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Belfast makes waves for climate justice
7 December 2009

Forty-eight hours before the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen kicked off, Northern Ireland people gathered in Belfast for the Wave.

As Wave events took place across Europe from Dublin to Berlin, Belfast people showed that they care about climate change.

Hundreds of people braved the cold and took time out from Christmas preparations to call for climate justice.

Ruby Colley, Juliet Turner and Ken Haddock provided the entertainment at Bank Square, before Lord Mayor Naomi Long led the blue Mexican Wave.

It was a scene local politicians couldn't ignore.

The display was duplicated at Wave events in Dublin, London, Glasgow, Paris, Brussels and Berlin.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Naomi Long said:

"I'd like to thank everybody involved in organising this event. It's given people from across Northern Ireland the opportunity to add their voices to those calling on political leaders to deliver in Copenhagen."

Naomi continued:

"We're not just citizens of this city, we're global citizens. Climate change is having an impact on the world right now, directly affecting poorer people in developing nations."

"For me it's an issue of social justice".

Frances McCandless of Wave organisers Stop Climate Chaos said:

"Saturday's Wave shows that the people of Northern Ireland do want the right decision to be made in their name at Copenhagen. This is a crucial time as the world's most important negotiations begin".

"This display also shows people want local action on climate change," continued Frances.

"Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without any locally specific binding CO2 reduction targets. Northern Ireland politicians need to take action to help us live more sustainably and responsibly."

Stop Climate Chaos has a petition for a Northern Ireland Climate Bill that you can sign.

People waving blue hands

© Friends of the Earth/Declan Allison

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