DURBAN: The head of Greenpeace, Kumi Naidoo,
was expelled from UN climate negotiations today with around two dozen
protestors who clamoured for a breakthrough as the troubled talks went into
overtime.
The South African activist and anti-apartheid
campaigner was escorted away after he led an occupation of the hallway outside
the plenary room at the International Convention Centre, which has been
declared UN territory for the talks. Naidoo, speaking to journalists before he was
peacefully removed, said the talks were heading towards a "completely
unacceptable" outcome.
"What we see here are baby steps. Baby steps is not what the
situation calls for -- it calls for fundamental change."
He referred to a scientific report this week
showing that, without a sharp cut in greenhouse-gas emissions, the planet is on
track to warm by 3.5 degrees Celsius (6.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above
pre-industrial levels, a recipe for worsening heatwaves, drought and floods.
"What is at stake here is not some nebulous thing called the
planet. It is our childrens' and grandchildrens' future. That is what we are
talking about," he said.
Blue-shirted UN security guards led all the
protestors away in groups of two or three through a side door except a young
man and a woman, both with NGO badges, who refused to move. After 15 minutes of negotations they were
physically removed, the man carried arms and feet by two policeman, and the
woman lifted into a wheelchair, an AFP journalist saw.
A security officer directing the policeman
said that the protestors were not being arrested. The protest had started several hours earlier
when the Maldives' environment minister, Mohamed Aslam, flanked by Naidoo,
joined about a hundred green activists credentialed to attend the talks.
"This is a planetary emergency. The world needs action now. People
power, not corporate power! Don't kill Africa!" the activists chanted.
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