Archived press release

Make a splash at The Wave

30 November 2009

Stop Climate Chaos Northern Ireland (SCCNI) is hosting a free, open air event in Belfast city centre on 5 December as part of the build up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The event, The Wave, will coincide with similar events around Europe. Everyone is invited for what is sure to be a fun-filled, family event in support of strong action and leadership in preventing runaway climate change and ensuring that Northern Ireland plays its part.

The Belfast 'Wave' will take place in Bank Square in Belfast from 1pm. The event will include music, street theatre and face painting, but the main purpose of the event is to provide the opportunity for people from all walks of life to demonstrate their support for a positive outcome from the negotiations in Copenhagen. In conjunction with Dublin, London, Glasgow and Paris, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Naomi Long MLA, and local musicians including Juliet Turner, will lead a Mexican Wave for local and international action on climate change in order to secure a safe and prosperous future for current and future generations.

Acts confirmed include virtuoso violinist/composer Ruby Colley, Juliet Turner, singer/songwriter Ken Haddock and multi-cultural music collective Beyond Skin. Radio Ulster DJ Joe Lindsay will compere the event. The event is free, but the organisers ask that people attending wear or bringing something blue to form a vast undulating wave of colour, which should provide a visual spectacle when everyone does the wave!

"The Wave event gives me the opportunity to show my commitment to meaningful action on climate change and for us all to show local support for an international process — which is important because climate change will impact on all our lives and those of future generations," said Lord Mayor Naomi Long. "It is imperative that we show that the people of Northern Ireland are committed and ready to play their role."

The UN meeting in Copenhagen, with delegates from over 190 countries attending, is aimed at determining a framework for climate change mitigation beyond 2012 as a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. Despite the complexity involved, it is hoped that a global deal to tackle climate change will be secured by the end of the conference on December 18.

Maurice Maxwell, Head of the European Office Commission in Belfast, stated,

"The EU is playing a leading role in the Copenhagen negotiations — the strength of our position is built on the support of member countries. Events such as the Wave are happening all across Europe, demonstrating the widespread public desire there is for strong and coordinated action."

Frances McCandless of SCC NI urges,

"Come along and bring your friends! The Wave will be an enjoyable occasion for all — maybe even a welcome break from some Christmas shopping. But it will also demonstrate that the people of Northern Ireland are looking for leadership on climate change from politicians in Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and around the world."

For further information, please visit The Belfast Wave Event on Facebook.

Notes

SCC NI Website: www.stopclimatechaosni.org

The Wave is on Facebook.

Please note the SCC NI website is hosted by NICVA and requires registration/login to participate in the petition.

Further information:

Stop Climate Chaos Northern Ireland is a coalition of over 20 environment and development groups who all wish to see Northern Ireland play its full role in combating runaway global climate change.

The UK has made good progress on reducing its emissions and reaching international targets on greenhouse gas emissions, whilst Northern Ireland is lagging well behind. The UK average is a reduction of 18 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990, whereas Northern Ireland has only managed a 13 per cent reduction.

Northern Ireland's poor track record in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not only bad for the environment, it is adding to the financial difficulties being faced by households across Northern Ireland.

Contact:

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Rosemary McNicholl at WWF Northern Ireland, rmcnicholl@wwf.org.uk, 07824416735.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust