Tck...Tck...Tck... It’s time for climate action

BEIRUT: AUGUST 29, 2009 - With just 100 days to go to the United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen, at which world leaders have committed to agreeing a historic treaty to tackle catastrophic climate change, IndyACT- The League of Independent Activists, member of the Global Campaign for Climate Action (GCCA) kick started the launch of the TckTckTck campaign in Lebanon – the biggest ever climate change campaign.

Appearing from nowhere, ticking their way through the crowds in Downtown Beirut, Activists from IndyACT made sure that the ticking sound is loud and clear for everyone around to hear. They also opened a banner that called people and government for climate action now.

With more than a million ‘Ready’ supporters up-till-now, the GCCA, an unprecedented global coalition of NGOs, faith groups and trade unions, including WWF, Oxfam International, Greenpeace and Amnesty International, launched TckTckTck campaign, which symbolizes the lack of time and the ticking of the clock, to amass the voices of people across the globe to call for a new international climate change treaty at Copenhagen that is fair, ambitious and binding. Those voices will be supporting World leaders to ensure that a deal is signed that will secure the planet’s future.

Wael Hmaidan, Executive Director of IndyACT explained: “Urgent action is needed on climate change; the impacts are already being felt around the world. There is still time to build a greener, safer world but the clock is ticking. We are calling for people to get behind the TckTckTck campaign to show world leaders that there is unprecedented support for a treaty at Copenhagen that ensures our futures and those of our children and grandchildren.”

The TckTckTck campaign is an online and offline mobilization that will organize around major international political meetings and other relevant events to demonstrate the resounding call from citizens around the world for Heads of State to attend the negotiations in Copenhagen and achieve a fair, ambitions and binding new international deal.

Hiba Farhat, Communication Manager of IndyACT, elaborated: “The TckTckTck campaign along with its broad spectrum of partners from across the globe, will highlight the stories of those people most affected by climate change giving a voice to those people most affected by climate change, people who are too often ignored.”

TckTckTck also aims to highlight the economic opportunities created by international commitment to climate change action, demonstrating that during this financial crisis the real opportunity is for a greener economy and a safer, greener future for our planet. The campaign will highlight examples where these economic opportunities are already being seized by forward thinking countries.

To mark 100 days to Copenhagen, IndyACT along with its partners have organized a series of activities, including:

- Flash mobs in Lebanon, Copenhagen, San Francisco and London on August 29 organized by IndyACT and the Avaaz action factories – youth houses for activists in the build-up for the Copenhagen conference.
- Oxfam launched its global TckTckTck on-line advertisement and organized a media event to highlight the 100 days to Copenhagen countdown.
- On and around August 24th The Age of Stupid launched their film in New Zealand and Australia.
- Greenpeace organized events in Beijing, Thailand and the Arctic.
- WWF organized events around the globe.
- National launches in Brazil, US, UK, Philippines, Indonesia and elsewhere.