Rhetoric, emotion, and (barely) supressed anger
This morning has been filled with emotive statements from Heads of State, governments and delegations. Lot’s of almost poetry about “the beauty of the planet that stands out like a blue jewel against the darkness of the universe”, and invoking the survival of our children and grand-children, along with not so subtle digs at developed nations and their avoidance of responsibility. Phrases, such as “we have an equal right to live” from Tuvalu, or “carbon belching industrialized nations” from Mauritius, seek to lay claims to the moral high-ground, and enforce the need for an equitable outcome. It’s reinforcing the chasm between developed and developing nations.
Last minute monetary gestures being made by developed nations (e.g. 10 billion dollar offer from UK) have been responded to with the comment they are just “holding out a carrot”.
What will Obama do tomorrow???
