COP social movement unmoved?

The vulnerable and marginalized in society will be most affected by climate change, but no one should consider themselves immune to the effects.  At each Conference of the Parties climate-change negotiations an alternative COP venue is established as a location where the people of the world can make their climate-justice voices heard.  This year, the University of KwaZulu Natal (KZN) is the alternative civil-society space, known as The People’s Space.  It is the focal point for all activists and other like-minded people from all over the world or, more accurately, it should be.

The campus was pretty sleepy earlier this week when I visited, except for the odd press person / film crew looking for action.  Unfortunately they found only inaction. 

It is a similar story in the streets surrounding the International Convention Centre where the negotiations are taking place.  For instance, ‘Occupy COP17’ activists are here but they only brought the one tent!  Two years ago in Copenhagen 100,000 people marched through the capital on the Global Day of Action.  This Saturday a similar Global Day of Action is planned for Durban.  Let’s pray that the people of Durban, accompanied by the rest of the world, can shake themselves from apathy, the health of our planet is at stake.  We must not allow the mass spread of a new disease: climate-change fatigue.  You can count on my attendance on Saturday.  Can our planet count on a future?     

Julia