Activists Use Satire to Stimulate Efficiency in COP18

Doha, November 28 (QNA) - A group of activists and civil society employees came up with an idea to break the norm of technical and scientific terms, and serious discussions and meetings in the COP18 by creating the "Worst Performance" prize, which is awarded to the country, organization or group with the worst stances, performance or discussions. Activists chose the worst four countries on Monday, the first day of the conference, while two of them took the stage on Tuesday carrying the flags of the two countries that were picked as the worst performers in the Doha-based conference. The countries were chosen based on their positions, which activists deemed as falling short of the aspirations of peoples in preserving the planet. Mostafa Medhat, an activist and regional coordinator for the Arab Youth for Climate movement, said that the group does not only participate in the Worst Performance prize, but will also organize a march on Saturday, along with other movements, to pressure participating delegations into ending the global division on the Kyoto Protocol. "We are in the 18th session, and it is inconceivable that making a decision is postponed beyond that." Medhat said that activists from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom are working to push governments and delegations to work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and halt practices that are harmful to the planet. The regional coordinator for the Arab Youth for Climate movement also noted that Arab and foreign activists cooperate in training and exchanging experiences in human rights, social environment and sustainable development. The Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are also active in monitoring the conference on the social networks of Facebook and Twitter, and regularly meet official delegations to learn about the different viewpoints and the potential outcome of the final negotiations. (QNA)