Peoples Actions on Climate Change (PACC)
29th September to 5th of October 2009, Bangkok
Courtesy of ECOT 9/1 Ratanakosin Rd. Tambon Watget A. Muang Chiang Mai 5000 www.ecotonline.org
On the occasion of the United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change (UNFCCC) that will take place in Bangkok from the 28th of September until the 9th of October 2009, the “Peoples Actions on Climate Change” (PACC) is organising a series of side events that we would like to invite you to attend.
The “Peoples Actions on Climate Change (PACC)” is an initiative of organizations belonging to the Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA), the NGO Coordinating Committee for Development (NGOCOD) in Thailand and other organizations calling for a People’s Protocol on the issue of Climate Change during the UNFCCC in Bangkok.
Through this grassroots-based assembly, the proponent organizations hope to present the voice and face to the serious impacts of climate change – grassroots sectors in Asia, who are undoubtedly the ones who would be most affected.
This shall also be a venue for exchange and expression of local climate change issues and coping mechanisms, calls and actions towards asserting their right to access and conserve the Earth’s resources, while protecting and advancing their welfare over the global environmental and economic crisis.
It will bring together a minimum of 200 women and men leaders of grassroots movements in at least 20 countries, along with at least 200 Thailand grassroots leaders. It shall:
- Show how Asian grassroots peoples’ sufferings have been aggravated by Climate Change,
- Show how Asian grassroots peoples have and can further cope, and
- Show how Asian grassroots peoples would want this problem to be addressed
- This event shall also serve as a build up civil society action to the Conference of Parties 15 in Copenhagen on December 2009.
Program of events
The PACC events, from the 29th of September to the 5th of October, will take place as follows:
September 29th:
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Fisherfolk action:
- Fisherfolks from climate change affected communities will stage an action to project fisherfolk calls and demands for drastic response to climate change impacts.
- Time: 11.15 am – 12 am
- Place: In front of the United Nations Conference Centre
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Exhibit of Community based climate change coping technologies and education materials:
- NGOs and Pos are invited to exhibit their community-based technologies to adapt to impacts or help mitigate climate change
- Time: 9am to 5pm
- Place: 14 October 1973 Monument/ Mathayom Wat Benchamabophit School.
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‘Asian Peoples’ Solidarity for Climate Justice Press conference:
- The Peoples’ Action on Climate Change will take part in this joint press conference
- Time: 12 am
- Place: In front of the UN Convention Centre
September 30th:
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Traditional Folk Dances and Rural Peoples Protest:
- Representatives of Peasant and other Ruralfolk organizations in Asia will express their protest over continuous neglect of governments for continuing and worsening impacts of climate change on poor countries and communities.
- Time: 9am -11am
- Place: In front of the UN Convention Centre
October 1st:
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‘Asian Women’s Quilt on Climate Change’
- Asian women will display quilts reflecting climate impacts on women, and their proposed solutions and calls.
- Time: 9am- 11am
- Place: 14 October 1973 Monument
October 2nd:
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Deep and Drastic Cuts Parade
- March that will expose real cause of Global Warming and the call for upholding peoples’ rights and for deep and drastic cuts.
- Time: 9am- 12am
- Place: From Mathayom Wat Benchamabophit School to the UN Convention Centre
-
‘Workshop on climate justice and tourism’
- Workshop that aims to raise awareness about the link between climate change and tourism. Speakers from Asian countries will present topics such as land rights and tourism, water shortage, use of agrofuels for tourism transport.
- Time: 2pm- 5pm
- Place: Mathayom Wat Benchamabophit School
October 3rd:
-
‘Climate Conference of Asian Peoples Movements’
- Conference that will consolidate the position of different sectors (peasants, IP, women, youth, labor, etc.) on climate change and related issues (REDD, carbon trading, biofuel, etc.) towards the formulation of a strong and unified position regarding the post Kyoto Climate Agreement and COP15 in Copenhagen.
- Time: 8.40 am- 6pm
- Place: Mathayom Wat Benchamabophit School
October 4th:
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‘Youth Kite Flying for Climate Change Action’
- Kites with peoples’ calls on climate action will fly through Bangkok winds
- Time: 9am -11am
- Place: Sanam Luang (To be confirmed)
October 5th:
-
‘Asian Peoples’ Solidarity for Climate Justice’ (common rally)
- The Peoples Action on Climate Change will take part in a common march from Santichaiprakarn Park to the UN Convention Centre
- Place: from Santichaiprakarn Park to the UN Convention Centre
- Lisa Ito: <lisa.ito@gmail.com>
- Mae Anne Llanza <maeanne@apwld.org>
- Clemente Bautista: Kalikasan-PNE<kalikasan.pne@gmail.com>
- Vince Cinches <cvfidec@gmail.com>
- Amelie Vignaud <amelie@ecotonline.org>
- Or PACC organising committee members:
- Frances Quimpo <fquimpo@cecphils.org>
Time: 9am- 12 am
For more information:
Please visit the PACC website: www.climatechangeaction.net, or contact PACC media team:
Note: 14 October 1973 Monument is located at the intersection between Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue and Tanao Road.
The Statement from the Thai People’s Forum 3-4 October 2009
Reducing global warming requires justice
We, over 500 representatives of the Community Forest Network, the Land Reform Network, the network of indigenous and tribal peoples of Thailand, the Thai Fisherfolk Federation, the network to fight against the power stations and heavy industry, the Alternative Energy Network, the Alternative Agriculture Network, the Assembly of the Poor, the Women’s network, and the Traditional Fisherfolk Youth Network of the South, joined together to discuss the problems of global warming and share views towards resolving these problems in a two day forum held on 3-4 October 2009. We see clear inequities in the present situation as follows:
Inequities
It is unjust that the industrial sector, including companies and state enterprises, including PTT, Chevron, oil as well as other companies emit greenhouse gases, creating a global warming crisis, but do not suffer the impact of their deeds themselves.
It is unjust that these companies and agencies do not get punished, but in fact receive endless promotion and subsidies from the state. For example, the Energy Development Plan provides for the construction of more than10 new coal-fired power stations and at least 4 nuclear power stations.
It is unjust that while there are clear lessons of the negative environmental impacts of industrial development, such as at Maptaphut, the state has not undertaken a review. Heavy industry will still be developed in Thailand as if it were a garbage bin or a centre for pollution for the developed countries.
It is unjust that local communities, indigenous and tribal people who have been living and farming in the forest areas for many generations, and who care for the forest according to local wisdom handed down through the ages, have now been turned into criminals and accused of forest destruction and causing global warming. Some families have been sued for millions of baht in damages.
It is unjust that the fishing communities who are suffering the very first direct impacts of global warming have not been listened to, their rights to manage coastal resources have not been recognized. Moreover the development projects of the southern coastal industrial zone simply adds to the existing problems of impacts from global warming.
It is unjust that the smallholder farming sector, which produces food in all its diversity and quality through sustainable agricultural systems, has not been seriously promoted by the state and are liable to have their lands seized for carbon sequestration.
It is unjust that the industrial farming sector is allowed to go scot-free, and are not required to take responsibility for releasing greenhouse gases.
It is unjust that communities which have tried to develop new alternative energies are not being supported properly at the local or the policy level.
proposals
To bring about justice, the Thai government must:
1. Create justice in development by allowing the people to participate in development. The people must be allowed to determine the direction of national development and have rights and powers to monitor and investigate implementation processes.
2. Review and reorient the approach to development towards sustainable development and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
3. Review the Power Development Plan (PDP) and make serious efforts to promote and support renewable energies.
4. Hold the implementation of the REDD policy, and give proper recognition to local communities’ rights to manage land and forest resources.
5. Recognise rights and give support to sustainable management of coastal resources by coastal fishing communities.
6. Halt the energy development projects and the southern coastal industrial zone project.
7. Stop destroying communities’ capacity to adjust to the global warming crisis through development projects which destroy community livelihoods. Instead make serious efforts to develop community capacity and support ideas and approaches already implemented by the communities.
8. Promote and support sustainable agriculture systems and integrated cropping systems – these are production systems which work in harmony with the ecology and can help in carbon sequestration, which makes them geo-friendly.
9. Make serious efforts to promote and support energy management at the community level, scaling up to policy and implementation at the national level.
Stated by
Thai Climate Justice Working Group and Thai People’s Organisations Network
4 October 2009