MEDIA ADVISORY

What: World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth
When: April 19-22, 2010
Where: Cochabamba, Bolivia

The Plurinational State of Bolivia will host an historic conference on climate change from April 19-22 with the expected participation of more than 50 governments worldwide and some 10,000 attendees hailing from 120 countries. Many more are expected to watch online and in campaign actions on the final day of the conference, April 22nd, which marks UN Mother Earth Day.The conference was called for by Bolivian President Evo Morales in response to the widely contested results of the most recent UN climate change conference in Copenhagen. To broaden the debate in a way that is democratic, transparent, and participatory, the World People’s Conference on Climate Change will place civil society organizations and in dialogue with proactive governments dedicated to preventing climate change. The conference aims to analyze the structural causes of climate change, and develop specific proposals and actions for addressing it.

Bolivia has invited all 192 UN member states to attend the conference, and is working closely with the UNDP to bring representatives from the 49 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), whose populations are most vulnerable to climate change. Spain, Russia and France have also indicated that they will send representatives and others are still confirming.

Confirmed speakers include NASA scientist Jim Hansen, Bill McKibben, environmental journalist and leader of 350.org, Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva, Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano, former UN General Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto, and the American actor, director and activist Danny Glover, along with leaders from leading environmental organizations and communities on the front lines of climate change.

All media and journalists are warmly encouraged to come to Bolivia to cover this event. Registration is free and can be done at the conference website in Spanish or English.

For more information, please contact:

Gadir Lavadenz
media@cmpcc.org
tel. (+591 2) 2 113161 or (+591) 706 91367

Nick Buxton
media@cmpcc.org
tel. +530 902 3772