Natalie Duck
In true Dutch style hundreds of cyclists
took to the streets of Den Haag for what was deemed to be the world's
largest ever critical mass.
As the 180 countries at the climate change
conference are incapable of cutting fuel emissions in any real terms,
the counter conference activists at least showed a handful of motorists
that it is time for a change.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lead by the fabulous musical rinky dinky cycling team, the critical
mass of bicycles, people and the blue and silver samba band marched
and pedalled united to the conference centre.
A pedal powered generator gave us music,
keeping spirits high and inspiring damp cyclists to dance and sing outside
the conference in positive protest.
The conference delegates arrogantly talking
about what they think needs to be done to save the world from behind
their police protected walls obviously needed the strong jolting of
conciousness.
Pedal power was the way these activists
had chosen to shake them up, to say that more needs to be done than
enforce the Kyoto Protocol, initiated so industrialised countries would
reduce their emmissions back in 1987.
The UK delegate needed to hear the environmentalists'
song more than any other country, as the UK was assigned the highest
emissions reduction target- 12.5%- of all industrialised countries.
Since then the Brits have done nothing but continue to pollute the environment
through high emissions.
In 1990-1995 the UK cut emissions by -9%
and from 1995-2000 they were cut by -11%. In other words, they are still
hell bent on destroying the planet.
After leaving the conference centre, the
critical mass moved into the town centre, the flurry of standing-up
cyclists, lying-down cyclists, three-wheelers bikes and noisy sparkly
people caught the attention of the public.
Leaflets were handed out, telling motorists
about the Rising Tide festival, cars were forced to back-up, the police
got confused, unsure of which roads to block off, and the Dutch were
supportive!
POWER TO THE PEDALS!! "
