Volunteers occupy tanker- Italy
Update: 18th July , 2001
Much buoyed by the ongoing occupation of the Exxon tanker near Genoa, our delegation spread out early this morning across the conference center, gathering information and position papers, and focussing on the details of the negotiations for their assigned groups.
Today is the last day that substantive progress can be made before the ministers start the political negotiations in earnest tomorrow.
The Greenpeace US student delegation provided some very interesting colour to the otherwise drab proceedings by staging a few impromptu demonstrations around the venue, including some 'pro Kyoto' cheerleaders, urging the delegates to get down to business. We welcomed our Climate Witness delegation from Fiji and Nicaragua today. You'll hear more from them tomorrow.
By the end of the afternoon, Chairman Pronk held a press briefing explaining the state of the negotiations at present. He said that he had started the the meeting in a very pessimistic mood, but now he was feeling real signs of optimism that a deal could be reached.
The Japanese have stated publicly that they want a deal here in Bonn, although behind the scenes they are still taking a hard line approach.
Canada and Australia seem to have taken on the task of wrecking things internally. We are counseling delegations to ignore them. Now comes the real business. We'll know by the end of Sunday night or early Monday morning or it may drag on longer than that.
Steve Sawyer- Greenpeace International
