2009-12-16

16th December 2009 Copenhagen -- Pittsburgh

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Police Beat Delegates Trying to Join Protest Outside COP-15

Today, 100 COP-15 delegates – led by two members of the Bolivian government delegation, and dozens of members of organizations from the Global South and Indigenous groups – marched out of the Copenhagen climate talks and tried to join the People’s Assembly at the Reclaim Power protest outside, only to be blocked and severely beaten by Danish police (who were working closely together with UN security).

The police cracked down incredibly hard on the Reclaim Power protest today – both inside and outside the Bella Center – but they didn’t prevent the protest from being an incredibly powerful and formative moment in the global movement for climate justice.

More: http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/12/16/police-beat-delegates-trying-to-join-protest-outside-cop-15/ 091216/2

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Police fire tear gas and arrest protesters who try to storm Copenhagen summit

Police fired tear gas and made at least 200 arrests today as thousands of climate change activists tried to breach security at the UN environmental summit in Copenhagen.

Groups of protesters arrived at the summit as world leaders including Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe gathered for a final push towards an agreement to tackle global warming and had planned to storm the venue, including the main negotiating hall.

But they were stopped at police barricades as they arrived at Bella Centre, the sprawling conference venue on the outskirts of Copenhagen.

More: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6958680.ece 091216/2

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Police target CJA spoke people

Following yesterday's arrest of Tadzio Muller after the Climate Justice Action press conference, and about four more spokespeople were violently snatched out of the crowd today. At 18:00 a CJA press conference will address the arrests of the media spokespeople that aim to limit their freedom of speech.

As was reported yesterday, a CJA activist and spokes person, Tadzio Muller was violently snatched by police minutes after he left a Climate Justice Action press conference at the Bella Centre, where COP15 is held. The conference presented the rationale behind today's Reclaim Power! action, that aimed to take over the climate conference for one day, and turn it into a people's assembly. Some mainstream media has since branded Tadzio as the "leader" of CJA, which is blatantly rubbish, while others relay a more balanced view, and echo fears that the police is trying to silence dissent by targetting spokes people.

More: http://indymedia.dk/articles/1885 091216/2

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Friends of the Earth among activists barred from Copenhagen conference centre

Friends of the Earth international, Avaaz, Tck Tck Tck and other mainstream environment coalition groups were refused entry to the Copenhagen conference centre this morning without being given any reason.

The Bella Centre is the focal point for climate activists who are aiming to invade the summit today. Around the city, some 150 arrests have been made this morning as part of an intensification of security to keep the lid on actions in the conference centre as the first of 115 world leaders arrives in Copenhagen amid the major protests.

In a separate development, hundreds of non-government groups are to be individually banned from the centre or have their numbers slashed from tomorrow to make way for world leaders. Only 1,000 people from civil society will be allowed in to the conference hall tomorrow, and 90 on Friday.

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/16/friends-of-the-earth-barred-bella-centre 091216/2

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Massive attack on the freedom of press

Two German reporters from Rostock, Germany were arrested whilst working. The young women, both 23 years old, were reporting for the German Association of Free Radio (BFR). A review resulted in the remand of both in custody until the 23rd of December at the latest. The association strongly condemns the massive restrictions on the freedom of press and demands the immediate release of the two colleagues.

More: http://indymedia.dk/articles/1823 091216/2

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Pictures protest and police COP15 16 December 2009

More: http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Repression/Copenhagen_2009/COP15_2009_Pictures/8065.html

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Pictures protest and police COP15 16 December 2009

More: http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Repression/Copenhagen_2009/COP15_2009_Pictures/8073.html

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Pictures protest and police COP15 16 December 2009

More: http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Repression/Copenhagen_2009/COP15_2009_Pictures/8069.html

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Release Tadzio Mueller and the other climate prisoners!

To: The Danish Parliament

Over the past week, tens of thousands of people from across the planet have taken to the streets of Copenhagen demanding real and just solutions to climate change. But on the streets, as well as inside the UN Climate Change Conference, delegates and ‘outsiders’ alike are doubting that the conference will reach a deal that isn’t a disaster for most of the world.

Inside the Bella Centre, where the UN delegates are meeting, numerous critical voices have been marginalised through technical and procedural manoeuvres. Others, like Friends of the Earth International, have had their accreditation revoked. Outside, the policing of protest has been consistently draconian and occasionally brutal.

More: http://www.petitiononline.com/Tadzio/petition.html

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ACLU Sues Pittsburgh For Harassment, Intimidation

Civil Rights Group Says City Suppressed Free Speech During G-20

PITTSBURGH — The American Civil Liberties Union has announced it’s suing the City of Pittsburgh over official’s treatment of protesters gathered for September’s G-20 economic summit.

Protesters and police clashed during the event, which brought world financial leaders to the city’s downtown for meetings about issues affecting the global economy.

According to a news release from the ACLU, the group is suing the city and police officers for what they say were efforts to thwart peaceful protest.

More: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/21962373/detail.html