COP 5 will take place in Bonn in October 1999 - Rising Tide will be there, and we are appealing to activists to get involved. For the last few years, the radical agenda has been almost entirely absent from the UN conferences, and we feel that the politicians and bureaucrats could do with being reminded that more fundamental changes are necessary if climate change is to be prevented

On a practical level, the first thing to do is to get in touch with Rising Tide. But experience has shown that sheer weight of numbers is less important than getting people there who know what they are talking about! Over the next few months we intend to set up a mailing list devoted to preparing for a radical prescence in Bonn. Please network this information widely.

There have been actions at two of the previous Climate Conferences in Kyoto in 1997 and Berlin in 1995. As far as we know COP2 in Geneva and COP4 passed without incident. To set the scene, and put you in the mood, here's reports from both of them.

A range of actions took place, organised by a range of Japanese and Korean youth activists, and people who had travelled from Europe and Russia overland by train and boat. The only 'direct' action was the blockade of a Esso garage. Exxon, the multinational corporation behing Esso have been some of the worst offenders in blocking any progress in the climate talks. Six people locked their wrists together in arm-tubes in a circle round the pumps, with support from about 50 other people, shutting down the garage for a couple of hours.

Other demonstrations included one against the uncontrolled growth of air travel. A model monster plane rode over lots of people symbolising the masses oppressed by climate change. Simultaneous with this action were protests against air travel in over 20 countries. There was a mass cycle demonstration and also one on foot, each attracting a few thousand people. And seemingly endless media stunts organised by the big NGOs.

A whole range of actions took place during COP1 in Berlin, both in the conference hall and the city at large. Highlights of the first week included a massive cycle demonstration with 100,000 participants,and locking on to the buses that transported the industry lobbyists to the conference.

The second week saw the Greenhouse Gathering, organised by ASEED and EYFA, the European youth environment networks, which brought a new influx of 750 activists to the city. A 'Reclaim the Streets' party was held, shutting down one of Berlin's busiest intersections. Inside the building Don Perlman, a shadowy industry lobbyist, was singled out, dubbed 'the High Priest of Carbon' and followed by adoring worshippers. Then on the final day, as it became clear that nothing of substance was going to come out of the conference, 300 people blockaded the main entrance while others stormed the conference stage during the final plenary.

It would seem that there are two requirements for action at future climate conferences: that it must be informed and radical. It is no use making noisy, well-meaning protests which simply catch a few camera shots whilst big business, governments and moderate NGOs pursue the ineffective agenda of the climate talks. But neither do we want to slip into the role of lobbyists in the whole process: the sort of radical critique of global capitalism which Rising Tide promotes leaves little room for lobbying for reforms. And action inside the conference venue is tricky: anything too disruptive would invite being banned, which people with a long term perspective of being involved with climate activism may wish to avoid! All in all, effective action at climate conferences is a difficult thing to achieve. But having said that, the UN is one of the most open forums to bring a challenge to the globalisation agenda right home to the people who are promoting it. So action is important, and COP5 at Bonn provides an opportunity for many European activists to go along and make a bit of an impact!

So how can we make stuff happen? The first thing we need is people especially people who are into doing some work to ensure they are conversant with the politics of climate change, multinationals and globalisation by October. If you want to be involved, then please email Rising Tide today

For young people in Europe, European Youth Forest Action is hosting a 4 day seminar at the end of March to assess the successes and failures of the past and work out where next for climate action. Email cks@eyfa.org for more details.

Climate Action Day happens each year on the 15th May. Actions are organised all over the world against targets that promote climate change.