Climate Talks: Friends Of The Earth Was Suspended

Akanimo Sampson,
Port Harcourt

UN Climate Talks: Why Friends Of The Earth Was Suspended

THE reason why members of the Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), a global federation of environmental rights groups which represent millions of citizens was suspended from the on-going climate talks in Denmark, has started to filter into the open.

Chair of the global federation, Nnimmo Bassey, a Nigerian, who is also the Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action (ERA), says it might not be unconnected with their critical voice. ''W3e have been very critical in our agitation for justice, as a key element for resolving the global climate crisis'', Bassey said in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday.

Members of Friends of the Earth from around the world who arrived at the Bella Center on Wednesday morning to take part as official observers in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations taking place there were told that their badges were no longer valid.

Friends of the Earth representatives from countries ranging from Nigeria to Japan to Denmark have been taking part in the negotiations over the past two weeks, but when they arrived today all were denied access, despite the fact that they were holding official UN badges as well as secondary admission passes.

Friends of the Earth International Chair Nnimmo Bassey had the following
statement:

³We are surprised and shocked that Friends of the Earth member groups from around the world and other non-governmental organizations have been denied access to the negotiations this morning. Our organizations represent millions of people around the world and provide a critical voice on behalf of climate justice inside the UN. We are currently
attempting to discuss the situation with the UNFCCC to understand and resolve the situation.²

As of 09: 30 am on Wednesday, Friends of the Earth representatives were in the main
entry lobby near the conference registration desks and available for interviews.

ENDS

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