[Gipfelsoli Newsletter] Copenhagen -- Pittsburgh

[International Newsletter]

- Police Beat Delegates Trying to Join Protest Outside COP-15
- Police fire tear gas and arrest protesters who try to storm Copenhagen summit
- Police target CJA spoke people
- Friends of the Earth among activists barred from Copenhagen conference centre
- Massive attack on the freedom of press
- Pictures protest and police COP15 16 December 2009
- Pictures protest and police COP15 16 December 2009
- Pictures protest and police COP15 16 December 2009
- Release Tadzio Mueller and the other climate prisoners!
- ACLU Sues Pittsburgh For Harassment, Intimidation

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Police Beat Delegates Trying to Join Protest Outside COP-15

Today, 100 COP-15 delegates – led by two members of the Bolivian government
delegation, and dozens of members of organizations from the Global South and
Indigenous groups – marched out of the Copenhagen climate talks and tried to
join the People’s Assembly at the Reclaim Power protest outside, only to be
blocked and severely beaten by Danish police (who were working closely together
with UN security).

The police cracked down incredibly hard on the Reclaim Power protest today –
both inside and outside the Bella Center – but they didn’t prevent the protest
from being an incredibly powerful and formative moment in the global movement
for climate justice.

More:
http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/12/16/police-beat-delegates-trying-to-join-protest-outside-cop-15/
091216/2


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Police fire tear gas and arrest protesters who try to storm Copenhagen summit

Police fired tear gas and made at least 200 arrests today as thousands of
climate change activists tried to breach security at the UN environmental
summit in Copenhagen.

Groups of protesters arrived at the summit as world leaders including Hugo
Chavez of Venezuela and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe gathered for a final push
towards an agreement to tackle global warming and had planned to storm the
venue, including the main negotiating hall.

But they were stopped at police barricades as they arrived at Bella Centre, the
sprawling conference venue on the outskirts of Copenhagen.

More: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6958680.ece
091216/2


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Police target CJA spoke people

Following yesterday's arrest of Tadzio Muller after the Climate Justice Action
press conference, and about four more spokespeople were violently snatched out
of the crowd today. At 18:00 a CJA press conference will address the arrests of
the media spokespeople that aim to limit their freedom of speech.

As was reported yesterday, a CJA activist and spokes person, Tadzio Muller was
violently snatched by police minutes after he left a Climate Justice Action
press conference at the Bella Centre, where COP15 is held. The conference
presented the rationale behind today's Reclaim Power! action, that aimed to
take over the climate conference for one day, and turn it into a people's
assembly. Some mainstream media has since branded Tadzio as the "leader" of
CJA, which is blatantly rubbish, while others relay a more balanced view, and
echo fears that the police is trying to silence dissent by targetting spokes
people.

More: http://indymedia.dk/articles/1885 091216/2


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Friends of the Earth among activists barred from Copenhagen conference centre

Friends of the Earth international, Avaaz, Tck Tck Tck and other mainstream
environment coalition groups were refused entry to the Copenhagen conference
centre this morning without being given any reason.

The Bella Centre is the focal point for climate activists who are aiming to
invade the summit today. Around the city, some 150 arrests have been made this
morning as part of an intensification of security to keep the lid on actions in
the conference centre as the first of 115 world leaders arrives in Copenhagen
amid the major protests.

In a separate development, hundreds of non-government groups are to be
individually banned from the centre or have their numbers slashed from tomorrow
to make way for world leaders. Only 1,000 people from civil society will be
allowed in to the conference hall tomorrow, and 90 on Friday.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/16/friends-of-the-earth-barred-bella-centre
091216/2


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Massive attack on the freedom of press

Two German reporters from Rostock, Germany were arrested whilst working. The
young women, both 23 years old, were reporting for the German Association of
Free Radio (BFR). A review resulted in the remand of both in custody until the
23rd of December at the latest. The association strongly condemns the massive
restrictions on the freedom of press and demands the immediate release of the
two colleagues.

More: http://indymedia.dk/articles/1823 091216/2


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Pictures protest and police COP15 16 December 2009

More:
http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Repression/Copenhagen_2009/COP15_2009_Pictures/8065.html


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Pictures protest and police COP15 16 December 2009

More:
http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Repression/Copenhagen_2009/COP15_2009_Pictures/8073.html


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Pictures protest and police COP15 16 December 2009

More:
http://www.gipfelsoli.org/Repression/Copenhagen_2009/COP15_2009_Pictures/8069.html


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Release Tadzio Mueller and the other climate prisoners!

To:  The Danish Parliament

Over the past week, tens of thousands of people from across the planet have
taken to the streets of Copenhagen demanding real and just solutions to climate
change. But on the streets, as well as inside the UN Climate Change Conference,
delegates and ‘outsiders’ alike are doubting that the conference will reach a
deal that isn’t a disaster for most of the world.

Inside the Bella Centre, where the UN delegates are meeting, numerous critical
voices have been marginalised through technical and procedural manoeuvres.
Others, like Friends of the Earth International, have had their accreditation
revoked. Outside, the policing of protest has been consistently draconian and
occasionally brutal.

More: http://www.petitiononline.com/Tadzio/petition.html


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ACLU Sues Pittsburgh For Harassment, Intimidation

Civil Rights Group Says City Suppressed Free Speech During G-20

PITTSBURGH — The American Civil Liberties Union has announced it’s suing the
City of Pittsburgh over official’s treatment of protesters gathered for
September’s G-20 economic summit.

Protesters and police clashed during the event, which brought world financial
leaders to the city’s downtown for meetings about issues affecting the global
economy.

According to a news release from the ACLU, the group is suing the city and
police officers for what they say were efforts to thwart peaceful protest.

More: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/21962373/detail.html