By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, May 30 -- When the UN "launched" its report on Post-2015 development goals, it promoted an embargoed press conference, emphasizing that John Podesta would be here. In fact, the UN press releases listed only Podesta.
When Inner City Press was called on, third, it thanked the four panelist on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access, and asked Podesta if the new plan requires developed countries to do more than contribute aid. How about reducing consumption?
Podesta referred the question to another panelist - whose name was not listed in the UN's press releases - who said that twice in the plan there are calls on the developed world to limit consumption, "low carbon."
What about transparency, accountability, and poor people's participation? There was no time for this. The press conference was embargoed -- so much for live tweeting -- and the panelists had to leave less than a half hour after it was scheduled to begin.
The report was given to member states well before the deadline. Were they pledged to secrecy? Was this an attempt to hit the airwaves or satellite TV all at one time? We'll see, literally. Watch this site.
