Copenhagen Protests Call for Emission Cuts

The Copenhagen climate conference brought not only heads of states to discuss the environment but tens of thousands of demonstrators demanding action by the leaders to cut emissions.

Later, police arrested 600 to 700 protesters at demonstrations throughout the city. The New York Times reported that the violence “was a stark counterpoint to the otherwise peaceful march, in which a rolling sea of flags and banners undulated across the city.” Speakers at the protests raised a myriad of issues, including objections to nuclear power and genetically modified food. —JCL

The New York Times:

The police and organizers estimated that 60,000 to 100,000 participants joined a long march from Christiansborg Slotsplads, or Castle Square, southward to the Bella Center, the sprawling and heavily fortified convention center where delegates and observers from nearly 200 nations are gathered to seek a consensus.

The main demonstration — which brought together a broad coalition of hundreds of environmental groups, human rights campaigners, climate activists, anti-capitalists and freelance protesters from dozens of countries — was mostly peaceful.

[...] Most bore slogans related to global warming or urging world leaders to resolve the vast differences that still make an international accord seem elusive as talks here move into the second and final week.

“Bla, Bla, Bla,” read one popular sign. “Act Now!”

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Flickr / InvestigateWest

Demonstrators on Friday march peacefully through downtown Copenhagen. On Saturday, at least 600 were arrested when violence broke out in protests throughout the city.