The gloves are off

On the brink of chaos and swarmed in confusion, the masses take in all they can on the last day of total admittance to the Bella Center, the conference facility housing the COP15 negotiations.

Admittance badges for civil society will be limited to 30% tomorrow, down to just 1000 on Thursday and only 90 on Friday. The conversation, pace and spirit is uneasy and fast-paced. Groups are trying to strategically place themselves in and around the center to ensure the greatest impact and coverage.

To thicken the plot, the G77 (developing) nations have just walked out of the negotiations due to a deadlock in conversation with developed countries (aka Annex I). The G77 group is "a loose coalition of developing nations, designed to promote its members' collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations" (Wikipedia) and includes the majority of African and South American nations, many in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The AP reports:
"U.N. climate talks have been thrown into disarray as developing countries blocked negotiations, demanding that rich countries raise their pledges for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Representatives from developing countries said they refused to participate in any working groups Monday at the 192-nation summit until the issue was resolved.

The move was a setback for the Copenhagen talks, which were already faltering over long-running disputes between rich and poor nations over emissions cuts and financing for developing countries to deal with climate change."

So it's a debate of responsibility and equity in regards to carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions. And although this walkout is a set back and the tension is high, many still talk with hope in their hearts, minds and voices.