Large #Climate protests for #COP21 banned in #Paris and France reports @takvera

This afternoon the French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, ruled that the two large climate marches in Paris and the main cities in France on November 29 and December 12 would be prohibited. Negotiations between climate activist organisations and the French state have been ocurring early this week regarding approval for civil society public events and […]

Europe Diary: #Nantes, the abolition of slavery and #climate change – @takvera

On Sunday I visited the Memorial to the abolition of slavery in Nantes and was deeply moved. It is located on the bank of the Loire River, opposite the Palais de Justice that stands on the Ile de Nantes. The city of Nantes has looked into the darkness of it’s past in abuse of human […]

Solidarity with the murdered victims in Paris: @takvera reports from #Nantes #jesuisparis

My journey to the UN climate conference in Paris has involved staying in the regional city of Nantes for a week. Too short a period to do it justice, I fear. The atrocities committed in Paris have already overshadowed my stay in this green and progressive city. I attended a meeting in Nantes last Friday […]

Terrorism in Paris casts a cloud across UN #climate conference says @takvera #jesuisparis

People around the world will have woken this morning to news of the horrific terrorism attacks in Paris on a Friday night. Over 120 dead, more than 200 injured, many seriously, at six sites. Seven of the eight attackers blew themselves up with strapped on suicide vests and an eighth attacker was shot by police […]

Can a leopard change it’s spots? Australia’s schizophrenic #climate diplomacy at #COP21 reports @takvera

It seems Ministers from 62 nations were won over by Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s charm at Precop with applause being delivered to speeches from Ministers from both Australia and Canada. (see my article on the Paris Precop ministerial meeting) Australia is being seen as back on side diplomatically on the climate issue, especially after […]

Canada welcomed at Paris #PreCOP #climate Ministerial meeting says @takvera #COP21

A high level informal Ministerial pre-summit climate conference is currently under way in Paris to try and close some of the differences in negotiating positions to set up momentum for the Paris Climate Conference. The outstanding highlight has been the return of Canada to the serious climate discussion table, although it is still very early […]

French Oil giant Total accused of #climate crimes against humanity reports @takvera #COP21

Paris: Climate activists this morning targeted the head office of French petroleum firm Total and accused them of crimes against humanity due to greenhouse gases destroying the climate. The CEO of Total, Mr Patrick Pouyanné, was cited in a convocation of ‘criminal’ climate practices of his company. The protest action was organised by Action Non […]

Australia at sustainability crossroads at #Paris2015 #climate talks says @takvera #Auspol #COP21

There is much momentum for a binding climate change agreement in Paris, but success is by no means assured. In less than 4 weeks time leaders, ministers and diplomats will sit down to try and again thrash out an agreement over two weeks. This was supposed to happen six years ago in Copenhagen but the […]

Halloween heat in UK , France says @takvera travelling to #Paris2015 #Cop21 #climate talks

I have been travelling in England and Europe for 6 weeks now. It is supposed to be Autumn going into Winter, yet there is still plenty of warmth despite the shorter days. Other than a few days of rain, it has been remarkably fine: T-shirt and shorts weather, although a jacket is sometimes needed for […]

Environment Minister roof protest by @climateGuardia over #Adani #coalmine approval reports @takvera

BREAKING: Melbourne’s climate Guardian Angels have descended on top of Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s electoral office in Hastings in a rooftop protest at the re-approval of the Adani Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee basin. The original Minister’s approval for the Carmichael Coal mine had to be set aside when challenged by the Mackay Conservation […]