November, 02 2009, 10:12am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Anna Mitchell +44 7796 99 32 88, anna.mitchell@oxfaminternational.org
Anna Argemi + 34 93 482 08 42
Natalie Curtis (In Barcelona Thursday/ Friday): Mob: 44 (0) 7824 503108, ncurtis@oxfam.org.uk
Finance Ball Shifts to US Court as Climate Talks Kick off in Barcelona
Progress on adaptation finance is possible
WASHINGTON
Oxfam called on the US to
join Europe in laying its climate finance cards on the table as
international climate talks opened in Barcelona today.
Real progress on climate finance is possible for the first time
after European leaders, meeting in Brussels on Friday, outlined their
proposal for how much public money should be made available to help
poor countries tackle climate change. The lack of concrete figures on
finance - a make or break issue in the talks - has stalled negotiations
on climate finance for years.
All eyes will be watching this week to see whether the US will join
the EU and put concrete figures on the table. The EU - US Summit in
Washington on Tuesday 3 November is the perfect opportunity for the US
and Europe to move forward together on climate finance. President Obama
will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Swedish Prime Minister
Fredrik Reinfeldt, European Commission President Jose Barroso, and EU
foreign policy chief Javier Solana at the White House.
At a high level meeting in Brussels last week, European leaders said
that EUR22-EUR50 billion per year was needed in public finance to help poor
countries tackle climate change. The European Commission estimates the
EU's fair share would be up to EUR15 billion per year (approximately
$3-22 billion). This offer falls far short of what is required - at
best it is less than half the amount that is needed - and there are no
assurances that existing promises overseas aid will not simply be
rebranded as climate finance.
Rich countries must commit new money
Oxfam is calling for rich countries, which created the climate
crisis, to accept their responsibilities, and provide at least EUR110
billion ($150 billion) per year to help poor countries reduce their
emissions and adapt to a changing climate. The money must be additional
to the 0.7 per cent of national income already committed to overseas
aid. Oxfam calculates that Europe and America's fair share of this
global total is around EUR35 billion each per year ($50 billion) based on
their historical responsibility for creating the climate crisis and
financial capacity to tackle it.
The legal status of a final agreement in Copenhagen is also likely
to be the subject of intensive debate in Barcelona. The US, Australia
and Canada has put forward a proposal which could move away from
binding emission reduction targets for developed countries from 2013,
when current Kyoto Protocol commitments expire. This would
significantly weaken the rules governing rich country action and was
roundly condemned by poor countries at the last round of UN talks in
Bangkok.
Barcelona: a fork in the road to Copenhagen
Barcelona is the last official round of negotiations before a deal
is done in Copenhagen at the end of the year. Millions of poor people
are already struggling to cope with the effects of climate change and
cannot afford delay. In Bolivia glacial retreat threatens the water
supply of thousands of poor Andean farmers as well as water and
electricity supplies to cities such as La Paz.
Antonio Hill, Senior Climate Advisor for Oxfam International, said:
"For the first time there is an opportunity for real progress on
finance in the climate talks. Rich countries must act now and provide
at least $150 billion in new money to help poor nations tackle the
climate crisis they created. The fate of the climate deal and millions
of poor people around the world depends on it."
Up to the US now
"The finance ball is in the US's court. It must say how much money
it is going to commit to help poor countries tackle climate change. The
EU - US Summit is a perfect opportunity for America to move forward
with the EU on climate finance. If there is political will in
Washington there could be real progress in Barcelona."
"Europe may have got the ball rolling on finance but its opening bid
falls far short of what is needed. It needs to put more money on the
table and ensure this money is additional to existing aid commitments
to seal the deal in December. Poor countries must not be forced choose
between building flood defences and building schools."
Read more
Read the Oxfam discussion document: Climate Change Adaptation: Enabling people living in poverty to adapt (pdf)
Why are we campaigning on climate change?
Join our global petition to get leaders to take decisive action on climate change at Copenhagen.
For more in-depth analysis, download Beyond Aid: Ensuring adaptation to climate change works for the poor
Oxfam International is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. We are working across regions in about 70 countries, with thousands of partners, and allies, supporting communities to build better lives for themselves, grow resilience and protect lives and livelihoods also in times of crisis.
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Holiday Season Ultimatum From Amazon Workers: Bargain or We Strike!
"If Amazon chooses to ignore us, they’re the ones ruining Christmas for millions of families. We’re not just fighting for a contract; we’re fighting for the future of worker power at Amazon and beyond."
Dec 14, 2024
Workers at a pair of Amazon warehouses in New York announced approval of a strike authorization on Friday, giving the retail giant—who have refused to negotiate for months—until Sunday to come to the bargaining table or risk a major work stoppage at the height of the holiday shopping season.
The unions representing Amazon workers at two New York City facilities—JFK8 on Staten Island and DBK4 in Maspeth—cited the company's "illegal refusal to recognize their union and negotiate a contract" to address low wages and dangerous working conditions as the reason for the strike authorization.
"We just want what everyone else in America wants—to do our jobs and get paid enough to take care of ourselves and our families. And Amazon isn't letting us do that."
"Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien in a statement. "We've been clear: Amazon has until December 15 to come to the table and bargain for a contract. If these white-collar criminals want to keep breaking the law, they better get ready for a fight."
The workers are demanding:
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- Safer working conditions to prevent injuries and fatalities.
- Job security and protection from arbitrary firings.
- Dignity and respect for all employees.
In June, over 5,500 workers at JFK8—who first voted in favor of creating a union in 2022—joined the Teamsters and chartered the Amazon Labor Union (ALU)-IBT Local 1. Despite consolidating their organizing strength with the backing of the Teamsters, Amazon management has dragged their feet on bargaining a first contract, hardly surprising given the company's long-standing hostility to organized labor.
"Amazon's refusal to negotiate is a direct attack on our rights," said Connor Spence, president of ALU-IBT Local 1, on Friday. "If Amazon chooses to ignore us, they’re the ones ruining Christmas for millions of families. We’re not just fighting for a contract; we’re fighting for the future of worker power at Amazon and beyond."
Rank-and-file members said their demands are reasonable, especially as the company—owned by the world's second-richest man, Jeff Bezos—continues to rake in massive profits year after year as one of the world's largest companies.
"We aren't asking for much," said James Saccardo, a worker at JFK8. "We just want what everyone else in America wants—to do our jobs and get paid enough to take care of ourselves and our families. And Amazon isn't letting us do that."
"Every horror story you read about Amazon is true, but worse," said Justine, a warehouse worker in New York in a video produced by More Perfect Union.
BREAKING: Amazon workers in NYC are going on strike right before Christmas — the company's busiest time.
The first unionized Amazon warehouse is going to shut down in a historic walkout.
Workers plan to hit the company where it hurts to win their first union contract. pic.twitter.com/CwnrRWg4be
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) December 13, 2024
A strike at this time of year, the busiest for the retail giant, reports labor correspondent Jessica Burbank for Drop Site News, "would hit them where it hurts. The scale of the strike would be unprecedented, including the major hubs of New York and San Bernadino, California."
According to Burbank:
Amazon now has a workforce of over 700,000, making it the largest employer of warehouse workers in the nation. If a contract is won at these initial 20 bargaining units, it has the potential to impact working conditions for thousands of workers, and inspire union organizing efforts at Amazon facilities across the country.
For Amazon workers who voted to unionize their warehouses in March of 2022, this has been a long time coming. “Thousands of Amazon workers courageously cast their ballots to form a union at JFK8 in Staten Island,” Smalls said in a text. “We shocked the world, we had won against a corporate giant and hoped that step would propel us forward to help create a better workplace.” For years, Amazon stalled on recognizing the union, and has not yet met union representatives at the negotiating table.
Smalls said, “I’m excited to see workers take control, take the next step and move even further down the path to victory when they exercise their right to strike.” He continued, “We celebrated as we inspired thousands of others to hope for the same.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday issued his support for the union workers.
"Amazon delivery drivers and warehouse workers deserve decent wages, benefits and working conditions—and the right to form a union," said Sanders. "I strongly support the thousands of Amazon workers who will go on strike tomorrow if Amazon doesn't end its illegal union busting."
The workers at JFK8 said people could support the union's effort in various ways "at this critical time," including:
- Donate to the Solidarity Fund: Help workers sustain their fight by contributing to the strike fund.
- Show Up on the Picket Line: Join workers at JFK8 to demonstrate solidarity and hold Amazon accountable for their illegal refusal to negotiate a union contract.
- Spread the Word: Use social media and local networks to raise awareness about the workers’ struggle and the importance of their fight for justice at Amazon.
- Contact Elected Officials: Urge representatives to publicly support JFK8 workers and pressure Amazon to negotiate in good faith.
- Sign the Petition: Stand with Amazon workers and demand that Amazon guarantee a safe return to work, free of harassment and retaliatory disciplinary action, to all workers participating in protected collective action.
For his part, former labor secretary and economist Robert Reich said he had no sympathy for the retail giant's refusal to bargain in good faith with the workers who make its business model possible.
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Bernie Sanders talks about the oligarchy
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Since the the victory of President-elect Donald Trump in November, Sanders has been increasingly outspoken about his frustrations over the failure of the Democratic Party to adequately confront the contradictions presented by a party that purports to represent the interests of the working class yet remains so beholden to corporate interests and the wealthy that lavish it with campaign contributions.
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Public health advocates, federal lawmakers, and other critics responded with alarm to The New York Timesreporting on Friday that an attorney helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. select officials for the next Trump administration tried to get the U.S. regulators to revoke approval of the polio vaccine in 2022.
"The United States has been a leader in the global fight to eradicate polio, which is poised to become only the second disease in history to be eliminated from the face of the earth after smallpox," said Liza Barrie, Public Citizen's campaign director for global vaccines access. "Undermining polio vaccination efforts now risks reversing decades of progress and unraveling one of the greatest public health achievements of all time."
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Mr. Siri declined to be interviewed, but said all of his petitions were filed on behalf of clients. Katie Miller, a spokeswoman for Mr. Kennedy, said Mr. Siri has been advising Mr. Kennedy but has not discussed his petitions with any of the health nominees. She added, "Mr. Kennedy has long said that he wants transparency in vaccines and to give people choice."
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Asked about RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine record during a Time "Person of the Year" interview published Thursday, the president-elect said that "we're going to be able to do very serious testing" and certain vaccines could be made unavailable "if I think it's dangerous."
Trump toldNBC News last weekend: "Hey, look, I'm not against vaccines. The polio vaccine is the greatest thing. If somebody told me to get rid of the polio vaccine, they're going to have to work real hard to convince me. I think vaccines are—certain vaccines—are incredible. But maybe some aren't. And if they aren't, we have to find out."
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Ryan Cooper, managing editor at The American Prospect, warned that "they want your kids dead."
Author and musician Mikel Jollett similarly said, "So if you're wondering if Donald Trump is trying to kill your kids, yes, yes he is."
Multiple critics altered Trump's campaign slogan to "Make Polio Great Again."
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) responded with a video on social media:
Without naming anyone, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a polio survivor, put out a lengthy statement on Friday.
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