"Combating climate change is something that concerns all of us. It will require a global shift to renewable energies as well as a massive improvement in energy and commodity efficiency. With joint efforts by all countries and a fair distribution of the associated burdens, this one world of ours can have a bright future."
Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of the Swiss Confederation for 2009, said:
"Swiss history is marked by the challenges of hostile environments:
Václav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic, playwright, essayist and honorary president of the Prague Sinfonia Orchestra conducted by Christian Benda, joined the campaign a few days ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and said in support of the campaign:
“Even today we need a change similar to the one which was brought twenty years ago to Central Europe by the velvet revolution. It is a complete change of attitude to the planet, to Earth and to its sensitive and vulnerable organism.”
Klaus Wowereit, Major of Berlin, referred to the fall of the Berlin Wall in his supporting statement on Climate Justice:
“Twenty years ago, the Berlin Wall fell. Although it had long been considered invincible, it was the courage of people all over Central and Eastern Europe that led first to the “peaceful revolution” and then to the fall of the Wall. Climate change, too, can be stopped, if we all do our part.
I therefore welcome Kofi Annan’s initiative and am delighted that more and more people are joining the Global Alliance for Climate Justice. Everyone can take part in this campaign. Join us!”
Bertrand Piccard, a Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist, who completed the first non-stop balloon circumnavigation around the globe, is promoter of the Solar Impulse Project which aims at solar-power circumnavigation. He said in support of the campaign:
“In the 21 century humanity is faced with major challenges. These are opening new horizons for science that are less about conquering unknown territories and more about protecting the planet from today’s risks in order to continue enhancing our quality of life. Our next adventures are therefore humanitarian and medical in nature: fighting extreme poverty and the spread of new epidemics; political: aiming to improve global governance; spiritual: to reclaim our deepest values; and, of course, technological:
Everyone is encouraged to become a Climate Ally by downloading the free song or by uploading a ‘tck’
The statement by the German President , along with those of other Climate Allies, can be viewed on the campaign’s YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/
Climate justice has, at its heart, the principle that emissions have a price and greenhouse gas emitters must pay. The countries and peoples who will suffer the worst impact of climate change – both now and in the future – have done the least to cause it. As Kofi Annan said:
“Copenhagen needs to be the most ambitious international agreement ever negotiated. The alternative is mass starvation, mass migration, and mass sickness. If political leaders cannot assume responsibility for Copenhagen, they choose instead responsibility for failing humanity.”
For more information please contact:
Marcus McKenzie – Project Manager – marcus.mckenzie@
Emma van der Meulen – Project Officer – emma.vandermeulen@
Notes to editors: ‘Tck Tck Tck – Time for Climate Justice’ campaign
The Time for Climate Justice campaign aims to highlight the importance of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen in December 2009 and lobby for a fair, robust and binding agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. The campaign is the first major initiative of the Global Alliance for Climate Justice. The campaign was created by Havas Worldwide and was launched earlier this year at the 56th Cannes International Advertising Festival.
Kofi Annan announced the creation of a Global Alliance for Climate Justice at the inaugural Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF) Annual Forum in June 2008. The Alliance is a global movement which aims to raise awareness for climate justice, a concept according to which pollution has a cost and the poor must be supported in adapting to the consequences of climate change.
http://www.timeforclimatejustice.org
Climate Allies
Climate Allies are high-profile individuals and members of the general public who feel strongly about embracing the issue of climate justice. Anyone can become a Climate Ally by downloading the campaign’s musical petition ‘Beds are Burning’ or uploading a “Tck” video, image or text message on: http://www.timeforclimatejustice.org.
See ‘Climate Allies’ albums for a full list of Climate Allies:
http://www.facebook.com/
http://www.flickr.com/
Global Humanitarian Forum
Founded in 2007, the Global Humanitarian Forum is led by Kofi Annan and brings together stakeholders, including government, business, international organizations, civil society and the general public, to help solve humanitarian challenges. Located in Geneva, the Forum’s current focus is to increase awareness on the human face of climate change and to boost support to vulnerable populations worst affected by global warming.
http://www.ghf-
