Antarctica, rising sea levels, and exxons coverup what they knew as early as the 1970s about Climate Change. They were doing some of the best science in the discipline, and they then defunded those programs and then started to actively fund disinformation campaigns to punctuate your profitability. Amy and british climate expert and former world bank chief economist lord Nicholas Stern weighs in on president ial candidate Donald Trumps denial of the human impact on Climate Change. There is a u. S. President ial campaign underway. The republican president ial candidates led by donald trump say Climate Change is not a problem in that it is not humaninduced. Your response to him . It is wrong. If he is new scientific results that overturns 200 years of science and the bulk of the literature, im sure he will be publishing them inside to pick journals, and they would love to see what he has to write. Amy this is climate countdown. All that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. We are broadcasting live from the cop21 in paris, france. Talks here at the u. N. Climate summit in paris have been extended into the weekend as representatives from nearly 200 nations work to finalize a global accord. A draft text released thursday includes the target of limiting Global Warming to 1. 5 degrees celsius, or 2. 7 degrees fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels. Including the 1. 5 degrees celsius target meets a key demand of lowlying and vulnerable nations. Many are concerned the target is voluntary. Also, environmentalists and Civil Society have expressed concern about many other provisions, and there remain over 50 points of disagreement between nations negotiating the draft. Well have more from the cop21 after headlines. Syrias key opposition groups have agreed on a negotiating position for future international talks on ending syrias civil war. Meeting in saudi arabia, the rebels agreed to talks with the syrian regime, but only if president basher alassad and his top aides step down at the start of any political transition. The groups say they would talk to the regime within a specific timeframe that would be agreed on with the United Nations. But assad has repeatedly rejected calls for his ouster as a nonstarter. In washington, state Department Spokesperson john kirby called the accord a step forward. This was an important milestone in getting to a place where in early january, they can actually begin to have political negotiations with the regime. This was a critical stir first step in getting there. Theres still more work to do between now, between the conclusion of todays meeting, and sometime in early january when we hope these political negotiations can continue. One big thing is to pick a negotiating team. Amy a recent road map agreed to by world powers would see talks between the rebels and the regime begin next month followed by a ceasefire. Wednesdays meeting in saudi arabia excluded syrias kurdish fighters. The Iraqi Government says its made gains despite suffering new casualties in the campagin to retake ramadi from the islamic state. At least two dozen iraqi soldiers were reportedly killed in a pair of suicide bombings. But iraq says it now controls more than half of ramadi, and plans a new push to root out the remaining isil fighters. The pentagon, meanwhile, claims its killed three top isil leaders in recent bombings. Army colonel steve warren said u. S. Led strikes have killed isils finance chief and two other senior figures. We recently conducted strikes isils three leaders in financial and leadership network. Their removal will degrade isils ability to command and control troops and it disrupts their ability to finance their efforts. Amy a white, former Oklahoma CityPolice Officer has been convicted in the serial rapes of mostly africanamerican women. Daniel holtzclaw carried out the assaults while on duty after threatening victims with arrest if they did not comply with his sexual demands. On thursday, a jury found him guilty on 18 counts. 13 victims testified during the trial, each with similar stories of threats, rape, and sexual assault. They ranged in ages from 17 to 57, and all but one are africanamerican. Holtzclaw faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced next month. Hundreds of people rallied in new york city on thursday outside Donald Trumps midtown hotel to protest the republican president ial frontrunners recent call to ban muslims from the United States. There shouldnt be a number of how many syrians are allowed into this country. Islamophobia, all of it, is becoming a real issue. At one point, they are not regulations and more putting fear into the arab and muslim community. Amy a petition to ban trump from entering the United Kingdom in response to his call for banning muslims from the u. S. Has gotten over 475,000 signatures, making it the most popular petition ever on the british governments website. The petitions description says the u. K. Has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech. The British Parliament must intended debating it because it has surpassed 100,000 signatures. We will speak with leading british economist lord stern about trumps views on Climate Change later in the broadcast. Meanwhile in the aftermath of Donald Trumps comments, islamophobic incidents continue nationwide. On thursday, the Capitol Hill Office of the council on americanislamic relations was evacuated after a threatening envelope arrived by mail. The letter contained a suspicious white powder and a note reading, die a painful death, muslims. Cair spokesperson Ibrahim Hooper told reporters that tests showed the powder posed no danger. Field tests are showing there is no hazard. It is now in the hands of the fbi, who will do more extensive tests on it to confirm that there is not the substance was not dangerous. So we are thankful to fire and Police Authorities for their prompt action. And we are glad that, hopefully, it is not a dangerous substance that was sent to us in an envelope that contained a hate message. Amy funerals have begun for the 14 People Killed in last weeks shooting massacre in San Bernardino. On thursday, family members and friends gathered to remember yvette velasco, a 27year old woman who had been due to begin working as a county Health Inspector after recently passing a state exam. Really, really hope that her family gets comforted by knowing how many people cared, how many how shee touched, and will be remembered. Otheruched to many peoples lives to ever be gone. Amy as the San Bernardino funerals begin, gun control advocates are making a renewed push for meaningful gun control legislation on capitol hill. Flanked by other members of the Newtown Action alliance, the group formed following the 2012 massacre at sandy hook elementary, cofounder po murray said lawmakers have failed to keep americans safe. Gun violence is a Public Health crisis that must be. Ddressed immediately americans are getting shot and killed everywhere and anywhere in our streets, and her, schools, colleges, mosque, movie theaters, workplaces, and places of worship. Too many of us are affected by gun violence and more of us feel less safe. You have failed to keep a safe. We are sick and tired of your inaction. Amy the white house, meanwhile, says it is reviewing the nations fiancee visa program in the aftermath of the San Bernardino killings. Shooter Tashfeen Malik entered the u. S. From pakistan last year under a visa that allowed her to marry her husband and alleged fellow shooter, syed farook. On thursday, White House Press secretary josh earnest told reporters that while president obama wont halt the program, it is now under review. The fact this person entered the United States and carried out an act of terrorism on american soil is reason enough to take a look at a program, and that is what the president has ordered. Amy and protests continue in chicago over the more than yearold Police Killing of 17yearold Laquan Mcdonald and potential police coverup. Near daily actions have been held to denounce the killing and call for chicago mayor rahm emanuel to resign. In one of several demonstrations on thursday, about 100 medical students wearing white coats staged a diein outside city hall in chicago. Hundreds also marched in the streets and blocked traffic. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Were broadcasting live from the cop21 in paris, france, where representatives from nearly 200 nations are working to finalize a global accord to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of Climate Change. The negotiations have been extended into the weekend. Officials released a 27page draft text late thursday. It still includes nearly 50 points of disagreement. The nonbinding text includes the target of limiting Global Warming to 1. 5 degrees celsius, or 2. 7 degrees fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels. That is a key demand of lowlying and vulnerable nations. But environmentalists and Civil Society have expressed concern that the target is voluntary and also about many other points in the text including the weakening , of access to financial assistant for vulnerable nations, the omission of pacific dates for carbon cuts, and the failure to address carbon emissions. Well, to talk more about whats in the latest draft and whats been left out, were joined by three guests. Chee yoke ling is a Legal Adviser to the Third World Network. She is based in beijing. Kandi mossett with the indigenous environmental network. And Ruth Nyambura is with the African Biodiversity Network based in kenya. Lets begin with chee yoke ling. Tell us about the latest draft that is working for the final document. Justice the Climate Movement are extremely disappointed with the latest draft because we are actually here to have a Paris Agreement to step up the implementation of our climate actions. What actually governs our theate actions for countries of the world and the United Nations is already a treaty that exists, so the United NationClimate Change convention is a treaty that has been around for more than 20 years. We are here in paris trying to reach an agreement to actually step up implementation. When we look at what countries have agreed to do more than 20 years ago, that for what were calling today, they scale up actions, this actually is an important principle to further responsibility. Because Global Warming today is the result of acute related Greenhouse Gases. And scientists this is a scientific point. We need to stress that. That is why the convention, the u. N. Treaty, says we must have have to do more of the share of cutting emissions and the developing countries, you know, thatis and is a big deal one point five degrees or 2. 7 degrees fahrenheit, as we say in the United States, has been agreed upon . There is no agreement. We say we want to cut that, the question is, how do we share the responsibility of doing the actions that will bring us to 1. 5 yet though there is been a lot of reporting about sure, many Vulnerable Countries and island states and even developing countries, they want but it has toplan be in actions that are fair so the rich and those who can do more should do their share and the poor should be helped to actually do their share. When we see here, to get to the 1. 5 or everybody is treated the same, where we see the rich countries like the u. S. And the European Countries or japan saying, we will try to do the best on a voluntary basis and they are backing off from what they agree to do 20 years ago. They are not cutting emissions at home. Were not going to give money to other countries. Number, bute how to get there . Amy Ruth Nyambura, youre from east africa, where president obamas family is from. Can you talk about your reaction to this, well, the prefinal accord that we are just seeing now . Well, i mean, the sentiment on the ground is basically we seem to be the titanic and all of us are sinking. Especially those of us from the global south. We want to get out of this sinking ship, but cant because the developed countries led by the u. S. Are holding the lifeboats. So we are in this thing that is going down. It is really i mean, we have to call it disgusting. Theres no other way to call it. We have floods in india, drought the last five years with drought every two or three years in the eastern horn of africa. We are seeing the effects of the Climate Crisis and not just with the dramatic, the floods, the hurricanes in the tos. What is happening is happening to farmers on the ground, less dramatic impact, but it is really a shame that on a day that should be the last date the negotiations, we are not there. We dont even seem like were ever going to be there to get a commitment that actually reflects the real realities of the people most impacted by the Climate Crisis and the consensus in the scientific committee. Amy women in particular, how are they affected . Why are they affected any differently than any other person . Gendero back to the roles women have in society. Globally, 70 of Food Production is by women. In some parts, 80 . Women are the majority of the food producers. Across the whole agricultural sector, they basically hold it down. We have the cost of extractive industries. When you have pollution, when water is taken away from communities, it goes to Mining Companies and corporations, women have to spend even more time looking for water. First because of the way the system has been organized. To have a text, one, that is basically says nothing with nothing around gender equality, thats to proposes market solutions, that brought about the Climate Crisis again, knowing how the function of the market and the capitalist system we are in, women benefit the least, if at all. Amy what needs to be done . What are you calling for . One, we need binding commitments. When you talk about 1. 5, again, 1. 5 for many of us is still death. When youre talking about 1. 5, we must have not just dating 1. 5, we must have mechanisms that work. Mechanisms that talk about food boostsy, funding that agriculture. Funding for adaptation, transportation, issues about water, issues about access to land and resources. That must be taken into account in the document. Without that, it is an empty document for women all over the world, especially women from the global south. Amy Kandi Mossett, tell us where youre from in north dakota. And how Indigenous People are addressed, the concerns of Indigenous People in the text. I grew up on a reservation in north dakota, newtown. This whole entire past week has been very heartbreaking and hard to take for us. It has been a step backwards in the wrong direction. We actually have text now where we are just referenced in the preamble, so it is not legally binding. Amy what you mean . The preamble is not legally binding . When there is language in the article that is legally binding language. What they have done is taken a reference to Indigenous Peoples rights from the article and put it only into the preamble, which is not legally binding. The same for human rights, the same for food sovereignty. Theyre just Different Things that have happened in the text that intergenerational equity is also in the preamble. A lot of the youth are very upset as to what is happening. I think it is kind of a shame that we actually of the 21st cop , more than a shame, it is a crime that we have taken a step backwards by taking up the rights of Indigenous People. Amy what you face particularly in north dakota . Can you talk about, for example, fracking . Carter fracking, we had seven coalfired power plants in their dealing with cancer and mercury poisoning from that. Into fracking in 2007, were dealing with a death by a thousand cuts. We are people that are literally on the front lines being held by traffic,e semi increase in violence against women. Ever since we have the oil industry into, weve had jobs created but 11,000 jobs were created in over 10,000 people that came into our state. We have had violence against women increased by 168 , particularly in the area of rape. 14, 15, 16yearold girls willingly going into man camps and selling themselves. We call them that because there are literally thousands of men trailers orese fema rv parks or wherever they confined space that used to