Apache Junction, Ariz., Dec. 9 -
The Pinal County Greens today passed a resolution honoring Abigail Borah, the 21-year-old Middlebury College junior from Princeton, N.J., who spoke out yesterday at the international climate change conference, COP 17, in Durban, South Africa. Ms. Borah interrupted a speech by Todd D. Stern, the Obama administration’s special envoy for climate change.
The Pinal County Greens' resolution urged President Obama "to replace the incompetent current climate change envoy with Abigail Borah, who spoke with the kind of passion and common sense required in these crucial talks on the most important issue for our planet."
According to the New York Times, Abigail Borah
told the assembly that she would speak for the United States because Mr. Stern had forfeited the right to do so.
“I am speaking on behalf of the United States of America because my negotiators cannot,” said Ms. Borah, who is attending the conference as a representative of the International Youth Climate Movement. “The obstructionist Congress has shackled justice and delayed ambition for far too long. I am scared for my future. 2020 is too late to wait. We need an urgent path to a fair, ambitious and legally binding treaty.”
Scores of delegates and observers gave her a sustained ovation. Then the South African authorities threw her out of the conference. “That’s O.K.,” Ms. Borah, who is from Princeton, N.J., said later by telephone. “I think I got my point across.”
"Her eloquence is a sharp contrast to President Obama's 'empty rhetoric,'" said Richard Grayson, Pinal County Greens co-chair. "She should be appointed the new special envoy on climate change, as she represents the United States far better than the ineffectual and clueless Todd Stern. She truly spoke truth to power."
The Pinal County Greens are members of the Arizona Green Party in Pinal County.
