Sarah Lazare at Common Dreams writes—Decrying Draft Deal that 'Fails Humanity,' COP21 Protesters Draw Red Line:
People from around the world on Friday stretched a large "red line" through the COP21 summit to register their outrage at politicians' failure to strike an ambitious draft climate deal—and to call for social movements in Paris and internationally to continue to take to the streets.
"Once again, world leaders have shown they lack the political courage, decency, and integrity to stand up for the needs of the most impacted communities around the world in the biggest ecological crisis of our time," Ananda Lee Tan, a Vancouver-based organizer with Climate Justice Alliance, told Common Dreams over the phone from Paris.
"Our assessment is that, again, it is left up to us," Lee Tan added. "We know it is people and communities that have to lead us out of this ecological crisis."
Friday's action came on the heels of Thursday night's release of yet another draft deal between representatives of countries gathered at the United Nations-brokered talks, with presiding officer, Laurent Fabius of France, claiming that the agreement is "very near to the finish line." The COP21 talks were extended to Saturday, which could bring a finalized accord.
However, key demands from civil society groups remain unresolved or unaddressed, including, as summarized by John Cushman of Inside Climate News: "the responsibility of richer and poorer nations in cutting emissions; the ambition reflected in the treaty’s long-term goals, and the pathways toward reaching them. And, as ever, the thorniest is who pays." [...]
"Rich countries have moved the goal posts so far that a just deal in Paris is inconceivable," said Lucy Cadena, Friends of the Earth International climate justice and energy coordinator, in a statement responding to the latest draft. "If this text indicates what will be agreed here, we will be left with a deal that fails humanity."
"This text dismantles the core foundations of the UN climate convention," Cadena continued. "The pillars of a just agreement—ambition and equity—have been completely undermined. After all the warm words of developed countries on a 1.5 degree limit, the new text contains no obligation to stay under this threshold. Shockingly, the text could allow for carbon emissions to continue until 2099." [...]
TWEET OF THE DAY
BLAST FROM THE PAST
At Daily on this date in 2007—Making Money and a Mess on Public Lands:
Since arriving in Washington, the Cheney-Bush crew has greatly increased federal oil and gas leasing at taxpayer expense. Only 25 percent of 41 million leased public acres are being drilled. Yet the acquisition of leases continues unabated. Meanwhile, there are fewer federal audits being conducted on those leases than in previous Administrations. As a report last December pointed out, because of the rise in leases and staff cuts at the Minerals Management Service, the government depends on "compliance reviews," which means auditors use information provided by the companies, rather than detailed audits, independent information or site visits.
On today’s Kagro in the Morning show: The Holtzclaw verdict is in. W try to understand the mind of a psychopath, and find we can’t. UT faculty design their least-worst campus carry policy. CNN didn’t Google their Trump superfans. Rosalyn MacGregor reports on MI politics.
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