
ride began, still loud and ready to take action.<span> </span>A final message of “system change not climate change” was
again sprayed in hot pink and blue in front of the European Assembly against
the verbal resistance of security and police.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">29 NOVEMBER <span> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black">Diálogo
Climático: An Open Space for Climate Justice Discussion and Solidarity in
Cancun </span><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">The Diálogo Climático</span><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">is an alternative
COP16/Cancun space for all individuals and movements who are involved in the
struggle of climate justice. The space was created to enable diversity of
climate justice groups to share thoughts, methods of actions, mobilize and
debate. </span><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">The website states “Although not all social movements and networks
are part of this confluence/space, it was agreed that we would continue looking
for unity (in Mexico and at the international level), proposing that the
different social movements that will be organizing parallel activities join in
the December 7th mobilisation and elaborate a common declaration. We also
propose that we strengthen our efforts through mutual support, in terms of
promoting activities, doing joint press work, coordinating as much as possible
our debates and panels and respecting the role and autonomy of each space.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">So far discussions within the space have ranged from women and the
environment, debates on system change not climate change, mobilizing direct
actions and discussions on Copenhagen to Cochabamba and moving forward with the
People’s agreement. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">After the arrival of the La Via Campesina Caravans on December 3<sup>rd</sup>
and 4<sup>th</sup>, a “Climate Justice Forum” will be held in the space from
December 5<sup>th</sup>-10<sup>th</sup>, while talks and mobilizing is
occurring right now for a potential Global Day of action which would take place
on December 7<sup>th</sup>. </span><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">For more information go to <span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.dialogoclimatico.org/" target="_blank">http://www.dialogoclimatico.org/</a></span>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black">Direct Action
Against the International Emissions Trading Association in Brussels</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">29<sup> </sup>November 2010 Brussels- The weekend was not over for
direct action activists after three days of workshops and a “Sing for the
Climate” march on Sunday that was part of the European Assembly for Climate
Justice. On the first day of Cancun COP16 talks, a group of activist walked
into and occupyied the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)
building in Brussels. IETA is known for its business approach of advertising
and investing in false solutions to the climate crisis such as faulty international
carbon markets. Carbon trading and offsetting allows companies to continue
exploiting the environment and communities without cutting emissions.<span> </span>The target of the action was to disturb
the prominent carbon trading lobby groups within IETA. The direct action
successfully blocked a functioning workday within the building making their
message of “Our Climate is not for sale!” and “Carbon Trading is a false
solution” heard. Jana Timmerman who took part in the action said that “ ‘Carbon
trading is a false solution to the climate crisis. Relying on carbon trading
means big profits for the polluting industries, while they continue business as
usual. Lobby groups such as IETA are promoting carbon trading in the interest
of their big business members. We need real action to transform the way in
which we produce and consume, in order to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.’
”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">For more information check out <span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.angrymermaid.org/ieta" target="_blank">http://www.angrymermaid.org/ieta</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">30 NOVEMBER <span> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black">Red Road Cancun: Indigenous Voices Broadcasting from COP 16</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) has sent a delegation
of Indigenous peoples to the COP16 in Cancun. This Indigenous presence has
organized a series of outlets for COP16 news, information, discussion and action
that can be found at <a href="http://redroadcancun.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:black">http://redroadcancun.com/</span></a> .</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">The <i>red road cancun</i> live
radio and live stream is among these excellent sources of real climate justice
advocacy and information. The show streams live for one hour a day. It is a
newscast made from Indigenous observations, thoughts and real on the ground
experiences happening in Cancun right now. The show ranges from discussions on
the destruction of the Tar Sands, to quieted marginalized climate justice voices,
to interviews with Indigenous activists. Even though the Indigenous community
is in Cancun to put pressure on the negotiating process occurring behind the
doors of the conference, red road cancun does not stray away from the real
climate crisis solutions that will not be solved by COP16. During November 30<sup>th</sup>’s
broadcast, Kandi Mosett of the Indigenous Environmental Network said “we’re
here to create change, to create a paradigm shift” while prominent Indigenous
activist Tom Goldtooth explained “what we’re doing here is to lift up the
contradictions, and also lift up the importance for industrialized society. The
importance of the world to revaluate, what its relationship is to the
sacredness of mother earth. So there has to be a new paradigm in thinking as
far as looking at the root causes of what is causing climate change. “</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">The website also hosts updated COP16 information such as written
articles that range from BP’s exploitation of Indigenous land and the “four
principles of climate justice”. The last post explained Indigenous activists
traveling for three hours in high traffic zones in order to access the
convention center, while government officials are tucked away in $300
dollar/night hotel rooms in inaccessible locations outside of the city surrounded
by a heavy police presence. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Check out the <i>red road
cancun</i> website at <span style="color:black"><a href="http://redroadcancun.com/" target="_blank">http://redroadcancun.com/</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">2 DECEMBER </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black"><span> </span>“Statement by the CLOC-Via Campesina on
the Climate Summit in Cancun”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">2 December, Cancun- La Via Campesina released the “Statement by
the CLOC-Via Campesina on the Climate Summit in Cancun” proposal in support of “Thousands
of Cancuns for Climate Justice.” The proposal states:“…we affirm that the
Peoples' Accord emitted at the Summit on Climate Change and the Rights of
Mother Earth, held in Cochabamba, Bolivia, is one of the most interesting
proposals…As CLOC / Via Campesina we believe that the capitalist model based on
the exploitation of natural resources, with the idea of unlimited progress, is primarily
responsible for the environmental disaster that we are now experiencing.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">The current market economy has proven to be incapable of providing
basic human rights such as water, but also hinders the means to a safe, healthy
livelihood by limiting the development of food sovereignty and paralyzing the
process of effective and significant reductions of carbon emissions. The
natural disasters which wipeout communities and displace populations, and the
future of a livable planet for all are a result of today’s global market
economy. In turn the proposal offers 9 statements of steps towards real climate
crisis solutions.</span><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Check out all 9 steps and the entire article here: <span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=983:statement-by-the-cloc-via-campesina-on-the-climate-summit-in-cancun-&catid=48:-climate-change-and-agrofuels&Itemid=75" target="_blank">http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=983:statement-by-the-cloc-via-campesina-on-the-climate-summit-in-cancun-&catid=48:-climate-change-and-agrofuels&Itemid=75</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">3 DECEMBER</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black">Indigenous Peoples Action on the Steps of COP16 Conference</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">3 December, Cancun- About 30 indigenous delegates held a peaceful
demonstration in front of the COP16 conference center on the 5<sup>th</sup> day
of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Cancun. The
delegates called for the end of their exclusion from the COP16 negotiating
process by chanting slogans and singing native indigenous songs while wearing
traditional dress.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Delegates from 192 Nations are currently attending COP16. Even
though Indigenous communities strive to continue the structure of their ancient
nations within today’s newly defined boarders, not one Indigenous delegate has
been invited or permitted to join the 192 delegates in negotiating processes. The
climate justice community and the people inside the conference understand that
Indigenous communities are among the peoples most affected by the climate
crisis. This Indigenous demonstration was also a response to the disturbing and
unacceptable discussion of some States wishing to take out the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples in the UN Declaration negotiation text. This group of
Indigenous delegates made their message clear by holding up banners in Spanish
and English that read “Respect Indigenous Peoples Rights.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">For the entire story on this demonstration go to <span style="color:black"><a href="http://redroadcancun.com/?p=1263" target="_blank">http://redroadcancun.com/?p=1263</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black">La Via Campesina Caravans Arrive in Cancun</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">3 December, Cancun- La Via Campesina has organized a total of six
caravans that are a “series of mobilisations that seek to publicize the grave
conditions of social and environmental deterioration found in the cities,
communities and towns of Mexico, due to the privatization of public goods, the
impunity with which industries operate with respect to environmental
regulations and to the violation of the social and labor laws of the citizens.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">On November 28<sup>th</sup>, the first three Caravans left and
travelled through San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara, Acapulco and then Mexico City
before reaching their final destination of Cancun on December 3<sup>rd</sup>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">The Caravans have focused on topics such as contaminated water and
watersheds, soil erosion, and the contamination of food within Mexico. Each
Caravan represents a different climate crisis. The first three Caravans focused
on the rejection of Canadian mining, the death of the Lerma Santiago River and resistance
against the hydroelectric Dam la Parota. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Now that the Caravans have reached Mexico La Via Campesina has
released an ambitious and confident agenda for the start of the second week of
the conference:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">**Dec. 4, 10.00am:
Press conference: Arrival of caravans and program of La Via Campesina in
Cancun. Start of the World Alternative Forum "For Life and Environmental
and Social Justice." Where: Camp.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">**Dec. 5, 10.00am.
Presentation of Report: "Overview of the Social and Environmental
Devastation in Mexico." Where: Camp.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">**Dec. 6, 10.00am.
Press conference: "Announcement of the massive rally in Cancun and world mobilisation
of the «THOUSANDS CANCUN.» Where: Camp.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">**Dec. 6, 6pm. Press
conference: ""Announcement of the massive rally in Cancun and world mobilisation
of the «THOUSANDS CANCUN.» Where: Moon Palace</span></p>
<p style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">**Dec. 9.
"Meeting of the Bolivian President, Evo Morales, with members of the
camp." Place and time to be confirmed ( Found: <a href="http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=984:the-international-caravan-of-la-via-campesina-advances-for-cancun&catid=48:-climate-change-and-agrofuels&Itemid=75" target="_blank"><span style="color:black">http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=984:the-international-caravan-of-la-via-campesina-advances-for-cancun&catid=48:-climate-change-and-agrofuels&Itemid=75</span></a>
)</span></p>
<p style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">To check out the
details of La Via Campesina’s Caravan mobilisation go to: </span><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"><a href="http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=984:the-international-caravan-of-la-via-campesina-advances-for-cancun&catid=48:-climate-change-and-agrofuels&Itemid=75" target="_blank">http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=984:the-international-caravan-of-la-via-campesina-advances-for-cancun&catid=48:-climate-change-and-agrofuels&Itemid=75</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"></span></p>
<p style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black">4 DECEMBER</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black">Hundreds
gather for People’s Assembly on Climate Justice in Toronto: </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold";color:black">Activists,
Organizers, Neighbourhood Participants discuss community response to the
Climate Crisis<b></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Toronto – On Saturday December 4<sup>th</sup>, the Global Climate
Campaign’s International Day of Climate Action, hundreds of activists,
community organizers and neighbourhood participants gathered for the second
Toronto People’s Assembly on Climate Justice at Sidney Smith Hall, on the
University of Toronto campus.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">“The People’s Assembly on Climate Justice is a people’s<span> </span>alternative to the corrupt and
illegitimate solutions which are being pushed through the United Nations,” says
Julien Lalonde, a community organizer with Toronto Bolivia Solidarity and a
core facilitator at the Assembly.<span>
</span>“By using channels of collective dialogue and community empowerment we
are working together<span> </span>to become a
movement that understands the fundamental interconnectedness of our struggles
for social, economic and environmental justice.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">Building on the horizontal process established during the Reclaim
Power People’s Assembly in Copenhagen last December, the Toronto Assembly was
an ambitious all day affair. Using a combination of breakouts and plenaries,
participants discussed movement building, building alternative spaces,
accountability to front-line communities, economic reform, offgrid energy
solutions, and much more, in response to the initial framing question asking
what we can do together to create a stronger movement for Climate Justice.<span> </span>In the afternoon seven People’s
Council’s were created to begin formulating responses to topics identified by
the Assembly as priority issues.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">“Through a horizontal people’s process, the Assembly seeks to
create a space where we can work together to share experience, knowledge, and
resources in order to build a local response to a global crisis,” says Brett
Rhyno of Environmental Justice Toronto, who participated in the original
Reclaim Power People’s Assembly. “The challenge of the climate crisis can only
be met with a coordinated response that will bring forth our power in numbers.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">As the Canadian government works to obstruct progress in Cancun by
opposing a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol and at home by
killing the Climate Change Accountability Act, the need is clear for
communities to step up and start building their own solutions. The goal of the
People’s Assembly is to generate new possibilities and new hopes in order to
bridge the gap from separately operating groups, communities, and individuals,
to converge into one diverse, united movement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black">The Toronto People’s Assembly is in solidarity with La Via
Campesina’s call for 1000 Cancuns and, after successfully bringing the People’s
Assembly model to Canada in advance of the G20, it collaborated with the
Council of Canadians to produce a national call for People’s Assemblies which
has resulted in fourteen People’s Assemblies happening across the country
during the UN negotiations in Cancun.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Abadi MT Condensed Light";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="'Abadi MT Condensed Light'">For more information on the People's Assembly go here <a href="http://torontopeoplesassembly.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://torontopeoplesassembly.wordpress.com/</a></font></p>