Critical Mass

Published 31st October 2009 - 2 comments - 1564 views -

Critical Mass was not bad at all considering there was a windy 1 degree evening and a movie in the warmth of a home seemed to be a more natural choice than cycling around the city in the cold. In short, the event can be wrapped up as a little more than a dozen bikes, young people (mostly students) eager to get it started and good organization on the spot(considering there is no actual leader to show the way). They start the march when the sound from their bike horns is big enough to reach a 'critical mass' . You can get a stronger feeling of the event from the pics below.

 

Anyway, I was telling you that I'll try to interview some of them on matters of climate change. Because it was dark outside, I couldn't film anything properly, but I asked some of the guys what they know about COP15. After countless world wide online and offline campaigns that raise awareness about the December event, I was sure that at least the young people here would have some personal opinion to share. They didn't.

Although some were acquainted with the Kyoto Pact, none knew it expires in 2012. Although one of them took part in Climate Camp this year, none had any idea about the December summit. Although all of them are activists of some sort (from supporting alternative means of transport and an organic, healthy lifestyle to prostesting against discrimination), none had ever heard about COP15.

On the other hand, all of them link climate change with bad political choices. It's true that 10 people can't be even called a focus group and a several minutes chit chat can't account as a country survey, but again we're talking about young, educated persons, who live in the urban area and have access to all forms of media and are active in different activist groups. If they don't know, what should we ask from the ones who live in the country side with the Sunday mass and newspapers from two months ago as sole means of information?

I was left with a sour taste. Basically the words of these kids are proof of a sheer lack of climate information in our native language. A proof that media here does not consider climate as worth exploring. Unless bigger interests ask for it.

With a little more than a month away from COP15, I realized how thankful I am I know English.

Category: Climate Reporting, | Tags: cop15, climate, critical mass,

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Adela
Earth
Independent (Copy)writer

I write for a living. I take photos for fun. I tell stories for having a story to live by.

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