For Peat's sake: Ireland joins the CLIMATE CAMP movement, expect NVDA and much craic

[dunk]

5000 years on in this strange sceal and people remember again the old wisdom from Newgrange...

- Climate Camp Ireland, Sat 15.- Sun 23. August, Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly:
- 9 days of free workshops, direct action, sustainable living and building a movement for climate and social justice

With the worst rainfall ever recorded for July in Ireland, and days upon days of nothing but depressing drizzle and rain, its clear Ireland is in the first stages of the climate chaos this planets delicate ecosystem is facing due to recent human activity since the Industrial revolution.

It’s time for a big re-think, and from that a collective move toward a healthier, saner, more just world. Time is running out and we all have our part to play in this exceptional time of transition.



This week something very very important is happening in Shannonbridge, County Offaly. Ireland, has taken her first step in the global CLIMATE CAMP movement, which has been growing steadily and virally over the last 3 years. Just up the road from that wonder of wonders, Killeens pub at the 'bridge, people from all over the world with many views on the world, have come together to tackle the root causes of global warming. The week attempts to raise awareness about Irelands bogs (A healthy bog typically stores 10 times more carbon per hectare than any other system, including forests) and The Irish States brand new peat-burning power stations that were brought online by the ESB and Bord na Móna and now burn over three million tonnes of peat a year. The week will culminate in attemps to shut down the Shannonbridge Station next Saturday, so who knows how things will pan out.

The climate campers might not have all the answers, and we might be a right mixed bag of many ideas (how to win, what the real problems are, what strategies actually build movements, which dont...) but for this week in August a physical space has been opened up by concerned citizens of the Earth to take stock of where we are today, to dream together of what that saner greener world would look like, and then take the necessary action to turn our collective dreams into tomorrow’s reality.

So if you, like many more in Ireland, are experiencing a (re)awakening, want to learn more, do more to make a greener world, are feeling that its time to take a stand, to become more informed, to be moved, to learn how to dig a garden for vegetables, to learn how to join others in the use of non violent direct action for political change (like Gandhi, Martin Luther King and others...) Or, your simply fed up with all the doom and gloom of Irelands resession, then, why not pay heed to the wisdom of Pat Clare: "Never mind about the resession, its time for the re-session". Why not hop on your bike, tie a hurl or 2 onto the crossbar, and cycle out along the Grand Canal to join us at the Climate Camp and help turn this beautiful island into a truly "Green Isle". Again!



A little more about the Climate Camp movement

“It was not flawless, but the climate camp was still the most democratic and best organised protest I’ve witnessed” , was how George Monbiot referred to the 2007 English climate camp in A new political movement is born


A mail from the lists sums up things nicely:

“Climate activism right now is certainly the strongest grassroots environmental movement organising in the UK’ (since then globally)

‘Climate Camp’ as it stands now is essentially an organisation of critical mass, having evolved into a powerful movement from what was initially started in August 2006, when 600 people gathered at the UK’s biggest single source of carbon dioxide, Drax coal-fired power station in West Yorkshire for ten days of learning and sustainable living, which culminated in a day of mass action against the power station. The aim was to kick-start a social movement to tackle climate change.

The 4 aims of the Climate Camp are:
- Direct Action
- Movement Building
- Sustainable Living
- Education

Heres a short vid from last year- [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkwpQnR3Pxg"] English climate camp 2008[/ame]

[fergalr]

I like how Climate Camp is also campaigning for social justice. Is sorting out the environment not sufficient?

[dunk]

The camp will be 9 days of great food, live music, workshops and action for a just, sustainable future. You can come for as long as you want – it’s up to you.

Heres a bit more on aims, aspirations etc from IMC-IE climate camp feature

WHAT CAN I DO THERE?

BUILD: Learn how to construct a solar collector, erect a marquee, or cook for two hundred people. We aim to make the camp a model of sustainable living, and we need you to help us do it.

MEET: Concerned about climate change? You’re not alone – join Irish people from all walks of life to share ideas, make friends and start taking collective action.

LEARN: Discover alternatives. Get up-to-speed with the science and economics. Learn the skills you need - from how to build a yurt and grow your own veg, to how to take direct action and talk to the media. With over 100 workshops to choose from there'll be several to suit your interests.

TAKE ACTION: Find like-minded people. Get trained-up. Make plans. Whether you want to make a silly costume, stop a train full of peat or coal, or start a community garden there will be people here to join you. Join our day of action against the peat industry on August 22nd. And get prepared to join people taking direct action all over the world, including global days of action for climate justice in December 2009.

WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF CLIMATE CAMP?



* To take direct action against the root causes of climate change

We intend to act collectively to take direct action against the root causes of climate change, the key agents responsible, and those who profit from causing climate change. We call on all people in Ireland to join us – not just during our camp but beyond in our own neighbourhoods and communities.

* To build a movement

We aim to build a resistance movement that can bring down climate polluters and carbon traders, demand climate justice and implement sustainable solutions. But beyond this, the movement that we are building must be one that can bring down the structures that have caused the climate crisis and support communities in finding their own answers. We aim to build a lasting movement that nurtures resistance to all forms of injustice and oppression, and supports people in implementing their own solutions.


* To create a space for education

Provide a safe, positive space, enabling people to be informed about and empowered through engagement in struggles for a better world. The camp brings together people who wish to become active and people already campaigning on climate change and many other issues. We aim to provide resources for, and facilitate the needs of, people who wish to become active and campaign groups, enabling them to meet, discuss, plan, create links, have open dialogue and debate, and develop new ideas.




* To demonstrate a model of sustainable living

We aim to demonstrate and promote viable alternatives to our current wasteful way of life and failed economic system that is driving the climate crisis. Our camp will show that solutions exist – solutions based on direct democracy, co-operation and concensus, and social justice – we just need to start living them


WHAT ARE OUR PRINCIPLES?

* Autonomy and self-management

Our aims can only be achieved in a self-managed, autonomous space. The camp aims to run independently of local authority, government, church, business, or other controlling bodies. It is managed collectively by the people who use it.

* Openness and inclusion

The camp seeks to be as open and inclusive as possible, providing a space that is welcoming to everyone irrespective of age, ethnic background, gender, faith, class, sexuality, and/or ability. We encourage - and aim to provide - equal access to participation in the camp. While the camp is a space for open debate and all ideas and opinions are invited, discriminatory ideas and discrimination on the grounds of age, ethnic background, gender, faith, class, sexuality, and/or ability are not welcome.

* Organising without leaders

The camp believes in organising without leaders or bosses, and with everyone having an equal say. When power is shared equally in a group, it can be more effective and sustainable - as well as empowering - for all involved.

* Collective decision making

We try to reach decisions by consensus, as far as practically possible. Consensus decision-making is about trying to find common ground and solutions that are acceptable to all in the space. This attempts to ensure that everyone's opinions, ideas, and concerns in the camp are taken into account.

* Co-operation and mutual aid

In a world dominated by competition and conflict, we believe that working together, sharing knowledge, skills and resources, and helping each other out builds strong communities and networks of support and friendship.

* Solidarity with affected communities

The camp seeks to promote understanding of the principles of climate justice and respect for the rights of affected communities. The camp seeks to further the debate of genuine solutions that are being proposed by affected communities – rather than furthering debate of false solutions proposed by those attempting to profit from the climate crisis. The camp acts to create an Irish voice of solidarity with communities who are struggling against the causes, impacts, and false solutions of climate change.

* Environmental sustainability

In an effort to minimize the ecological damage we cause, the camp seeks to use as little as possible in terms of energy, materials and resources. We strive to use only renewable energy. The camp aspires to create minimal waste and to reuse all waste created. Protection of local biodiversity, protection of land and water quality, and ecologically sustainable design are fundamental to the construction and planning of our camp. We aim to source all construction materials, food, water, furniture, and equipment locally and in the most ecologically and ethically sound manner possible. The use of fossil-fuelled vehicles and all other sources of pollutants is discouraged.

This is a living set of aims for our movement. All are welcome to get involved in discussions about our collective aims and principles - join us!

[dunk]

Climate Camp Welcome Handbook + Thoughts from the climate camp crew

- Climate Camp Welcome Handbook
As the sun has been shining, tents have been rising as the camp sets up in Shannonbridge....one amazing volunteer art student as been beavering away on the Climate Camp Welcome Handbook, which is now available online:

It's designed to be printed as an A5 booklet, so you can print 2 pages per A4 sheet if you want to print anything in particular from it such as the workshop programme.

- Thoughts from the climate camp crew


"One chimney down, time to knock the other"

Last month the old red and white chimney of the disused power station in Shannonbridge was finally knocked down. The Climate Camp asserts that the other new power station should be out of use as well.

Molly, a spokesperson for the camp, stated "Burning peat for electricity is so polluting that we simply can't afford to be doing it. The peat is only going to last for another 15 years so its not a sensible or sustainable practice, nor a source of secure employment, aside from the climate impacts. But the prospect of catastrophic climate change makes extracting and burning peat a dangerous thing to do."


Climate Camp calls on the people of Ireland to join them in a peaceful shut-down of the world's largest peat-fired powerstation. The climate camp will be camped in the shadow of the power station in Shannonbridge for nine days. This will be nine days of sustainable living, workshops and skill sharing and will culminate in a carnival and day of action on Saturday the 22nd.


Speaking about the jobs aspect another spokesperson, Nancy, Said
"Bord na Mona and ESB workers deserve better. We need secure, healthy, green jobs. We we need jobs that will last - and that means jobs that take CO2 out of the atmosphere rather than pumping it in."

Bord na Mona and ESB are saying all the right words, but all day, everyday they are still extracting, selling and burning the dirtiest fossil fuel. It's time to restore all of Ireland's bogs to carbon sinks. It's time for us to stand up for justice and human rights - continuing to burn peat costs lives, and it is costing us our children's future.

Friday, 14 August 2009 13:50

Climate Camp calls on the people of Ireland to join a peaceful shut-down of the world's largest peat fired power station on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[wombat]

30 years ago, there was a professor of electrical engineering in UCD who had a party piece about Peat fired generating stations - "It would be cheaper to burn fivers"

[lostexpectation]

I like how Climate Camp is also campaigning for social justice. Is sorting out the environment not sufficient?

no, its not, this is the very thing the green party have abandoned.

[Ah Well]

5000 years on in this strange sceal and people remember again the old wisdom from Newgrange...

Having a particular interest in and knowledge of megalithic culture in this country for many years, I'd like to hear what this "old wisdom" from Newgrange is and how does it specifically relate to climate change? please do tell .....

Let's not forget that there was dramatic climate change in Ireland 4000 years ago which had a severe effect on those living at the time ... not that far off the time of Newgrange ... and there was no "global warming by humans" in those times

I also note the intentions/violent conduct involving protestors in that Sky News Vid which I don't agree with .... but granted that was supposed to be by "other" groups hanging on/turning up at the protest which can occur

[MsAnneThrope]

With the worst rainfall ever recorded for July in Ireland

Records have only been kept here for ~172 years. Ireland is millions upon millions of years old.

its clear Ireland is in the first stages of the climate chaos this planets delicate ecosystem is facing

Clear to who?

It’s time for a big re-think

Indeed.

[EarlyBird]

"We are armed..... only with peer reviewed science"

Priceless.

Would that peer reviewed science be related to the data that is now 'lost'?.

"We are not in a position to supply data for a particular country not covered by the example agreements referred to earlier, as we have never had sufficient resources to keep track of the exact source of each individual monthly value. Since the 1980s, we have merged the data we have received into existing series or begun new ones, so it is impossible to say if all stations within a particular country or if all of an individual record should be freely available. Data storage availability in the 1980s meant that we were not able to keep the multiple sources for some sites, only the station series after adjustment for homogeneity issues. We, therefore, do not hold the original raw data but only the value-added (i.e. quality controlled and homogenized) data."

CRU Responds
by Steve McIntyre on August 11th, 2009

CRU has posted up an undated webpage on data availability here , responding to the various recent FOI requests for station data and confidentiality agreements. Here they "list the agreements that we still hold".

I'm preparing a post on this extraordinary document and am posting this thread as a placeholder for now.

Instalment 1 (Aug 11 8 pm) :
Obviously this is a pretty pathetic combination of excuses and whining. Both CRU and the Met Office should be cringing with embarrassment. Obviously there will be more shoes to drop. But let me reiterate one of my own baseline positions (and one which I do not wish to argue about with readers.) Regardless of how pitiful CRU's management of data and contracts turns out to be, it is not my position that this is an excuse for delaying climate policy until the original data is found and documented. Neither do I think that any exigencies of the big picture excuse negligence in the small picture.

Lost Data
Surely the most surprising revelation is their confession that they've lost all their original data - all they have is their "value added version". They say:

Since the 1980s, we have merged the data we have received into existing series or begun new ones, so it is impossible to say if all stations within a particular country or if all of an individual record should be freely available. Data storage availability in the 1980s meant that we were not able to keep the multiple sources for some sites, only the station series after adjustment for homogeneity issues. We, therefore, do not hold the original raw data but only the value-added (i.e. quality controlled and homogenized) data.

I was around in the 1980s and the 1970s. People used filing cabinets back then. You'd have alphabetically arranged files by customer. If you got paper from Andorra or Zambia, you'd put the data in the Andorra or Zambia file. If a decision were made on the handling of an account, you'd put a memo in the file. How is it possible that they don't have ANY documentation on the construction of their data? This is getting worse and worse.

CRU Excuses
Imagine [you fill in the name] saying something like this:

Below we list the agreements that we still hold. We know that there were others, but cannot locate them, possibly as we've moved offices several times during the 1980s.

http://www.climateaudit.org/?p=6789

[dunk]

CLIMATE CAMP is a fast-growing, grassroots movement of diverse people taking action on climate change, the biggest threat our world has known.

IRELAND:
Climate camp ireland was a blast, a huge positive step, full coverage at; 'Give Peat a Chance'- Climate Camp Shannonbridge 2009


ENGLAND;
Last week the UK climate camp SWOOPED from 7 sides to a green square in the city, full report of that time of action from london indymedia and climate camp site uk and the Guardians climate camp very informative zone