to whichever country was the most obstructionist that day. This ceremony was enacted at the Hans Brinker stand in memory of the little Dutch boy who saved the city of Utrecht from flooding, by heroically blocking a hole in a dyke with his finger. Outside the building a giant dyke was a haunting reminder of rising sea levels everywhere.
Demonstrators
From Seattle to Stockholm and most shamefully in Genoa, international political gatherings have been overshadowed by violent confrontations between protestors and police.
Demonstrators
From Seattle to Stockholm and most shamefully in Genoa, international political gatherings have been overshadowed by violent confrontations between protestors and police.
Not so in The Hague, where it was taken for granted that those outside should be heard by those inside. Protests at COP 6 were notable, not only for their lack of violent confrontation, but also for the general atmosphere that protesters belong at such important decision-making events.
This was primarily due to the way the Climate Change Conference was managed by COP 6 President Jan Pronk, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Michael Zammit Cutajar, the Dutch authorities, police, delegates and demonstrators.
During the weekend between the two weeks of negotiations
During the weekend between the two weeks of negotiations
