Snowmen Action Day Against Climate Change
- Join the action!
On Tuesday, Feb 28th 2006, hundreds of snowmen demonstrated against deadly global warming, that is threatening them as well as most other inhabitants of planet Earth. Snowmen were by local activists in 18 cities in Finland and in Hungary, Bulgaria, Sweden, Slovenia, Estonia, Russia and Norway. The action was organized by Friends of the Earth Finland. Many other groups and concerned individuals participated. See pictures from Finland and from Estonia.
Read the press release about the action day!
Snowmen are demonstrating again for their existence! Climate change is a greater threat the planet has ever faced, and the Arctic is especially vulnerable.
It is warming - over two times faster than the rest of the world. With snow, an important part of Northern culture is about to disappear. "Stop burning coal, we are melting here", is one of the snow figures' demands.
YOU can take part in this action that will draw more attention to the threat of climate change. We organized this action also last year and the experience was great - people and media were very interested and it was fun! Check out the pictures from last year!
In January 2005, Northern Europe experienced the most powerful storm in decades. Vast areas of forest were swept down. Streets were flooded. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity for days. Water levels were close to critical in some nuclear power plants. The winter has also been unusually warm, which means that in Southern Finland the snowmen will most likely have to be made out of recycled materials like paper and plastic.
Snowmen are not the only victims of climate change. Entire countries will be drowned, huge areas will be battered by natural catastrophes and more than billion people might lose adequate water supply, if significant action isn't taken now. The lives of hundreds of millions are on the line. "More wind power, less tornados" and "Snowmen for the poor of the South" are some of the slogans painted on the banners of the snowmen.
Nordic countries have already felt the first impacts of climate change - storms, floods and bizarre weather. Above all, snowmen are on the streets to highlight that climate change is not an inevitable phenomenon. According to scientists, we have ten more years to take determined action and avoid the most severe impacts and risks. There is no time to waste.
Nevertheless, Finnish decision-makers have so far demonstrated little will to participate in tackling this huge threat. "Make love, not climate change", is snowmen's message to politicians.
Contact:
Friends of the Earth Finland
Meri Pukarinen, tel +358 50 329 3479, meri.pukarinen[at]maanystavat.fi