PRESS STATEMENT
For immediate release
Copenhagen, Brussels, December 16 – Friends of the Earth representatives
have been barred from the United Nations climate talks in the Bella
Centre in Copenhagen today (Wednesday 16 December 2009). Every delegate
from the international environmental campaign group arrived at the centre this morning to find their badges were no longer valid.
Friends of the Earth representatives from countries ranging from Nigeria
to Japan and Denmark have been taking part in the negotiations over the
past two weeks calling for a strong and fair agreement, with rich
countries leading the way with emissions cuts of at least 40 per cent by
2020 without offsetting.
Magda Stoczkiewicz, director of Friends of the Earth Europe said: “It
is a crisis of democracy when campaign groups like Friends of the Earth which
represents millions of people around the globe are prevented from
participating in the talks where we are pushing for a just and effective
agreement to the climate crisis.
“If Friends of the Earth is not allowed inside the UN negotiations we
cannot play our crucial role in bringing the voices of citizens to the
talks, especially the voices of those who are disadvantaged and already
suffering most because of climate change. These draconian measures are
completely unjustified.
“Friends of the Earth is one of the most prominent groups calling for a
strong and fair agreement and we will not be silenced. We continue to
pressure rich countries, and especially the European Union to finally
commit to deep emissions reductions and its fair share of the urgently
needed climate finance for developing countries.”
Friends of the Earth International Chair Nnimmo Bassey had the following
statement: “We are surprised and shocked that Friends of the Earth member
groups from around the world and other non-governmental organizations
have been denied access to the negotiations this morning.
“Our organisations represent millions of people around the world and
provide a critical voice for climate justice inside the UN.”
Friends of the Earth is petitioning UN climate secretary Yvo De Boer to
protest against the ban and calling for members of the public to add
their name at www.foe.co.uk
ENDS
For more information and for interviews please contact:
Francesca Gater, communications officer for Friends of the Earth Europe,
+45 298 42677 (Danish mobile) or +32 4 85 930 515 (Belgian mobile),
francesca.gater foeeurope.org
Sonja Meister, climate campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, +45
617 27520 (Danish mobile), sonja.meister foeeurope.org
Magda Stoczkiewicz, director of Friends of the Earth Europe, +45 617 22145
(Danish mobile), magda.stoczkiewicz foeeurope.org