WEBCAST & FULL TRANSCRIPT of Evo’s full speech today…
Webcast:
Starts 2:06 hrs in
18 December 2009
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Evo Morales Ayma
Plurinational State of Bolivia
“Minister, President of Conference. Thanks for letting me speak again
like other Presidents like I did yesterday. I am very worried about the
way this document is being approved by presidents who arrived at the
last minute. There are presidents who arrived a few days ago, respecting
the processes for coming to an agreement. We recognise the words of
Secretary General of UN who said that “now has arrived the moment of
everyone,” not of just a few. We denounce here that there are a group of
presidents who are deciding for a few, not for everyone, let alone
fighting for life and humanity. I share some words of presidents who
spoke this morning that we should leave proudly from this event, that
this should be about working democratically and transparently to save
lives. I also want to draw attention to the words of Obama, who said we
didn’t come to talk but to act. However if he wants to act then he
should comply with Kyoto Protocol. This is acting not talking. From this
point let all money that is spent on wars be spent instead on saving
human lives planet. This will be proof that we are here not just to talk
but to act.
What is in debate here is whether we are to live or we are to die. Are
we here to save lives or we are here to kill? The difference is very
clear, as is the issue of temperatures. I don’t have a technical
knowledge of these issues, but I am advised that an increase of 2
degrees based on current agreements would eliminate islands in the
world, eliminate snow of Andes and elsewhere. This is very serious.
People won’t accept this and will judge it.
Another key issue is the irrational industrialization by powerful rich
nations. They suggest reducing real emissions by 50% by 2050, but people
who fight for saving lives talk of 90% and 100%. This is a profound
difference.
I suggest if there are no agreements at these presidential levels, why
not submit ourselves to the people? This is the most democratic. This is
what I have learned from my short time in government: that those who
govern best are those who submit themselves to people, understanding and
listening to the peoples. This is a participatory democracy where our
peoples decide. I even suggest that in April 2010, which will be
International Day of Mother Earth, we should subject ourselves to people
through a referendum. This difference we have as presidents we can
resolve by letting people have their say about what should apply on
issues of climate change. This can avoid the internal fights, the secret
and hidden work that has been a disturbing aspect of this conference. I
don’t agree about how issues have been managed here. We need to remember
the words of the Secretary General that this conference must be of all.
We have many responsibilities but let us be very clear that we must
subject ourselves to the people. Instead of giving money to military
bases, military interventions and wars, this money must instead be
invested in saving planet earth. This will be being responsible. This
conference hasn’t corresponded to transparency not just of presidents.
We should be permanently consulting our peoples. They know the problems
and the issues. This is my experience. When we govern by submitting
ourselves to people, we get better results, creating equality. We are
debating environmental problem and climate change here. But where did it
come from? Who is responsible? And where is the responsibility? The
cause is the capitalist system. If we don’t identify and understand the
causes, we could continue debating in lots of conferences and summits,
but will never resolve issue. If we want to save lives, humanity, and
planet earth, then we must confront this economic system and thereby
save humanity.”
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