Indonesian NGO helps small island communities

As widely expected, the Bali Conference proved to be an inconclusive shebang. Most media have focussed on the USA's intransigence and unwillingness to join the global consensus until it was time to go home. A few conciliatory words from their chief delegate lead to a standing ovation then a rush to the exits.

George Monbiot has written thus:
"After 11 days of negotiations, governments have come up with a compromise deal that could even lead to emission increases. The highly compromised political deal is largely attributable to the position of the United States, which was heavily influenced by fossil fuel and automobile industry interests. The failure to reach agreement led to the talks spilling over into an all-night session."

These are extracts from a press release by Friends of the Earth. So what?

Well it was published on December 11 ........ 1997. George Bush was innocent; he was busy executing prisoners in Texas. Its climate negotiators were led by Albert Arnold Gore.

In allowing developed (i.e. western) nations to buy greenhouse emissions cuts from 'developing' (i.e. poor with non-caucasian rulers) countries, entrepreneurs in India and China have made billions by building factories whose primary purpose is to produce greenhouse gases, so that carbon traders in the rich world will pay to clean them up.

Meanwhile, several nations which will soon disappear thanks to the rising oceans, could not afford to attend this year's conference. An Indian journalist has written about the role of an Indonesian NGO, Biotani, in defending their interests.

The Bali conference also adopted a resolution on adaptation fund to help poor nations to cope with damage from climate change impact like droughts, extreme weather conditions or rising seas. The Adaptation Fund now comprises only about $36 million but might rise to $1-$5 billion a year by 2030, if investments in green technology in developing nations surges.

A group of small island communities, led by Biotani Indonesia Foundation, has urged that the adaptation fund should include a special corpus to cover their initiatives.

$36 million. Wow!

Might rise ..... if ??

Who gives a shit? Certainly not the Bushes and Bakries.

All praise to Biotani who demonstrate that it's going to take us little folk to repair the world.