Huffington Post is holding a contest to send a citizen journalist to Copenhagen as part of its Hopenhagen platform. This contest will provide a unique insight on Copenhagen, and will be a chance for the concerns of the people to be heard.
The most important humanitarian crisis of the 21st century is the issue of Environmental Refugees.
This must be addressed at Copenhagen.
This is not the only concern regarding Climate Change, but I do feel it is the most pressing, which is why I have been writing and advocating on behalf of Low lying islanders who will become the world's first Environmental Refugees. It is also why I am asking for your vote to be sent as a citizen journalist and activist, to make sure that the Climate Change talks include this humanitarian crisis.
Just 2 years ago, there was very little information regarding displacement from Climate Change and Environmental Refugees. Now, there are estimates of 75 million Environmental Refugees by 2050. I am glad to see there are several new groups that have sprung up and whom I consider integral to the good fight - such as Towards Recognition, Avaaz, and Refugees International now has started a new division to focus on this issue. There are also some film makers such ClimateRefugees.com and Sun Come Up who are now documenting beginnings of the greatest humanitarian crisis that we will face this century.
Environmental Refugees highlights the most important issue regarding Climate Change - saving lives. It is this approach that I believe will fundamentally change the way we view the way we power our world. And it will take a tremendous grassroots social movement to change that power structure.
Already it seems that the odds are stacked against us with reports of a
worldwide lobbying effort against Climate Change legislation. Add to this the reports that leaders of the Industrialized countries think that there is no real hurry on the Copenhagen talks.
We are at a critical juncture and delaying tactics by the Industries may allow them to make more money, but we have to hold them and our leaders accountable by asking - do you value profits over lives?
And how will business remain profitable if the Earth becomes uninhabitable?
For the people on low lying islands such as the Carterets, the Maldives, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and many others, the general feeling is that only the Industrial Super Powers have the ability to change things - and possibly save them from losing their homelands from rising seas. That means it is up to us, the activist community in the Industrialized world to keep them in mind and to keep pressure on our political leaders to listen and act on their behalf.
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