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US College Student Shames US Climate Delegation in Durban
Abigail Borah, a Middlebury College student and climate activist from the United States, was ejected from a plenary session at the COP17 climate summit this morning after interrupting introductory remarks by US chief negotiator, Todd Stern.
Middlebury College student from the US, Abigail Borah, is led away by security officials after interrupting US Climate Negotiator, Todd Stern, at the COP17 climate conference in Durban. (Photos: Josh Lopez & Shadia Fayne Wood | Project Survival Media) Her statement, which was met with wide applause from the crowd, read as follows:
"I am speaking on behalf of the United States of America because my negotiators cannot. The obstructionist Congress has shackled justice and delayed ambition for far too long. I am scared for my future. 2020 is too late to wait. We need an urgent path to a fair ambitious and legally binding treaty.
You must take responsibility to act now, or you will threaten the lives of youth and the world's most vulnerable.
You must set aside partisan politics and let science dictate decisions. You must pledge ambitious targets to lower emissions not expectations. Citizens across the world are being held hostage by stillborn negotiations.
We need leaders who will commit to real change, not empty rhetoric. Keep your promises. Keep our hope alive. 2020 is too late to wait."
SustainUSA, where Borah has worked according to her facebook page, released a statement highlighting the urgency of Borah's message and pushing the US delegation in particular to heed the warnings of climage scientists:
Since before the climate talks, the United States has held off on the necessary emissions reductions targets until the year 2020. Studies from the International Energy Agency, the UNEP, and countless other peer-reviewed scientific papers show that waiting until 2020 to begin aggressive emissions reduction would cause irreversible climate change, including heightened tropical storms, worsening droughts, and devastation affecting communities and businesses from Africa to America. Nevertheless, the United States has held strong to its woefully inadequate and voluntary commitments made in the Copenhagen Accord and Cancun Agreement.
[...]
The U.S. continues to negotiate on time borrowed from future generations and with every step of inaction, forces young people to solve the quickly exacerbating climate challenges that previous generations have been unable and unwilling to address.
Borah travelled to Durban and gave an earlier address to United Nations negotiators at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on behalf of the International Youth Climate Movement (IYCM), but it appears that this action was done in her own name, and on behalf of the planet.
55 Comments so far
Show AllUS politicians serially feign concern for the " health, safety and security of our grandchildren" while exacerbating the conditions that undermine those goals.
The quality of life of not only "our grandchildren" but also the rest of us is OUR responsibility. Let's not make Abigail Borah and other dedicated activists do all the heavy lifting.
Thanks Abigail.
(Climate)Change you can believe in, brought to you by
Obama - Worst President Ever.
give us all a break and stop laying this all at Obama. it's about you and our kids and not about this president only. the politicians will listen especially this president and not a president gingrich or president bachman or whatever. it's about all of us doing something together. organize. get out there and do something and quit your bellyaching about Obama. he'll listen if enough of us are out there. it's so tiring. Occupy and stand for something positive in the real world not these tiring blame Obama statements.
is he a liar? yes. is he a coward? yes. is he bought-and-paid for? yes. is he a WAR CRIMINAL? yes... he is oourprez!!-u.s.a! u.s.a!
I agree with Guernica. Quote Glen Ford of the Black Agenda Report this morning, "Obama is an elaborate liar".
What is truly tiring is reading crap like this: "he'll listen if enough of us are out there".
Sir, you have zero clue what I have been doing. You insult the millions in this country who are standing for something positive and being shit on by the likes of the current POS in the White House. Meanwhile, people like you keep making things far worse by apologizing for the current POS in the White House who has done everything in his significant power to block, co-opt and sabotage anything that might have made a difference in this real world you write about.
Give me a break is right.
Addendum ...
Here's what really pisses me off about these Obama apologists. If you truly believe in this political system of "lesser of two evils", then why aren't you organizing (to use Rico's word) to get some lesser evil/dumb candidate to run against Obama in next year's primaries? If you truly believe the Dems offer our best hope then why not get the absolute least evil/dumbest to be your candidate?
Why don't you tell us what you have been doing?
Concern Troll. I'm sick of the "Don't vote for Obama he's not good enough" trolls on every liberal site. Our options are Obama or one of the Republican Clown College. If you think your civil liberties are going to survive four years of Romney or Newt think again.
The math is this. Vote for the Democratic Party candidate or vote for blatant fascism instead of the subtle trends towards fascism. Without an extremely strong progressive primary challenger who should already be obvious, and isn't; Obama is it.
Civil liberties, right. Thank god we've got a real constitutional scholar in the White House to doggedly defend our civil liberties.
Twenty Examples of the Obama Administration Assault on Domestic Civil Liberties
Your defense of Democrats is certainly novel: they're only subtly trending toward fascism, that's certainly better than being blatant about it! Isn't it? We need a bumper sticker for this campaign:
Obama/Biden 2012
Your slower handbasket to Hell
CONGRATULATIONS, RICO!!!! You have written the most clueless comment of the week: "the politicians will listen especially this president and not a president gingrich or president bachman or whatever."
Unfortunately, you will probably not be the record-holder this political season, since the Obamabots will be working hard to put lipstick on the pig named Obama.
Rico says "he'll listen if enough of us are out there"
Dream on. Actions speak much louder than words and when it comes to actions, Obama is MIA.
You know what I find "tiring"?
The endless (and misapplied) invocation by Obamapologists of the FDR "make me do it" meme.
Hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people ARE currently protesting in this country -- and being pepper sprayed and billy clubbed -- and Obama has barely even acknowledged their existence (and remained silent on their abuse by police) -- to say nothing of actually DOING something to address their grievances.
Except, of course, if you consider slapping them in the face by using the current economic situation as an excuse to undercut the future viability of SS by extending the payroll tax cut "addressing their grievances".
You just can't admit that "your man", Obama, is a lying con artist, a quack, a fake who never had any intention of doing anything (except make promises) about the climate change problem, or about the Wall street problem, or about the crackdown on civil liberties or about any of the other issues that Obama assured us he would differ from the Republicans by 180 degrees on.
Obama has pretty much single handedly "resurrected" a party (The GOP) that just a few short years ago was on life support and thought by many to be headed for irrelevance (for the forseeable future, at least). Obama has continued George Bush's reign of terror and incompetence with nary a minor deviation (to say nothing of major course correction).
How's THAT for an 'accomplishment?
But you can't admit these things, can you, Rico?
PS : It's called denial (just like climate change denial)
"You just can't admit that "your man", Obama, is a lying con artist"
I listen to these comments, and I have to wonder: who are you people? NO, seriously, who are you working for? If Obama's a lying con artist, why vote for him? Then Gingrich becomes president. And things get better? We didn't ask for a 'winner take all' democracy.
Obama's a politician, so OF COURSE he's a lying con artist. Campaign finance reform. OWS. Other than that, let Abigail have her day. I'm suspicious of people who use every other word to paint sh8t on Obama.
Jimbojangles: You are definitley not a sheeple! "Obama is a lying con artist" but alas, soooo many sheeple are still buying his snake oil ! I have to admit the silver tongued, devil is good; I mean really,really good! And the proof of that is: After four years in office, he still has so many people believing his specious and excessively subtle rhetoric intended to mislead them!
And, and to be more succinct: we live in a democracy that gives us two choices for president: dumb and dumber. I just think you're getting mad at someone because he doesn't want to vote for dumber. My opinion is: without Campaign Finance Reform, those are the only two choices we will EVER be served up.
There is no tooth fairy. Obama is part of the 1%. That is where he gets his money. Have you seen any of his appointments? Anyone even faintly represents the interests of citizens?
No. All his appointments are millionaires, many of whom come from Wall St. & the insurance industries. Millionaires & billionaires are his friends. Please do not delude yourself. Obama, along with Bushes, Clintons, et al. are the problem. They will never be part of the solution.
Obama has zero interest in anything affecting the poor people who voted for him, in any way. He talks a good line, but his words are meaningless.
Tricky Dick said he had a secret plan to end the war in Vietnam, so he got millions of brainwashed Americans to vote for him. So the war continued for three more years, until Nixon was thrown out of office rather ignominiously.
Meanwhile, Obama continues bombing Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia. How many thousands of people in those countries have died per Obama's orders? The man has no conscience. He deserves to be tossed into the dustbin of history, along with all the other blowhards who stand next to him with big grins on their worthless faces at their dumb photo-ops.
Guapo wrote: "So the war continued for three more years, until Nixon was thrown out of office rather ignominiously."
But he did end the war before his resignation - lets give him credit for that.
war is what oourprez loves.... to be on the trigger side of the gun.... aaaapower ! not just a coward, but a weak coward, a drone-killer..another psycho-sociopath has risen from the u.s.a. political cesspool...oourprez
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29934.htm
Howdy Doody very visibly prefers campaigning to governing, even tho’ since all he has to do is whatever Lieberman tells him to do it’s hardly very taxing.
Nevertheless, silver tongued promises are his stock in trade; I’m the only one who decides anything, not congress, not the courts, just me, in practice, attracts too much criticism if everything you decide is a disaster.
Rico,
"give us all a break and stop laying this all at Obama. it's about you and our kids and not about this president only."
actually, it is about you and your kids - and the amount of objects wrapped in plastic wrapping and shipped in brown cardboard boxes, eventually loaded on to a cargo ships fueled w/ diesel before being offloaded in long beach and then trucked to your wal wart for your shopping convenience.
obama, his predecessors and every current/future member of the US congress is working to ensure that this american standard of living is maintained at all costs. peak oil, climate change and the ongoing global economic meltdown all threaten the legitimacy of the elites in the status quo (including every republican and democratic politician). they will use extreme violence to protect their privilege and power.
The corporations and governments are corrupt. As residents of the earth it's incumbent upon each of us to respond in a myriad of ways – both personal and collective. We can decrease our consumption and continue to decry the sycophantic politicians and the rapacious business elites in the public square (kudos to abigail borah for her prescient comments made at the climate conference).
We can try to overthrow the govt like the masses in north africa. But regardless of what form of government we adopt, one way or another inhabitants occupying the northern mid latitudes are going to have to decrease consumption and develop a new way of life.
everyone in power is either in denial (money is a powerful psychadelic) or is imagining that b/c of their privelige and power - perception of exceptionalism - they (and their offspring) can/will escape the consequences of global warming and the resource wars that will ensue.
this delusional thinking portends the demise of billions of people. reptilian brains.
...peace...
Obama, upon coming to office in 2009, had the entire planet's political capital on his side. He didn't listen then. So what makes you think he has any intention of listening now?
Hooray for Abigail and her courage to speak out this way, at such a gathering. It's encouraging that she was applauded there before being removed. It also shows that a lone voice can still be heard in the wilderness; that it doesn't always take a crowd to make a point. Hopefully other young people will be inspired by Abigail's speech, and will also speak out this way. It's their future that's in peril. We can all keep doing all we can for change, and let the younger generations know we stand with them.
US College Student Shames US Climate Delegation in Durban
you go, girl!
this generation of young adults must recognise that you fight for the preservation of our species. however, those who chase fleeting fiat financial figments feel no shame.
I tried to say 'fleeting fiat financial figments' rapidly but only got tongue-tied twisted talk. love it. Appreciate your comments.
I too noted, and loved the alliteration. Hummingbird speaks humming words :)
Todd who? Abigail Borah speaks for me!
Abigail Borah. Thank you. You are another young American hero in our era of national disgrace.
"Security Officials" lead her away. Seems "1984" that the truth threatens "security". Maybe the security of the status quo.
Fab, go girl, the world needs more people like this, a credit to her generation. Abigail for President
Hallelujah! AMEN! Thank you Abigail Borah! Thank you YCM! Thank you SustainUSA! Now that the 1% are sitting pretty, they ought to feel less vulnerable to the hit they will take as their bottom line is challenged by the changes which MUST be made. Let's call their current obscene wealth, their nest egg, their savings for a rainy day which has arrived. Suck it up King CONG. Be a part of the solution or forever be damned as the Evil which brings about the demise of this gorgeous, but troubled planet. It is all we have. The 99% do not want to die off and leave pitiful remains to the 1%. Most of the 1% don't want that either. Put on the brakes! Change direction, before we go any further beyond the tipping point!
This is EXACTLY why a world-wide revolt against the corrupt, selfish Ruling Elite is necessary. They do not care about future generations, as shown by their inaction on two of the most serious threats facing all life on earth: accelerating catastrophic climate chaos and the continued existence of nuclear arsenals. Their carefully-crafted rhetoric no longer works to fool us into believing they care.
Both these threats need worldwide action by governments, corporations, and citizens, but the governments and corporations are so blinded by their lusts for power and profit that they will not act unless we find ways of forcing them to act in the interest of future generations. How can we do that?
Thank you Abigail! We all need to follow your lead. Let's consume less energy, convert to solar polar wherever possible and buy less. Start with unplugging your cable TV. These are steps we can all take immediately to make a difference.
We have found our alternate climate negotiator.
Now all we need is our alternate government, alternate economy, and alternate currency...
Ms. Borah did Middlebury proud. Good for the college and good for her!
Being a part of the US 1%, Middlebury will probably expel her.
It's hard to tell about some of those elite Liberal Arts Colleges . I know that most of the students at Middlebury, along with those at its peers such as Amherst, Bowdoin, Pomona, Swarthmore, and Williams, come from families in the top 1 %, but the great majority of those students have quite progressive beliefs, particularly with regard to protecting the environment. I think that at any of those schools the administration would find itself in a firestorm of protest if there were disciplinary repercussions for environmental activism.
Thank god for people like Abigail.
Someone needs to dig up the whorporate dirt on Todd. This scumbag has been an American shill for too many of these climate meetups. He's a fag ass joke.
Thank you Abigail! You definitely speak for me regarding this issue...
What kind of message are these young people going to take away from these incidents about the efficacy of trying to participate peacefully in global assemblies? No wonder they’re turned off and turning to their own “people’s assemblies.” The top-down approach favored by the U.N. and the international governmental community is showing itself to be not only ineffectual, but morally bankrupt.
Read more at Transition Times: http://bethechange2012.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/college-climate-activists-lead-the-way-at-cop-17-in-durban/
Borah "shamed" the us delegation? It's this country's inaction and lack of cooperation what's embarrassing to the rest of the world, and future generations. Thank you sweet Abigail Borah, you are a hero!!!
The Delagation shamed themselves. The young heroin simply told the truth. "Security" might more rightly be refered to as bouncers or intruders. The lesson I take here is that Ms. Borah was very well prepared, never missed a beat, such grace.
thank you Abigail Borah
I'm anxious for the day when Ms. Borah runs for something so I can vote for her... Borah 2016?
Amy Goodman is all over this. The video is inspiring, both for the courage shown by Abigail Borah and for Amy's always courageous journalism.
"US College Student Shames US Climate Delegation in Durban"
Way to go, girl! - Maybe there's hope after all.
Now we only need about 300 million more USAns like you (minus the million who's got the picture), and the problem's solved. USA is the giant clog in the efforts to change the climate extreming back to stabler weather systems and livable conditions for the 7 billion humans.
To most USAn's de-nial actually is a river in Egypt, to have cruises on. Then they come back and tell the rest of US: "You know what? - In Egypt they have climate change. Some people there even said it might spread here! As if we're a military dictatorship with climate trouble, too. - Fancy that...".
As we all know here on CD, stabilizing the climate is so strongly coupled to improving the global economic system led by corporations centered in US, there are strong self-interests and money-interests fighting to keep the climate extreming going by any means necessary.
The common police-state warnings and dystopias of the 1970'ies are the normal state of contemporary society's brighter days.
Todd Stern, shortly after getting his clock cleaned by Abigail Borah:
“It is completely off base to suggest that the U.S. is proposing that we delay action until 2020,” Mr. Stern said. He detailed a number of domestic and international actions that the United States has taken and said that he and other administration officials were working on others, like finding ways to raise tens of billions of dollars to help poor nations adapt to a warming planet.
“Taking all of those things together, it’s nonsense to suggest that what we are doing is proposing a kind of hiatus in dealing with climate change until after 2020,” Mr. Stern said. “So, I just wanted to make that clear because, after I heard it about the fourth or fifth time in the last few days, and again I’ve heard this from everywhere from ministers to press reports to the very sincere and passionate young woman who was in the hall when I was giving my remarks. I just wanted to be on the record as saying that, that’s just a mistake. It is not true.”
U.S. Climate Envoy Seems to Shift Position on Timetable for New International Talks
Abigail Borah speaks for me!
To Todd Stern:
Liar, liar - Earth's on fire!
Most of the comments here reflect my sentiments.
Yes, Ms. Borah has made me proud during as period of intense shame that has continued since I was a teen. Everything has continually been 'put off', 'put off', and 'put off' some more. ENOUGH!
Abigail, your voice can't be too loud, too intense, too urgent; I do not want to put my head in the sand when there is too much science that supports an urgent call for us to 'do'! We are late in the process, but if it doesn't begin in a big way now, it never will.
All the 'Abigails' out there! Stand up and be as brave as Abigail Borah; she is a shining light on our road to survival!
If you don't want your Kids and Grand Children to grow up to hate you, it is time to get busy. Old people in corrupted Washington are great at doing nothing. Unless it helps the plutocracy.and their bosses. Abigail went to South Africa to speak for the Earth. The least We could is take back Our Government and get busy at home. Or, we can sit around waiting for the "stuff" to hit the fan. When that happens, there will be no escape.
It is Our Choice. 2020 is way beyond "too late".
Craig, Our kids and grandkids won't hate us; they may not be here!
The Earth saw a global emissions rise of 6% in 2010...will there even be breathable air in 2020?
This is an unfair world, but the deck is currently stacked toward 'elimination'.
We are 'decades' too late, but we don't have to rush toward our demise in such an irrefutably ignorant way.
Seize the 'power' that is rightfully yours(ours)...enough oral emissions(hot air and lies); it is time for action!!!
Only a matter of time before people like Abigail are deemed threats to national security by the establishment. Congress already has legislation in the works to see to it that they be held without trial.