Ian Short

The Wave was an event organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition in London on 5 December 2009. The Stop Climate Chaos coalition comprises the WWF, the RSPB, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Oxfam, and many other charitable bodies. The Wave was held before the environmental summit in Copenhagen.

Approximately fifty thoursand people attended the march. The last similar large event I participated in (in London) was before the recent Iraq war, and between one and two million people were present then. It’s a shame that this more important event received far fewer people. Read this description of why combating climate change is so important.

During the march a guy handed MC an object which said on it “pass it on!”. The object consisted of two short cuboids of wood with a hinge joining them together. When the two pieces of wood were opened up, there was a short article inside with some information about climate chaos; I’m not sure what exactly. The words “pass it on!” were written in white paint on top of the closed contraption, on the wood. The guy said to MC, “here, pass this on.” MC refused it. So the guy said, “okay, just hold it whilst I send this text message” (he was typing away on his mobile phone). MC still refused it. The guy moved away and gave the wood thing to someone else. Then a woman came along and said to the person carrying the wood, “shall I take that from you?” She did so, and then they all drifted off.

What was going on? Seemed like a peculiar scam.