1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 A number of protests are being held today at the climate change conference 2 00:00:04,130 --> 00:00:07,000 to protest the failure of world leaders 3 00:00:07,007 --> 00:00:10,337 to agree to immediately agree to a deal of binding emissions cuts. 4 00:00:10,372 --> 00:00:17,724 Earlier today, Anjali Appadurai, a student at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, 5 00:00:17,759 --> 00:00:20,142 addressed the conference on behalf of youth delegates. 6 00:00:20,177 --> 00:00:27,359 I’d now like to give the floor to Miss Anjali Appadurai with College of the Atlantic, 7 00:00:27,394 --> 00:00:31,551 who will speak on behalf of youth non-governmental organizations. 8 00:00:31,586 --> 00:00:34,183 Miss Appadurai, you have the floor. 9 00:00:34,218 --> 00:00:38,001 I speak for more than half the world’s population. 10 00:00:38,036 --> 00:00:40,850 We are the silent majority. 11 00:00:40,885 --> 00:00:43,059 You’ve given us a seat in this hall, 12 00:00:43,094 --> 00:00:45,493 but our interests are not on the table. 13 00:00:45,528 --> 00:00:48,086 What does it take to get a stake in this game? 14 00:00:48,121 --> 00:00:51,167 Lobbyists? Corporate influence? Money? 15 00:00:51,202 --> 00:00:54,023 You’ve been negotiating all my life. 16 00:00:54,058 --> 00:00:56,797 In that time, you’ve failed to meet pledges, 17 00:00:56,832 --> 00:00:59,447 you’ve missed targets, and you’ve broken promises. 18 00:00:59,482 --> 00:01:01,592 But you’ve heard this all before. 19 00:01:01,627 --> 00:01:06,354 We’re in Africa, home to communities on the front line of climate change. 20 00:01:06,389 --> 00:01:10,851 The world’s poorest countries need funding for adaptation now. 21 00:01:10,886 --> 00:01:16,878 The Horn of Africa and those nearby in KwaMashu needed it yesterday. 22 00:01:16,913 --> 00:01:21,207 But as 2012 dawns, our Green Climate Fund remains empty. 23 00:01:21,242 --> 00:01:24,201 The International Energy Agency tells us 24 00:01:24,503 --> 00:01:29,314 we have five years until the window to avoid irreversible climate change closes. 25 00:01:29,793 --> 00:01:33,480 The science tells us that we have five years maximum. 26 00:01:33,515 --> 00:01:36,944 You’re saying, "Give us 10." 27 00:01:37,001 --> 00:01:40,834 The most stark betrayal of your generation’s responsibility to ours 28 00:01:40,869 --> 00:01:43,762 is that you call this "ambition." 29 00:01:43,797 --> 00:01:46,809 Where is the courage in these rooms? 30 00:01:46,844 --> 00:01:50,490 Now is not the time for incremental action. 31 00:01:50,525 --> 00:01:54,277 In the long run, these will be seen as the defining moments of an era 32 00:01:54,312 --> 00:01:57,851 in which narrow self-interest prevailed 33 00:01:57,886 --> 00:02:01,353 over science, reason and common compassion. 34 00:02:01,388 --> 00:02:04,450 There is real ambition in this room, 35 00:02:04,485 --> 00:02:09,091 but it’s been dismissed as radical, deemed not politically possible. 36 00:02:09,126 --> 00:02:12,147 Stand with Africa. 37 00:02:12,182 --> 00:02:15,061 Long-term thinking is not radical. 38 00:02:15,096 --> 00:02:18,590 What’s radical is to completely alter the planet’s climate, 39 00:02:18,625 --> 00:02:20,465 to betray the future of my generation, 40 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:24,530 and to condemn millions to death by climate change. 41 00:02:24,565 --> 00:02:29,937 What’s radical is to write off the fact that change is within our reach. 42 00:02:29,972 --> 00:02:35,002 2011 was the year in which the silent majority found their voice, 43 00:02:35,037 --> 00:02:37,139 the year when the bottom shook the top. 44 00:02:37,174 --> 00:02:41,012 2011 was the year when the radical became reality. 45 00:02:41,047 --> 00:02:45,045 Common, but differentiated, and historical responsibility are not up for debate. 46 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:50,407 Respect the foundational principles of this convention. 47 00:02:50,442 --> 00:02:53,776 Respect the integral values of humanity. 48 00:02:53,811 --> 00:02:56,681 Respect the future of your descendants. 49 00:02:56,716 --> 00:02:58,338 Mandela said, 50 00:02:58,373 --> 00:03:01,404 "It always seems impossible, until it’s done." 51 00:03:01,439 --> 00:03:06,038 So, distinguished delegates and governments around the world, 52 00:03:06,073 --> 00:03:09,198 governments of the developed world: 53 00:03:09,233 --> 00:03:11,670 Deep cuts now ! 54 00:03:11,705 --> 00:03:13,158 Get it done ! 55 00:03:19,243 --> 00:03:20,790 Mic check! 56 00:03:20,054 --> 00:03:24,000 Equity now! 57 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,128 Equity now! 58 00:03:30,202 --> 00:03:34,000 You’ve run out of excuses! 59 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:37,500 We’re running out of time! 60 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,000 Get it done! 61 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,000 Get it done! 62 00:03:57,525 --> 00:04:00,132 Thank you, Miss Appadurai, 63 00:04:00,167 --> 00:04:05,107 who was speaking on behalf of half of the world’s population, 64 00:04:05,142 --> 00:04:08,497 I think she said at the beginning. 65 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,770 And on a purely personal note, 66 00:04:14,805 --> 00:04:19,789 I wonder why we let not speak half of the world’s population 67 00:04:19,824 --> 00:04:24,180 first in this conference, but only last. 68 00:04:30,693 --> 00:04:36,638 That was a speech by Anjali Appadurai here in Durban at the U.N. climate change talks. 69 00:04:36,673 --> 00:04:41,192 Just after her speech, as you heard, she led a mic check from the stage, 70 00:04:41,227 --> 00:04:46,112 a move inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protests around the world. 71 00:04:46,147 --> 00:04:52,408 This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. 72 00:04:52,443 --> 00:04:56,064 I’m Amy Goodman, as we broadcast live from Durban, South Africa. Back in a moment.