Egypt Election: Muslim Brotherhood Candidate Could Face...
Democracy Now! broadcasts live from inside the U.N. Climate Change Conference and from outside in the streets and activist centers in Cancún, Mexico. For complete coverage of global warming and climate justice issues, visit: http://www.democracynow.org/tags/climate_change.
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Life or Death: Small Island Nation of Tuvalu Pleads for Climate Resolution
One of the most impassioned speeches at the U.N. Climate Change Conference last week came from the head of the delegation of Tuvalu, the small Pacific island nation. “We cannot afford to have endless meetings,” said Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, speaking at the main U.N....December 13, 2010 | Story -
Young Environmentalists Challenge U.N. Climate Delegates: "Stop Talking. Start Planting"
In a courtyard outside within the Moon Palace Resort in Cancún, young environmentalists dug holes for 193 baby trees, one for each nation in the world. Their message for the delegates at the U.N. Climate Change Conference: “Stop talking. Start planting.” Felix Finkbeiner, the 13-year-old founder of Plant for the Planet,...December 13, 2010 | Story -
Climate Deal Reached in Cancún: Will the Agreement Help Save the Planet?
The U.N. Climate Change Conference in Cancún came to a close early Saturday morning after 193 countries signed on to a modest agreement to combat climate change. The deal, known as the Cancún Agreements, commits all major economies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions but does not lay out how far overall global emissions...December 13, 2010 | Story -
Groups Protest U.N. Climate Summit for Shutting Out Civil Society
As the Cancún climate talks headed toward a conclusion on Friday, civil society groups spoke out against what they said was a flawed United Nations process. As the talks wrapped up inside the conference rooms of Cancún’s luxurious Moon Palace resort, civil society groups protested the process—and found themselves increasingly...December 13, 2010 | Story -
Video: U.N. Guards Beat Reuters Photographer at Cancún Climate Talks
Democracy Now! videotaped U.N. security guards Friday beating a Reuters photographer who was arrested while covering a protest at the U.N. climate conference in Cancún. Guards seized Jorge Silva’s press credentials and then beat him while he was detained on a bus. The incident sparked a protest by other Mexican photographers. Watch video
December 11, 2010 | Blog Post -
Amy Goodman Appears on al-Jazeera English Live from the Cancún Climate Talks
As the Global Climate Talks in Mexico enter their final day, Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman is interviewed on al-Jazeera English to give a report on the progress of negotiations.December 10, 2010 | Blog Post -
Global Children’s Campaign to Climate Delegates: Stop Talking. Start Planting
This year’s UN climate change conference has attracted many children from around the world. In Cancún, Mexico, Democracy Now! had the chance to speak with two children from the youth-led group Plant-for-the-Planet.December 10, 2010 | Blog Post -
China Faces International Criticism at Nobel Ceremony in Oslo and Climate Talks in Cancún
The Nobel Committee’s decision to award Liu Xiaobo has enraged the Chinese government. In Cancún, Chinese climate negotiators reportedly refused to talk with their Norwegian counterparts. We discuss China’s reaction to Xiaobo’s award and its role at the climate talks with Lucia Green-Weiskel of the Beijing-based...December 10, 2010 | Story -
Bolivian President Evo Morales at Cancún Climate Summit: WikiLeaks Cables Reveal "Diplomacy of Empire"
Speaking at the U.N. Climate Change Conference, Bolivian President Evo Morales warned against throwing out the Kyoto Protocol, saying such a move could result in ecocide or genocide. Bolivia has become a leading critic of how the climate talks have developed and of last year’s U.S.-backed Copenhagen Accord. At a news conference,...December 10, 2010 | Story -
Guardian Reporter John Vidal: With Climate Talks on Verge of Collapse "You Could Argue that America Has Done Very Well Out of This"
On the final scheduled day of the U.N. Climate Change Conference, negotiations remain deadlocked, and negotiators are scrambling to come up with some form of agreement to prevent the talks from collapsing. We speak to John Vidal, the environment editor at The Guardian newspaper. [includes rush transcript]December 10, 2010 | Story -
"We Cannot Afford to Be Held Hostage...By Political Backwardness" Tuvalu Delegate Makes Impassioned "Life or Death" Plea for Action on Climate Change
Among the countries most affected by climate change are small island states. Rising sea levels from global warming threaten their very existence. [includes rush transcript]December 09, 2010 | Blog Post -
Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa on WikiLeaks, the September Coup, U.S. Denial of Climate Funding, and Controversial Forest Scheme REDD
Secret U.S. diplomatic cables recently published by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks revealed new details about how the U.S. manipulated last year’s U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen. Ecuador was one of the nations that lost funding after it refused to sign on to the U.S.-led Copenhagen Accord. Democracy Now! asks Ecuadoran...December 09, 2010 | Story -
Offsetting Emissions or Pollution Profiteering? Debating the Surge of Cap-and-Trade Carbon Market
At the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Cancún, World Bank President Robert Zoellick announced the launch of a new multi-million-dollar fund to help set up markets to trade carbon in China, Mexico, Chile and Indonesia. Carbon trading has been a hot topic here at the climate talks. John Hamilton files a report. [includes rush...December 09, 2010 | Story -
Commodifying Wildlife? World Bank Launches Market Scheme for Endangered Species
At the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Cancún, World Bank President Robert Zoellick discussed a new initiative to create a financial market to help save endangered animals. Some critics have described the plan as an effort to turn wild animals into commodities. [includes rush transcript]December 09, 2010 | Story -
After Touting Sustainability, Walmart Chair Rob Walton Refuses to Answer on Company’s Record in Local Communities
Rob Walton, the chairman of Walmart, traveled to Cancún this week to take part in Wednesday’s event promoting the controversial carbon market-based forest protection proposal known as REDD. Walton is the eldest son of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart and one of the wealthiest men in the world. He said sustainability...December 09, 2010 | Story -
Is REDD the New Green? Indigenous Groups Resist Carbon Market-Based Forestry Scheme to Offset Emissions
A controversial proposal to protect forests worldwide is on the table at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Cancún. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), would include forests in the emerging carbon markets, allowing governments and corporations to purchase permits to protect forests as a way...December 09, 2010 | Story -
Prominent Indigenous Environmental Leader Tom Goldtooth Blocked from U.N. Climate Talks
One of the most prominent North American indigenous activists attending the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Cancún was blocked from entering the summit on Wednesday, one day after he publicly criticized the U.N. process. Tom Goldtooth, the executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, who had received credentials...December 09, 2010 | Story -
Greenpeace: Climate Justice Movement Must Intensify Efforts Ahead of 2011 Climate Talks in South Africa
While the U.N. climate talks in Cancún are reaching a critical stage, many delegates have begun looking toward the 2011 U.N. climate summit scheduled to take place in Durban, South Africa. Democracy Now!’s Mike Burke speaks with one of the leading South African climate change activists, Kumi Naidoo of Greenpeace International....December 09, 2010 | Story -
Youth Climate Activists to World Leaders: "Remember the Children Who Are Suffering Around the World"
Youth climate activists from around the world are gathered in Cancún this week to push for a binding climate deal. Democracy Now! spoke to several of them on Monday at Cancunmesse, the main hub of NGO activity here at the U.N. climate talks. [includes rush transcript]December 08, 2010 | Blog Post -
Youth Activists Protest Exclusion from U.N. Climate Summit in Cancún
Protests against the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Cancún are growing as civil society groups are frozen out of the talks. Yesterday, indigenous and youth groups demonstrated both inside and outside the summit to call for their inclusion in the negotiations. On Tuesday, activists from Youth for Climate Justice led a walkout...December 08, 2010 | Story
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By Amy Goodman with Denis Moynihan
Gen. John Allen, commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan, spoke Wednesday at the Pentagon, four stars on each shoulder, his chest bedecked with medals. Unlike Allen, many decorated U.S. military veterans left the streets of Chicago after the NATO summit without their medals.
Web Exclusives
In an extended interview, David Bronner, president of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, discusses the history of the company, why they put sustainability and social justice ahead of profits, the organic and GMO labeling movements, the U.S. war on hemp, and why they refuse to sell out. [includes rush transcript]
Human Rights Watch’s Kenneth Roth examines why the U.S. has not pressured Bahrain to release pro-democracy activists. He also discusses Syria and the conditions in Israeli jails and courts that prompted 1,550 Palestinian prisoners to go on a hunger strike. [includes rush transcript]
