I’d actually held some hope for meaningful change brought about by the discussions in Copenhagen this month. But everything I’m seeing and reading lately sounds like it’s pretty much just political greenwashing and crushed peaceful protests.
Elizabeth May has been blogging from Copenhagen (see comments by Hugo Chavez - who would have put him in the role of speaker-of-truth? - and Prime Minister Zenawi of Ethiopia - a country that has committed to carbon neutrality by 2025, not just a slight de-escalation to 2006 levels). Things don’t sound good. Non-G8 nations are super-pissed about the lack of transparency, and about the non-democratic nature of the whole process. And they have every right to be super-pissed. We all do.
Canada’s contribution is pretty impressive. The Calgary morning papers are blaring in large type that we’re going to be OK - there will likely be concessions to allow the Alberta Tar Sands to continue relatively unchecked. Whew. Thank Xenu, we won’t have to slow development of the single dirtiest source of atmospheric carbon on the planet. That’s the kind of change we can hope for here in Canada. Screw the rest of the planet, we need our oil! Actually, screw Canada, too, because much of the north half of the country is about to melt. But that’s OK. There aren’t many white people up there, so it’s an acceptable loss. Or something.
Kris Krug is there covering the talks with Press credentials. His photos are incredible, frustrating, and scary. I hope there is more going on than back door deals, but I fear that’s all we’re going to get.
And this cellphone video of the stellar treatment of peaceful protestors. Batons ready!
It’s not like this is the first time peaceful protests have been squashed, either.