Location: Suliamani, Iraq
Purpose: Awareness of Climate change/ Environmental Protection
Date: 24 September 2011
Climate Action Day is an attempt at informing and mobilizing the community of Sulaimani to care about and protect the environment. This event is being organized by a coalition of local grassroots organizations and NGOs and we want to demonstrate alternative energy (using bicycles instead of cars), be models of environmental protection (by cleaning garbage from the streets) and educate about environmental issues (with presentations by local environmental experts). We also plan to have our events broadcast on local television before and after so that our message reaches the largest possible audience and serves as a model for non-violent, non-political environmental activism.
Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given region experiences. Average weather may include average temperature, precipitation and wind patterns. It involves changes in the variability or average state of the atmosphere over durations ranging from decades to millions of years. These changes can be caused by dynamic process on Earth, external forces including variations in sunlight intensity, and more recently by human activities.
When the industrial revolution began in 1860’s, fossil fuels were used in much higher quantities, changed the structure of our atmosphere. As a result, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 has risen more than 15 percent since 1958. While the concentration of CO2 is 0.0037 percent in atmosphere, and that makes the temperature of the earth rise and increases the risk of likelihood of extreme weather such as hurricane Katrina, the Pakistan flood, the desertification of Kurdistan etc. Scientific studies conclude that the CO2 level in the atmosphere needs to drop to a level of 350ppm (parts per million). The current level is 391ppm, so a global grassroots movement of public awareness is the first step to reducing CO2 in the atmosphere and making this earth a safer place to live.
We believe that climate change is a real and pressing global issue that we need to take action on to save this wonderful planet. If the world doesn’t unite and address climate change in a meaningful way the repercussions will be dire; it will cost the world economy 5.5 trillion euros, the equivalent of two world wars and the loss of the 1930’s Great Depression together.
Our mission is primarily focused on increasing awareness on climate change and demonstrating concrete ways that community members can make their city a more sustainably healthy place to live. We hope to convince the people of Sulaimani that their transportation/ consumption/ recycling habits have an effect on the environment and climate. We strongly believe the personal action of each individual toward environment in each community can play a huge role on sustaining climate, preventing pollution and preserving the natural environment.
We envision a day when local communities are well educated about the environment; when people’s daily choices are made after factoring their choices’ effects on all others.
1. Green Drivers: A group of 50 cyclists riding bikes from Rand Gallery to Azadi Park. (map.1) The Green Drivers have bicycles equipped with plants and trash bags
2. Clean up: Picking up the garbage along the route from Rand Gallery to Azadi Park .
3. TV Program: Talk about our activities and climate change on a variety of local/national forms of media.
4. Celebration: Organize fun activities including a puppet show with puppets made from recyclable material, performed by members of Sulyon.
5. Informational presentation: Presenting a few short videos and lectures about environment the environment and climate change by local environmental experts.
- 50 bicycles for Green Driver with all modification (Plants, sun light, Green paint).
- T-shirts for all participants including logos and messages promoting environmental protection.
- Projector and speakers for Azadi Park to show some short videos and presentation about that event.
- Sufficient garbage bags and gloves to pick up trash along the way.
- Create some short videos and some posters to publicize the event.
- 100 small potted plants and flowers to be carried around the city by participants.
We will start at the Rand Gallery on Saalam street and proceed to the Palace Hotel, then turn around and travel to Azadi Park via Saholaka area.
If you live near Sulaimani, please join us on the 24th! Spread the word!If you have any questions or comments about the event, feel free to email Chris De Bruyn at email@example.com.