Slideshow of the Climate March in Copenhagen

Photography from the Global Day of Action for Climate Change in Copenhagen. Over 100,000 people marched on the streets in favour of a strong, ambitious and fair deal to be signed this week.

COP 15 – Images, Action and Youth Activism

climate shame copenhagen

I am in Copenhagen, anticipating and preparing for the United Nations Conference of Parties, ie COP15. This is basically the most important meeting ever in our human history as the world leaders and ministers descend on this rainy city to try and come to an agreement that will put the world on a path to a safe, equitable and fair future.
Not something to laugh at. Not only will the heavy hitters be in town, but the city is expected to fill up with activists, everyone from indigenous activists to anti – capitalists are expected to converge here. Many sharing strong messages, many without a good idea how to message, and just many.

Youth Climate Photographer Shows at Barcelona Negotiations

Cross Posted from Itsgettinghotinhere

If you are a youth climate activist, if you have been to a Powershift conference, and/or if you read this blog, you have seen some of these amazing images that are on display, right now, in front of delegates at the Barcelona intercessional meetings –only one month before Copenhagen.

Barcelona Climate Talks - UNFCCC meetings

I wanted to take a moment and share this work, and also a message from my amazing co-worker, Robert van Waarden:

babyballoonbyrobertPower Shift '09 ©Robert vanWaarden

“Youth have been documenting the movement on the front lines of the global climate crisis and now, we are bringing our message to negotiators at Barcelona.

For years now, the global youth climate movement has been organizing, building momentum and strength, and influencing the debate through our actions, documentation, and networking from the front lines of the climate crisis. Actions by individuals have inspired groups and movements across Earth to fight for a dependable, stable climate. It is the issue that defines our generation.

I have had the pleasure of documenting and photographing this movement across the globe. From the halls of Powershifts to the high level segments of the Conference of Parties, from the G20 to the High Arctic, I have been honored to lend my skills as a photographer, and help give the international youth movement a voice and image. Now, we at Fired UP! Media and Project Survival Media are seizing the opportunity to place large, professional, compelling images directly in front of the negotiators and delegates in Barcelona RIGHT NOW.

This last intercessional meeting will be instrumental in crafting the outcome of Copenhagen and it is absolutely essential, and wonderful that our story is being shown. But we need your help to support the display. All of this photographic coverage has been undertaken on a volunteer basis and because of this, we need to seek financial support to cover the shipment of these images to Barcelona. If you feel that displaying your voice at the UN is important, then please consider donating to Project Survival Media so we can continue to sound our voices loud and clear at the meeting before the most important meeting in the world. Survival is Not Negotiable. The youth of the world are here.” – Robert van Waarden

Help us support the photographers that so greatly amplify our voice, and influence our decision makers.

Thank you for your inspiration and dedication.

Photographs of the Barcelona Climate Talks – UNFCCC Negotiations


Photographing live from the Barcelona Climate Talks……

I am here in Barcelona for two reasons:
  1. An exhibit of my images of youth action around the world for climate change is displayed on the wall here at the center.

    One of the greatest challenges of communicating climate change is putting a human face on an intangible issue. This photography exhibit re-examines the methods of communication by highlighting the inspirational work that young people are undertaking across the globe in the face of the growing climate crisis. 

  2. To cover the amazing youth that are here once again. The story continues and we will be pushing for an agreement in Copenhagen that pushes for the Survival of All Nations and Peoples.
Prior to this conference the head of the IPCC, Rajendra Pachauri, has “accused countries of pushing science aside in favour of self-serving “political myopia” ahead of the vital Copenhagen summit”. I wonder if his words will help move the governments of the world away from their political posturing and into a world of negotiations that reflect the scientific demands of our need to cut Carbon? I hope so.

288 ppm Amsterdam, a 350.org action and aerial photo

“It isn’t 350, but 288ppm is better. “


Video: Ellard Vasen

As the rain fell on downtown Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we reached 288 People Per Museumplein dancing the Charleston in the shape of ‘350 NU’. Translated as ‘350 Now’ it was a fun, electric action that joined over 5000 actions across the globe for the 350.org international day of action. MOVE YOUR FEET for CLIMATE ACTION! – voor een BETER KLIMAAT! was followed by a march through the downtown of Amsterdam calling for 350ppm.

Young and old danced the Charleston, a 1920s swing dance, to communicate their desire for a treaty that commits the countries of the world to a target of 350parts per million CO2.

350.org Amsterdam Foto – Museumplein – Aerial Photograph

De foto van de demonstratie in Amsterdam op Museumplein voor 350.org kan hier gedownload worden.
Het wachtwoord voor de gratis download voor redactioneel gebruik: 350

The photograph from the Amsterdam event of 350.org can be downloaded here. This image is provided free for editorial usage and the Password is: 350

Please spread it far and wide.

Below is a gallery of the day of action from Amsterdam

350 Foto Amsterdam Museumplein – Climate Aerial and March – Images by Robert vanWaarden

Less Talk More Action – Video and Photography at the UN Summit

At the recent High Level UN summit in New York on climate change, several students narrated a film that was shown to all delegates calling on them to act now. It is a well produced film that pulls on the heartstrings, but you can’t help wonder how many of these will we need to produce before our political decision makers will start to make the right decisions?

Watch it and keep your eyes open for my images. 

International League of Conservation Photographers – Emerging Photographer

The International League of Conservation Photographers is an incredible organization of the top environmental and conservation photographers in the world. Its’ ranks include National Geographic photographers Paul Nicklen and Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, Dutch photographer Frans Lanting, Gary Braasch, etc. etc. The list goes on.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this organization is a great idea. Combine the power and skills of the top photographers in the world to focus on conservation and the environment. Our mission is to further environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography.

I am pleased to announce that I have accepted into this League as an Emerging Photographer. This organization is one that I admire and whose photographers are people that I look to for their hardwork, passion, dedication and skill. It will be a pleasure to learn from them, work with them and together contribute to conserving and improving our planet.

Blog Action Day – Climate Change Blogging

Across the blogosphere today, over 7000 blogs will be writing about Climate Change. It is called the Blog Action Day and has set out to mobilize the entire blog world around the single most important issue of our time and generation, climate change.

The whole climate world is entering the final stretch of the race for a climate just world and it is going to be a hectic 6 weeks. My path begins next weekend in Amsterdam on October 24th with 350.org. There are over 2000 actions happening in 150 countries and in Amsterdam we will have 350 swing dancers dancing for the climate. In attendance will be James Hansen, chief NASA scientist and hundreds of climate activists. Sign up to join us if you are in Amsterdam. Or for more information on the event, go here

A week later I will be in Barcelona to cover the last stage of negotiations before Copenhagen. We will also be displaying the same show that I displayed in Bonn.

In November, I will be working with Project Survival Media to draw attention to climate change in Europe and then we are into Copenhagen. Copenhagen will be the most important meeting ever and we need everyone across the globe to hold their leaders accountable for a strong and just agreement. The only thing that is missing is the political will and it is time to change that. You can help by getting involved next weekend with 350.org