THE STORY
Here we present to you the story of climate change from our perspective. Explore the interconnected narratives, scientific insights, and actionable steps as we collectively strive for a sustainable and resilient future.
Past
1896
The father of climate change science
Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius publishes a paper suggesting that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, could lead to global warming. Arrhenius spurred a new field of study into climate change science.
1925
WEED UNDER CONTROL
The League of Nations signs the 1925 Opium Convention, for the first time adding pure cannabis extract among drugs under international control. That paved the way for worldwide ban on cannabis.
1985
CARL SAGAN’S STEPS AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
Carl Sagan, a renowned astrophysicist and science communicator, delivered a compelling testimony before Congress in 1985, emphasizing the critical need for policymakers to take urgent measures in addressing climate change.
1988
DEFORESTATION AND RAPID TEMPERATURE INCREASE
In the early 1980s, global forest loss peaked, this period coincided with a sharp increase in global temperatures. The concern of climate warming became a discussion in mainstream politics with 1988 recognised as a pivotal year due to record-breaking heat.
What is deforestation?
Deforestation involves the permanent destruction of forested land through the removal of trees, often using harsh methods that degrade surrounding areas for decades.
Most deforestation occurs for agricultural expansion with various methods such as slash and burn and clear cutting leading the way for our dying world.
Slash and burn crops up time and time again in mainstream media for good reason but the method of clear cutting is less talked about. Clear cutting is a permanent method of destruction where all trees and vegetation are cleared completely, leaving bare land where not even the fertilising properties of ashes can be used by the land to regenerate.
Deforestation happens globally but the biggest victims of this practice are tropical rainforests, especially the Amazon rainforest in South America. This is why Green Revolution is focused on partnering with indigenous communities who reside in the Amazon rainforest and actively protect their land from the destruction of invasive commercial deforestation.
We must direct all our attention to the greed of those responsible for commercial deforestation.
What are the causes?
There are multiple causes of deforestation, both human and natural but we focus on the actions of large corporations who deforest simply with mass profit in mind.
Agricultural deforestation is the primary culprit with land being cleared to grow various crops needed for consumption with soybean, palm oil, and cotton a mere few of the major commodities driving this practice.
Other causes include both legal and illegal logging used to extract wood from trees to be sold as well as space for human infrastructure such as energy infrastructure to supply the needs of all of us living on this earth.
Above all these causes lies the root cause of deforestation, our globalised and consumerist society. Our need to consume combined with big conglomerates wielding unwavering power over the world’s resources leads to this global exploitation of land which threatens our very existence of our planet’s forests and ecosystems.
What are the effects?
The effects of deforestation are expansive and can be learnt through multiple online resources. Acknowledging that effects are incredibly complex and interconnected, at Green Revolution we focus on the macro issue of climate change as well as the threat to indigenous communities globally.
Deforestation not only releases stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which increases the greenhouse effect but also inhibits the removed trees from further absorbing carbon dioxide. This disruption in the carbon cycle not only accelerates climate change but also leads to more frequent and severe weather events, impacting both natural habitats and human settlements.
Indigenous communities, in particular, bear a disproportionate burden from deforestation. Forests are where their livelihoods, cultural practices, and traditional knowledge thrive. Indigenous communities are rarely seen as citizens within judicial law due to their resistance to assimilate into mainstream urban cultures, therefore, their needs are seldom taken into account.
1988
NOAM CHOMSKY
Noam Chomsky, a critical thinker, releases one of his most famous books, Manufacturing Consent, alongside Edward S. Herman. A strong voice in linguistics, philosophy, and political activism, Chomsky’s work explores the ways in which media functions as a tool for shaping public opinion and maintaining societal power structures. As a big inspiration for the way we think here at Green Revolution, we encourage everyone to read his works. Below we’ve suggested three that we like.
1988
Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of Mass Media
2020
Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal
1970
Government in the Future
2019
THE EFFECTS OF MANMADE CLIMATE CHANGE BECOME INCREASINGLY EVIDENT
The Amazon rainforest experiences a surge in deforestation with subsequent wildfires as a result of this.
“A rainforest, if intact, retains moisture and is unlikely to catch on fire. Humans are disturbing the rainforest by removing tree cover and vegetation, and what remains gets drier and drier, creating conditions in the remaining forest ripe for combustion,” – Jingjing Liang
PRESENT
2020
GREEN REVOLUTION IS BORN
Attila Suba decides to start Green Revolution Foundation after recognizing the urgent need to work against the greed that is corrupting our beautiful world. Our vision is to create the first non-profit weed coffeeshop that uses its profits to support indigenous communities globally in their pursuit of cultural preservation and environmental conservation.
2022
GREEN REVOLUTION X AMSTERDAM CLIMATE WEEK
Green Revolution partners with over 15 other organisations to make Amsterdam’s first ever climate week happen between the 12-18th September.
7 CONCERTS
2 FUNDRAISERS
4 WORKSHOPS
The opening speech was held by none other than Noam Chomsky followed by a 7 day program filled with discussions, displays, movie showings, live musical performances, and cultural activities with each of these events linked to steps that individuals can undertake to contribute positively to the transformation for our planet.
2023
FUNDRAISING FOR TREESISTANCE
We fundraised €4392.60 during a Cannabis for Climate Justice march across Amsterdam in collaboration with the Siberia Coffeeshop. Everything we raised was donated in full to our friends at Treesistance.
2024
CANNABIS FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE CAMPAIGN
25th February – 1st March
In line with our 5-day Cannabis for Climate Change Campaign which will take place between the 26th February – 1st March, we’ve organised for individuals in Amsterdam to donate their weed to be sold with all profits going to the Amazon rainforest. We call this our potline!
2024
TROPICAL RAINFORESTS IN DANGER
Current deforestation rates have since slowed down since the 1980s but this change is not happening fast enough. Today, tropical rainforests are the biggest victims of deforestation with the forests of Brazil and D.R. Congo experiencing the most forest lost.
2024
INDIGENOUS WARRIORS ALL AROUND THE WORLD
Currently, there are thousands of indigenous communities, not just in the Amazon but all over the world. They are not victims but warriors who are fighting against environmental decline and cultural homogenisation.
FUTURE
THE WORLD’S FIRST NON-PROFIT WEED COFFEESHOP
Our climate action plan boils down to one concept: a non-profit weed coffeeshop based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Our vision is to establish the world’s first non-profit weed coffeeshop, where all profits will be reinvested into climate action by supporting indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest to protect their land.
While we’re working on making the world’s first non-profit weed coffeeshop reality, why don’t you buy a €3 virtual coffee for the time being to help us hit our target of €2 million.
If you’re a regular coffee drinker, we’d love for you to support us with a monthly coffee – we promise it’s made with good-quality virtual coffee beans!
SOURCES
1896
Sample, I. 2005. The father of climate change. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
Wikipedia. (no date). Svante Arrhenius. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
1925
Wikipedia. (no date). International Opium Convention. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
1985
Carlsagandotcom. 2022. Carl Sagan testifying before Congress in 1985 on climate change. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
1988
Ritchie, H. 2023. Global deforestation peaked in the 1980s. Can we bring it to an end?. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
History.com. 2023. Climate change history. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
AIP. 2023. The discovery of global warming. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
Youmatter. 2020. What Is Deforestation? Definition, Causes, Consequences, Solutions. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
National Geographic. (no date). Deforestation. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
1988
Wikipedia. (no date). Manufacturing Consent. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
2019
Purdue University. 2020. Deforestation drove massive Amazon rainforest fires in 2019. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
Wikipedia. (no date). 2019 Amazon Rainforest Fires. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
2024
Jones, B. 2023. The alarming decline of Earth’s forests, in 4 charts. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].
Ritchie, H. 2023. Global deforestation peaked in the 1980s. Can we bring it to an end?. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024]
National Geographic. (no date). Deforestation. [Online]. [Accessed 30 January 2024].