Editor, Oliver Daily News
On November 30, the much heralded and long awaited COP21 Climate Change talks will begin in Paris, France. Many people see these talks, which have been going on for decades, as the last chance for nations to address and change the negative effects of greenhouse gasses on our global environments. The more dramatic observers say that these talks are so important that the outcome will determine whether we humans, as a species, will survive past the next century. While hopefully this is an exaggeration of how serious the situation is, there is no doubt that Climate Change is here, and likely to change even more in our lifetimes. Catastrophic climate events are becoming the norm rather than the exception, and droughts, floods, ice cap melting and desertification have all increased in our lifetime.
In conjunction with the COP21 talks, which are among heads of states and government leaders, there is a huge people’s movement underway as well. In major cities around the world, Climate Change marches are being organized and people mobilized. Climate Change activists want their leaders to know that the ‘common people’ have identified this issue as a major one, and that there is a universal expectation that some significant policy changes, and some real action, will come from the Paris meetings. Smaller communities around the world, in solidarity with the Climate Change marches, are staging smaller marches, vigils, and presentations.
In Oliver, one event is planned – a bell ringing in two of the local churches with bells (Oliver United and St Edward’s Anglican), in unison, at 12:30 pm on Sunday, November 29, the day prior to the start of the COP21 talks. The bells will sound for 10 minutes, hopefully for a total of 350 times – to represent the 350 parts per million that is the safe upper limit for CO2 in the atmosphere.
When you hear them, take a moment and appreciate the land we live in and consider what you can do, yourself, to preserve it. Walk more, waste less, drive more efficient vehicles, leave less lights on, explore alternative energy ideas, grow a garden, buy local.
And enjoy the sound of the bells.
Dale Dodge
Brita Park