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For Immediate Release
Contact:

Henry Rummins, Friends of the Earth England Wales and Northern Ireland, +44 776 16 01 666 (UK mobile) or + 45 617 20 747 (danish mobile)

Nick Berning, Friends of the Earth US + 45 30 48 31 73

Friends of the Earth International Supports African Call, Africa Moves to Stop Rich Country Power Grab and Protect Kyoto Targets

COPENHAGEN, Denmark

Commenting on the African Group of

nations' opposition to an outrageous attempt by rich countries to kill

the Kyoto targets in Copenhagen, Friends of the Earth International's

Nnimmo Bassey said:

"We support African countries' demands for Kyoto targets and mandatory

emissions reductions for rich countries. We denounce the dirty

negotiating tactics of rich countries which are trying to change the

rules and tilt them in their own favor. Developed countries are stalling

these negotiations as Africa attempts to move them forward."

The Danish Presidency has proposed for today "President's informal

consultations," which appeared to be an attempt to collapse two separate

negotiating tracks in Copenhagen and thereby "abolish" the Kyoto

Protocol. This would allow rich countries to dodge their emissions

reduction obligations.

FOR INTERVIEWS CONTACT:

Elizabeth Bast, Friends of the Earth International, + 45- 61 27 63 06

Friends of the Earth International is the world's largest grassroots environmental network, uniting 74 national member groups and some 5,000 local activist groups on every continent. With over 2 million members and supporters around the world, FOEI campaigns on today's most urgent environmental and social issues.