Do we ever learn?
Posted on 10. Apr, 2010 by annac in United Kingdom
On the first day of Copenhagen the Guardian said we had "14 days to seal history's judgement on this generation". But what is history?
Yesterday in plenary the Africa group said this…
“The only thing we learn from history is that we do not learn from history.”
It really made me think, it hit me quite hard.
Copenhagen is now history.
So the question, I guess, is…
Can we. Will we. Learn from it?
These three days in Bonn are purely talking about process, trying to work out how the UNFCCC can move forward from Copenhagen.
But what happened in those final few days in December is still very present in the room.
As countries make their statements there are many feelings that are being aired, and for want of a better word ‘squabbling’ about the process by which the Copenhagen accord was brought about.
To be fair, on this one I’m with the majority of countries who were locked out of the process and are well…a bit miffed!
But the thing is, Copenhagen is now history…what happened, happened.
We should not dwell on the past.
What really matters is, will we learn from it and how do we move on?
This morning countries spent three hours discussing a half side of A4 proposal, that the chair of the meeting had put together, on how they could do this. And they haven’t even agreed on it yet.
They will continue to do this until tomorrow evening.
This morning they spent a lot of time referring to paragraph 5
Paragraph 5.
The AWG-LCA further agree that the contact group will in its work utilitize working methods that are in line with the principles and practices of the United Nations and allow inclusive, transparent and efficient negotiations to be conducted. It requested its Chair to regularly consult negotiating groups on how this may be achieved.
They debated it for quite some time…
And didn’t reach concensus on agreeing to it.
It does not feel good sitting in these rooms listening to it.
Today, all we can really do,
is hope,
and pray,
that this time,
we WILL learn from history!
Because one day history WILL judge us.
The Adopter - Anna Collins
Anna Collins Born and bred in Warrington in the *sunny* North of England, Anna was brought up by parents with a deep sense of justice and taught to always fight for what she believed is right. "I guess you could say it was in the blood, my gran went to Greenham Common in the 80s"... read more»
The Adopted - Meet Jan & the UK Delegation
Jan Thompson (otherwise known to Anna simply as Jan!) is the lead climate change negotiator for the United Kingdom. The UK has a large negotiating team who each cover different sections of the negotiations, however Jan takes the lead and brings everything together. read more»
Congratulations. PPaulo
make quick please is bad!
make quick please,weather is bad!
They couldn’t agree on Paragraph 5?! WTF!!!!
Here is the Brazilian’s president Lula speech for some inspiration to the others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQzVjDp5WA8&feature=related
Brazilian’s president speech continue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGx8Ku08L_c&NR=1