* Scores Arrested in “Reclaim Power” Action at COP15 * Major Environmental Groups Banned from Summit * Protest Organizer Arrested, Jailed Overnight * US Envoy Rejects Higher Emissions Cuts, Reparations * Lieberman Confident of Defeat of Medicare Expansion, Public Option * Dean: “Kill the Senate Bill” * Measure to OK Drug Imports Fails in Senate * House Authorizes New Iran Sanctions * Admin Confirms Illinois Prison Will Jail Gitmo Prisoners * Immigration Overhaul Introduced in House * Police Officers Accused of Cover-Up in Beating Death of Mexican Immigrant * DC Council Votes to Legalize Gay Marriage * More Headlines…
* Bassey-dn Climate Crackdown: UN Bars Friends of the Earth and Other Environmental Groups from Climate Talks
The crackdown around the UN climate talks in Copenhagen is intensifying. Earlier today the United Nations suspended several mainstream environmental groups and barred members from re-entering the conference. Organizations targeted include Friends of the Earth, Tck Tck Tck, Avaaz, World Vision and Via Campesina. Democracy Now! caught up with Nnimmo Bassey, the prominent Nigerian environmentalist, just as he was being removed by security from the conference. [includes rush transcript] * Co15-arrests-dn Police Pepper Spray, Arrest Protesters Marching on UN Climate Summit as Hundreds Inside Stage Walkout
In Copenhagen, thousands of protesters marched toward the UN climate summit on Wednesday with the stated goal of transforming the talks into a People’s Assembly and to call for climate justice. Police made over 200 arrests. Meanwhile, inside the Bella Center, hundreds of people staged a walkout to try and meet the marchers outside but were met with a heavy police response. [includes rush transcript]
NYT Reporter Andrew Revkin on the Climate Talks: There's an Epic Fight Over Words
World leaders are arriving in Copenhagen as the climate summit formally enters high-level talks. On Tuesday, US climate negotiator Todd Stern said he foresees no change in President Obama’s offer to cut emissions by 17 percent of 2005 levels. We speak to Andrew Revkin, environmental reporter at the New York Times. [includes rush transcript]
"If Bush Was in Kindergarten, Obama Is in First Grade" - Indian Environmentalist Sunita Narain on US Climate Policy
As heads of state begin to arrive to the COP15 summit here in Copenhagen, the rift between rich and poor countries continues to widen. With less than three days to go, there is no final agreement or breakthrough on the future of the Kyoto Protocol, which industrialized nations, led by the United States, are seeking to dismantle. We speak with leading environmentalist and political activist from India, Sunita Narain. [includes rush transcript]
Bolivian President Evo Morales: "Shameful" for West to Spend Trillions on War and Only $10 Billion for Climate Change
Bolivian President Evo Morales recently arrived in Copenhagen for the UN climate summit. In a press conference Wednesday, Morales said, “The budget of the United States is $687 billion for defense. And for climate change, to save life, to save humanity, they only put up $10 billion. This is shameful.” [includes rush transcript]