“and we applauded as the future was driven away in a van”

Posted on 11. Dec, 2010 by annac in United Kingdom

Inside the un plenary hall on the last day of cop 16 negotiators are applauding the transparency of the process. Outside 20 of my friends have just been forcibly put in a bus and removed from the process.

Removed because they continued to count the number of deaths from climate change this year, one by one, aloud, together. Removed because they continued to count past the time the secretariat had permitted.

Because you see civil society are allowed to participate here. Our voices are welcomed in this conference. Oh wait, but only between 3pm and 4pm. Oh and if there could just be 15 of you, Oh and flags no, no, they’re nor permitted.

There is a difference between participating and being heard. There is a difference between being here and being valued.

Over the course of this week restrictions on civil society voices have been tightened and tightened. Now we have got to the point where 20 of my friends were just manhandled by security guards for counting. Counting outside. Counting under the stars on a breezy Mexican night. Not blocking anyone’s way or stopping any negotiations from going on. Not interfering in the process at all.

Simply counting the people for whom this process has moved too slowly.

Negotiators inside were applauding. Outside we were booing. Booing as young people who will live with the decisions those negotiators make were treated like criminals. Booing as the process here was really laid bare. Booing as the future was bundled into a van.

But as they drove away we applauded.

Applauded our friends for standing up for their beliefs.

Applauded for a future that’s worth fighting for.

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable” - JFK

Tags: Cancún, Climate Justice, COP16, featured, protest, UNFCCC, YOUNGO

Kendra S

I’m very proud of the people who continue to focus on the reality of Climate Changea; not getting distracted by a small victory. All of this applause seems to me like a slap in the face for those people and countires who’s lives literally hang in the balance of the decisions being made. I appreciate that progress is being made, but even more I respect those who continue to speak for those who really need to be spoken for. We all need to keep up the pressure and that is what these youth were doing, they represent real hope for the future.
http://twitter.com/BluePlanetAlman Michael D. Austin

Thanks very much, Anna, and all of you who from Adopt-a-Negotiator who are on-site in Cancun. You’ve much more patience with UNFCC than do I. But you made enough of an impression on them exclude your common sense from their kangaroo proceedings. UNFCC’s well-meaning, but ignorant, short-sighted policies will finally end in too little action, too late. Now is one of the few instances in humankind’s history where a benevolent (climate) dictator would be a good thing, because Garrett Hardin’s “Mutual Coercion, Mutually Agreed Upon” is failing.
http://twitter.com/BluePlanetAlman Michael D. Austin

Thanks very much, Anna, and all of you who from Adopt-a-Negotiator who are on-site in Cancun. You’ve much more patience with UNFCC than do I. But you made enough of an impression on them exclude your common sense from their kangaroo proceedings. UNFCC’s well-meaning, but ignorant, short-sighted policies will finally end in too little action, too late. Now is one of the few instances in humankind’s history where a benevolent (climate) dictator would be a good thing, because Garrett Hardin’s “Mutual Coercion, Mutually Agreed Upon” is failing.

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Negotiator Tracker - 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»

“and we applauded as the future was driven away in a van”

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