Speeches and why I share them

Elizabeth May

Hi all
reading these blogs.  I want to share some of what occurs blow by blow.
 Many sessions as behind closed doors. But the plenary today was hearing
from Presidents and then Ministers. John Baird is to be the 9th speaker. We are
now on the fifth speaker, His Excellency Sheik Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (he
is currently talking about building solar and nuclear).



The "star power" was in the first speech I blogged, Evo Morales,
President of Bolivia. The room was electric for his speech and many indigenous
Bolivian supporters were here.



Another speech that was interrupted by applause was the Vice-President of the Dominican Republic.
 He noted that last year the Copenhagen COP had ended in terrible
disappointment.  He said:



"Let us not end Cancun on a note of disappointment.
Our only hope to remedy the climate crisis around the world in courageous, wise
and bold decision. The peoples of the world know that their right to a livable
world is negotiated here. Let us not defraud the peoples of the world."



Solomon Islands Ambassador
John Moffat pointed out Cancun is dependent on
ocean-based tourism, as his country is also ocean dependent. All under threat.
"Balanced outcome must be in the interests of our children and not in our
own short-term ego-ist interests.  We must hear the silent voices of our
children and grandchildren. We call on all industrialized countries to show
leadership and accept their historic responsibilities and continue the second commitment
under Kyoto. We
call on developing countries to reduce their emissions."



"We must hear the voices of our children. It is the cries of our grandchildren
we should heed."



I spoke at a Climate Action Network press conference this AM, along with Liberal MP Gerard
Kennedy, NDP Linda Duncan, and Bloc Environment Critic Bernard Bigras.
 We joined Canadian youth, First Nations, unions, and environmental groups
to call for Canada to
continue Kyoto.



Baird sent out an 11 PM notice for a 7:45 AM press conference in another
location, so not many Canadian press could make it back to our press conference
in time.  Malta is speaking now. Baird will be up next.