negotiating for survival

I just spent three weeks in Cancun, Mexico for the 16th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. I was one of the five youth representatives in the Philippine Delegation, led by Secretary Lucille Sering and Commissioner Yeb Saño of the Climate Change Commission.

It was an honor to carry the name of the Philippines.

With Vivienne Zerrudo, Desiree Llanos Dee, and Esperanza Garcia. Missing: the only thorn among the roses, Kester Yu.

The adventure started on the last week of November, at the 6th Conference of Youth.

COY6 Cancún 2010 from Know Studio on Vimeo.

Towards the end of the Conference, we had a photo op and press con with 350.org to send a very clear message that we need a little less conversation and a little more action. The ocean that has been sustaining us is now threatening to swallow us. We are running out of time.

And just when I thought we were also running out of hope, we saw this stretched across the Cancun sky.

The Earth will be fine without us, you know. It will heal and go on without us, as it has been for the last four billion years. Never mind if you don’t get the science, the figures, the facts, and the abstract concepts. All you need to know is that addressing climate change means negotiating for survival. Our survival.

Story on photo op here.
More pictures here.
Commentary for the POC here.

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