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Ever wondered what people actually do and say at big, important, pompous 'save the planet' meetings?
It’s all gone a bit pear-shaped in Copenhagen.
Today, delegates from poorer countries walked out of negotiations, because they didn’t feel they were getting a good deal. Talks were suspended for the day. The BBC reports,
The countries that have suspended co-operation are those which make up the G77-China bloc of 130 nations. These range from wealthy countries such as South Korea, to some of the poorest states in the world. The G77-China bloc speaks for developing countries in the climate change negotiation process.
You have to feel sorry for them. They were lured to Copenhagen on a promise and a threat. They have been offered parcels of cash for their obedience, but told that if no deal is reached, their lands will suffer floods, drought, and chaos. But on the other hand, you have to admire the playing of the game.
G77-China chief negotiator Lumumba Di-Aping explained why the bloc had taken the decision to withdraw its co-operation. "It has become clear that the Danish presidency - in the most undemocratic fashion - is advancing the interests of the developed countries at the expense of the balance of obligations between developed and developing countries"
Trouble started brewing last week, when a secret agreement between certainly developed countries was leaked.
The UN Copenhagen climate talks are in disarray ... after developing countries reacted furiously to leaked documents that show world leaders will next week be asked to sign an agreement that hands more power to rich countries and sidelines the UN's role in all future climate change negotiations.
This is pretty grim. Richer countries may end up being embarrassed into a deal. Maybe it’s all a stunt. Or maybe the negotiators at Copenhagen really are this stupid.
It wouldn’t surprise me. Two years ago, at the end of UN climate talks in Bali, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Yvo de Boer started blubbing.
"He wasn't just wiping his eyes, he was in floods of tears," said one observer. "Three colleagues - one of them a woman - formed a protective group around him and escorted him out of the hall. It was all very dramatic." Mr de Boer's breakdown came after nearly a fortnight of squabbling over proposals to cut carbon emissions.
The crying dutchman’s breakdown begins 9 minutes into this clip.
Mind you, if you had to sit through 9 minutes of this boring, boring meeting, you’d want to run to the toilet like a little girl too.
But these are the people making the decisions that will affect us all. Shouldn't they be able to take a bit of knockabout?
As you can see, when China asks de Boer difficult questions, he can’t cope. That was two years ago.
The organisers of this conference have got their act together, as director of the film Not Evil, Just Wrong, Phelim McAleer discovered as he tried to ask questions of climate-alarmist, Stephen Schneider.
And here is McAleer again, trying to ask Al Gore an inconvenient question.
And when the armed thugs aren’t available to prevent free, democratic, and legal discussion...
... send in the youth wing of the eco-fascists to close it down.
There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. This is what happens in and around UN climate “negotiations”.
