Let's make some noise

Celebrities, mayors, NGOs and businesses will join millions of people today to make a ‘wake-up call’ to world leaders to get climate talks on track and deliver a ‘fair ambitious and binding’ new climate treaty.

The global outcry comes amid expert warnings that a UN climate pact in Copenhagen in December risks failure unless world leaders revive bogged-down negotiations at a UN summit in New York on September 22.

Over 1,000 events organised in more than 100 countries will sound the alarm with people gathering in public places, ringing cell phone alarms and making actual ‘wake-up’ phone calls to politicians. Music artists are calling on fans to blast their favourite tunes and street bands from Taiwan to Trinidad and Tobago are gearing up to back the rallying cry to ‘make some noise’.

At the US premiere of climate film Age of Stupid, to be shown in 400+ theatres simultaneously, audiences will view footage of the day’s events and take part in flooding their government with calls to action.

“The idea of a global climate wake-up call got going just a few weeks ago, and it’s snowballing into a massive mobilisation of millions who want leaders to do more to stop runaway climate change,” said Ricken Patel, Executive Director of campaign network Avaaz.org which has provided an online hub for its 3.6 million members worldwide to find local events to attend or organise their own.

“It shows the huge level of public concern that climate talks move far and fast enough to deliver a deal that will avert climate catastrophe and unleash a new green economy.”

Celebrities Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, Michael Stipe, Stephen Fry, Harry Belafonte, Emiliana Torrini, Lila Downs, Groove Armada, Zap Mama and more have pledged support and are asking fans to join the global action.

A broad coalition of major environmental and anti-poverty organisations as well as faith, civic and youth networks – called the TCKTCKTCK campaign for the ticking-clock urgency of climate change – is leading the campaign effort.

“Polls show 90% of people worldwide see climate change as a serious problem. Small islands are already sinking under rising seas. Once-fertile lands are battling floods or drought. And scientists say time is running out as we near a global tipping point.” said Patel.

“Leaders need to understand that their top priority this fall is to get the climate agreement we all want: Ambitious enough to leave a planet safe for us all. Fair for the poorest countries that didn’t cause climate change but are suffering most from it. And binding with real targets that can be legally enforced.”

Selected climate wake-up call events

Longest Lasting: Groups are going to meet and plant trees in San Jose dos Campo, Brazil

Most Scary: In Fukuda, Japan, people are organising a flash mob where the participants paint their faces bright red and mingle in a busy section of town before coming together for a flash mob.

Best Song: Kelowna, Canada will be hosting a flash mob where the mobbers will dance to Elvis’ song ‘Little Less Conversation’ – referring to the endless political debates perhaps?

Most Down-to-earth: Flash Mobbers in Pembroke Dock in the UK will meet in the Tesco overflow car park and sing along to Queen’s “We are the Champions”. Organisers choose this song ” ‘cos everyone knows that one”

Will Anyone Notice?: Groups in Whangarei, New Zealand are planning a coffee sit-in at the Mokoba Cafe – good idea, but will anyone notice the difference?

The Hottest: A flash mob in Titlagada in Orissa, India, officially the hottest place in India with temperatures rising to 54 degrees Celsius. This flash mob will be taking place at the heart of climate change impact.

The Most Important: Groups in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be marching from the town hall to the Palais de la Nation to present their petition on climate change.

The Busiest Street: Trafalgar Street in Nelson New Zealand is officially the busiest street on the 21st. There are two flash mobs planned: one at 11:15am and then another at 12:18 – the shop keepers of the street will wonder what is happening.

Most Difficult to explain to passersby: People in Vienna will gather together and then march like penguins around a square in the city.

The One I would Most Like to Be At: At noon in the city of Papetee in the French Polynesia, everyone dressed in white and holding a colourful flower will come together on the waterfront. At 12:00 noon everyone will raise their flower to the sun while their mobile alarms set to a mellow single note will play together for one minute. Followed by a free acoustic concert in the local park. Wow.

Most Rhythm: In Guatemala City, Guatemala, people will gather to beat drums in the local park.

Highlights of the worldwide climate wake-up call
· Human countdown: The Global Wake-Up Call kicks off with a stunning moving image (Sept 20). Thousands will form a human sculpture with a vital message in New York’s Central Park.

· Over 32 Major cities signed up to host wake-up call rallies and flash mobs today. See the map of events at: www.avaaz.org/tcktcktck

· People armed with bells, whistles, drums and mobile phones will gather in cities, towns and college campuses to sound the alarm and telephone leaders to deliver their message

· An array of street bands gearing up to ‘make some noise’ across the world.blast their favourite tunes as part of the wake-up call. See celebrity photos at: www.avaaz.org/en/sept21_make_some_noise/

· Street theatre in Pittsburgh, USA, where G20 negotiators are expected to discuss finance for tackling climate change next week, will see world leaders in a huge bed with national flag blankets being woken up by young climate activists brandishing giant alarm clocks

· Popular Brazilian TV adventurer Richard Rasmussen will join crowds in Sao Paulo

· Argentinean cartoonist Miguel Brea plans to paint a special wake-up mural in Buenos Aires

· A short movie of sound and images from Global Wake-Up Call events will be shown at the premiere of climate blockbuster Age of Stupid at a ‘green carpet’ launch from a solar cinema tent in New York and screened in 400+ cinemas across America (21 Sept), and in another 40+ countries on Sept 22.

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