Call for Climate Justice in Timor-Leste

Timorese plant Mangrove trees on October 10, 2010. Photo by Charles Scheiner

The Movement for Climate Justice in Timor-Leste is joining the global movement to give one hour for the earth. 

On Sunday, 10/10/2010, thousands of actions all over the world will celebrate the international campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global carbon concentration to 350 parts per million to save our planet.

In Timor-Leste, an organizing committee is asking religious, government and other leaders, as well as the entire population of Dili, to take part in this campaign with a concrete action: stop all fossil-fuel-based transport in Dili from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Timor-Leste time on Sunday, 10 October 2010.

This concrete action will show the world that Timor-Leste is in solidarity with people worldwide in our common campaign on that day to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Our declaration follows below.

In addition, people will gather at 3:00 pm at the intersection next to Farol Primary School (across from Hasatil) to walk to the mouth of the river in Bidau Santana to plant mangrove trees.

DECLARATION OF THE MOVEMENT FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

“One Hour for Mother Earth”


Today, the entire world is confronted by the huge impacts of climate change. The world is already at great risks to humanity, ecological disasters, hunger, and island nations disappearing under the sea. These consequences come from the interests of rich people, companies and countries who give importance only to their economic profit, rather than to the lives of people around the world.

Many scientists have already studied our earth and the lives of its inhabitants. They concluded that the conditions that are leading to the destruction of the world cannot be avoided as long as people, companies and industrialized countries continue to increase their emissions into the global atmosphere.

For the world able to survive for many more years with the guarantee that everyone will have the opportunity to live and have children, everyone must realize that the emission of greenhouse gases must be reduced, by changing people’s lifestyles.

Timor-Leste has become an oil-producing nation, and therefore contributes to global emissions. Development inside our country will also lead to environmental damage and pollution.

Today’s reality in Timor-Leste also shows us that we are already at risk from hunger, a threat which will confront humanity and human survival is close to us today. The rainy season doesn’t follow its time, dry days are few, natural disasters happen all the time, agricultural production drops and is destroyed, many springs have dried up, seas are high and rough (eroding the coastal zone), and more.

Everyone must pay attention to these phenomena, we all must be aware of “One world for all of us,” and we must all come together to save the planet for our children and future generations.

Secretary of State Avelinho Coelho prepares to plant Mangrove tree on 10/10/10

Therefore, we from the Timor-Leste Movement for Climate Justice ask and demand of:

·     Industrialized countries should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45% in 2020 and 80-85% in 2050, based on the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report.

·     Industrialized countries, especially the United States, European Union, Australia, China, Japan and others should consider all people in the world, and work to normalize greenhouse gases globally at 350 ppm.

·     Industrialized countries should give reparations and compensation equal to the environmental destruction they have caused so far.

·     Industrialized countries should mobilize and expand their use of environmentally-friendly renewable energy, including changing current environmentally-destructive lifestyles .

·     The United Nations, which facilitates Conventions on Climate Change, should be more pro-active in giving pressure to highlight solutions to this global emergency. They should resolve to stop and immediately cut environmentally destructive technology and development practices.

·     The United Nations, especially the Security Council, should issue a resolution against countries which gravely pollute at the subregional or regional level, as a crime against humanity.

·     The Government of Timor-Leste must also think about its own people, and follow a development path which is sustainable, renewable, and friendly to the environment.

·     The Government of Timor-Leste, which has already signed the Kyoto Protocol, should implement the clauses of this protocol.

·     Peoples across the globe must understand that we must reduce emissions and change lifestyles to save our planet.

·     The Government of Timor-Leste should cancel the expensive heavy oil project, which destroys land and the environment, and reallocate its budget to develop and promote environmentally friendly energy sources like wind, hydroelectric, solar, biogas and other renewable energy.

The Struggle Continues.

Movement for Climate Justice
Haburas Foundation, La’o Hamutuk, Permatil, Hasatil (list in formation) and other activists and individuals.
Contact: Demetrio (Haburas) +670-723-1881 or Maxi (La'o Hamutuk)  +670-733-6307

see Tetum version of the announcement and call here

UPDATE: posted a revised version of Declaration. Copy-editing changes only.  Added photos from 10.10.10 action