Good afternoon from Copenhagen
New York state of mind. Is Michael Bloomberg the most visionary American politician on energy? True to New York’s competitive spirit, not only did the Mayor take a trip to Denmark for a look at the world’s largest offshore wind farm but talked about the possibility of his city winning a wind war with its own 700-megawatt project. Video HERE.
You belong to the city. Alex Steffen, founder of the excellent Worldchanging, had an interview with Stephen Beard from American Public Media in Copenhagen on the radio show Marketplace about the importance of cities fighting climate change. Here’s a brief excerpt: Most of us have heard of engineering fixes, like swapping coal plants and SUVs with wind turbines and hybrid cars. Clean energy and green tech are critical, but they're being eclipsed by a more system-wide approach: building bright green cities. Cities offer us powerful leverage on our most stubborn, wasteful practices. Long commutes in our cars, big power bills from our energy-hogging buildings, shopping trips to buy stuff that'll spend a few short months in our homes and long centuries in our landfills. Full interview HERE. 
En garde, Copenhagen! With that permanent hangdog expression, one of DTE’s favorite comedians, Eugene Mirman mingles with protestors of all types at Parliament Square in Copenhagen whether it's a possible extra from “Where The Wild Things Are” or an angry skeptic who gets rightfully zinged for sloppy fact-checking. You’ve been warned. Video HERE.
"I want to say a big thank you to all of you, especially you beautiful young ones. We oldies have made something of a mess of the world. And we want to say to the leaders who are meeting, look in the eyes of your grandchildren," - South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu at a candlight vigil in Copenhagen over the weekend.
Tutu spoke passionately in Copenhagen while tens of thousands gathered elsewhere across the world - all calling for peace, justice, equality, morality - all calling the world's leaders to stand up and do something about climate change. You can read the transcript of Tutu's speech HERE, and watch some of it below.
After he spoke, Amy Goodman of "Democracy Now" caught up with Tutu and asked him what his message to President Obama was: "Please, please help give the world a real deal. Give the world a real deal. Help, help, help. Make sure that there is enough money to help developing countries make the adjustment. OK?" She then asked if he thought President Obama was following through on climate change. To which Tutu responded, "We hope. We hope he will, yes. He has given the world a great deal of hope. And we—I have said he’s now a Nobel laureate—become what you are. Come on, bye-bye, bye-bye."
