Also by Kumi Naidoo

An unexpected thing happened last night: One of the biggest oil companies in the world -- Shell -- made a big decision acknowledging that the oil industry cannot operate safely in the Arctic. A decision that means one year of relief for the people and wildlife of the Arctic.

Kumi's blog was originally published by IPS, before the Istanbul summit took place.

Disruptive diplomacy may be the only way out of the Iran-Israel nuclear crisis, the only way to pierce the hegemony of hypocrisy dominating the power politics of nuclear weapons control, of those who have them, and of those who are accused of developing them.

Otherwise, this weekend's meeting on Iran's nuclear programme is likely to be yet another missed opportunity, yet another exercise in futility.

The environment and the world have a new hero, a reluctant hero perhaps, but someone who in good conscience could not stand by and watch a grave injustice take place without trying to prevent it. Without taking a stand at a risk to his own liberty. His name is Tim DeChristopher, and he joins the pantheon of brave men and women who have made a difference – brave men and women whose actions ricochet and multiply into widespread social change.