Obama calls Paris climate talks an 'act of defiance' in wake of recent attacks

[xht]

US president salutes French people for going ahead with crucial climate talks in his address to heads of state on first day of the conference

Barack Obama has told crucial UN climate talks in Paris that the negotiations represent an act of defiance after the barbaric attacks in the city two weeks ago in which 130 people were killed.

Offering his condolences and pledging solidarity with the people of “this beautiful city” he said, “We have come to Paris to show our resolve ... to protect our people, and to uphold the values that keep us strong and keep us free. We salute the people of Paris for insisting that this crucial conference will go on.”

150 heads of state and government are attending the first day of the two-week talks, instructing their negotiating teams on coming to a deal. Each leader has been allotted three minutes for a short speech.

The Paris talks are seen as a last chance for coordinated global action on climate change under the UN. If these talks fail to produce an agreement, the world will be left without an international commitment to prevent dangerous levels of global warming.

Obama said that the attendance of world leaders was a “rejection of those who would tear down our world”, and drew parallels between the ravages of climate change and terrorism. “[We want] a declaration that, for all the challenges we face, climate change will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other.”

He warned of some of the likely effects of climate change: “Abandoned cities; fields that no longer grow; political disruptions; conflicts; desperate peoples seeking sanctuary in nations not their own.”

The Paris conference could change that, he said: “This future is one that we have the power to change – right here, right now.”


Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/30/obama-calls-paris-climate-talks-an-act-defiance-wake-recent-attacks

[skeet]

How does climate control mean we are standing up to terrorists? Wouldn't it be more defiant to terrorists for countries to join forces and put other countries armed forces together and eradicate these scum balls once and for all? THAT's being defiant.

[bryant.coleman]

How does climate control mean we are standing up to terrorists?

Obama would stoop to any depth, to get some media attention. And the pro-American propaganda channels such as CNBC, CNN and the BBC will be happy to give 24x7 airtime as well. For the past two or three years, Obama and his armed forces are conducting air strikes on the so called ISIS targets inside Syria. It took the Russians less than 24 hours to achieve what Obama achieved in the past 3 years.

[zenitzz]

ISIS has got to be in panic mode seeing all the folks gorging on fancy food, must really hit home.

[Lethn]

How does climate control mean we are standing up to terrorists? Wouldn't it be more defiant to terrorists for countries to join forces and put other countries armed forces together and eradicate these scum balls once and for all? THAT's being defiant.

That would mean actually doing something about them, something that the western beauracracy can't do anything about, honestly, these fuckers only care about themselves, if a few civilians or soldiers get killed they couldn't give a fuck, they just give a template speech about country and sacrifice then they move on. I hate to admit it but there are times when I wish the media and politiicans would get targeted more often because they're so snide and arrogant on many issues while hiding behind armed security all the time.