Climate talks petition

This is from Avaaz. Italy, Poland and Germany are undermining the climate negotiations. Please sign up to their petition.

Dear friends, While the world's attention is elsewhere, the global negotiations to tackle the climate crisis are reaching a crunch point. Talks are underway in Poland and Brussels to hammer out a deal that should lead to a new and powerful global treaty. But now, Italy, Germany, and Poland itself are aggressively undermining the talks. If these countries' leaders -- Merkel, Berlusconi and Tusk -- don't change course now, Europe will fail to reach a unified position, which could unravel the entire global process. Here at the Poland UN conference and at the EU talks in Brussels, Avaaz has secured face-to-face meetings with key climate negotiators. We'll hand the diplomats fresh public opinion polls on climate plus this petition: A bold EU climate package is critical to the global climate negotiations. Europe must honour their promise to increase binding, carbon-cutting commitments to at least 30% by 2020 if a global deal is reached; and provide leadership in the United Nations talks to deliver a powerful new global agreement. By simply clicking "yes," you will automatically add your name. Do you support this petition? For the last year, the US, Canada, and Japan have been the worst obstructionists in climate talks -- as more than 300,000 of us helped expose in Bali. But now, Bush, Fukuda and Harper are gone or heading out the door. A breakthrough could be near as we approach the final stretch... if only Europe weren't on the verge of abandoning its ambitious climate program. Coal and heavy industry lobbies are using the financial crisis as a smokescreen to block progress. Due to Germany, Italy, and Poland, the European Union is deadlocked in Brussels -- and ineffective at the United Nations talks. We must succeed this week to have any chance of building the road map to the final UN meeting in Copenhagen next year. In all three countries, it's not too late. We can show these governments that their own citizens and the rest of the world will not settle for anything less than strong climate action. Avaaz is commissioning independent opinion polls on climate in all three countries, building a massive global petition for delivery in meetings and stunts at the UN and EU talks, and launching a major media campaign to shame, cajole, and encourage EU leaders to do the right thing. Click here to add your name to the petition: http://www.avaaz.org/en/europe_climate_crunch_time Or click here if you don't wish to sign: http://www.avaaz.org/en/europe_climate_no/?cl=153360125&v=2501 Before Obama takes the helm, the next step in the world's response to climate change depends on European leadership. Here's what we need Europe to bring to the global table: 30% emissions cut by 2020 if a global deal is reached, 100% auctioning of permits, and a strict compliance regime to ensure targets are met. The EU's climate policy will electrify or dampen the international negotiations in Poland, while setting the stage for the final meeting in Copenhagen. For all of us who have ever been concerned about climate change, now's the time to send a message calling for leadership and vision. By the time we reach the new year, Europe's policy will be sealed, and with it much of the global response to the climate crisis. With determination, Ben, Iain, Brett, Graziela, Ricken, Paula, Milena, Paul, Alice, Pascal -- and the rest of the Avaaz team ----------------------------------------- ABOUT AVAAZ Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Buenos Aires, and Geneva. Call us at: +1 888 922 8229 or +55 21 2509 0368 Click here to learn more about our largest campaigns. Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages! To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to info@avaaz.org. You can also call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US) or +55 21 2509 0368 (Brazil) If you have technical problems, please go to http://www.avaaz.org

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