“It was a great day, it was a fun day…”

Courtesy of Alex Baker/Baptist Times

The quote in the title  (from The Pet Parade by Hoyt Axton) describes The Wave, the much publicized pre-Copenhagen climate march in London (and Glasgow).

You can watch a video of what it was like by clicking here (featuring yours truly, the Campaigns editor) and you can read all about what it was like by clicking here.

BMS obviously doesn’t endorse all the views in this video. That said, what a great time this was. If you were lucky enough to be there, bless you. If you weren’t, consider going on the next march or demonstration for a good cause you get the opportunity or invitation to. It’s so much fun!

Tomorrow (5 Dec) is The Wave

If you’re anywhere near London (or, indeed, Glasgow) tomorrow, why not take part in one of the biggest climate change demonstrations ever? It’s going to be like a Make Poverty History for a new generation and a burning issue (literally).

You can find details about it here — it’s all about convincing leaders at the Copenhagen climate talks to do the right thing and make the difficult firm decisions on cutting the carbon emissions necessary to avoid environmental disaster.

This is going to be made more difficult, according to the Guardian’s George Monbiot, by an unlikely potential villain — the Canadian government. This eye-opening blog post is well worth reading for those with an interest in what is realistic to expect from the massively important talks in Copenhagen next week.

It does, however, raise the awkward question of whether meaningful progress can be made at all without radically rethinking the amount we in the wealthy countries consume (and therefore cause to be produced).

Here’s that blog again: canada-tar-sands-copenhagen-climate-deal check it out.

Buy this film

You’re not going to get this blog (or BMS Campaigns generally) encouraging you to buy things much, but we’ll mak an exception with this.

The End OF Poverty? is a superb documentary that has been likened to a kind of Inconvenient Truth for global poverty and economic injustice. This is a film that deals with the heart, the first causes of poverty, inequality and injustice. It examines both the history of economic oppression and its current forms and makes nonsense of the platitudes and often racist theories for why post-colonial countries so often experience high levels of poverty and violence long after independence.

With contributions from Bolivia, Kenya, Tanzania, India and beyond, it highlights the plight of ordinary people struggling against the monolith of an international economic system that sees them as worthless, without descending into manipulative sentimentalism. But it also features those who have worked for the transnational economic institutions who have formed the current situation, academics, activists and many economists.

 

Narrated by Martin Sheen ane meticulously researched, this is not light viewing, but it is utterly compelling stuff and received much deserved praise at Cannes. The End Of Poverty? is a must for every person wanting to understand how different aspects of economic injustice and deprivation fit together on a global scale.

 

If you want to be better informed, or just to have a concise film to introduce less-informed friends to the issues of land reform, trade justice, debt relief and economic justice that will not bore them, this is the film for you.

 

The DVD will be available for purchase (or info will be available) by clicking here in December. You can visit the film’s website, which features potential solutions to global poverty by clicking here and you can view atrailer for the film below.

 

 

 

Ssshhh! Blogging from Copenhagen

There will be a big, official BMS story about this in a few weeks, no doubt, but here’s a sneak-peak for you on the BMS Campaigns Blog:

Brendan Bowles, Director of Climate Stewards, the organisation through which BMS has offset all its air travel this year and through which it will offset all travel next year (to read more about that, click here) will be going to Copenhagen to keep us all abreast of what is happening at the climate conference. Here’s what he has to say about it:

“I am going to Copenhagen to find out each day what the key issues are, and to keep people informed around the world how they can pray. I will be publishing the prayer updates on http://twitter.com/climateprayer, broadcasting daily on United Christian Broadcasting, and providing a feed for partner organisations like BMS.”

 

Watch the BMS website for details.

BMS World Mission writes to the PM

BMS has written an open letter to the PM in anticipation of the Copenhagen climate talks. The letter is co-signed by Christian leaders from countries in which BMS works all over the world.

The letter was signed by BMS General Director, David Kerrigan and Steve Hughes, CEO of A Rocha, BMS’ main creation care partner organisation. To read more about the letter (including the list of co-signatories from around the world) and download a version of it for print, click here.

Desmond Tutu on climate change and Copenhagen

Here’s a good video fromCOP15, featuringthe legend that is Desmond Tutu talking about climate change running up to Copenhagen:

Video for your youf

This is pretty cute.

March and pray for climate justice, 5 December

A Rocha's Will Campbell-Clause and others practice the blue wave at a Stop Climate Chaos meeting

There’s an event coming up that you and your church should attend. Here’s the details form A Rocha:

This December world leaders meet in Copenhagen to make vital decisions on global action on climate change. A Rocha UK is part of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition calling for a fair climate change deal that puts the needs of poor communities in developing countries at its heart . Join us at ‘The Wave‘ to march and pray for climate justice in London on Saturday 5 December – here are the details:

What: Christian service, followed by a fun and peaceful march around the Thames. Please wear blue or bring blue banners to join the blue wave. Speakers include The Archbishop of Canterbury and The Archbishop of Westminster.

Where: Westminster Methodist Central Hall, SW1H 9NH.

When: Service at 11am, March departs at 1pm.

Who: You – and your friends, families and churches

Stop Climate Chaos have a Summer Action Pack for download to help you organise events to raise awareness of this crucial issue.

From War on Want: Act now to free Mohammad Othman

Mohammad Othman, a prominent Palestinian activist and advocate of the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign, has been arrested and is currently being detained without charge by the Israeli authorities. With only three days before his military hearing, it is urgent that we act on his behalf.

Here are three things you can do right now to help secure his release.

• Demand the Israeli authorities release Mohammad by sending a letter to Ron Prosor, the Israeli Ambassador in London
• Demand the British government put pressure on Israel to release Mohammad by writing to the British Consulate in Jerusalem
• Follow his campaign blog and join the facebook group to get the latest updates and action alerts

Background

On 22 September 2009 Israeli authorities arrested Mohammad Othman, a 33-year-old Palestinian human rights activist. Mohammed was detained by the Israeli police on his way home from Norway, where he had been promoting the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign. Israeli authorities have scheduled his hearing for 29 September 2009 in a military court. He has not been informed of the charges against him.

Mohammad is involved with Stop the Wall, the grassroots anti-Apartheid Wall campaign and War on Want partner organisation, and has dedicated the last 10 years of his life to the defence of Palestinian human rights. His village, Jayyous, in the occupied West Bank, has lost most of its fertile agricultural land to Israel’s illegal Wall and settlements.

It is believed that Othman is the first Palestinian to be imprisoned by Israel in response to BDS advocacy activity.

Mohammad’s ability to talk passionately about the effects of Israel’s illegal Occupation, combined with his warmth and good humour, has made him a popular activist in Palestine and with internationals alike.

“I learned more from spending a day driving around the West Bank with Othman, following the land-grabbing path of the Wall, than I have from reading dozens of books. His passion for knowledge and his love of the land are astounding and contagious.” Naomi Klein 25/9/2009

Campaign Against Arms Trade National Gathering 2009

From CAAT

Saturday 31 October

Toynbee Studios, London, E1 6AB (2 mins walk from Aldgate East tube)

Arrive 9.45am for 10.15am. Finish 5pm

Join CAAT supporters from around the country for a day of speakers, discussion and inspiration!

The event will include workshops on topics from arms fairs to corporate mercenaries to challenging the arms industry’s jobs argument, and offers the opportunity to hone your skills in making the most of the media, lobbying to win and more.

With an election looming and BAE Systems taking advantage of the recession to claim it invests ‘more and more in UK manufacturing’, this year’s event will provide the facts, skills and passion you need to challenge government support for the arms trade and tackle the arms industry’s spin.

Venue fully wheelchair accessible; hearing loop available; free creche available.  £5 waged; £2 unwaged. Tea, coffee and a light vegetarian lunch will be provided.

Book online at www.caat.org.uk/events/nationalgathering/, or contact Julia on julia@caat.org.uk or 020 7281 0297.

[Thanks to the good peopel at CSM for alerting us to this.]