ASIAN PEOPLE’S CLIMATE TRIBUNAL
Rich countries put on trial for damages caused by climate change
Witnesses give evidence of climate change impacts
Prince Palace Hotel, 488/800 Bo Bae Tower, Damrongrak Road
Tuesday 6 October 2009
9am – 1pm
Thai and Bangladeshi farmers, a Nepalese mountain climber, a Filipino fisherman and an Indonesian women’s advocate will put a human face on the issue of adaptation finance when they put developed countries on trial for damages caused by global warming in a mock court hearing on Tuesday 6 October.
The Asian People’s Climate Tribunal, from 9am – 1pm at Prince Palace Hotel, is one of 125 hearings being held around the world involving more than half a million people in 17 countries, ahead of the Copenhagen Summit which is set to agree a global deal to tackle climate change.
The mock court will examine the culpability of developed countries for global warming and claim damages for the hardships inflicted on the people of Asia. Thai jasmine rice farmer Nooscrai Saeng Sri will speak about hotter and drier weather followed by this year’s intense rainfall which is threatening her crops right now.
Nepalese mountain climber Dawa Steven Sherpa will share his experiences of the dramatic and unusual collapse of a part of the Khumba Icefall on Mount Everest, Bangladesh’s Shorbanu Khatun, a survivor of Cyclone Aila, will tell of rising seawater destroying crops and homes, and Filipino fisherman Pablo Rosales will give evidence of how erratic weather patterns and rising sea levels are destroying livelihoods.
The tribunal is being organized by civil society groups throughout the region which comprise the Global Coalition for Climate Action (GCCA) and Asia Pacific People’s Movement for Debt and Development (APMDD). It is supported by 25-30 organizations throughout South and East Asia, and especially assisted by the Thai Working Group on Climate Justice, and the lawyers’ networks, Global Legal Action on Climate Change (GLACC) and Aid for Development.
Dinah Fuentesfina, GCCA coordinator, said the court would not only highlight the devastating impacts climate change was having on people throughout the region now, but would analyze the responsibility of developed countries such as the US, Australia, Britain, Canada and Japan for the harm their collective emissions caused.
“We aim to show there is a legal case for climate damages, and make those that caused them responsible,” she said. “In order to avoid a string of similar trials around the world in future, rich countries need to reduce their emissions now and provide adequate adaptation financing to developing countries.”
Notes to Editors:
Media are invited to the event, or may wish to just attend the press conference.
The event comes after today’s tribunal in Cape Town, South Africa (5 October), where Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson, Honorary President of Oxfam International and former UN commissioner for human rights, will hear testimony from people living on the climate front line.
Testimony in Bangkok will be given by IPCC scientist Dr Ahsan Uddin Ahmed and the Panel of Judges will include Human Rights Commission of Thailand Chair Amara Pongsapich.
The Panel of Judges also includes environmental engineer Yuyun Ismawati and Permament People’s Tribunal Member Francesco Martone. The Prosecutors are Attorneys Antonio Oposa, MC Mehta, Tanya Lat and Alett Nunez. Acting for the Defence will be Marc W. Roberts, Marty Bergoffen and Roberto Pe.
Broadcast quality footage, high resolution pictures and written case studies which show how climate witnesses from Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa are struggling to cope with a changing climate at home are available.
Interviews are available with participants in the Asian People’s Climate Tribunal.
About Tcktcktck:
The Tcktcktck campaign brings together an unprecedented alliance of faith groups, NGOs, trade unions and individuals at this crucial time to call for a new international treaty that will save the planet from the dangerous effects caused by climate change. As world leaders prepare to strike a climate deal in Copenhagen in December, tcktcktck will harness the voices of the people to demand an ambitious, fair and binding new international agreement that reflects the latest science. Time is running out. You can show your support by going to tcktcktck.org and joining the campaign.
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For more information please contact:
Laurelle Keough on +66 86 530 8394 or laurellek@oxfam.org.au OR
Uamdao Noikorn on +66 81 855 3196 / unoikorn@oxfam.org.uk for climate witnesses from Bangladesh, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand
Christian Tieste, Communications Manager, Asia-Pacific, WWF Hong Kong, on 0805 986 764, for Nepal
Ashwini Prabha, Communications Manager, Global Climate Deal Campaign, WWF International on: (0) 798 741682 or +0041 798741682 for Nepal
For more photos follow this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tcktcktck-asia/sets/72157622533920562
