Enough Food for Everyone

If there is enough food for everyone, why does everyone not have enough food?

(MADE in Europe stunt for #IF launch)

I have just returned from a great day at the MADE in Europe Enough Food for Everyone #IF campaign training day. If you haven't heard of this organisation or the campaign yet, here's a brief summary of both:

MADE in Europe:
The planet is being destroyed by irresponsible and selfish living and it's the world's poorest who are first to feel the effects of the changing climate. This challenge will take more than just our money. MADE in Europe is a Muslim-led movement of young people who want to see our community leading the fight against global poverty and injustice. Our response is rooted in the Islamic traditions of social action, justice and environmental stewardship. It's about being smart, ethical and green in the way we live. Our mission is to inspire and enable a grassroots European Muslim youth movement of faith in action for tackling global poverty and injustice through volunteering, campaigning and education.

IF:
Hunger is the great scandal of our age. Nearly one billion people go to bed hungry every night and two million children die from malnutrition every year. Islam calls on us to stand up for justice and feed the hungry – yet despite the millions of pounds we give every year to tackle extreme hunger, more people die around the world from hunger than from tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS combined. The time has come to move beyond charity and start tackling the root causes of global hunger.
MADE in Europe have joined with over 100 organisations to launch the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign – a historic campaign which seeks to bring global hunger to the top of the agenda in 2013. It consists of a series of campaign asks to combat global hunger based around the issues of Transparency, Aid/Investment, Tax and Land.

Having been involved with MADE for a few years now, I am very excited at the lead role that the organisation has been able to take, and particularly its role as a Muslim organisation within the coalition. This is a unique opportunity for the Muslim community to work with organisations across the board on a subject which we are all in agreement about- Global Hunger today is a scandal.

The main work us campaigners are hoping to achieve in the coming month leading up to the 20th March UK Budget moment is to lobby our MPs and George Osborne to ensure that they know we want them on board with this campaign. That we want them to stick the 0.7% commitment to Aid within our budget, that we want them to include financial disclosure of tax avoidance schemes within the Finance Bill in 2013.

With the UK leading the G8 this year, our Prime Minister and our government can set an example and take the lead on this issue and make sure we see the beginning of the end of World Hunger this year. The Muslim community are at the centre of this. Our Faith stands for Justice,we should be taking a stand on these issues.

"He who sleeps on a full stomach whilst his neighbour goes hungry is not one of us" Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

In the next month, I hope we see Muslim communities being mobilised, talking to each other, talking to their MPs, writing to George Osborne, mosques taking action and exposing the scandal of World Hunger. The MADE campaign training in London is just the frst of many that will take place around the UK, alongside campaign stunts and events. Make sure you take part in your area: be the one to lead the change.

"Allah does not change the condition of a people unless they change themselves” Qur’an 13:11

It may take time but this is the beginning of a very important movement for change and it is our duty to be part of it.

Carnivore or Herbivore?

As part of Qatar’s public programme at COP18, they held a variety of talks ranging from the technical, dealing with Carbon Capture technology and more, to the social, how lifestyle changes can impact Climate Change. I had the pleasure of attending one of the latter which was entitled “Our Eating Choice is our Most Powerful Voice”. I particularly empathised with this subject considering I have been a vegetarian now for over two years but for many, particularly Muslims, I know this is a choice that is hard to understand or consider for oneself. So let me put across some of the arguments shared in this talk and maybe we can all get a better understanding of how our eating habits are impacting our planet.

There are several sides to the argument including how being vegan can actually reduce long term disease and improve your health. However, I will concentrate on highlighting solely the impact on poverty and climate change.

 

Did you know that 26% of the Earth’s land surface is used for livestock grazing? That 33% of global arable land grows feed grains for livestock not to feed us humans? Or that you need 16kg of grain to produce 1kg of meat? Meanwhile, around 1 billion people starve around the world. Does this not seem wasteful at all?  In fact, if we were to compare diets we would see that if the whole world ate meat daily we could feed only about 3 billion humans, yet if we were all vegetarians, we could feed 22 billion. In a world where the human population is ever on the increase having tripled since 1950, and food shortages are common across the developing world, this is a problem that we need to come to terms with as we look into our future. Surely the question of how our lifestyle could influence change is one we should take seriously? The more a country develops, the more meat consumption increases. This is unsustainable and will inevitably lead to concentration camp style meat production: unethical too. Yet, feeding everyone is easily achievable.

What does this have to do with climate change? According to the UNFAO, “Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems. Urgent action is required to remedy the situation.” The UNFAO’s Livestock’s Long Shadow report states that, “Livestock are the main driver for deforestation... (and) the largest single source of water pollution.” At the current rate of deforestation, in the next 10 years Borneo’s famous forests will be gone. Such large scale deforestation is due to a single decision, to clear forest and plant palm trees for the production of palm oil instead, the most widely used oil in the world present in food, lipsticks, biofuels and more.

Monocultures are growing, but they are not forests and cannot provide the biodiversity or habitats that forests do (Trees provide a habitat for three quarters of the world’s biodiversity). This same pattern of loss is true of areas of the Philippines, Indonesia, the Amazon and elsewhere where Soya is also planted mostly for use in agriculture. Today, more than 50% of grain traded is used for animal feed or biofuel. We are clearing forest, a natural carbon capture device to feed livestock and power factories. Does this make sense?

 (Amazon rainforest cleared for cattle farming)

The Livestock’s Long Shadow report states that, “... livestock are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emission, a bigger share than that of transport,” although some have put the estimate as high as 51%, taking into account the loss of respiration and carbon sequestration provided by forests. Livestock is a large producer of methane, a gas much more dangerous to our climate than carbon dioxide. According to Dr. Kirk Smith, Professor of Global Environmental Health at Berkeley, “A ton of methane emitted today will exert more warming in one year than a ton of carbon Dioxide emitted today would exert until 2075”:  a worrying statistic to be sure.

So why be vegan? For all the reasons stated above. It would mean less suffering for you and the planet, it leaves food for the needy, it cuts global warming by up to 51%, it allows forests to re-grow, and it leaves more grains available to create biofuels if needed. Allah has asked us to be the caretakers of this Earth, it is a responsibility on us and though lobbying, green transport and green policy are important, this is a simple way we could make great change. It means the power is in our hands: There is no need to wait for governments or corporations to institute change. You can make change yourself by a simple change in your lifestyle. If being vegan is too large a step, cut down your meat intake, inform yourself on how your meat has been produced, become a vegetarian.

And for those sceptics amongst you who believe the old wives tale that I long thought was true i.e. a vegan diet is unhealthy and lacks protein and nutrients, the American Dietetic Association, the world’s largest association of professional nutritionists, states that “...appropriately planned vegan diets ... are healthful, nutritionally adequate... are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle.”

“Be the change you want to see in the world”

COP18: The Mangroves

As part of the COP18 programme of activities the Qatar Foundation has organised a series of excursions to environmentally interesting areas around Qatar. Today, I was able to go on an eco-tour of the El-Khor coastal Mangroves. The organisation may not have been A+ and we may have left almost an hour late but it was well worth it. The natural beauty was incredible:  what a way to inspire future generations as to the need for conserving our environment.

The area I visited boasted both cultivated and wild mangroves. It is run by the Friends of the Environment Centre and a Flower Each Spring initiative, and is sponsored by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the wife of the Emir of Qatar, who is at the head of many progressive initiatives. They organise regular visits here by local school groups to try and educate them on the importance of the environment, conservation and recycling.

Our official guide was Ahmed, from the Qatar Foundation, and he educated us on the unique nature of the mangrove trees in Qatar, how they are the only plant that can survive in that saline environment in their country and the effect this has on greening the coast and providing a habitat for a variety of sealife, birds and insects: giving us a brief overview of the reasons behind the project.

We were then introduced to a project run by Qatar Foundation International called “mapping mangroves”. They work with local student ambassadors to raise awareness of the mangroves and the need to conserve them amongst local youth. They have created an App that can be used on iphones, ipads and android phones which allows anyone to visit the mangroves, take photos and enter details about them, thus creating an interesting way to learn but also to map the extent of the mangroves themselves.

My guide whilst mapping was Imad, a fifteen year old student from Al Waqra who was apparently chosen for his relatively good English, he told me. The mangroves are right on the beach, their roots protruding out of the soft wet sand so we all removed our shoes and got ready to get dirty and wet. Sinking my toes into the sand, I probably enjoyed this more than I should have, but my childish side rejoiced. Who doesn’t enjoy mucking about in wet sand and in such beautiful surroundings too?

The mangrove trees are great natural carbon capture devices and provide a habitat for some beautiful creatures. As we went round taking photos and mapping what we saw, we included descriptions of much wildlife too. We saw different kinds of birds, some huge colourful dragonflies, and all sorts of different kinds of tiny crabs, as well as tiny fish. As someone who has lived in cities all her life, I was embarrassingly excited by all this much to the amusement of my guide, although he shared my enthusiasm.

I had the most wonderful day and I think it is safe to say, if more young people were able to experience the mangroves as I did and learn more about environmental issues at the same time, then we would surely inspire the next generation to live better, in greater balance with the environment, then we have in the past.

Home - a film review

A film review from my time at COP18 in Doha:

As part of the Doha Film Institute’s Green Screen programme throughout COP18, I have also had the opportunity to watch “Home”. A film that I will definitely be sharing with others on my return to the UK and one I think would make for great viewing and discussion at a MADE cafe. So here’s another film summary and review from me.

“Home” tells the story of the interaction between humans and the Earth from early civilisation through to today. We discover how the world has changed, how humans have settled, adapted and come to be the masters of our Earth. “Home” shows us through imagery and compelling narration, how we went from nomadic tribes, to farmers and towns, to mass agriculture and then the industrial age. This is a sad tale of how we have impacted the Earth, taken advantage of its resources and all it has to give us without a care for the devastation we cause, and inevitably the impact the destruction of the natural balance will have on us. As the film so aptly demonstrates, in the end, living beyond the means the Earth has to provide will only lead to our own end.

For me, this was one of the most impactful films on the subject I have seen. Using only aerial footage of the Earth, the filmmakers have told a story we all need to hear. They have used beautiful and heart breaking images of mines, forests, human settlements, rivers, farms and more, to illustrate how we live and how we interact with the Earth. There are no actors; there are no interviews, only images and narration.

The narration compliments the imagery, telling not only the story of human civilisation, but also putting forth hundreds of statistics that are hard to ignore but easier to comprehend through the pictures presented to us. Here are just a few:

·         80% of the world’s resources are used by only by only 20% of the world’s population

·         Half of the world’s wealth is today in the hands of only 2% of its population

·         500 million people, greater than the population of Europe, live in the world’s deserts

·         By 2025, water shortages could affect almost 2 billion people

·         70% of humanity’s water consumption accounted for by agriculture

·         ¾ of the world’s fishing grounds are depleted or in danger of being so

·         The world’s mangroves were reduced by half in the last century

·         The polar ice caps have lost 30% of their surface area in the last 30 years

However, the film also offers a source of hope. The last scenes concentrate on what we are doing to combat these changes. For instance, Gabon is the world’s greatest producer of timber but its government has introduced a policy which allows only one tree to be cut down per hectare, protecting its forests.

The film shows us how much needs to be done, but also that we should not despair, that we can change and that we can make a difference.

I was inspired. Make sure you have it on your list of films to watch.

COP18: The Island President

Today was Youth Day at the Climate Summit: appropriate as it will be these next generations that will be most affected by the impacts of climate change, whether they be extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, rising sea levels, climate conflict, environmental refugees, or food and water shortages. It was a day to be inspired to make change so that our future and our children's future is safeguarded. It was also a day to be inspired by the enthusiasm, activism and commitment of the youth to the cause of climate change and their desire to make a difference.

In the last few years, I have been inspired, as have many other activists I know, by the story of the Maldivian President Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed and today, I had the opportunity to watch a film about his struggle entitled "The Island President". I couldn't have asked for better inspiration or a more positive role model for the young people in the audience, or indeed the not so young!

President Mohamed Nasheed came to power only about 7-8 months before the Copenhagen Climate conference (COP15) in Denmark in 2009. He won the presidency in a landmark election after more than 30 years of political monopoly, corruption, human rights abuses and authoritarian rule in the Maldives: an island nation better known for its pristine beaches and clear blue waters, a paradise for those who have the money to take advantage of it. However, for those living under the previous regime, life was not so heavenly.
After bringing democracy to his country, this straight speaking President now had to combat an even larger danger, Climate Change. As a result of rising sea levels, climate change will irreversibly impact low lying island nations such as the Maldives. They are at the forefront of the battle to cut carbon emissions and lower temperatures. The Maldives sit just 1.5m above sea level and cannot survive at the current rate of change that we are experiencing as a result of Global warming. Leading up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, President Nasheed and his allies, bravely campaigned for an international commitment to a 350ppm cap on emissions and 1.5 degree cap on temperature rises. Unfortunately, no legally binding agreement came out of the 2009 conference, although recommendations were made. Today at COP18, we are still fighting these battles and time is running out.

This film charts the courageous moral journey of the President and his staff to gain a voice in the negotiations through widespread media coverage and sustained lobbying. I was truly inspired by the stand taken by the President and the commitment shown by him and his staff to changing minds, educating others and creating change. What was sad was that these islands were truly fighting for their survival, and yet consistently ignored by larger countries. The Maldives and other low lying island nations will not simply be affected by climate change, they will be wiped out. Even at the current calls for a 2 degree cap, beyond which many scientists say climate change will become irreversible, the sea levels would rise by 2 metres, submerging the 2000 islands that make up the Maldives.

Films such as these and stories such as these are important to share and should be seen by everyone as they bring home the reality of the Climate problem. It is affecting people today and we all have a responsibility to help, whether by changing our own lifestyles or by lobbying our governments and industry. We can no longer say "we did not know", indeed the truth is before us. As Muslims we are not only Khalifa on this Earth but Allah will hold us to account for our inaction. If we see an evil, we should act against it, and truly the loss of species, the loss of forests, the loss of people and resources, these are all evils we should be changing with our hands.

"Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand [by taking action]; if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if he cannot, then with his heart [by hating it and feeling that it is wrong] – and that is the weakest of faith"
(Narrated by Muslim, 49)

COP18: What's the hold up?

As the talks here in Doha reach their climax, negotiations continue to be fraught with difficulties. There is an urgency amongst the activists and developing nations which just does not seem to be reflected in the delegations from the rich nations. Unfortunately, for many it seems only too obvious that although time is running out, these climate talks will be just as impotent as the few that came before. So what is the hold up?
The Kyoto agreement was the last most encompassing climate deal of this kind, where countries agreed to cut their emissions by a certain percentage by 2012: the EU has agreed to a second stage of this, to cut their emissions by 20% by 2020, but this isn't universal and in Doha the world needs to agree to do more and reach a universal commitment similar to Kyoto that calls for cuts from today. The Doha talks are focussing on an agreement of implementation from 2020, but the developing world and activists would say we can't wait this long, we need to commit to cuts and climate finance today. At the core of all such talks are the issues of who should do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to the fight against climate change, both in terms of cutting carbon emissions and bearing the cost of climate change adaptation and mitigation, and this is where negotiations always stall as countries put their varying priorities and commitments on the table.

Today, the question of historic emissions is at the centre of the debate i.e. who should bear the brunt of the cost, who is responsible? Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, directly raised this sensitive issue earlier this week saying, "The climate change phenomenon has been caused by the industrialisation of the developed world. [It is] only fair and reasonable that the developed world should bear most of the responsibility." China's representatives responded by making clear they were willing to make their "due contribution", but what exactly should this be for each nation? China might now be producing more carbon emissions per year than any other nation, but this in only true in recent years. Aren't developed nations still responsible for the huge bulk of "historic emissions"? Should the developed nations be singled out in this way or should fast-developing nations such as China, India and Brazil be equally responsible for shouldering the burden of change?

Although it is true that the rich world has emitted the majority of the CO2 historically, they account for a rapidly diminishing minority of current emissions. Many in the anti-change camp like to point out that the developing world took over in terms of total footprint in 2009 and the gap is growing. However, this fails to account for our (in the West) consumer demand for their products playing a large part in fuelling this rise: what we call 'outsourced emissions'. So, while Chinese emissions increases are indeed unsustainable, our consumer societies are at least partially responsible for this. As pointed out by the Guardian "In many other countries, like Bangladesh, emissions are still so low that it would take the average Bangladeshi almost a year to emit the carbon that the average Brit is responsible for in a week."

However, Lord Nicholas Stern, former World Bank chief economist is the author of new research showing that, even if developed countries cut their emissions to zero, that would not be enough to halt runaway climate change because emissions from rapidly industrialising economies are now so high. We must work together in this with the developing world so that emissions can be cut across the board before it is too late but so that development itself does not have to be halted and we can still lift people out of poverty. Unfortunately, such commitments are difficult to tie down, and this is where the US in particular has been highlighted as being a key figure in stalling negotiations.

It is our responsibility, in the UK and the West, to take the lead, to work in cohesion with the developing world, to implement sharp cuts in emissions now, and provide sufficient financial support for poorer countries, some of which are already facing the effects of climate change, to follow a low carbon development path as compensation for the cheap fuel sources that have made us rich and to adapt to the impacts they already feel. Currently, unfortunately, the support given is often in the form of unfair loans and of little consequence when compared to the money our governments plough into Fossil fuels.

For the past 20 years, the official UN process has recognised the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' so we all need to step up and bite the biscuit, however bitter it may taste. This principle has never been in doubt and has been recognised by all countries, including the USA, until now. As China stated it is "important to talk about equity": it is the prime responsibility of the rich countries that caused the problem to make the sacrifices necessary for a solution so that poor countries aren't made to pay for damage they haven't caused. Youth and developing nations are asking for justice, equity and ambition from these talks. We need to make our leaders listen.

Disappointment is felt so sharply by activists as so little has changed over the past few years and promises have yet to be kept. Even the carbon funding, 100 billion dollars per year scaled from 2012 to 2020, promised by Hilary Clinton at the Copenhagen Summit in 2009 and seen as a save for that conference, has not materialised. Though the US has put aside 30 billion dollars for the fund, they refuse to acknowledge responsibility for further funds and in the current financial climate of cuts, public pressure is low. What we need to remember is that, depending on the sources, the US spent between 700 billion and 12 trillion dollars, to bail out the banks, money that was very quickly forthcoming. When there is the political will, you get the result. What we need is the will, and we the public are as much to blame here as anyone. We have the power to pressure our governments for change and we should do more.

COP18: Stand with the Philippines

On Tuesday night the Philippines were hit by a giant typhoon – a phenomenon that scientists have been warning about for years as a possible result from the current changes in climate. While people evacuated in their hundreds of thousands across the southern Philippines and the country was ravaged by high winds and torrential rain, here in Doha the UN Climate Talks continued to stall.
A few days ago on 5th December 2012, youth from all over the world signed on to a solidarity statement issued by the Canadian Youth Delegation
As the COP18 climate talks drag into their second week, for some the reality of a changing climate is striking home. In the Long-Term Cooperative Agreement Plenary session yesterday, a delegate from the Philippines said "instead of getting ready for Christmas, we may be counting our dead" referring to the impending landfall of Super Typhoon Bopha. Touching down last night, the storm has caused over 40,000 people to flee their homes, and many wait to see the impact of the 16th extreme weather event to batter the Philippines this year.
Meanwhile, ambition – be it in terms of emissions cuts or finance – seems to remain off the table in Doha. Policies which would limit the free license of fossil fuel corporations to blow us past our planetary carbon budget are little more than the feverish dreams of civil society and nations already bearing the brunt of a warmed world.
The time for talk has run out, and the runway for inaction is long lost, yet still the talks stagnate, while those responsible for this crisis are able to stand in the way of justice. Blocking ambition and equity on the global scale is a criminal act. It is, at a minimum, the wilful destruction of property and the knowing neglect of human life and loss. Those countries here in Doha who continue to defend business as usual, are guilty and history will judge them as such.
For now, we stand with the Philippines. We stand with the millions of people around the world paying for the ignorance and arrogance of countries and fossil fuel corporations who put the interests of profits ahead of the needs of people.
On ne lache pas – we won't back down.
In Solidarity
Youth and developing nations are asking for justice, equity and ambition from these talks. We need to find a fair replacement for Kyoto. Today, civil society groups and developing nations got together to protest the current form of negotiations and state clearly that the current deal will do nowhere near enough. The Philippines have taken a stand against what has been labelled a "weak legacy", a treaty not fit for purpose or to help their cause. As tweeted by the UK Youth Climate Coalition "#Bopha reminds us that inaction at #COP18 is not an option. Stand with the Philippines & push #UNFCCC for a just #climatelegacy!"
There is a sense of urgency in the air, but are the Developed nations listening? The US in particular has been blamed for stalling negotiations, repeatedly taking a position that does not reflect the urgency of change needed and the situations even American citizens are coming to face from a summer of droughts to the reality of Hurricane Sandy. Historic emissions remain at the centre of the debate: Who should bear the brunt of the cost? Who is responsible? I shall explain these arguments in detail in my next blog. Here is a quick round up of the current state of affairs by the UKYCC's Jamie Peters:
"For now, in the Philippines there are over 270 confirmed dead already and a quarter of a million people homeless. If this is climate change today, what can we expect tomorrow? As highlighted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, rich nations need to accept responsibility, commit to ambitious cuts in carbon emissions and bear the brunt of the financial burden for change to say the least. Our leaders need to show real strength, vision and leadership in the coming days if they truly wish to turn the tide."

COP18: The Arab Movement

On Saturday 1st December 2012, I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the COP18 Climate Rally in Doha, organised by a collection of local youth activists. The rally was pulled together on short notice but with overwhelming enthusiasm and managed to attract National and Regional coverage. It was the first environmental rally of its kind in the region and a huge positive step in social activism on global issues for the area.
It started at 7am. This may seem early to those of us in the West, but the day starts early here in Qatar and you don't want to be out in the harsh sun later on in the day. There were over 60 volunteers from all over the world helping out on the day, both locals and internationals, and the enthusiasm and good will was palpable. Of course, the event kicked off late but this was to be expected in an Arab nation, as stated apologetically by Mohammed, the head volunteer, himself. Despite this, everyone was in a very good mood.
There were about a thousand people in attendance, and though small by Western standards, this was unique here and a great turn out. There were local Qataris, expats, delegates and also lots of press to capture this groundbreaking event. We marched together, chanted together, sang together and danced together along the main Corniche road by the bay area. It was a beautiful site and I loved the experience. It was a great opportunity to share thoughts, ideas and motivation and build a new youth movement for climate change.
Signs around us read "Arabs unite", "Arabs take the lead", "We must tackle climate change". This was a chance for the Middle East to show that they cared too, that they were just as involved, just as active a voice in this debate as the rest of the world, and they wanted to bring change. Every country from the Middle East region was represented and standing in solidarity with activists from the rest of the world from Brazil, China and the UK to representatives from across Africa.
I was told that many people had been afraid to turn up, nervous because of the Arab Spring; that there was a certain stigma associated with marches and a fear that they would turn violent. However, this did not dampen the mood, and through this peaceful, colourful and joyful protest, these young organisers were able to show everyone what is possible and hopefully plant seeds for the future. Even the official Qatari organisers of COP18 turned up to congratulate them on what had been achieved!
The Arab Youth Climate Movement (AYCM) is growing. They are just about to open a branch in Qatar. They have been working hard on youth initiatives and have even collaborated with the UKYCC (UK Youth Climate Coalition). There are several youth social activist organisations cropping up here as well as environmental groups. There is so much happening in this region right now and so much investment in new technologies too. We should all watch this space as I believe there is a lot more to come.

Qatar Sustainability Expo

 

This is a just a quick blog about the great Sustainability Expo that has been taking place throughout the 2 weeks of COP18 at the Doha Exhibition Centre. There are stalls and exhibits from a wide range of organisations, from the Loving Hut promoting the vegan way to Qatar Petroleum and reducing gas flares. There are interactive displays on solar technology including a solar car port which charges your car whilst it is parked; carbon capture technology including a mobile carbon capture device which would work with the car's engine; and local organic farming displays of all sorts of vegetables. There are also a range of interesting talks on all things climate change.
There are whole areas dedicated to certain countries such as Abu Dhabi which is showcasing its plans for a green city, how it plans to create green public transport and how its companies have been working with international companies to implement renewable technology across the world. There is also a massive, if slightly ostentatious in the view of this blogger, display by Saudi Arabia. It includes light weight vehicles, interactive displays on how future cities might look, renewable energy displays and more. These are also complimented by boards presenting the investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency by various Petroleum/Gas companies. Slightly ironic in my opinion, but a start nevertheless, I guess.

However, in stark opposition to this, and easily missed as you could not be blamed if your eyes strayed to the larger, "blinged out" displays, is my favourite exhibitor: Tuvalu. This exhibit is clever, amusing and educational, making some serious points in a fun and interesting way as the photo demonstrates.
Tuvalu is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean that, like the Maldives, faces complete extinction if carbon emissions are allowed to continue unchecked and strong and binding Climate Change legislation is not agreed on soon. At its highest, Tuvalu is only 4.6 metres above sea level and it is estimated that a sea level rise of 20–40 centimetres in the next 100 years could make Tuvalu uninhabitable. As a result of changing weather patterns Tuvalu is also susceptible to greater cyclones and drought.
However, instead of the usual climate change literature presented by many, the Tuvalu delegation is using clever art displays and their animal delegates to make a strong point. Tuvalu has 0% emissions and yet faces a 0% survival rate. They are not to blame for climate change and yet will be most affected by it. At the same time, their voice is almost unheard on the international stage, and despite their clever display, they remain largely unknown to the visitors of the Expo. A sad truth and an unfair one wouldn't you say?
As concerned citizens of the world, and activists from a part of the world that is difficult to ignore on the international stage, it is our responsibility to ensure that these stories are told and these voices heard. What will we do this COP18? How do we intend to bring change by the next COP?