The last two weeks have seen momentum gather, both personally and internationally, as the countdown grows ever smaller for the start of the COP-15. We as the Copenhagen 3 have been filmed by Back to the Planet, a small Bristol based production company who are following various activists on their journey to Copenhagen, and quizzing us about our motivation. We have grinned our way through press photographs, and seen our first articles go to print.

I’m Megan, I’ve lived in Bristol for 5 years, and have volunteered for Oxfam for three of those. Like Rosanne, this is the first time I have been involved in campaigning, and I am enjoying it enormously. I feel extraordinarily lucky to be able to attend what is being viewed as the most important meeting of our time. I find it fascinating that the effects of climate change are even questioned – I spent three months in India last year, and the number of people who have already been displaced due to desertification is overwhelming. The monsoon season has shifted, and almost completely failed in some states. When you see dry, cracked riverbeds and deserted villages, is there any room to question the ramifications of climate change?

One of my key concerns is that political bickering may hinder a safe and fair deal, and the notion that such significant decisions lie in the hands of so few is concerning. This is one of the many reasons that I am excited to be going to Copenhagen, and to be given the opportunity to represent the South West. Our voices can and will be heard.

As Lord Stern stated in an article in the Guardian today ‘the two defining challenges of our century are managing climate change and overcoming poverty. And if we fail on one we will fail on the other’. I believe that a strong and comprehensive agreement can be reached, and there is no room for failure on this. Change must happen here and now, we have no more time for procrastination. Even if a treaty cannot be agreed upon in Copenhagen, the political framework must be established for an agreement to be drawn up within the next year.

Two pieces of news have dominated the week, the first was Obama’s decision to attend (albeit not for the entire conference), which is a fantastic lobbying achievement. And the other, more discouraging news, is that Nick Griffin, the BNP leader and known climate change denier, will be representing the EU at the conference. It seems a little perplexing that Griffin should have been chosen at all, considering how vociferous he has been on the subject of climate change, and its existence. We can only hope that common sense will prevail.

Within the last few days, it feels as though there has been a more optimistic shift in public opinion. This weekend, I helped to co-ordinate the Freeconomy Feastival, a whole day festival dedicated to celebrating Buy Nothing Day, an annual global holiday from consumerism. The day was a huge success, offering free food, music, dance, workshops, a bookswap, a clothes swap and a free shop. Not only was it a fantastic community event, it was an excellent way of getting to meet like minded folk and gaining a stronger understanding of what Bristolians want to be achieved in Copenhagen. And the general consensus seemed to resonate firmly with Oxfam’s message of achieving a fair and safe deal for all. What I found so encouraging was the optimism present, and the number of people I met who were already planning on attending the Wave on the 5^th. If you haven’t already signed up for transport, you can do so here.

Get your facepaints ready, your blue clothes on, and the Copenhagen 3 will see you there!

Tags: COP 15, Copenhagen 3, South West

This entry was posted by Megan Orpwood-Russell on November 30th, 2009 at 5:40 pm and is filed under Oxfam South West, You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.