FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting) has a weekly radio show called Counterspin. The program reaches 150 noncommercial stations across the United States and Canada. This week Global Justice Ecology Project’s Anne Petermann was one one of the guests. She spoke about her experiences at UN Climate Conventions between 2004 and 2011.
“The UN has worked hard to squeeze civil society and grassroots voices out of the dialogue and process,” she said. “The UN has demonstrated time and time again that they have no interest in what grassroots voices have to say. There is no way that corporate dominated government is going to make any difference with climate change.” “Direct action, directly confronting the powers that are oppressing us and destroying the environment and taking power in our own hands is how we force change and force the transformation that we need.”
She also spoke about her and other’s concerns that the People’s Climate March did not have strong overarching demands, and that many of the groups at the table included industry, bankers, Goldman Sachs, Duke Energy, and others that promote corporate profiteering as a part of corporate campaign on climate change strategies.
When asked about the other groups and voices that joined the giant march, she said, “I was also very happy to see a broad diversity of approaches and voices that were truly grassroots groups calling for transformation and not just reform. Confronting the false solutions and the false voices that are out there is, especially with climate change is encouraging.”
Anne Petermann of the Global Justice Ecology Project addresses Plenary Session Climate Convergence Conference, 19 September 2014
Counterspin with guest Anne Petermann: Listen to the whole interview here.
