December 8th, 2015
MSNBC National Reporter Tony Dokoupil joins Chris Hayes from Paris on what to expect as officials work to make a deal by the end of the week.
At first Tony Dokoupil’s report seemed a bit simplistic, but then, as it sunk in his description of the various participants put in simple terms may actually be a better way for the average viewer to get a feel for what’s going on.
Here is a partial transcript:
Chris Hayes:
“Tony what is the latest from the talks there?”
Tony Dokoupil:
“..well the UN process here makes congress look fast acting and nimble right, so everybody on earth, all the countries on earth, they have to ratify this treaty, this 21 page document..consensus.. not one dissenter. So right now as we get to Friday where everyone’s going to make their final vote, everyone’s kind of gone to their respective corners...
“..They have their arms crossed and their backs turned and they’re making the various demands. China is saying; ’yes we’re going to cut our emissions, but we don’t want anybody to watch it and look what we’re doing.. we don’t want it to be verifiable’
“United states is saying; ‘Hey, I know we’ve contributed a lot to Global warming, but we don’t want to have an infinite bill for that, we don’t want to pay loss and damages to island countries and to poorer countries that are suffering the effects’
”And then you have countries like India that are saying; ‘okay fine, give us a chance to grow as rich as you guys have grown by burning all these fossil fuels’..and they’ve drawn these various lines in the sand, and now everybody is standing there waiting to see who blinks first, right, and it turns back to the negotiating table.
“And then on Friday we’ll have this tremendously interesting moment where everybody reconvenes, and the appointed president, the French foreign minister comes to the podium and he says ‘Do we have consensus?’ on this historic agreement.
“Do we have consensus. It’s a ‘speak now or forever hold your peace’ moment, and if no one dissents, he bangs the gavel and we have a deal. We’re far from that now, but we’re inching towards it.”
Hayes:
“Wait, we’re really going to have a hundred and ninety representatives in a room, and there’s going to be a moment where the minister says ‘everyone cool?’ , and then there’s just going to be a pause, and a hope that no one says anything ?”
Dokoupil:
“Yeah, that is how it works, it’s an astounding process, and everyone on earth at that moment who’s paying attention to this issue is going to be holding their breath, and, when he bangs that gavel if there is not a peep.. you know in 2009 Venezuela raised their hand and said; ‘we have an issue’…
“...if there’e not a peep this time.. I mean it’s going to be pandemonium..the scene, the conference center where tens of thousands of journalists and delegate members are gathered.. it going to be like.. the whole thing is going to be like NASA’s control room on the moon landing. Just cheers and filings and rushing to get the news out there”
Water:
December 10, 2015
With the deadline looming for the leaders of the world to come to an agreement on fighting climate change, MSNBC Correspondent Jacob Soboroff provides a reminder of just what's at stake here in the United States.
This excellent video above maps out how water from the winters mountain diminishing snow pack, down the Colorado river, through reservoirs, dams and waterways, eventually winds it’s way back to the ocean.
Today, not a drop of water makes it to the ocean though.
Meanwhile:
One of the leading republican presidential candidates, at tax payer expense, is now shilling for the fossil fuel industry while simultaneously manipulating government, the governing body of the United States Senate to host what amounts to another of his campaign events:
December 8th, 2015
The Texas Senator held a hearing on climate change Tuesday where the committee heard from witnesses who included three scientists who are notable climate deniers.
Scientist have estimated that the effects of Climate change will further reduce the Colorado rivers flow another 5% to 20% sometime within the coming 40 years
note: I’m hoping that this post is not too behind on what’s going on with the Paris the climate talks, since the vote is scheduled for Friday, but looks like they’re going into overtime — Saturday