Peace Corps Polyglot

NPCA Holds Cyber-Conference Call for Climate Change

This past Wednesday, June 25th, the NPCA, in conjunction with Oxfam America, held its first cyber-conference call on Climate Change and Clean Energy. With over twenty participants from twelve states, the call successfully addressed the issue of climate change and how we, as Americans, can take action.

Joined by David Waskow, Climate Change Program Director for Oxfam America, the presentation focused on the international aspect of climate change. Adaptation funding is a key aspect of the issue, as developing nations are hit hardest by global warming and need the most support in adapting to its negative effects.

Anyone interested in the issue of climate change and clean energy is encouraged to listen to the recording of the conference call. Follow this link to watch and listen to the presentation, as well as hear the compelling question and answer forum that followed.

Register Now for NPCA/Oxfam Climate Change "Cyber Conference Call"

On Wednesday, June 25th starting at 8:30 PM (eastern time), the National Peace Corps Association will be holding a combined telephone and internet "cyber conference call" to discuss the upcoming advocacy projects on climate change and ways to get involved.

This conference is open to returned Peace Corps volunteers around the country as well as others you know who are concerned about climate change.  Special attention will focus on the disproportionate impact on developing countries and the important role the Peace Corps community can play in raising these concerns with opinion leaders and policy makers. Based on first-hand experience that RPCVs have with climate change impact on their countries of service, our community has the ability to make a strong statement and take significant action.

We will be joined by policy experts and campaigners from Oxfam America who will provide key background information and updates.  We will also outline and highlight key activities that will allow you to help move our nation forward in leadership on climate change.

We urge anyone concerned with this issue and willing to take action to join us! Contact us today at advocacy@rpcv.org to register for this exciting cyber-gathering of the Peace Corps community!

Indigenous Communities Hit Hard by Global Warming

In an effort to increase awareness of climate change and its devastating effects internationally, the Sustainable Energy & Economy Network at the Institute for Policy Studies hosted a gathering yesterday here in Washington that brought light to the connection between global warming and the disproportionate impact felt by developing and impoverished nations.

Organized by the Climate Equity Campaign, the program featured Nnimmo Bassey of the Friends of the Earth of Nigeria and Mina Susana Setra of the Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago of Indonesia.

Both spoke to the damage, agriculturally and economically, done to their countries. Setra commented on the connection between the expansion of plantations in Indonesia for the extraction of palm oil and the extreme degradation and deforestation within the country. Environmental consequences in Nigeria are felt as well. Bassey explained how the exploitation of oil in his country has led to massive amounts of oil spills and the release of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere through gas flaring. According to Bassey, oil exploitation is not only detrimental to the climate and atmosphere, but also to the human rights of indigenous peoples around the world.

One of the key messages from both speakers was the need for change led by the United States. As Congress debates climate change legislation, the speakers say proposals for international adaptation funding from the US will only succeed in the presence of a well-established mechanism for the distribution and spending of those funds. As for the type of adaptation programs that should be instituted, Setra and Bassey suggested hydroelectric projects, reforestation and strengthening local governments to be the most vital.

Be a Voice for Poor Nations During Climate Change Debate

Next week, the United States Senate begins debate on legislation to establish national targets to reduce global warming gas emissions.  The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 seeks to establish a so called "cap-and-trade" system to reduce emissions from the manufacturing, transportation and electric power sectors.

For those concerned with international development, one key provision would establish a funding mechanism to assist the world's least developed nations adapt to the worst impacts of climate change (See Title IV, Subtitle H of the legislation).  Considered a vulnerable part of the legislation, citizen voices are needed to support an international adaptation fund.

Oxfam America has posted an action opportunity so you can quickly contact your Senators.  Please consider editing and personalizing your message to reflect your views and (when appropriate) share your Peace Corps experience.  Then, share the action with others!

Interested in signing up for a dedicated NPCA list on climate change/clean energy?  Contact us at advocacy@rpcv.org to sign up.

RPCV says climate change activists will soon be seeing REDD

Members of the DC-based humanitarian and relief umbrella organization InterAction are coming around to the nexus between development work and climate disruption.  Last week, InterAction convened a gathering held to review results and next steps in aftermath of the United Nations Climate Conference in Bali.  More than 50 participants attended, causing one official to note this compared to an initial meeting last year that only attracted three attendees.

U.S. global warming advocacy moves to get green on emissions from smokestacks and tailpipes, one development Bali conference attendees noted was the need to get serious on REDD.  REDD stands for "Reductions in Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation".  By some estimates the global impacts from deforestation account for as much as 20 percent of global warming gas emissions caused by human activity.

One RPCV working on this issue is Doug Boucher (Costa Rica 71 - 73), Director of the Tropical Forest and Climate Initiative at the Union of Concerned Scientists.  "The inclusion of reducing emissions from deforestation in the Bali Action Plan is the biggest step forward on climate change since Kyoto. Finally, the cause of 20% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions is going to be dealt with in a serious way."

Read more about what the Union of Concerned Scientists have to say about REDD.

RPCVs "Step It Up" to Combat Global Warming

Casey Roberts, one of our New Orleans RPCV climate activists recently helped organize (through the Gulf Restoration Network) that city's participation in the national "Step it Up" event calling for aggressive action to combat global warming.

Here's what Casey had to say about the event...

"I am so proud of how our Step It Up 2007 event turned out.  We had about 300 revelers show up to hear our speakers, which included Senator John Edward.  He spoke about how to curb global warming pollution without hurting our economy by cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, demanded more green collar jobs, NO NEW COAL, and added that nuclear is not an option.  We served gumbo, BBQ, and Abita beer.  Our friends, Country Fried, played some great music while attendees toured the Art Egg, a green building. 

Senator Edwards was a good sport and joined us on a second line (parade) to the Superdome led by Da Truth Brass Band.   Though everyone had a lot of fun at this event, we did it to raise awareness about the lack of federal leadership on curbing global warming and we hope that by spelling out "NO NEW COAL" at the Superdome we sent that message loud and clear to Washington.  We want to especially thank the National Peace Corps Association for being one of our sponsors for this event.  Thank you !!!"

NPCA Joins Actions Linking Climate Change and Global Development

"Climate change is already a major driver of impoverishment and conflict around the world, but that fact has not yet been given the urgent attention it demands." This excerpt is part of a "Statement of Principles on Climate Change and Global Poverty" NPCA recently signed, joining a range of environmental and development organizations including Friends of the Earth U.S., the National Wildlife Federation, Mercy Corps and Church World Service.  The statement highlights the following principles:

• All countries, including the United States, must act now to do their fair share to reduce their contributions to global warming.
• The United States has a responsibility to provide assistance to help developing countries adapt to the consequences of global warming.
• The United States must work collaboratively with other nations to address climate change and the critical links between global warming and global poverty.
• The United States must both shift to a more sustainable domestic energy path, as well as support other nations in their shift to a more sustainable energy and climate path.

In a related development, NPCA signed an organizational letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging continued support for a section of the House version of the Energy Bill, assessing the needs of developing nations in adapting to climate change, including funding sources to support such efforts.

'Keep Winter Cold" Plunge Goes National

I don't know about where you are, but here in Washington, DC it's been feeling more like June than October lately.  So the prospect of plunging into icy cold water in December somehow isn't seeming so intimidating. 

And that's exactly the hope of Chesapeake Climate Action, the NGO founded by RPCV Mike Tidwell.  Back in January  we featured CCAN's "Keep Winter Cold" plunge into the Chesapeake Bay on the NPCA website. 

Now they're taking the idea national as a fun way to raise awareness and funds for the fight against global warming. 

Create a plunge, find a plunge, and spread the word by visiting http://www.keepwintercold.org/.

Fast for Action on Global Warming - September 4th

On the day Congress is scheduled to return to Washington, RPCV Mike Tidwell (Zaire 85 – 87), Director of the U.S. Climate Emergency Council (USCEC) is promoting a nationwide fast to raise awareness of the global impacts of global warming.

"So Others Might Eat: The Climate Emergency Fast" is designed to raise awareness of the moral implications of global warming.  As noted in a recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on global warming impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, it is poor communities with limited adaptive capacities that are especially vulnerable to negative impacts on local water and food supplies.

USCEC is urging concerned citizens to give up food for one day now to draw attention to the fact that others may have no food tomorrow unless we halt global warming. You can register to participate in the September 4th fast and take other actions by following this link.

After Peace Corps, Mike forged a highly successful career as writer, with several books and articles in  publications such as the Washington Post and National Geographic to his credit.  However in the course of his travels he became increasingly alarmed at possible future impacts of global warming.  He set out to make his house as carbon neutral as possible and launched the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, which works at fostering change at the grassroots level in Maryland.  I've had the good fortune to interview Mike and remain incredibly impressed by his unflagging passion.