{OFF} the record

Posted on 03. Dec, 2010 by Leela Raina in India

“Abracadabra” is a magic word. So is “salagadoola, mechicka, boola, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.”

Even “please,” “thank you” and “I’m sorry” have magical properties sometimes.

However, “off the record” is not a magic enchantment spell with supernatural powers to change both the future and the past.

I repeat: “off the record” is not a magic phrase.

“Off the record” is a mutually agreed upon transaction, the terms of use of which should be discussed with a reporter before the person talking “off the record” actually discloses any information.

I don’t know why this is so confusing for people, but obviously it is.

If you really need to confide in someone, tell a priest, tell your doctor or tell your lawyer, but don’t tell a journalist—unless you want him or her to do something about it. True confidentiality is what pets are for. If you must talk to someone about a private subject and you don’t want it repeated, tell it to your dog or cat. Those are the only beings that you can guarantee won’t share your confidences.

When you say something to a journalist, think first about whom it is that you’re talking to. Journalists are people who tell stuff to other people for a living. We love to tell people stuff. We get off on telling other people things they didn’t know before. Information is our currency, our life blood, our only substitute for barely making a living wage. Even more so when we transition into a role of Social Media Activists then we have a bigger responsibility- that of initiating changes, starting a discussion and campaigning.

So what do you do when your negotiators pour their heart out with Indian Journalists and NGO members? Of course, you {do NOT} blog about it.

Rising Trajectories

For starters, Vijai Sharma is quite a magician with his words and charm by making you feel that he has told you the greatest intelligence of the negotiations, but of course he hasn’t. This level of discretion comes after spending a lot of time with friends who are studying diplomacy at fancy schools or with actual negotiators around in Family and at the UN. Its an art, must be appreciated. He mentioned how pleasant it was to

So the general feeling at the negotiations right now are that of them proceeding on a rising trajectories as compared to where we were on the third day of Copenhagen last year. Cancun is a SPRINGBOARD for a continuum of negotiations looking at the long term to the next talks in Durban and the ones thereafter.

Making sure not to repeat a trick.

Last year the presidency took over by floating a draft text without the consultations of all the parties. This year to resolve procedural issues between tracks the presidency has called for contact group under the convention which has informal consultations at the moment. It is to bring together an opportunity for consensus on crosscutting issues say for instance on Technology and Finance or Finance and Adaptation etc.

So what the plan to get Kyoto Married?

According to India, this text should reflect what we can effectively achieve in Cancun , post Cancun but more particularly the following :

1. The Fate of the Kyoto should be well defined and the second commitment period with a balance ie a balance between two tracks , the one with US on board and the one without as well as balancing the comprehensiveness and details of elements of each track.

2. To see whether consensus can be COMPROMISED

3. The form of the document should be clear. Legally Binding. And even the UNFCCC is considered binding enough. Identifying linkages and how to handle segmented issues. Let the LCA – (the track with US on it ) address first although it should be parallel.

4. Indicating the larger goal which is Feasible.

If Cancun could get away with this without being a Deja vu and a process fatigue then we might be potentially looking for a solution.

Here is where I reflect closely to what Christiana said to the trackers in her meeting yesterday.

Look for places of CONSENSUS.

Places for COMPROMISE.

Ideas which are feasible and out of the box.

Its a huge responsibility but I will try absorb the tone of the negotiations as set by our negotiator and try to see the point of crossroads.



Tags: ajay, Cancún, chair, climate, compromise, consensus, COP16, COP17, D Alba, durban, environment, featured, India, Kyoto, long term, magic, mathur, mexico, ministry, MOEF, presidency, rashmi, record, secretary, sharma, tricks, UNFCCC, US, vijai