Members of Canada’s COP 17 youth delegation, including “rogue page” Brigette DePape, have been kicked out of the climate change conference after protesting Canada’s national statement Wednesday.When Environment Minister Peter Kent launched into his speech shortly after noon in Durban, the six youth delegates turned their backs on him, revealing matching shirts that read across the back, “Turn your back on Canada.”
The youth received an ovation from people watching the address, according to a release from the Canadian Youth Delegation. But the protesters were quickly escorted out of the convention centre, and had their accreditation to the conference revoked.
“Our so-called environment minister entered these talks by going on record that he would be defending the tar sands. I have yet to hear him say that he’s here to defend my future,” said James Hutt, one of the youth delegates, in a statement.
Kent used his statement to the UN parties to reiterate Canada’s position that Kyoto is “in the past” and will proceed with the Cancun agreements instead.
The COP 17 incident closely mirrors DePape’s Throne Speech protest, in which she stood silently in the Senate with a “Stop Harper” sign until she was removed from the chamber by a guard. She also lost her job and access to the parliamentary buildings.
Since the conference began last Monday, Canada has received 12 Fossil Awards for having an outdated attitude towards climate change. One of the others Canadians ejected today was Matthew Chisholm, who has been delivering tongue-in-cheek acceptance speeches on behalf of Canada.
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Source: iPolitico
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