Eating Food- Fasting on Sleep/ Freezing Back Home

Good Morning from the place where darkness seems normal...Daniel, one of the long term fasters was using a UV light today....looked good to me.  It's 3 am and there is no way I can sleep so here I lay in my bed communicating dutifully to my blogees.

Saw Bill McKibben (350 founder) on the train today, and when he said he was following my blog I thought I best be on the ball (disc?) and get it done...was feeling guilty for not writing today but was trying to be not so tied to my computer. So this is what I get?

We had a nice chat about COPs in general and the different feel this one has.  Bill said that everything always happens in the last few hours of the last day...ie  the hours after President Obama speaks to the delegates in our frisbee field/ plenary hall...if they only knew.

Obama receiving the Peace Prize today has generated a lot of attention around here, especially from the African partners who are crying for Obama to honor his inaugral promises....please read their impassioned letter:  http://www.1sky.org/files/PACJA_letter.pdf

Of course we also spoke of snow and skiing, our shared passion. Bill left a day early to avoid the storm that sounded like walloped Minnesota....will the hardy Gophers still show up for the Candlelight Vigil this Saturday at Lake Harriet on Saturday at 4 pm? I'm expecting a flood of photos from your actions  ...good luck and remember your wind screen. Confirm your attendance on Natalie Gille's fb page at:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=189168529596

Thanks for considering this; bring your families and send your photos to me and 350.org on Saturday evening....we'll get them printed and delivered by hand to John Pershing (lead US negotiator) on Monday and believe me, after this week, he could use a little candlelight energy and good will.

Wear layers and toast a warm drink to us all afterwards.

Did you see the article in the Star Tribune?  A big thank you to MaryJane Smetana who now is following our actions.  Here's the link http://www.startribune.com/local/west/78642807.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr

The other interesting personal project that I'm working on is to connect 2 extreme bikers.  David Kroodsma was selected by the Huffington Post as their Hopenhagen Designee (and a free trip to COP 15 for he and his bike) . He biked 21,000 miles promoting Climate Action thru out North and South America (see his excellent 1 minute video at  http://hopenhagen.org/hopenhagenBlog)

David is a close friend of Aaron Teasdale my Birke (ski marathon) Buddy Harold's son...he arrives Saturday morning and has already contacted me.

The other biker?  Kim ________ from Australia, he only biked to Copenhagen from Aussieland leaving last August. I met him through Anna Keenan the young (24 yr old) Climate Justice activist who is entering her 35th day on a water only fast and along with Sara (25 from Sweden) and Daniel (30 from Austraila living in Copenhagen), Daniel's only done about 28 days...oh my, Gandhi usually stopped at 20-30 days. They are getting international press, met with Yvo deBoer, the UN Executive Secretary at the UNFCCC yesterday and have requested 10 minutes with President Obama next week.  Time Magazine is scheduled to interview them on Monday.

The focus? To stand with the countries and people who have done almost nothing to cause the problem and who yet suffer the most from the severe consequences of Climate Change, go to www.climatejusticefast.com to see the powerful 3 minute video and learn about our cause....this is something close to my heart and the hearts of many RPCVs (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers), and today I got a chance to share my personal story at a news conference at the Klimeforum in Copenhagen Center City at the People's Climate Summit.

Monday I will have a chance to listen to Bill McKibben and President Nasheed from the Maldives who is leading the charge for the Most Vulnerable Nations in becoming carbon neutral nations and not waiting for the wealthy countries to come to their aid....which we should and must do. With Tuvalu, Kirabati and other Island Nations on the front burner here in the negotiations, Minnesotans can again be proud that our own John Madole and his partner Gene Chase are leading the way towards casrbon neutrality for the Maldives by working on carbon mitigation projects on the North Island of the Maldives. Saw incredibly beautiful and disturbing photographs at the  Klimeforum today from the Maldives and the degrading of the protective coral reefs that surround and protect the islands.

The time is NOW for these island nations!!!

Now it's morning and I can start my Friday...one week til Obama...time to volunteer for 350 and get set for "Minnesotans for Climate Action" and the big march/ action on Saturday....and perhaps a nap this afternoon.

Jane Shay gets in from Belgium (she works with the city of Mpls. and is a graduate student in Belgium) and she will be staying here in Charlottenlund at our gracious host Jane's home.

I'll leave you with one last global local connection. I said hi to some African delegates walking by our area, ended up meeting four of the Niger representatives and one, Dr. Salifou Assane Selny, is a teacher of teachers and said that he would hook up one of his French speaking schools with an Edina school. I put out a feeler and Michele, our Green Mom from Morningside, Edina immediately said "yes we will" to connecting Normandale School (French Immersion) with our projected new school in Niger. Ended up friending Salifou on Facebook and if you check his page you "might" see this photo.

Another frisbee game planned for tonight with some of these Climate Activist Ultimate players, and an ICLEI workshop on how Copenhagen does what it does with it's Bicycle Culture....I'll leave you with an inspiring quote from Van Jones and envision all of you preparing for local Candlelight Vigils on Saturday.

Day 5 of the COP 15 arrives and I'm happy to be here with and for you:

"Now is not the time to shrink from the challenge of saving our only home in the universe...Now is the time to open our arms, expand our horizons, and dream big. To prevail, we will need tens of thousands of heroes at every level of human society." --Van Jones, The Green Collar Economy

sounds like us

Namaste

Day 3- Will My Credentials be Ready?

Off for the train and the Bella Center to get registered and back to the youth summit in town...I'm learning my way around Copenhagen and hey...don't have to be bothered by eating for the next 3 days.

Here's the link for the Fox 9 show for those of you who haven't seen it.

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/buzz/greenhouse-gas-summit-december-2-2009


and another good piece on the Climate Justice Fast group:


http://www.ips.org/TV/copenhagen/hunger-strikers-in-moral-call-to-climate-action/


Thank you all for your support and encouragement...it is getting transfered directly to the youth delegates and others here through my hands (massage) your art (the banners and cards) just not sure about when the discs will start to fly...these indoor events are tricky.


I do have one soft disc and only one mini...how unprepared.


Create a magical event on 12/12 at the Lake Harriet Bandstand.


pt

Day 1 at the Bella Center- Bikes on trains/ Youth on the Move

Here's the link from the FOX 9 Morning News program last Wednesday just before I left for Copenhagen. Thanks to Shara for setting it up and sending me the link...I hope this works.

Opps it won't let me save it here, I'll get some youth experts on it today but will send the link via e mail to all of you.

Saturday morning here, i finally got some sleep and am going to head in to the University of Copenhagen for the Youth Summit today and tomorrow. Hooked up with a bunch of the Climate Justice Youth and the Will Steger Expedition Copenhagen Youth at the Bella Center (my credentials had not been processed yet but the ICLEI, Local Govt. for Sustainability, folks are assuring me all will be well.

Jane , my host mentioned that President Obama has changed his plans and is now coming on the 18th instead of the 9th. That is the last day of the conference when the World Leaders gather to endorse, sign, reject whatever has come out of the deliberations.  I was hoping that he would do both, come early to set the tone and return for the culmination. Still waiting for him to check in with me about that. hhhmmmmmmm.

Here are a couple shots from yesterday...people with bikes on the train is my fav image of Cop so far and everyone is well aware of the convention and interested in reading your cards and what Minnesotans think about Climate Change.



The main wall where people enter the Bella Center












I start my second 3 day fast tomorrow and am inviting any readers to join me for a meal, a day or just let go of your daily latte in honor of our journey together to find multiple solutions to this pressing problem.

Some of the Expedition Copenhagen youth from the Will Steger Foundation

                                                                                                                           l    

After a hard days work caring for the elderly.




Remember the 350 Candlelight Vigils are one week from today  (12/12) as the World shines a bright light on COP 15....please invite your friends and family to participate.


Climate Justice Fast Youth (l-r) Sara from Sweden, Daniel from Australia living in Copenhagen and Anna, a founder, from Australia. Anna and Sara are beginning their 30th day with water only. Daniel 22nd day!

Family heading home on the train, parents, bike and baby carriage.  They said "you look scandinavian" and I told them Mona and Gustav (my grandparents) were from near Mora Sweden.


Time to hit the train station at get Sage's banner some "air time" with the youth leaders...perhaps some disc?


Enjoy your day!!


Paul in Charlottenlund


                        

Time to Expand

Friends,

Three weeks from today I will be arriving in Copenhagen to begin an amazing 3 weeks.
Yesterday I had my first interview with KFAI, our project was highlighted on the NPCA (National Peace Corps Association) Newsletter, this weekend I will be doing a short announcement of representing Edinans and Minnesotans in Denmark at "Peace and Sustainability...You can't have one without the other at hennepin Methodist Churdh on Hennepin Avr near Loring Park. I have begun the "Minnesota Speaks to Copenhagen" project to bring our collective voice to the UN Convention and to make sure that yopur voices are being heard in Copenhagen.

Thanks to Mary Brindl for discovering the way to link the blog below to being able to contribute to my journey and cover my expenses. Contributions will be made through the Edina Community Foundation through a special account linked to the Edina Energy and Environment Commission.

My 3 day fast ended on Monday morning and I felt like I was beginning a new chapter in my life with a heightened appreciation for food and drink. I send my love and support to those Climate Justice Fasters who continue to fast for the millions of people who cannot take healthy food and easy access to food for granted....it is for those people who we can all speak up for to be included in the Climate Treaty to come out of Copenhagen. That the treaty be one of fairness and justice for all people and to repair the damage done as we move forward towards building a more equitable and sustainable future.

I will see if I can put the links here to connect you all with the KFAI interview....with thanks to Paulina, the KFAI interviewee from Chile.

Onward...20 days remaining, time to learn You Tube.

Let's build our base and grow our numbers....welcome new followers