So, whilst in Doha I had the opportunity to attend a number of interesting events including the Doha Film Festival and the international COP18 climate summit. As I work/volunteer with MADE in Europe (www.madeineurope.org) and they are all about campainging and creating development awareness amongst Muslim youth in the Uk, I blogged for them about my experiences and thoughts during the conference. I am going to repost the blog posts here. Check them out:
http://www.madeineurope.org.uk/updates/item/cop18-lamees-is-in-doha
http://www.madeineurope.org.uk/updates/item/cop18-lamees-is-in-doha
This year's COP18 is taking place in Doha and I have the unique
opportunity to be in the city as it happens. As a young person growing
up and getting active in the noughties, climate change has always been
at the forefront of my agenda and has featured prominently in my
campaigning life, so this really is an opportunity I want to take full
advantage of. I intend to attend as many talks, events, trips and film
showings as I can, and blog for MADE at every opportunity!
There are delegations from all over the world in town. Doha is a pretty international city so you might not notice the difference immediately but then there are COP18 signs at every major hotel, stalls at major malls and ads on the shuttle buses just to remind you that an international conference is happening right on your doorstep.
COP18 is the UN Climate Change Conference that every climate activist wants to be at, it is where all nations of the world come together to try and reach new targets and agreements on Climate Change. Many of you will remember the 2009 Copenhagen conference (COP15), which, although it resulted in an agreement, fell far short of the targets and the binding legal commitments that most activists wanted. So, here we are again, trying to convince our leaders that change is necessary and possible, but they will have to take the dive.
Qatar is an interesting place for the conference to take place, almost ironic, as it has the highest carbon emissions per capita in the world, three times that of the USA BUT they are trying. ON preparation for the conference, you have seen the introduction of recycling bins at some major malls and sites, shuttle buses have been arranged for delegates to and from locations and you can see encouraging adverts on the sides of buses. Qatar may not be green, but the Qatar National Convention Centre hosting COP18 is. Its roof boasts 3,500 square metres of solar panels: A step in the right direction.
To compliment this, as part of the COP18, the Qatar Foundation has organised a public programme of activities and events for all those of us who aren't delegates at the main convention. These include a Sustainability Expo at the Doha Exhibition Centre, trips to conservation sites, talks on climate change, sustainability and technology and a "Green Screen" organised by the Doha Film Institute showings films on the subject of Climate Change.
Tonight saw the screening of Rafea: Solar Mama, the story of a Jordanian Bedouin mother who travels from her desert home to India to attend the Barefoot College which trains women in solar technology. This education would mean a better life for her, her family and her community but she must overcome obstacles of culture and tradition in order to achieve success. It was an inspirational story and one which was complimented by the opportunity to ask questions of Rafea and the filmmaker after the movie: A great way to promote further interest to be sure.
Whatever happens in the conference itself, let us hope that the activities around it can at least educate people to the realities of climate change, inspire change in Doha and motivate all those who attend to make a difference.
There are delegations from all over the world in town. Doha is a pretty international city so you might not notice the difference immediately but then there are COP18 signs at every major hotel, stalls at major malls and ads on the shuttle buses just to remind you that an international conference is happening right on your doorstep.
COP18 is the UN Climate Change Conference that every climate activist wants to be at, it is where all nations of the world come together to try and reach new targets and agreements on Climate Change. Many of you will remember the 2009 Copenhagen conference (COP15), which, although it resulted in an agreement, fell far short of the targets and the binding legal commitments that most activists wanted. So, here we are again, trying to convince our leaders that change is necessary and possible, but they will have to take the dive.
Qatar is an interesting place for the conference to take place, almost ironic, as it has the highest carbon emissions per capita in the world, three times that of the USA BUT they are trying. ON preparation for the conference, you have seen the introduction of recycling bins at some major malls and sites, shuttle buses have been arranged for delegates to and from locations and you can see encouraging adverts on the sides of buses. Qatar may not be green, but the Qatar National Convention Centre hosting COP18 is. Its roof boasts 3,500 square metres of solar panels: A step in the right direction.
To compliment this, as part of the COP18, the Qatar Foundation has organised a public programme of activities and events for all those of us who aren't delegates at the main convention. These include a Sustainability Expo at the Doha Exhibition Centre, trips to conservation sites, talks on climate change, sustainability and technology and a "Green Screen" organised by the Doha Film Institute showings films on the subject of Climate Change.
Tonight saw the screening of Rafea: Solar Mama, the story of a Jordanian Bedouin mother who travels from her desert home to India to attend the Barefoot College which trains women in solar technology. This education would mean a better life for her, her family and her community but she must overcome obstacles of culture and tradition in order to achieve success. It was an inspirational story and one which was complimented by the opportunity to ask questions of Rafea and the filmmaker after the movie: A great way to promote further interest to be sure.
Whatever happens in the conference itself, let us hope that the activities around it can at least educate people to the realities of climate change, inspire change in Doha and motivate all those who attend to make a difference.
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