Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva (first at left) and Australian Greens leader Bob Brown (third from left), amply demonstrating the green spirit of "think globally, act locally," lent their enthusiastic encouragement to many environmental initiatives in Taiwan. In the photo they are holding up their signatures on a petition proposed by local activists to oppose the "blood and sweat" of hi-tech industry, reminding people that the high profits of high tech are built on the exploitation of labor and destruction of the environment. (Jimmy Lin)

In sharp contrast to the Copenhagen climate conference of 2009, which gathered together political bigwigs from around the globe, and where strong and weak states growled at one another while non-governmental groups were left to protest outside the venue, two international forums held in April of this year have focused on "grassroots actors," emphasizing the autonomous unity of people.

First out of the blocks was the "World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth," convened by Bolivian president Evo Morales, who is of indigenous ethnicity. The other, sponsored by the Green Party Taiwan, was the Second Congress of the Asia Pacific Greens Network (APGN), which closed on May 2nd.

The APGN Congress can be considered one of the most important forums on climate change in all of the Asia-Pacific region. This was also the first time that Taiwan hosted a large-scale international green conference. A total of 113 environmental activists from five continents attended, many of them coming to Taiwan for the first time. About 150 persons from domestic social groups also participated, and another 80 served as volunteers to staff the event.

The theme of this year's conference was "Fair Share," stressing the just distribution of resources regardless of generation, class, or region. It was also aimed at finding a next step appropriate for the Asia-Pacific region in the wake of the international situation that has followed the Copenhagen Accord.