18 Dec 2009: Today's Democracy Now!

As Copenhagen Summit Closes, Obama Maintains Widely Criticized US Position on Emissions Cuts, Climate Aid
After ten days of talks, uncertainty looms over the Copenhagen summit—and, some might say, the fate of the planet. Negotiations remain deadlocked as fundamental divisions remain between rich and poor countries. A draft agreement drawn up by a small group of countries, including the US, was dismissed overnight by developing nations. President Obama arrived early this morning to join nearly 120 other world leaders at the summit. In a much anticipated address, Obama offered no new proposals to address the demands of developing countries. [includes rush transcript]

Kenyan Voices Share Their Climate Message to President Obama, Son of Kenyan Father
With President Obama’s arrival in Copenhagen, we hear from two Kenyans at the UN climate summit about what message they would like to send to Obama, the son of a Kenyan father. [includes rush transcript]

Chief G-77 Negotiator Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping: US-Backed Proposals Mean Death for Millions of Africans
With the talks entering the final twenty-four hours, a leaked UN document—exposed yesterday on Democracy Now! with French news website Mediapart—has created a firestorm of controversy here at the summit. The UN memo determines that global temperatures would rise by an alarming three degrees Celsius, or 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit, under the current emissions targets being discussed. We speak to Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the chief negotiator for the G-77, the largest developing country bloc represented at the COP15. [includes rush transcript]

Democratic Lawmakers Defend US Stance at Copenhagen Climate Summit
Ahead of President Obama’s arrival in Copenhagen, a contingent of Democratic congressional leaders flew in Thursday to express support for the administration’s position at the summit meeting. Democracy Now! caught up with Rep. Henry Waxman of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

"The Countries that Can Really Make a Difference Have Not Really Got Sensitive Enough to the Plight of the Poorest of the Poor" - IPCC Chair Pachauri
We speak with Rajendra Pachauri, the chair of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change about the climate summit, the role of developed countries, and why he promotes vegetarianism as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Pachauri and the IPCC won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Environmental and Indigenous Activists Criticize Proposed Deal to Save Rainforests
On Wednesday Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Obama administration would commit 1 billion dollars over the next three years toward a proposed global scheme to preserve tropical forests. Its called REDD or Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. As countries attempt to hammer out a final deal before the end of the summit, Anjali Kamat files a report featuring a range of concerns over what this UN-backed proposal could mean for the future of the world’s rainforests and forest-dwellers

Headlines

Obama Offers No New Proposals in COP15 Address
Leaked Admission of Higher Temps Adds to Summit Uncertainty
Danish Police Tapped Activists’ Phones
16 Killed in US Drone Attack in Pakistan
US Opens New Afghan Assault as Deployment Begins
Iraq, Afghan Militants Hacked Into US Drone Feeds
Contractors Comprise 69% of Pentagon Workforce
Haidar Returns Home After Month-Long Hunger Strike
Report: CIA Backing PA Forces in Torture of Hamas Prisoners
House Panel to Probe Citigroup Windfall Ruling
US to End Detentions of Asylum Seekers
Mexico: 5,000 Migrants Died Reaching US Since 1994
Environmental Activist Freed in Oregon