Top News
Advocates pin their dreams on lapel-size slogans
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-18 10:33
 |
Large Medium Small |
COPENHAGEN: As talks remained deadlocked over a fresh deal on climate change, it seems the organizers are pinning their hopes on pins, literally, to curry favor with participants.
 Buttons were both calls to action and collector's items this week in Copenhagen. [Si Tingting] |
Recently, the organizers had a little surprise waiting for participants who got off the COP15 shuttle bus. They were stuck with pins that read - 'Using public transport saves 85% CO2' - as a token of appreciation for choosing a low-emission alternative.
| Special coverage: Copenhagen Climate Change Conference |
Related readings: Good tidings from China on climate change Climate change conference presidency changed Comprehensive approach on climate change |
That is not all. Even non-governmental organizations and delegates from different nationalities are giving out pins articulating strong messages or petitions.
Almost two weeks into the conference, many delegates and negotiators had quite a few shiny pins on their lanyard.
Ma Jing, a 21-year-old Chinese youth delegate, is one such who has accumulated a large collection of pins.
Unlike pin collectors at popular games such as the Olympics, who show up just to trade or sell from their collections, Ma has not collected them just for fun or money.
Her collection of a little more than 30 pins is for a quite different purpose. "I did this because I like the pins being handed out by the NGOs, with their strong messages and missions for the meeting," she said.
Ma's favorite is the one that shows a boy standing next to a windmill, arms stretched out, with wind blowing across his face.
"I think this pin carries a very peaceful message and it lets me see people's hope for a low-carbon future," she said.
The woman who gave her this pin told Ma that the youth should not lose hope even if the conference fails to throw up a fair deal.
Ma said the pin with the best message was the one she got from a WWF member who had dressed up as the Devil during the Earth Hour on Wednesday.
One million citizens in Copenhagen switched off their lights for an hour on Wednesday evening in support of a new deal on climate change.
"For once, the dark side saved the planet," the pin read.
Ma said she thought about the message long and hard. The collection will be shown to her classmates once she is back in China, Ma said.
"I know these are not expensive, but it is a smart way to spread the message of being eco-friendly," she said.
These little pins have also served as friendship boosters. Inside the conference venue, people displaying pins on their lanyards were subject to an excited tap on the shoulder, followed by an offer for trading in pins, which was one sure way to make new friends!
