While about 675,000 people took to the streets in cities around the world prior to the United Nations climate change summit meeting, relatively few ventured forth in Portugal, suggesting that climate change is not something the Portuguese much worry about.

Well over 300,000 protesters turned out in New York, 40,000 in London, 30,000 in Melbourne and 15,000 in Berlin. Even Bogota in Colombia drummed up a throng of some 5,000. Organisers said marches took place in more that 2,000 other cities to demand action.

The gatherings in Portugal were relatively modest affairs. About 100 people, with a strong showing of green balloons, congregated in Rossio Square in the centre of Lisbon. Smaller numbers assembled in Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Faro and elsewhere.

The global protests were designed to put pressure on world leaders attending the UN summit. US Secretary of State John Kerry, concurred and said climate change should be at the top of the agenda despite competition from more immediate challenges such as ISIS and ebola.

The Portuguese press and their readers are far more preoccupied about current economic issues than what the climate is going to be like decades from now. The trouble is, experts warn, unless something is done soon to limited global warming, the economies of Portugal and many other countries could be devastated.

Meanwhile, Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu, a man of celestial-based faith, showed himself once again to be a down-to-earth pragmatist.

On the eve of the New York summit he expressed his views in The Observer newspaper. “Never before in history have human beings been called on to act collectively in defence of the Earth. As a species, we have endured world wars, epidemics, famine, slavery, apartheid and many other hideous consequences of religious, class, race, gender and ideological intolerance. People are extraordinarily resilient. The Earth has proven pretty resilient, too. It's managed to absorb most of what's been thrown at it since the industrial revolution and the invention of the internal combustion engine. Until now, that is.

“Because the science is clear: the sponge that cushions and sustains us, our environment, is already saturated with carbon. If we don't limit global warming to two degrees or less we are doomed to a period of unprecedented instability, insecurity and loss of species. Fossil fuels have powered human endeavour since our ancestors developed the skills to make and manage fire. Coal, gas and oil warm our homes, fuel our industries and enable our movements. We have allowed ourselves to become totally dependent, and are guilty of ignoring the warning signs of pending disaster. It is time to act.”

The aim of the New York summit - the first such meeting in five years - was “to galvanise” 120 member states to sign up to a comprehensive new global climate agreement at another “crucial” summit in Paris in 15 months from now.

And so, yet more delay. Satisfying the public demand for change to 100% clean energy has still a way to go.

© Len Port 2014

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News from Tavira on Sunday

The Tavira anti-climate action involved meeting at Beterraba shop near the municipal market then an eco-minded walk around the Salinas ending up at Praça da republica in Tavira at 1pm.

Despite the rain (climate change?) the meeting went well and over 30 signatures added to the global campaign to get government heads to agree meaningful targets and to push the green energy and reduced pollution agenda.

Below are some points that could help get local discussions started and we intend to follow up this campaign with some concrete actions on environmental quality.

Simon

pannetts@gmail.com

Ways to help fight Climate Change

In the Home:

   Look at using Solar Energy for heat and electricity

   Install a wood-burner to heat in winter

   Grow your own herbs & vegetables (try containers)

   Eat healthy using as much local food as possible (organic where possible)

   Share any excess or surplus with friends/family

   Tolerate temperature changes with clothing

   Use washing products that are less harmful to nature

   Use healthy and local cosmetics

   Try to use unbleached cotton and natural fabrics

   Exercise regularly and take note of your local area, help to keep it  clean.

   Drive more efficiently

   Reduce excessive water use

   Use less plastic bags/packaging and recycle as much as possible. Combine  with neighbours for organic compost and land use.

In your local area:

  Travel by foot, bicycle or public transport where possible and avoid unnecessary journeys

  Buy local food, cosmetics and other products

  Campaign for information from your council to see how much is produce locally and get contacts of local suppliers.

  Ask you council for air/water quality regular results.

  Campaign for supermarkets to display local producers and their products.

  Ask your local council to provide land for community vegetable gardens and try to get this close to schools

   Ask your council to publish regular details of recycling efforts and  what happens to un recycled materials.

   Join local regular exercise groups/clubs

Nationally and Globally

   Get Politicians to take up your causes and report back to you what they have achieved or the problems they face. Work with them to overcome these

   problems

  Organise energy supplies to obtain 100% clean supplies-let’s hear the problems in doing this!

   Governments to support healthy diets and living and to support local  producers with legislation to supermarkets to use and name local suppliers.

  National/Global regular measurements of air/water quality and highlight areas of concern from pollution.

  Set legislation with environment as top priority

  Bureaucracies to ensure new technologies to reduce consumption and encourage local production are assisted by easy take up from consumers

  Work with UN to get global charter to protect environment from all countries.

  Environmental rating of Hotels and tourist activities.

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About Len Port

Len Port has been a journalist for 50 years, working as a staff reporter, broadcaster and freelance correspondent for many leading news organisations. He covered events in the Far East in the Sixties, and in Northern Ireland and South Africa in the Seventies. Since moving to Portugal in the early Eighties, he has edited regional magazines, contributed to national dailies in Britain and written several books, two of which are currently available as ebooks with Amazon.