Protests, pleading at climate talks

By Beth Daley, Globe Staff

 
COPENHAGEN -- A pulsating wave of humanity, tens of thousands strong, amassed in this frigid capital city today to urge world leaders to resolve their remaining differences and strike an international climate deal next week.
 
While the protestors marched with banners, signs, and flags, some said they were just carrying hope that differences among the 192 nations gathered here over firm emission targets and financing could be negotiated down into a meaningful document when heads of states begin to arrive next week.
 
Crowd estimates differed widely, with police saying upwards of 30,000 protestors showed up and organizers claiming 100,000. While the protest was largely peaceful, several hundred arrests were made, some for isolated violence and some in what police described as preventive action.
 
Hours before the 1 p.m. (7 a.m. Boston time) four-mile walk began, protestors began gathering with blue ponchos, floats, signs, music -- and gas masks (to protest nuclear power). Families with children and people from literally every corner of the globe spent the next four hours chatting, chanting, and singing about everything from climate justice to going vegetarian to stopping energy-intensive meat production.
 
"I go to a lot of protests and sometimes, they can be disempowering and even boring," said Eleanor Smith, 23, of London, who attended the march and works for Friends of the Earth. "But the music, the levels of people, the chanting … it was all very inspiring."
 
UN Climate Chief Yvo de Boer and conference president Connie Hedegaard, Denmark's minister of climate and energy, met briefly with the protesters, de Boer said in an evening press conference here.