BEE Japan

Another important petition from Avaaz.
Dear friends,
In the next few days, PM Aso will set a strong or weak climate target that will kick-start or unravel Japanese and global efforts to fight climate change. We urgently need 10,000 citizens to sign the petition calling for strong targets and responsible climate leadership. Sign below and forward this email widely:

In the next few days, Prime Minister Aso will set Japan’s 2020 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Debate is raging in the cabinet about whether to set a strong target of -25% that scientists agree is the minimum required to stop a climate catastrophe.

On Tuesday, Avaaz ran a full page ad (at right) in the Nikkei Shimbun — delivering the results of an independent poll that showed 63% of Japanese voters support a target of 25% or more. Environment Minister Saito warmly thanked all the citizens who helped support this ad and pledged to bring its message to the cabinet.

But more than polls, we urgently need to show Prime Minister Aso just how strongly the Japanese people feel about responsible global leadership on climate change. The final meetings and behind-the-scenes negotiations are taking place in the next 48 hours – if we can get 10,000 Japanese citizes to sign our petition in that time, it will give Minister Saito a new powerful message to report to the cabinet. Click below to sign and please immediately forward this email to everyone you know who cares about this issue:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/japan_on_the_edge

The whole world is watching: a strong target from Japan could kick-start the negotiations for a global climate treaty, a weak target could unravel global efforts to fight climate change. Japan is home of the Kyoto Protocol and has a climate tradition to be proud of. But if Prime Minister Aso bows to pressure from polluters at this critical time, and fails to set a responsible 2020 emissions target, it could sully Japan’s reputation as a good global citizen.

Sign the emergency petition below and forward this email to all your friends and family, and Avaaz and partners WWF Japan and Kikonet will help deliver our voices to Minister Saito and the cabinet:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/japan_on_the_edge

If enough of us come together, we can win this. In 2007 the Japanese government resisted considering any 2020 climate target. Asahi Shimbun reported that an Avaaz ad and petition calling for targets was waved at the cabinet meeting by the environment minister, and at that meeting the Prime Minister decided to set a target. Ordinary citizens have already won the fight for Japan to set a 2020 target, now let’s win the fight to make that target a good one.

With hope,

Ricken, 大久保 ゆり, 青木　えり, Ben and the Avaaz Japan team

PS – Here’s a link to an article about the Nikkei ad yesterday:

http://www.47news.jp/CN/200906/CN2009060201000846.html

And here’s a link to the Asahi Shimbun article about our campaign in 2007 that influenced the Japanese cabinet meeting:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2232597563_06dc866ac5_o.jpg