As UN Restricts NGOs, Media, COP15 Side Events Draw Crowds

The United Nations on Thursday decided to restrict access to the global climate talks in Copenhagen for non-governmental organisations and it confronted journalists with additional security. br /
The measures were put in place as more than hundred world leaders began arriving in the Danish capital. This politician regretted the move.br /
Jo Leinenbr /
So as a quiet tension took hold of the Bella Centre, side-events in the centre of town became more lively. br /
The Klimaforum is one of these. Among the visitors... These three aspiring journalists and bloggers, from Brasil, Italy and Bulgaria. They won a trip to cover the climate talks as part of the ThinkAboutIt dot EU blogging competition.br /
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The Klimaforum mostly met the needs of those who are already convinced of the need to deal with climate change. br /
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Climate skeptics had their own event at a separate venue.br /
The official negotiations on a comprehensive climate deal continued on Thursday, again without clear progress. Increasingly, observers, analysts and even politicians are admitting that a full-fledged agreement no longer is possible, and suggest such a deal needs to be hammered out in Mexico in six months.br /
But even if that happens, the Copenhagen summit, according to some, will not have been a waste of time and energy.br /
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Raymond Frenken, EUX.TV, Copenhagen Distributed by Tubemogul.