By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, December 14 -- While the UN on Tuesday claimed the Cancun talks were an unmitigated success, many environmentalists call the outcome merely voluntary and not binding, and say that some smaller countries have been strong armed into the agreement by “bribery” such as a $50 million grant to Maldives, exposed in a WikiLeaked cable.
Inner City Press asked the UN's “global goods” guru Robert Orr what he made of this strong arming, of the another cable in Wikileaks, quoting EU climate negotiator Hedegaard that the commitments so far may be only loan guarantees and not grants. Video here, from Minute 24:45.
Orr said that some “push and pull” between government was no surprise. But isn't it one of the UN's job to speak up when underdogs are pushed around, and can't or won't speak for themselves? What is the UN's role in the climate change process? Apparently, it is to declare victory. Orr said that what he had presented as Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's goals for Cancun had all been accomplished.
While the conference was going on, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky about the reported exclusion from the conference by UN security of noted indigenous advocate Tom Goldtooth. Nesirky said he would into it.
On December 14, Inner City Press asked Orr about Tom Goldtooth, and about video footage, available on YouTube, of UN Security beating a Reuters photographer outside the conference. Orr said “I am not at all aware of that case, I haven't even heard about it.” But here is the video.
Orr said that “everyone agrees” the the process in Cancun was “the Holy Grail of transparent, inclusive negotiation.” We'll have more on this.
Footnote: Inner City Press had additional questions for Mr. Orr, but unlike the two other correspondents who asked, was not allowed a second chance at questioning by Spokesman Martin Nesirky. One hope that Mr. Orr takes and answers questions after, for example, the scheduled December 15 press conference at the UN by a major Cancun skeptic. Watch this site.
