Copenhagen police fire tear gas at climate protesters

[Ken Burch]

Source: BBC

Police have fired tear gas as hundreds of protesters tried to break through a perimeter fence at the UN climate summit venue in Copenhagen.

The Bella Centre, where the conference is taking place, has now been shut off, says the BBC's Sarah Mukherjee.

Activists have been angered by lack of progress on a new climate deal and also by restrictions on access to the talks.

The protesters had marched to the summit across Copenhagen and police said they had detained about 100.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8415307.stm

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Well, so much for anything GREEN happening at this here summit.

[shadowknows69]

1. But apparently it was environmentally safe tear gas.

[Turborama]

2. AP: Climate talks deadlocked as clashes erupt outside

By CHARLES J. HANLEY, AP Special Correspondent – 19 mins ago

COPENHAGEN – Danish police fired pepper spray and beat protesters with batons outside the U.N. climate conference on Wednesday, as disputes inside left major issues unresolved just two days before world leaders hope to sign a historic agreement to fight global warming.

With the talks clearly deadlocked, Connie Hedegaard, former Danish climate minister, resigned from the conference presidency to allow her boss, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen to preside as world leaders from 115 nations streamed into Copenhagen. She was to continue overseeing the closed-door negotiations.

Hundreds of protesters were trying to disrupt the 193-nation conference, the latest action in days of demonstrations to demand "climate justice" — firm action to combat global warming. Police said 230 protesters were detained.

=snip=

The lack of progress disheartened many, including small island states threatened by rising seas.

"We are extremely disappointed," Ian Fry of the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu declared on the conference floor. "I have the feeling of dread we are on the Titanic and sinking fast. It's time to launch the lifeboats."

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091216/ap_on_sc/climate

[HopeHoops]

3. Does teargas release any greenhouse gasses?

:shrug:

It would be a wee bit ironic if it did.

[WriteDown]

4. All the coughing and weezing might cause the people

affected to release more C02. The whole thing is ironic. I wonder if the delegates even are aware while they sit in luxury trying to save the "little people."

[Turborama]

5. Your wise ass comments are getting tiresome

Listen to what's going on inside from a delegate "sitting in luxury": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYijWYmI1CY

[WriteDown]

6. Kind of like the protestors...

Apparently, they were getting "tiresome." Wonder what is for dinner at the conference tonight?

[Turborama]

7. Lame

Thanks for proving my point

[WriteDown]

8. Thanks for proving mine too.

Sadly, this is from Fox, but the news is not unexpected.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579666,00.html?mep

Going green is for the "little people."

[Turborama]

9. Why doesn't it surprise me you get your news from Faux

Or did you originally come across it on FR? freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402313/posts

[WriteDown]

12. I get my news from all over...

Ever wonder why it couldn't be a teleconference? The whole thing is a farce.

[Turborama]

13. From your Faux news article...

Re a couple of hundred cars being hired: You do know that, not only are there security concerns, when the largest Climate Change protest in history happens people are going to find it really difficult to use public transport and these meetings have tight timetables, don't you?

Right down at the bottom...

Conference organizers have gone the whole nine yards seeking to offset the Copenhagen carbon crunch (the U.N. estimates an output of 41,000 tons of gas), using energy-efficient lights, powering the proceedings with a giant wind turbine, and offering visitors recycled materials instead of wasteful plastic water bottles. They've also purchased carbon offsets to help manage the output from their 12-day affair.

Well, that kind of negates your continued whinge about how some of the attendees are travelling.

And this further up, as if finger sandwiches, mini pizzas and "fancy cheese" is really important news (here's a couple of hints, the dollar is really weak against the Danish Krone and Denmark is a very expensive country compared to the US)...

The conference center hosting the meetings has set up four "climate kitchens" to cook healthy, organic meals for attendees, but they aren't coming cheap.

Visitors ordering the regular meal will get finger sandwiches, a quiche, some cheese and dessert, but those going "deluxe" get a mini croissant, canape with smoked salmon, mini pizzas, fancy cheese and some pineapple in chocolate — all for an estimated $40 a person.



Finding such an awesome piece of journalism must make you feel really proud.

[WriteDown]

14. You left out the conference bus that was empty...

Have to take that limo rather than the arranged bus of course. And have to FLY your private jet to Copenhagen. Like I said, teleconference.

As a side note, I wonder who they bought their indulgences...I mean carbon offsets from.

I had some Japanese Maples planted in Siberia for my flight last year. I hear the foliage is beautiful.

[Turborama]

15. You obviously missed the part where I discussed the impracticalities of public transport

Why do you keep going on about Japanese Maples in Siberia? Is that an attempt at being funny?

BTW Thanks for keeping this thread bumped and helping more people see what's going on in Copenhagen.

[WriteDown]

17. Not public....

This was a bus arranged by the conference. It was private, but didn't offer the luxury of a limo obviously.

"Video shot on the scene Monday shows squads of new arrivals at the green gathering pulling up in BMWs, Mercedes Benzes, sleek Volvos and plush Jaguars. A bus reserved for the delegates rode along empty outside the conference center."

I buy indulgences to offset my carbon usage. What do you do? Oh, and do you know what company(s) the conference used?

[Turborama]

20. "Oh, and do you know what company(s) the conference used?" - Yes

Here you go...

Project in Bangladesh to offset climatconference
http://ens.dk/en-us/info/news/sider/20091013projectbangladeshoffsetcop15emissions.aspx

Copenhagen emissions offset in Dhaka
http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2339

Not public.... This was a bus arranged by the conference. It was private, but didn't offer the luxury of a limo obviously.

"Video shot* on the scene Monday shows squads of new arrivals at the green gathering pulling up in BMWs, Mercedes Benzes, sleek Volvos and plush Jaguars. A bus reserved for the delegates rode along empty outside the conference center."

*By http://www.desmogblog.com/big-money-behind-americans-prosperity">Americans For Prosperity

Back to the bus and car thing, again. Have you seen the video? Maybe the bus driver was just starting his shift or had just dropped off some of the http://www.citmagazine.com/news/972232/COP15-numbers/">over 12,000 delegates at the beginning of the day and no-one is going in the opposite direction, but I suppose the Torygraph, Times, Faux and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_for_Prosperity">AFP failed to think of that or deliberately slanted the article/video to fit their agenda. Also, the COP15 Limo Fleet is http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/12/08/457663.html">Powered by Ethanol Made from Straw, something else Murdoch and the Koch-ites forgot to mention. BTW when transport is provided for over 12,000 delegates it could be classed as "public", but let's not get caught up in semantics.

BMW, Mercedes and Volvo are http://en.cop15.dk/about+cop15">sponsoring COP15. Whether that's right or wrong, it's hardly surprising that their cars are being used. Here's the details on their environmental impact: http://en.cop15.dk/about+cop15/sponsorships/sponsored+vehicles">Sponsored Vehicles

Also, due to high taxes Denmark doesn't have many hybrid cars.

Is there anything in any of Murdoch's publications or the Koch Industries' videos about this...?

FREE OF CHARGE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
All conference participants can claim a free of charge COP15 Travel Pass in the Bella center after receiving their UN admission badge. http://en.cop15.dk/about+cop15/going+to+cop15/travel+to+cop15+and+get+around/free+of+charge+public+transportation">Read more

DRIVING THE FUTURE - A COP15 SHOWCASE
35 innovative and environmentally friendly vehicles with drivers are at the disposal free of charge for conference participants. http://en.cop15.dk/about+cop15/going+to+cop15/travel+to+cop15+and+get+around/free+of+charge+public+transportation">Read more

BIKES
During COP15 200 bikes will be available for rent. They can be rented free of charge at the booth “Bicycle Rental” at the corner of the cloakroom next to the exit. http://en.cop15.dk/about+cop15/going+to+cop15/travel+to+cop15+and+get+around/bikes">Read more

Sourced from here: http://en.cop15.dk/about+cop15/going+to+cop15/travel+to+cop15+and+get+around

http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/hopenhagen-brings-eco-cars-to-denmark-for-climate-change-confere/">Hopenhagen brings eco-cars to Denmark for climate change conference



The COP 15 Copenhagen United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 kicks off this today in Copenhagen, and all of those delegates and personnel need to get around somehow. Auto companies from around the world are providing vehicles for the event, including 15 Think City EVs, 60 Citroen C1 ev'ie electric cars, a Mercedes Benz E-Class sedan running on pure biodiesel provided by Solazyme, a fleet of Honda Insights and at least on Honda FCX Clarity. There's also the city's public transportation system available, but we imagine with the masses of extra people – there are representatives from 192 countries – those buses might be a bit crowded. The Think City electric cars will also be a part of the Copenhagen Hopenhagen Live Parade this coming Sunday. The parade is being billed as "a cavalcade of alternative fuels vehicles through the centre of the city to mark the close of the 2009 climate change conference."



I buy indulgences to offset my carbon usage.

Japanese Maples could not survive in Siberia so your purported indulgence would be a waste of money.

What do you do?

As well as practising what I teach, I train hotel executives in water & energy efficiency and waste water & solid waste management and they train their staff. It's known as "Train the Trainer". The training and retrofitting/new designs/paradigm shifts that result from it significantly reduces their emissions and mitigates their destructive waste disposal impacts on the local environment - as well as saving them lots of money. I also volunteered to go to the rainforest to help stop the illegal logging in Borneo, but that's another story.

[WriteDown]

21. Have to love indulgences...

What have you done lately? Also, I wonder how much money carbon indulgence companies make and what guarantee that they do what they promise.


BMW, Mercedes and Volvo are sponsoring COP15. Whether that's right or wrong, it's hardly surprising that their cars are being used.

Of course they are.

Also, odd that in that photo that all the cars are empty.

You're job does sound interesting. Next time you're in borneo, maybe you can pick me up a short-tailed python. :)

[Turborama]

22. Is that all you've got?

Those cars aren't empty, look again. Anyway, it's a photo op and your snarky comment doesn't negate the fact those cars are there but haven't been mentioned by any of your "news" sources.

What have you done lately?

Read my post again for your answer.

I wonder how much money carbon indulgence companies make and what guarantee that they do what they promise.

Did you even look the links I gave you in answer to your offset question? Here's an article in case you can't be bothered, the Bangladesh project is hardly what anyone would call "indulgence".

Bangladesh project to offset climate conference emissions

A climate project in Bangladesh will help offset the emissions released by delegates travelling to the COP15 conference

A new agreement between Denmark, the World Bank and Bangladesh has laid the foundation for an ambitious climate project in Bangladesh to ensure the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen will be fully carbon neutral.

The project, to which the Danish government has contributed 5.3 million kroner, will replace many of the old, heavily polluting brickwork factories in the capital of Dhaka with 20 new energy-efficient plants.

The new project will spare the environment more than 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year and help to markedly improve the air quality in one of the world’s most polluted cities.

‘Bangladesh is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change and there’s a great need to assist the country with technology and capital contributions,’ Climate Minister Connie Hedegaard said.

‘In addition, the project will result in significant environmental improvements for the local community, where particle pollution from the existing old brickworks is clearly visible.’

Hedegaard said the project was one of many sustainable climate projects in the Third World and explained that it was designed to compensate for the greenhouse emissions from the delegates’ flights to the climate summit in Copenhagen.

Another goal of the Bangladesh project was to show that climate projects could benefit the poorest countries and that climate technology went hand in hand with sustainable development and improving living standards, Hedegaard said.

As part of its Kyoto commitments, the government will also implement around 60 other sustainable environment projects in Eastern Europe and developing countries with a focus on renewable energy, upgrading of energy supplies and the recovery of methane from landfills.

From: http://cop15post.com/2009/10/12/news/international/bangladesh-project-to-offset-climate-conference-emissions/

I'm starting to enjoy owning your attempts at trying to sound knowledgeable, even if you are ignoring 99% of how badly you've been owned I'm finding some interesting FACTS from doing the research. please come back with some more of your inane responses and let's keep this thread bumped to the top.

[WriteDown]

24. Owning?

:rofl:

Once again, no one has actually explained the bus and those cars look pretty empty to me. Also, I am glad the one company uses straw ethanol, but do you think all limos there were using that? Did the private jets that flew in also used straw ethanol?

Once again, how much do the indulgences cost, and what guarantee is there that it will actually be done. It is EXACTLY an indulgence. I can be as bad as I want as long as I pay someone else to do good to "offset" it.

Since NOTHING will come of this climate conference, it still amazes me that these leaders of the world have yet to discover the TELECONFERENCE. Of course if you do that, then you don't get the vacation.

Now about that short-tailed python....

[Lars77]

10. What's the point?

What is the point of that article, and of you posting exactly?

We are aware that most of the diplomats and people inside are snobby bastards who really couldn't care less.

[WriteDown]

11. Just that its a farce. nt

[Ken Burch]

16. Are you green, or anti-green?

n/t.

[WriteDown]

18. Red. Literally. nt

[Ken Burch]

19. OK.

Just looking for clarification. There is more than one reason to see 'hagen as a farce.

[Goldstein1984]

23. For me, the significance of this post is

the use of force against citizens being excluded from a process that affects them.

Protesters in Philadelphia had rubber bullets, tear gas and LRAD weapons used against them when they exercised their right to freely assemble. I person who was using Twitter to let the protesters know where the police were was arrested, then his home was ransacked.

This is a good lesson about what progressives can expect when they finally get organized and take to the streets--use of force to defend the status quo.