ACT at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen

The nations of the world have assembled in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, and the Amazon Conservation Team is honored to be in attendance. The sights, sounds, colors, hues, national dress and emotions combine into a crazy kaleidoscope reminiscent of the cantina scene in “Star Wars”.

Copenhagen is a warm and welcoming city, but is struggling to accommodate so many visitors. The lack of hotel rooms is so severe that some people have had to book accommodations in neighboring Sweden! And lines to register for the conference are so long that some attendees have waited over five hours to check in.

Nevertheless, there is much optimism that so many people have come from all corners of the planet to grapple with one of the greatest issues of our time. That same optimism is balanced by cynicism, nationalism, resentment, hostility and fear – the glass of progress here is both half full and half empty. That this conference is taking place is indeed a tremendous achievement; whether it will result in a sea change towards the issue of climate change is yet to be decided.

Last night, my colleagues and I attended a gathering organized by our friends from the Skoll Foundation. For me, the highlight was listening to a conversation on the future of the forest between former Vice-President Al Gore and Chief Almir of the Suruí tribe in Brazil. The former VP cautioned Chief Almir to be careful, pointing out that forest protection could be a dangerous job. Chief Almir invited the Vice-President to visit the Suruí territory in western Brazil and observe the work firsthand. And the Vice-President congratulated the Chief and his partners at the Amazon Conservation Team for mapping and protecting the forest with the help of Google Earth.

Presently, ACT Brazil Director Vasco van Roosmalen is hard at work with our colleagues at the Jane Goodall Institute to complete a “Rainforest Tour” which will be featured on Google Earth. The tour – which should be posted later this week – will be narrated by Jane Goodall herself. Stay tuned!