Nearly 10,000 people from all across the country gathered to take a stand against climate change. To make their voices heard. To send a clear message to our leaders that we have to Act Now!

Thousands of people from across India came out on to the streets on Saturday, December 12th to highlight the urgency of climate change, and to get our leaders to take strong action at Copenhagen. Even as nearly 10,000 people marched in Delhi, thousands more from other parts of the country took part.

If you took action please send us your photos as well. Mail them to info@greenidol.in

Citizens across the world demand a Real Deal in Copenhagen

Citizens take part in the march on the Global Day of Action

New Delhi, 12th December 2009: In response to the uncertainty in the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, citizens stepped out onto the street to voice their demand for a fair, ambitious and legally binding treaty to avert catastrophic climate change. The colorful and noisy citizens march included civil society groups, artists, and youngsters from schools and colleges who joined to “Bajao” for the Global Day of Action (1).

Archbishop Vincent Concesseo flagged off the 6 km rally from Rajghat (2) to Parliament Street. He said, “The time for everyone to act is now – especially the leadership.” This was part of an unprecedented mass mobilisation demanding climate action. Indians joined millions of people across the world on this historic occasion. People played musical instruments, sang, and beat on plates and drums, to indicate that people aren’t going to accept anything short of a real deal as an outcome of the Copenhagen talks. Divya Chaudhary, an MBA student from IILM, Lodhi Road said she felt she has to take a stand and joined the rally as part of the WWF vote for the earth campaign.

“Millions of people in India are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Our monsoons are being hit, and so are our glaciers receding rapidly. We cannot squander this opportunity to avert runaway climate change. Our message to the 120-odd Heads of State who arrive next week in Copenhagen is loud and clear: The time to change the future is now,” said Naveen Mishra from Global Climate Campaign.

“It is clear that the citizens of India will no longer be silent spectators while world leaders decide the fate of our planet. We want them to take action now and not later. Runaway climate change is going to render millions more homeless in India. As a person who lives on the street, that is not a future I would wish on anyone,” said Vipin from the Beghar Foundation. (3)

As part of the Global Day of Action, Greenpeace organised simultaneous protests in more than 15 cities across India. As a highpoint of the march they unfurled a 700 metre long banner with messages from citizens across the country from Kochin to Kashmir. The banner will become part of the ‘sign a real deal’ wall at the Climate Satyagraha Camp at the Constitution Club from the 13th onwards.

In India, actions around the Copenhagen talks are being organised by the Climate Satyagraha Camp, a civil society coalition (4) formed to give Indian voice to the Climate Summit taking place in Copenhagen from 7-18 December, 2009. Science indicates that world greenhouse gas levels need to start decreasing by 2015 at the latest, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The outcomes of the Copenhagen Summit will impact the lives of many generations to come.

Despite some key industrialised countries lowering expectations for a deal in Copenhagen, the first week of the talks has been dominated by a determined push for a legally binding agreement by developing countries, which are literally fighting for their survival.

Contacts:
Greenpeace India: Vinuta Gopal, +91 98455 35418
Beghar Foundation: Vipin, +91 96501 12293
Global Climate Campaign: Naveen Mishra, +91 99107 02114

Notes to Editors:
(1) The World Wants a Real Deal is a mass mobilisation with over 3,000 events taking place in more than 125 countries. At candlelight vigils, marches and special events at temporary walls built in key capitals, people from all walks of life will write messages, post photos and sign their names onto the call for a fair, ambitious and legally binding climate treaty. The 12 December event in Copenhagen was organised as part of a Global Day of Action spearheaded by AVAAZ and 350.org, as part of the tcktcktck coalition. So far, the tcktcktck petition has been signed by more than 11 million people from every country in the world.
tcktcktck is an unprecedented global alliance, representing hundreds of millions of people from all walks of life. It is made up of leading international, national and local organisations addressing environment, development, poverty, human rights, health and humanitarian issues. It represents faith-based groups, youth groups, trade unions and individuals all calling for a fair, ambitious and binding climate change deal in December 2009 in Copenhagen. The world is ready!

(2) Rajghat is the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi.

(3) The Beghar Foundation works for the rights of homeless people in New Delhi.

(4) The Climate Satyagraha Camp coalition members include: Greenpeace, Oxfam India, WWF, Christian Aid, Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN), Sustainable Environment & Ecological Development Society (SEEDS), Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), Global Climate Campaign (GCC), Wada Na Todo Abhiyan, Ekta Parishad, Indo-Global Social Services Society (IGSSS), Delhi Greens, Shehri Adhikar Manch, Jamghat, Insaaf, Nishtha, Pravah, Khoj Delhi, Global Gandhi Forum Citizens’ Council, Action Aid, 350.org, Centre for Social Markets (CSM), Centre for Legislative Research and Advocacy (CLRA), as well as many climate-affected community organisations and other solidarity partners.

For more press material on the Copenhagen event
www.tcktcktck.org

December 12th Global day Of Climate Action – join us in cities across India!

World leaders are meeting in Copenhagen to decide the fate of the planet. We want to send our message to them loud and clear – Take serious action NOW!

Join us wherever you are to take action on the 12th of December.

The Elders with their grandkids

Elders’ chair Desmond Tutu: “Leaders of the world – as you prepare for Copenhagen, look into the eyes of your children and grandchildren and think of their future. Millions of lives depend on the decisions you will make.”

“My children and grandchildren are worried – and so am I. I have seen this planet change in the course of my lifetime. Millions of people, especially the very poor, are already suffering due to changing weather patterns, droughts and floods. But none of us will be immune from climate change; rich, poor, developed or developing countries, we are all in this together and there is no time to lose. We need a REAL DEAL on climate change in Copenhagen.”

The Elders are a group of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela. They include Kofi Annan, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu.

In a personal letter, The Elders have urged 192 world leaders to attend the Copenhagen climate talks in person and to reach a fair, ambitious, effective and binding agreement to reduce emissions and build a low-carbon, and sustainable future for us all.

Now Desmond Tutu, on behalf of the Elders, is calling on YOU to join them by demanding a REAL DEAL on climate change when world leaders meet in Copenhagen in just a few weeks’ time.

“Join us and the TCK TCK TCK campaign, along with millions of people around the world in a global DAY OF ACTION on 12 DECEMBER.”

There are 1000s of events happening around that day, from candlelight vigils, rallies, and church bells ringing. To find an event near you, go to tcktcktck.org/realdeal.

Desmond Tutu, Martti Ahtisaari, Gro Brundtland, Lakhdar Brahimi, Ela Bhatt, Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson were joined by their grandchildren recently to remind the world of the catastrophic risk of climate change to future generations.