Mission: Table Mountain protest for Climate Action Project (CAP)
Date: 24th October 2009
Requesting organisation: Climate Action Partnership (CAP)
Location: Table Mountain to Signal Hill
Pilot: Anthony Allen

Report from the beneficiary: CAP making a statement about a global reduction in carbon emissions! , by Anthony Allen

On Saturday morning the 24th October 2009 the Climate Action Partnership (CAP) organized an event for the 350 campaign on Signal Hill. Over 300 people walked from Table Mountain to Signal Hill and formed a human 350, joining over 5200 events in 181 countries around to world, calling global decision makers to commit to reducing carbon emissions.
A long line of red, orange and yellow stretched the path from Table Mountain to Signal Hill, walking through a national park which holds over 170 endemic species and is identifies as one of the global biodiversity hotspots. The colours we wore symbolized rising temperatures and the impact that this would have on biodiversity.
Once we had made our way through the exquisite fynbos, boulders and mountain peaks over looking Table Bay, we arrived at Signal Hill and formed the 350. Enthusiasts shouted '3' '5' '0', and we then split into groups and spoke about how climate change is relevant to our lives, what is being done in our communities, and whether we feel that South African is doing enough in terms of land use practices, household practices, energy usage, as well as education and awareness. We asked what opportunities does climate change offer. This also allowed us to network with other people involved in tackling climate change.

Waiting for the cloud cover to subside, at the final hour the helicopter was able to negotiate around the cloud, filming and shooting stills of the human 350 against the iconic backdrop of Table Mountain. The number 350 represents the safe level of carbon emissions parts per million (ppm) needed to ensure that temperature increases remain within two degrees over next century. Currently, globally we are averaging over 375ppm and if we remain on the present carbon pathway, emissions will increase to 450ppm. This will have a devastating impact on our communities and ecosystems - with increased food insecurity, water scarcity, loss of genetic biodiversity, extreme weather conditions and infrastructure loss.

We are also calling for developed countries to commit to financing developing countries in both adaptation and mitigation measures, as the bulk of carbon emissions come from industrialized countries, while people in developing countries are most vulnerable and have minimal buffer systems to the impacts of changing climates. As global citizens this campaign offers us the opportunity to make a clear and strong statement that leaders at the Conference of Parties in Copenhagen in December must commit to a fair and ambitious deal.

Images were screened by the local broadcasters such as ETV, SABC and Media 24 and were globally distributed via 350.org in Timesquare New York, and via international broadcasters CNN and BBC. This footage will be screened in Copenhagen.

Thank you to The Bateleurs for the helicopter and pilot, Aerial Perspective for the still photography, Threadmedia for the running footage, Table Mountain National Park, Nature Conservation Corporation and Permitz for the Environmental Control Officers, City of Cape Town Traffic Department, the Table Mountain Cable Way, A-Unit and 350.org organizers Samantha Bailey and Adam Welz. We would like to thank Kfm, Cape Argus, Media 24, David le Page, Dirk Visser, as well as other unnamed media representatives present. Finally, CAP would like to thank the participants Pride of Table Mountain, Working on Fire, Free Life on Earth, Global Carbon Exchange, as well as many other unnamed organizations and individuals who offered their support, engaging ideas and persistence to make this a success.

Please see photos of the event attached (aerial photos courtesy of Aerial Perspective www.aerialphoto.co.za). Visit www.350.org for images from other campaigns happening around South Africa and the globe.
CAP is an alliance of 8 conservation NGOs which aims to reduce the impacts of climate change and increase the resilience of South Africa’s biodiversity and communities to the predicted changes. This is channeled by promoting intact ecosystems that are connected at a landscape level.(Visit: www.cap.org.za)