By Democracy Now!
After the Philippines lead climate negotiator, Naderev “Yeb” Saño, delivered an emotional speech to delegates at the U.N. climate summit, he was greeted by youth activists who held up a banner that read, “2012 Bopha 1,067; 2013 Haiyan 10,000+?” As a result, they were banned from the climate conference for their action. We speak with one of of the activists, 23-year-old Clémence Hutin from Push Europe, and get Saño’s response.
Transcript
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Just before we went to air, I went outside, because there was a young woman who is not allowed inside the conference right now. Her name is Clémence Hutin, and we had to meet her outside the National Stadium since she has now been banned from COP 19. This is what she had to say.
CLÉMENCE HUTIN: Clémence, I’m 23 years old. When we were in the plenary on Monday, we were listening to Yeb Saño’s speech. We gave him a standing ovation, because it was very heartbreaking. The whole room was very moved. Many negotiators were crying. So, we just felt the need to express basic solidarity at this time. So we clapped, and we escorted him to the exit. We actually warned the chief of security that we were going to do this. And when we met him at the entrance, it was very emotional. He hugged us. He greeted us. He thanked us for the solidarity. And we decided to get our banners out that we were preparing for the action, a sanctioned action, taking place the next day. And the banner was reading: “2012, 1,000 dead; 2013, 10,000-plus dead? How many more?” Just that, and the names of the places that had been hit by the typhoon. And the security just ripped the banners from our hands. They escorted us to the exit immediately, and we were de-badged within 10 minutes.
AMY GOODMAN: So, are you allowed back into the summit?
CLÉMENCE HUTIN: No. We’ve heard—the next day, the chief of security had told us that we could come back in; however, we were notified that Christiana Figueres had made the personal decision to ban us from the U.N. climate talks. We heard that we had been banned for five years. We heard about a lifetime ban, as well. Yesterday, thankfully, she sent us a letter to tell us that we could come in, back in, next year. But we are still banned this week for having expressed solidarity.
AMY GOODMAN: How do you feel about this?
CLÉMENCE HUTIN: I feel very depressed. I’m 23 years old. I’m fighting for climate justice. And I see corporate logos absolutely everywhere here in the COP. The ArcelorMittal logo is stamped across the plenary hall.
