Drama and intrigue in Bali
By scarce Saturday Dec 15, 2007 11:03am
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As an addendum to last night's John Bolton post criticizing Al Gore, we present a bit of drama from Bali at the UN conference on climate change. An initial proposal for industrialized nations to supply developing countries with clean technologies was rejected by the United States. This lead to the drama which followed:
This Mr de Boer, in tears after two nights without sleep, later denied, to supportive applause.
Then Mr Witoelar called for another break in which he summoned the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, and the Indonesian President Yudhoyono, to read the riot act to delegates and break the deadlock.
Mr Yudhoyono urged the conference not to allow "the planet to crumble because we can't find the right wording."
Mr Ban said he was "disappointed at the lack of progress" and pointed out the conference was already due to have ended five hours earlier. This was at 1.20 pm local time.
The conference reconvened. South Africa made an emotional appeal for the Americans to reconsider their statement – and was supported by delegation after delegation from the developing world while Miss Dobriansky and James Connaughton, President Bush's climate change adviser, talked increasingly animatedly off-microphone.
The killer blow came from the Harvard-educated representative of Papua New Guinea, Kevin Conrad, who used Mr Connaughton's diplomatic gaffe of earlier in the week to humiliate the Americans.
Mr Connaughton had said: "We will lead. We will continue to lead but leadership also requires others to fall in line and follow." Mr Conrad said, to applause: "If you are not willing to lead, then get out of the way."
Miss Dobriansky finally pressed her button to speak again and said: "We will go forward and join the consensus."
After cheers and diplomatic congratulations, the president of the conference assessed that "we are very, very close", then banged his gavel down on India's proposal to mark that a consensus had been achieved.
Despite all these theatrics, most environmentalists have criticized the summit for failing to agree to firm targets for reducing emissions.
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Of course, because anything actually enumerative and even theoretically binding in some unforeseen circumstance would have been adamantly opposed by the crony delegation of the US. Maybe we just need to get out of the way.
what else can be expected when the booscheney regime gets involved?
There's money to be made. Your damned Earth can wait....
In related news, I hereby officially agree to give every reader of this blog a big sum of money, in some date in the future. Bang the gavel! Alert the media!
http://americangoy.myblogsite.com/
I could kiss Mr Connaughton for that wonderful rebuke of Bush. beaUTIFUL
VegasRage @ 5:
I think the rebuke came from Mr. Conrad - it was Connaughton who set it up by demanding that "everyone else" follow us (off the cliff, I think...).
It's a small point - I also agree it's a brilliant rebuke - incredibly effective because it's so true.
Wow - maybe there's hope....
VegasRage @ 5:
err I mean Mr Conrad.
oops
Another fucking embarrassment. Are you kidding me? Papua New Guinea shows more savvy and class than we do at the UN? America is being run by tools...
Appears from this clip that the US (= bush government) is only willing to do what is best for the world when shamed into it. Otherwise, it is business as usual toward its chosen fascist-leaning goal of keeping the wealthy corporations happy.
Way to go representative from Papua, New Guinea!! If the US must be shamed into doing the right thing, so be it. Other world countries, please continue to shame the criminal government of the US.
America is standing in the way on a lot of issues
one little country embarrasses the idiotic "leadership" of the US to back down- pathetic! where are such statements from other larger countries? f#$% bush!
Yes it's wonderful that Conrad singled the US out for criticism - but we have essentially gained nothing here.
They're all still cowards trying to merely placate the masses - and it's going to be too late by the time they realize how remarkably critical this issue really is and how little time they have to deal with it in any fruitful manner.
The world needs real leaders. Where are they? They seem too often to be of the same ilk that we still have slimming their way around the White House corridors in DC.
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Ex-Canuck @ 9:
the resolution is lip-service. that is what the us is good for!
budda @ 10:
Yes and we need more countries to turn their backs on the US and our destructive leaders and their policies.
This will take real courage and the International community has to come through and do it.
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The u.s. isn't going to DO anything. Just like they pledge all this money for disaster relief or AIDS relief and don't follow through. This was rhetoric from the U.S. Not a damen thing is going to get done. We're going to suffocate, burn to a crisp, die on our own waste.
The world is simply making fun of us because of how stupid we are. We should get used to it.
this is another example of how far America has fallen. Other countries are now telling us to "get out of the way" because we are not the leaders of the world, we are the obstacles.
so sad.
The real pity is that Blunderboy Bush and Darth Cheney have pissed away the past 7 or 8 years dicking around on climate change. But, then again, we Americans haven't been very willing to give up our SUVs and wasteful ways, either, so maybe we've got the "leadership" we deserve. Wake up, folks, this treaty won't do jack shit. It's up to all of US to be the change we seek . . . and we can begin by being just a little less wasteful ourselves.
Roket @ 16:
The problem is Bush, and the constant need to put corporate interests first.
This should have been clear from Texas record on pollution, even back in 1999.
It is corporate rule.
Papua New Guinea is now considered a member of the axis of evil.
Now we just need to make up some weapon of mass whatever.And bomb them.
I bet Bolton already have a philosophic opinion about Bali and its latest events.
does anyone know the location of the complete conf. vid.?
i'd especially like to see gore's complete speech.
thanks for any help.
Papua New Guinea ushers a smack down on the U.S. For some reason the Bush regime thinks America can no longer be the world leader unless it involves invading some oil country. If there is a need for tech advancement or combating climate change we'll only go aboard as long as we can follow China and India. It must have sucked being a US delegate at that meeting knowing that every country in the world looks down upon you as a failure.
Miss Dobriansky finally pressed her button to speak again and said: “We will go forward and join the consensus.”
The quote is:"We will go forward and join the consensus in this today.”
If I've learned anything from the last six years it's that you have to pay attention to ALL the words. If a Bush admin representative says today, they probably mean that as of the following day all bets are off.
A very easily rebuffed non-committal commitment and a faux-concession to elicit the applause response that will be conveniently edited by Faux News to supply immediate support to the rest of the flying monkeys of the greatness of the Bush Doctrine (of screwing everything and everyone) - Headline: Bush Leadership Elicits Tremendous World Support. I rest my case...uh, rant.
Mission accomplished!
Good job George.
NOTHING will be done about global warming by any country until corporations can profit from it. Nothing. They can get together and flap their gums all they want. At the end of the day, it means NOTHING.
Don't you all see the dripping irony here? The U.S. just got waterboarded in front of the world and what did the Bush crony do? She told the panel exactly what it wanted to hear. C'mon.. you people don't actually believe this 180 degree instant turn around "Oh I see your point, yes okay, we've been wrong all along in our thinking, please forgive us" crap! coming from the U.S.
A tiger doesn't suddenly become a vegitarian when it's out-numbered. The Bush crime family is what it is.
Listen to Mike Malloy on Nova-M radio (if you don't get his show in your area then listen online) ! He's the only one out there with the guts to tell it like it is.
We need some Democrats in the House and Senate to speak thusly to Pelosi and Reid.
This was a wonderful example of people standing strong against someone who wanted to wreck the plans. It also demonstrates that other countries are no longer willing to defer to the US.
Chris from Maine @ 17:
Oh, God. We are doomed.
If you think this administration will actually pull a "180 degree turnaround" because of "stinging criticism" form Papua New Guinea?
You're probably interested in buying this.
I wasn't expecting this climate summit to really get the ball rolling, but it was more animated than all the previous ones. So, as far as I am concerned, it's a moving direction, even if too slow, and at this point, numb from all the BS in the US, I'll take it as good entertainment at the least and a sliver of hope at best.
“We will lead. We will continue to lead but leadership also requires others to fall in line and follow.” translates into "Shut the fuck up and do as Bush says!"
Bullying and threatening people is not leadership. Its dictatorship.
Give $100 to Kucinich today: https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/contribution.aspx?X=aDlDFFT...
AMERIKKKAN cowardice at its finest
and the ironic part....it took an american to call them on it.
it's disgusting that any american can all themselves a part of the human race.
Paula Dobriansky - Neo-con politician, member of Project for the New American Century.
James Connaughton - Previously worked as a lobbyist for power industry and large electricity users, including the asbestos industry.
Shows how serious Bush administration is about dealing with climate change.
Roket @ 16:
Yup, there is going to be a lot more of this and for a very long time.
Chuffy @ 8:
What's wrong with Papua New Guinea ? At least they have souls, and yes they have way more savvy and class, at least they care, americon does not. Remember the Bolton times with the UN ? Can't rule, going to act like a spoilt child is the americon way, so its predictable it would seem.
And it wasn't just that, it was most of the room boo'ing the USA for it's predictable and pathetic attempts to subvert it, the ass kissing just to get the USA to go what's right and play to the americon ego ....... oh and the Philp Clapp ........ that shining example of americas attitude to the world.
Lets see Bush turn this one around and prove that the dems voted against it or something .......
the msm either won't consider this an issue or they will trot out a bush apologist. this example of amurKKKan embarassment won't see air.
Paula is straight neocon. "Agreeing" means nothing.
Thing Fish @ 35:
Yep not to mention the pathetic Phil Cooney. A lobbyist for American Petroleum Institute who Bush selected to edit and downplay the science and the dangers of climate change in climate change reports. Hes now working for Exxon
Feel the HATE.
Sorry folks, but FUCK the USA. That's how most of the world's voters/population think. What their governements do is another thing (and they do it for $$$$).
Oh, and, way to go Papua New Guinea. Someone had to say it.
If things keep going the way they are, I'd fully expect World War III, except it would be the entire planet against America.
This winter's been one of the darkest in a long time. I hope we get out of this in one piece.
Two certainties:
1) Bush will renege on any firm commitments made by the US at this conference. If not by rejecting them outright, then he just won't fund them - same thing he did with No Child Left Behind and AIDS in Africa.
2) Everything will be sloughed off to the next president, which gives the GOP the opportunity to piss and moan about Liberals and big government and big spending.
Ms Dobriansky added a secret signing statement by concealing her crossed toes, legs, and fingers under the table. Bush violates our laws at will so he won't feel obligated by this agreement. He has no respect for international laws and/or treaties.
the connies think science is a commie plot
WOW bush-co just got bitch slap LOL
America should be leading on global warming, human rights and world peace; and we would have been if Gore hadn't had the 2000 election stolen by the Corporatocracy. Perhaps we'll be better off if Huckabee wins next year, and imposes his twisted evangelical view on America and the world, but at the expense of Corporate rule. Did I say that? Actually, if Gore jumps in before New Hampshire, he could still win it all, and save us all from the path of death and destruction that the greed of a few corporate elite are driving us down.
Trittydi @ 12:
Yes we are going to pay a terrible price and it's going to take massive death to bring the change we need. Fricken pisses me off and saddens me to despair for my child to think about it. A 1000 death's is too good for those who stonewalled this issue all these years. It doesn't take much of brain to see the plight we are in. 2 1/2 percent of all water is fresh mostly locked in the now melting polar ice. Global population is on the tail end of an exponential growth curve, consider it took all of human time to reach these population levels and we are now doubling every 50 years.
U.S. Census Bureau - Total Midyear Population for the World: 1950-2050
Estimates of world population at
6,815,892,190 by 2010
7,541,773,753 by 2020
8,175,075,482 by 2030
8,722,646,253 by 2040
9,190,252,532 by 2050
http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/worldpop.html
This world is largely motorized, those who think we are not having an impact on this planet need to see a shrink.
Don't be fooled. Those clowns have not got the power to negotiate actual climate change policy. They look like marketing professionals who simply made a tactical turnaround in order to save face for the USofGWB and buy time to revise the strategy (or buy another cheap third world ally). GW will do whatever it takes to turn every remaining ounce of fossil fuel into US bucks in the shortest possible time.
CoIntelPro @ 13:
I realize that the resolution is lip service, but to get the US to back down even for that is a
victory. Remember, the bush crime family and it's governments rarely if ever give in.
Unfortunately, the only way to get the US (= bush government) to do anything is to make them look bad - these criminals are still the school yard bullies they have always been.
rasta @ 34:
It's dosen't matter what they say about themselves, they've been lying to the world for years and continually chanting "we're #1, usa usa usa, kill, hate, torture, etc" and such BS. It's that the rest of the world knows they aren't part of the global race and most defiantly don't want to, or deserve to be that is more important.
danger @ 43:
That is only a matter of time, not an "if".
danger @ 43:
Most of you (americons) will, and most of you wont care and will keep on with the chanting. It's the innocent Iraqis (as a current example) that are being tortured, rapped and killed in your name that aren't going to get out of this in one piece, have fun sleeping tonight after thinking about how your tax dollars built Guantanamo Bay, et al.
BoilThemInTheirOil @ 48:
Alice in wonderland thinking, america will never stand for that or do anything positive that dosen't bring in a profit. They supported Hitler for the longest time before joining in on WW2 and billing the UK, just because there was more profit that way.
Chris from Maine @ 17:
Very true. And a reminder that we need to throw out every Neocon bastard and their coward syncophants who by their selfishness, greed, and slavish addition to the failure we call the status quo have sullied the good name of America.
bmw 528 @ 54:
Sullied ? The world is destroyed, it wasn't a good name to start with and now another bill passed giving the murders $189bn to fund blackwater and the raping of a country. It's going to be interesting to see this come home to roost, and what it's going to be like on home soil when this is turned on the americon people who voted it in and didn't stand up to it, happy christmas .....
Let me get this straight - all these delegates boarded airplanes and flew from all over the world to Bali, thereby exacerbating, in their own way, the very problem they are meeting to try to resolve. Wouldn't a teleconference have served the same purpose? Just asking.
Mr Pelicano @ 56:
The americons wouldn't of heard the world booing them (again) that way.
JerryM @ 55:
In reality, reluctance to adequately address global warming and other environmental issues is little more than an IOU to future generations. What a sordid legacy for our generation.
Chuffy @ 8:
Ah yes, tools & fools destroying our earth and for what? I'm afraid its high time the U.S got this kind of treatment from the rest of the world and in resounding terms. Conrads speech will go down in history and I for one will tell it to my children. It wasnt forceful, was not insulting, it was simple,factual, exquisitely direct and truthful. Greed,fear and ignorance currently drive U.S politics. Each of us individually needs to look at our own footprint. The Bush administration like the Howard administration here in Australia has failed to make the neccessary environmental steps we all expect from our leaders. Thank God we can vote these fools out of office. God Save America, because George Bush wont!
Video says it all:
Here's the bottom line....Republicans know their voters are idiots, that only respond to low brow 'shock & awe' soundbyte fests, filled with 9/11 was bad, I'll torture everyone - even my own mother, etc, etc....
The GOP refused to take Global Warming on as a result of their science hating platform (they run on in the Southeast, Midwest)...so now that they've missed the boat, they're trying to tear the anchor off and sink it...with the help of Big Oil & Old energy financing their campaigns of disinformation, after all the GOP is the biggest beneficiary and they are the Big Oil pimps, ExxonMobil which is the richest corporation since the Roman Empire & they have spent more on disinformation than R&D in the last 10 years...if that isn't enough for you...forget it
Seriously, anyone that listens to economists over scientists don't have any more room in their heads for more holes....
Bali Ha'i: What Bush Won (And Lost) At The Climate Talks
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