Elections: Sex strikes to fight climate change

Our reaction to failing politicians to reduce CO2

While global CO2 emissions in 2010-2019 increased with 1,5% per year on average, the UN said in its last Emission Gap Report, all countries have to reduce their CO2 emissions with 2,7% up to 7,6% per year in 2020-2030 (5% reduction on average). This is needed to meet the CO2 targets of the Paris Climate Agreement of 1,5-2 degrees Celsius, signed by 197 countries in 2015 (reduce CO2-emissions from 55 now to 32-40 Gton in 2030). The years 2020 and 2021 will be the years to put pressure on politicians to realise their commitments to save our planet from global warming, deforestation and pollution. Why 2020 and 2021? That is because of the UN Climate Summits 1-12 November 2021 and the UN biodiversity Summit in May 2021 where success is needed, and important national elections, in 2020 and 2021, for instance in november 2020 in the USA. America needs a new president taking climate change and the Paris Climate Agreement seriously. 

There is a powerful tool seldom used, which can be very successful to reach political goals: to organize national sex strikes and other awareness actions in 2020-2021 to influence daily choices including elections.

In history, there have been successful non-violent sex strikes (boycotts) of women, having no sex with their husbands or lovers, for realizing political goals, such as ending civil wars in Africa (Liberia, 2003) or South America (Colombia, 1997). The actions led to peace after 14 years of civil war in Liberia and a Nobel Prize for the leader of the non-violent actions.

In 2020 and 2021, this tool can be used by millions of women and men, to ask their partners to do 4 simple things:

1. Pledge to vote the next elections for political parties with the best plan to reduce CO2 against climate change & pollution.
2. Write an email before December 1st 2020 to three leaders of government political parties: “Please help me. My partner refuses sex until you promise to adopt CO2 reduction plans for 2021-2030 with at least 3% CO2 reduction per year. This was asked by the UN and promised by our country when signing the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. Please introduce CO2eq-taxes for fossil fuels and for meat. End subsidies on fossil fuels and meat. Thank you!”.
3. Pledge to eat 50% less meat and dairy than usual and buy more organic food.
4. Make sure 10 best friends or family members join/promote the Sex Strike too.

The sex strike will last 1 month before a national or local election day or more if needed. There will be a global Sex strike starting on International Earth Day 22 April 2021 and ending May 30. From 17-30 May, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 2020 will be held, the UN Biodiversity Conference in Kunming, China. Effective policy measures for CO2-reduction and less meat consumption are very much needed to stop biodiversity loss. According to WWF UK, diets with meat and dairy are causing 60% of biodiversity loss, as meat and diary consumption is growing and is causing more and more deforestation, for animal feed needed.

Spring is the time when birds and animals start to have sex and mate in the Northern Hemisphere. Remember: the future of our children and the life of billions of people, animals, trees and plants is at stake, if we do not manage to reduce CO2-emissions and stop deforestation and biodiversity loss! Without politicians safeguarding our environment and our common future, making love or babies makes no sense or isn’t a priority.

The Sex Strikes are expected to have effect on daily decisions, including political decisions in 2020 and 2021. Politicians will notice the call for urgency of climate action and personal sufferings during the Sex Strike. Remember how powerful non- violent strikes can be: Gandhi in India managed to make India a free country.

The 3rd of November 2020 the United States will vote for President and Parliament, and in 2021 in Germany, UK, Russia, Japan, Iran, Peru, Vietnam, Norway and the Netherlands. A selection of 2020/2021 national elections is placed on the website sexstrike4planet.org (see more on Wikipedia).

This powerful action tool is proposed by a new organization SexStrike4Planet.org, who asks political parties, ngo's, youth and consumers world wide and even Pope Francis to start and support the campaign. National rankings of political parties have to be made by credible organisations, with the best plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Hopefully (inter)national Celebrities will support and join this campaign.

To support this cause, please join us!