Jo04 januari 2008 – 01:04

TO THE ISLAND

In the last months of 2007, very much attention of campainging went to the Bali summit.

The stakes in the climate change are an unprecedented challenge to humanity to overcome our greed and our division to stop catastrophic global warming. Avaaz members worldwide have taken up this challenge with gusto.

read it on www.avaaz.org/en/bali_report_back
or a breaf summury in Dutch on www.avaaz.org/nl

08 December '07
THE RESPONSE - A Global People Power Moment

14 December '07
THE RESULT - The Climate Wreckers Back Down

In the final hours of the conference, all the pressure showed its impact. Heated negotiations had ended in repeated deadlock. The deadline for the conference was extended another 24 hours, and diplomats worked through the night. Japan gave in quickly to the consensus, but the US and Canada held out. The biggest and clearest victory achieved was on the Canadian government's position. Under pressure from all sides and massive domestic anger, the Canadian government finally did a complete U-turn, and allowed the smaller group of Kyoto countries to agree to reduce carbon emissions by 25-40% by 2020. This significant step means that the richest countries - all except the US - have now set ambitious new targets for emissions reductions.

The US - now completely isolated - still held out. In the final general session, a compromise proposal was suggested that was accepted by every delegation. The United States took the floor -- and rejected it.

The world is used to letting the US have its way, but not this time. The assembled delegations let loose a chorus of boos. Nation after nation took the floor and sounded the chords of outrage. Just like hundreds of thousands of Avaaz members told them to do, our leaders stood firm.

Faced with this united front, the American representative asked to take the floor once more, and said simply, "The United States will join the consensus." Victory.

It was not at all a complete victory - we are still far from the treaty with binding global targets that will stop catastrophic climate change. But the massive grass roots response to save the Bali Summit shows that a great people-powered movement to save our environment is stirring - and this is just the beginning.

Over 600,000 Avaaz members mobilized to save the Bali talks, including 320,000 in the final 72 hours!

Just a few examples of how Avaaz members pitched in:
• Local rallies in over 100 nations and in Bali
• Presenting 2.6 million signatures from 192 countries calling for climate action
• Rapid response campaigns to pressure the American, Canadian and Japanese governments

The good: A road map to create an international climate treaty to replace Kyoto by 2009 and an $80 billion annual fund to help poorer countries adapt to climate change.
The bad: No specific reduction targets yet. What's next: 2 years to keep the pressure on. Let's get to it!
The ugly: You, ugly face. Stay awake and take part on the action!!!

read it on www.avaaz.org/en/bali_report_back

"I've realized that I can't do it by myself, but the world can't do it without me" Anna, Avaaz member, Australia

"Alone I feel powerless. Together we can change."
Alexandra Stone, United Kingdom

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