![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.corporatejustice.org\/IMG\/arton604.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
PRESS STATEMENT<\/p>\n
For immediate release<\/p>\n
Copenhagen, Brussels, December 16 – Friends of the Earth representatives
\nhave been barred from the United Nations climate talks in the Bella
\nCentre in Copenhagen today (Wednesday 16 December 2009). Every delegate
\nfrom the international environmental campaign group arrived at the centre this morning to find their badges were no longer valid.<\/p>\n
Friends of the Earth representatives from countries ranging from Nigeria
\nto Japan and Denmark have been taking part in the negotiations over the
\npast two weeks calling for a strong and fair agreement, with rich
\ncountries leading the way with emissions cuts of at least 40 per cent by
\n2020 without offsetting.<\/p>\n
Magda Stoczkiewicz, director of Friends of the Earth Europe said: \u201cIt
\nis a crisis of democracy when campaign groups like Friends of the Earth which
\nrepresents millions of people around the globe are prevented from
\nparticipating in the talks where we are pushing for a just and effective
\nagreement to the climate crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Friends of the Earth is not allowed inside the UN negotiations we
\ncannot play our crucial role in bringing the voices of citizens to the
\ntalks, especially the voices of those who are disadvantaged and already
\nsuffering most because of climate change. These draconian measures are
\ncompletely unjustified.<\/p>\n
\u201cFriends of the Earth is one of the most prominent groups calling for a
\nstrong and fair agreement and we will not be silenced. We continue to
\npressure rich countries, and especially the European Union to finally
\ncommit to deep emissions reductions and its fair share of the urgently
\nneeded climate finance for developing countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friends of the Earth International Chair Nnimmo Bassey had the following
\nstatement: “We are surprised and shocked that Friends of the Earth member
\ngroups from around the world and other non-governmental organizations
\nhave been denied access to the negotiations this morning.<\/p>\n
“Our organisations represent millions of people around the world and
\nprovide a critical voice for climate justice inside the UN.”<\/p>\n
Friends of the Earth is petitioning UN climate secretary Yvo De Boer to ENDS<\/p>\n For more information and for interviews please contact:<\/p>\n Francesca Gater, communications officer for Friends of the Earth Europe, Sonja Meister, climate campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, +45
\nprotest against the ban and calling for members of the public to add
\ntheir name at www.foe.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
\n+45 298 42677 (Danish mobile) or +32 4 85 930 515 (Belgian mobile),
\nfrancesca.gater <\/span>foeeurope.org<\/a><\/p>\n
\n617 27520 (Danish mobile), sonja.meister <\/span>foeeurope.org<\/a><\/p>\n