Today for the first time I headed over to the Convention Center. Outside thousands of European Activists surrounded the Center, participating in the impressive sandbagging event of the week. So many nationalities, folky and rhythmic parades and music--amazing how many powerful and pointed cries for environmental integrity in the protocol--resonated outside the Convention's walls.
Later that evening we had two mothers speak to us about their concerns - how the impact of climate change threatens the culture of their tribe. The two women have been friends since they were fourteen, living within the traditions of their culture. When Sterling Golongeren spoke (Siberian Yupik, she is an Eskimo from Saroonga, St. Lawrence Island) her fear and the eloquence with which she described her thoughts touched my heart. The first alarming clue

Evente Sandbagge

she could remember, that climate change was going to change their way of life, was the presence of bugs, where there once were none. That stood out so much to me, because it confirmed a thought that keeps echoing in my mind...There is truth in subtleties.
Later on that night we attended a big NGO party (for non-governmental organizations), which was held in a humongous tent structure. Playing was this amazing band from an island that is going to sink within the next 50 years or so. That is where I met up with Sterling again. I thanked her for speaking to us that night and commended her on the courage, that she had to bear a piece of her soul...and then with tears in her eyes she kissed me...I now crying too, felt truly blessed.

Nov.19

Passacantando

Welcomed by John Passacantando-director of Greenpeace USA. Spent the day training and figured out where all of us 225 students would be most effective, be it-media work, negotiating, direct action etc.

Nov.20

MV Greenpeace

This was the Lead Day and our theme was U.S. STOP CHEATING!!!! We started out by introducing ourselves and showing our sincere, youthful, beaming faces, while handing out buttons and flyers which stated our student declaration and media alerts for a student press conference we were having that day. After the press conference many attended side events. That night we had Sister Pat Daly as our speaker and ate dinner aboard the MV Greenpeace ship. We ended the night by meeting with our affinity groups to plan and scheme.

Nov.21
Today's theme was Sinks vs. Domestic Reduction Day. Many went to the Convention Center but I spent the day drawing posters, painting banners, dumpster diving for props, and checking out the local craft and costume shops. We were preparing for Wednesday's Nuclear Walk of Shame. Banners with captions like "Mommy how do you spell cancer?" "NUCLEAR" with stencils prints of children's hands and feet, which were mine and an example of what the posters read:

US Senator Craig
US Senator Hagel
Don't be a Fossil Fool

The rest of the day my mind was constantly brainstorming the castle...so to speak. Maybe it was the paint fumes-from our banner designs?

Nov.22
Face painted and spirited, I along with the majority of students herded out for the "March of Shame" that we had planned, pointing out five countries that still wanted to use nuclear energy as a (clean development mechanism) in the protocol. The Dutch police, or "polite", riot cars and all, intercepted us and said we were not allowed to march. The plan was to march to the embassys that still wanted nukes (US, Canada, China, Australia, and India). The police told the activists involved, the majority being European activists, that if they marched they were going to be arrested. So we all demonstrated for an hour, drumming, shouting, carrying signs and dancing. Then about half of the people there decided to march anyway- all were arrested who proceeded.

At the Convention Center

Later at the Convention Center I helped correlate a small performance inside, in which a group of us held hands around this global sculpture on the central stairwell. Armed with tambourines and maracas we sang like crazy! Numerous actions were taking place at the center. Later that day I participated in a still life action, in which we portrayed the delegated in a comatose drooling state, wearing Uncle Sam hats and holding signs such as, "Are We Moving in the Right Direction", "Please Move in the Right Direction", "A Delegate tackles Climate Change" etc. After our performance, a trio of women sprawled out on this beam above the stairwell. Their group was GWG-greenwash guerillas-European activists-they did a banner drop, basically sending the message that Climate corporate talk, is all talk, no action. Then there was a lock down in the Convention Center. Meanwhile outside a young man from the GWG climbed a large metal sculpture outside which was located in the middle of a fountain to drop another banner. The police were out on a crane in scuba gear waiting or trying to nab this crafty activist.
That night we had our small group of African Student Delegation as panel speakers. They were representatives from YM_M4I5S3S_18 and Gambia-informative and YM_M4I5S3S_19 articulate. They addressed why it is so important that YM_M4I5S3S_20 represent themselves, problem being that Africans are not telling their own stories and unfortunately the rest of the world is relying on YM_M4I5S3S_21 to learn about Africa, rather than hearing the people represent themselves. A quote from one of the YM_M4I5S3S_22 Students, "Earth is like a booth and we are all in it together"........

Nov.23
The main action that the majority of the students including myself participated in on this Thanksgiving Day was a fast. While the majority of students headed over to the center wearing "ask me why I'm fasting" arm bands, to point out that most Americans are guilty of over-consumption and do not see the affects of their actions.

An efficient little vehicle eh?

A small group headed over to the jailhouse to show support and greet those arrested the day before. I spent the majority of the day, trying to stay warm and getting lost on a food run -so that those arrested would have something to eat, after a night in jail. Back at the ranch (convention center) we did a banner hang across the street from the Convention Center, which read DON'T LET US DROWN
Later that night, after everyone was released, we headed over to the Convention Center. A group of students did a performance of Dr. Suess's "The Lorax" to remind us all why we got involved in activism in the first place. After listening to a variety of speakers, there was a heart warming sharing session of what we were thankful for- afterward outside the Center... there was a candle lit vigil.

Nov.24
At this point the negotiators hadn't sleep for 48 hours and were more sensitive to our birdogging pursuits. I sent e-mails home for people to call the Whitehouse and let their concerned voices be heard. On this last day, I kept in mind "The actions of one reflect us all."
That morning I organized a small Christmas caroling event in the awning outside the center, singing various modified carols about global warming, and almost lost my voice.
Later that night I co-organized a final "circle of solidarity" in which all of us marched single file from the Greenpeace office to the center stairs singing "earth my body water my blood, air my breath fire my spirit. Thank you for keeping your minds on good, we want to live in a healthy world, the real people are the real deal, stop to think and start to feel. The sky is our limit, remember why we are here, to cut our emissions we must be sincere. At the stairwell many others joined in, various NGO's, Delegates from around the world, the press-united on the message that the time is now- to take action and make a strong and effective treaty. Our final chant was, "EU STAY STRONG, NO NUKES, NO SINKS, clapping and chanting, we marched back to the Greenpeace office and joined in a massive group holding hands hug thing. That circle of solidarity was our closing event, intense, impacting, and beautiful.
The fact that no agreement was met was frustrating and somewhat disappointing but the fact that the EU did stand strong against the US, was a victory within itself. An incredible week to say the least. I can't remember the last time I learned so much...

Nov.25
Departures entailed lots of goodbyes, many going back to the states, some traveling in Europe for a while. I think everyone was contemplating about sharing the energy, passion, and awareness they absorbed during the past week with everyone they would be coming in contact with. Final thoughts. That this is only the beginning my friends, we have about six months until COP 6.5 and if democratic systems are based on the principle that all power comes from people-then it is my belief that while possessing sincerity is penetrating, the next step is acting in accordance with that fire -and this is the instrument of change. That is why we must cultivate the anger and passion that fills our souls and wake up the person next to us, because it is all about awareness, empowerment, and action-and communicating that love.

Victoria Estok

Here are a few random lines from Gil Scott Herons:

"THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED"
You will not be able to stay at home, brother
You will not be able to plug in, turn on and
COP out.
The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will be LIVE..............

Embrace The Unknown

Young people must be involved in issues that will influence their futures. Climate Change is one of those issues...now is the time to organize, mobilize and inspire. It's time to educate our communities, communicate, and generate more pressure on the US delegation...so when May comes around in Bonn, Germany we will have a better starting position.
Write or call and express your desire for a strong treaty and demand a protocol without loopholes-one that calls for a significant reduction of domestic greenhouse gas emissions. Recognize where the Responsibility Lies.

The President: 202-456-1414

Write to President Bush, because this is an accelerating crisis, which threatens us all.

E-mail or write yor senator about climate change..
www.senate.gov

or write..
www.whitehouse.gov
president@whitehouse.gov

Here are some additional sites to check out.....
www.climatehotmap.org
www.7by7.org
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/index.html
www.epa.gov/globalwarming/glossary.html