Climat action camp Belgium (and the others)

Klimaat Actie Kamp België

29 July – 4 August

http://www.klimaatactiekamp.org

Other Camps Around the World

• http://www.campclimat.org/
  french climate camp, 22/07 - 01/08
• http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/
  climate camp UK
• http://nordiccamp.org/
  climate camp sweden, 14/07 - 20/07
• http://www.klimacamp.ch/
  climate camp switserland, 22/07 - 02/08
• www.klimacamp.org
  climate camp Germany, 17/08 - 23/08

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  Download, print, en help us making some promo!

  (They're in A4, but vector-based PDFs so you can scale to whatever size you want)

• Flyer in English
• Flyer in French
• Flyer in Dutch

 

We don't want FALSE SOLUTIONS and GREENWASHING

Copenhagen has seen just one important spark of hope that should empower us to build our movement in the future: while the "official" climate summit was a total failure, lots of people showed to be determined to take action themselves. Despite all the repression and the obvious lack of ambition during the talks on the inside, during the street protests outside we could hear the call for change. There we could find the seeds for our movement, the roots for climate justice. It has become clearer than ever: we must not expect real solutions from our political 'leaders', but become active ourselves!

Similar things are happening on a daily basis: many current politicians, the media and corporate world play with the green hype while contiuing as before. Their solutions are all about greenwashing and trying to maintain the current, intenable market capitalist system, by proposing measures which conform to the free market. The current market-oriented approach is clearly far from effective. Corporations are making huge profits by trading emission rights, while the real problems are concealed: a foolish economic system, based on profit, unlimited growth, and increasing social inequalities. The current economic and climate crises more than ever show their disastrous consequences.

 

Climate change is happening ... now!

In the meantime, global climate change is moving forward. The consequences for the ecosystem and human beings become clearer everyday, especially in the south, among poor people and in the most vulnerable ecosystems. The current country commitments will lead to a 3 to 4°C increase of temperature which is equivalent to catastrophic climate change.



IT IS TIME FOR REAL ACTION

It is time for real action. Tens of thousands demonstrated for a socially just and effective climate policy in Copenhagen. Thousands of activists tried to enter the conference venue during the Reclaim Power Action in order to push for another, socially just climate agenda.

In the light of the political situation, the global movement for climate justice is gaining momentum, favouring alternative and real solutions. Our ideas and proposals are
in line with the demands of CJA, an international network on Climate Justice.

Some of the big asks:

• We need to leave fossil fuels in the ground. Instead, we must invest in community-controlled renewable energy, and drastically reduce the current society's enslavement to energy.

• Global capitalism is unsustainable per definition. We must stop over-production for over-consumption. You can't have infinite growth in a finite planet.

• All should have equal access to the global commons through community control and sovereignty over energy, forests, land and water.

• We must acknowledge the historical responsibility of the global elite and rich Global North for causing this crisis. Equity between North and south is essential.

If we put humanity before profit and solidarity above competition, we can live amazing lives without destroying our planet.


Get active, come to the Climate camp!

It is with all this in mind that a broad group of activists from Belgium and abroad have come together to create this summer's Camp for Climate Action. This year's camp is taking place from 29 July to 3 August. Different options for the location and the target are being considered. Sign up for our multi-language newsletter to stay up-to-date on our preparations (low email flow guaranteed!).

While regional camps prepared the ground for climate action in previous years, a first national climate camp took place in the harbour of Antwerp in August 2009. More than 400 people participated in a week full of education, direct action, encounter and exchange. There were actions against the meat industry, the Lange Wapper, nuclear energy etcetera. During one day, we occupied the most important coal hub in the harbour.

Everybody is welcome

We want the camp to be as inclusive as possible and we are reaching out to all those who share our vision. The camp is a place for anyone who's fed up with empty government rhetoric and corporate spin; for anyone who's worried that the small steps they're taking aren't enough to match the scale of the problem; for anyone who thinks present climate policies are only increasing inequalities and injustices; for anyone who wants to find concrete alternatives here and now; and for anyone who's worried about our future and wants to do something about it. It is not only a place for experienced activists, but also for all those who are interested, who want to learn more, and are looking for ways to become active. And everyone is free to participate in direct action – or not!

We try to organise the camp in an ecological and carbon-neutral way. Briging people together in the camp is is our way of building a climate justice movement capable of tackling the root causes of climate change.

 

Get involved!

Come to the camp, or, even better, join in the preparation process! We are all volunteers and all help is welcome. Whatever your background, there is a role for you.