COPENHAGEN, Dec 19 (IPS/TerraViva) - Before the outcome of COP 15 has even emerged, Latin American social organisations are already discussing their strategies for the next climate summit, to be held in a year's time in Mexico.The primary challenge is to broaden and strengthen the links between the different civil society movements and networks in the region, the international coordinator of Jubilee South, Beverly Keene, told TerraViva. Jubilee South is a network of social movements and people's organisations in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, formed in 1999 to fight for "freedom from debt and domination" in developing countries. Keene spoke at a session of Klimaforum09 - the civil society meeting held parallel to the Dec. 7-18 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 15) - focused on what directions to take on the road to COP 16, in December 2010 in the Mexican capital.
COPENHAGEN--The anger in Juan Carlos Soriano's voice was clear when he rose to a podium in the Bella Center Friday afternoon. And it was easy to understand why: the climate-treaty talks were (and still are at this writing) stuck between competing draft texts, none of which offer plans to keep global warming within safe scientific limits. Another reason: Of the more-than 1,500 youth advocates accredited for the conference, all but 12 were locked out of the Bella Center on Friday--because of space constraints, according to the United Nations. Only one of them got to address delegates in the main plenary hall--Soriano, a 23-year-old college student from Peru. He gave voice to the frustration of those on the outside: "We have all worked for the past two years for the promise of a strong deal in Copenhagen to safeguard our future," he said. "Now it seems you will not get it done. This is unacceptable. We placed our trust in you. You should be ashamed."
Another reason: Of the more-than 1,500 youth advocates accredited for the conference, all but 12 were locked out of the Bella Center on Friday--because of space constraints, according to the United Nations. Only one of them got to address delegates in the main plenary hall--Soriano, a 23-year-old college student from Peru. He gave voice to the frustration of those on the outside:
"We have all worked for the past two years for the promise of a strong deal in Copenhagen to safeguard our future," he said. "Now it seems you will not get it done. This is unacceptable. We placed our trust in you. You should be ashamed."
