Our readers on COP30 and the Gaza ceasefire 💭

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Hi Diogenes,

Welcome to openDemocracy's weekly reader comments round-up. We receive so many carefully considered messages about our work that it seems a shame to keep them to ourselves. Send us your thoughts for next week's round-up by replying directly to any of our emails or commenting on our articles or Instagram posts.

These comments are edited for clarity, accuracy and length, and aren't necessarily a reflection of openDemocracy's editorial position.

- openDemocracy

Re: The missing piece in COP30's climate plan

Our world continues to apply the same failed strategies in the prevention of climate change/global warming. This 40-year approach needs to reimagine the future by learning to adapt to temperature changes, rather than our feeble attempts to stop the rise in temperatures. –Dr James via Bluesky

Many missing pieces, one is green energy. –Marcel via Facebook

Re: COP30: It will take disaster in Global North to bring real climate action

Correct. We don't regulate until disaster occurs – just look at the Titanic, the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire that killed 492 people in a nightclub in the US, the use of thalidomide, the law on seatbelts, the lung cancer epidemic, etc. But fortunately, economics is driving the energy transition. Now, if we could publicise the taxpayer burden of supporting fossil fuel companies, we could speed that up. –Tim via Bluesky

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Re: One month into Gaza ceasefire, what does Palestinians' future look like?

I can see no realistic end to this tragic situation whilst Donald Trump continues to support Binymain Netanyahu. Meanwhile, the 50% of young Palestinians who know nothing but war and hardship will easily be recruited to terrorist organisations dedicated to fighting the aggressive Israeli administration. Also, any of those countries that have continued to supply arms to Israel are likely to be seen as targets for reprisal. –cm49 via our website

How can there be a ceasefire if the Israelis are killing – murdering in cold blood – innocent Palestinians? Netanyahu never wants peace, nor does Trump, who could stop this atrocity at a moment's notice. They are both war criminals and should be treated with contempt by the rest of the world. –Bri via email

FILM SCREENING

openDemocracy is thrilled to present COLOSSAL WRECK, a feature documentary following filmmaker Josh Appignanesi as he journeys into the depths of the COP climate conference in Dubai.

Are these enormous get-togethers all about false promises that hinder change? Or are they the only hope we've got for world-saving unity?

Join us for a film-screening at the Castle Cinema, followed by a conversation between Appignanesi and openDemocracy's Editor-in-Chief, Aman Sethi.

To get your special openDemocracy discount please use the code COP28 at checkout.

Click here to book while tickets are still available

Re: Remembering Geoffrey Bindman and his pursuit of justice for all

Thank you, Anthony, for a wonderful outline of Geoffrey's remarkable and active life. I knew him a little through the Open Trust and your introductions. My memory is of someone with an absolute moral compass and a surprisingly quiet and humble approach to everything. I remember walking into his practice near Kings Cross – a simple ground-floor commercial space where people could simply walk in off the street, quiet inside, filled with staff working in near silence, a general atmosphere of care and calm… –Tony CP via email