Menuhaeo, McIntosh In Copenhagen For Climate Talks While Protests Arise At Home

President and Environmental Affairs secretary say environment is a key issue

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK--President Menuhaeo and Environmental Affairs Secretary Steven McIntosh are leading a large delegation of Grassadellan politicians at the international climate summit in Copenhagen this week.

The president and his environmental chief are joined by Senator Niles Gilcrest (C-Veroche), who is chair of the Senate Environment Committee, and the committee's ranking member, Senator Eli Dundree (N-Kalnier). Also apart of the delegation are fifteen of the nation's governors. Only three governors--Jenny Duschowitz of Biereland, Sharon Kelley of Deschire, and Jen Stevens-Taylor of Remmington--are not attending the conference. All three are Conservatives.

After landing in Copenhagen Sunday, President Menuhaeo told reporters Grassadella has an opportunity to show the international community it cares about the environment.

"Grassadellans want to show the world we are serious about climate change, and we are committed to helping save this planet," Menuhaeo said.

Secretary McIntosh reitereated the president's position, saying Grassadellans have a "unique opportunity" to move forward on fighting climate change.

"Copenhagen is the beginning. This is the part where we make a commitment to the world. But there's more to be done back home, where we have to make a commitment to each other that we are going to do everything in our power to change our country for the betterment of the earth," McIntosh said.

Menuhaeo did not give any specific details about possible concessions made by the Grassadellan government, or any agreements the government will join. He did say, however, that Grassadella will adopt a much more "rigorous" climate change policy than that which was in place under his predecessor, Dan Byelle.

"There's no doubt we will be much more proactive than the previous administration and we will embrace the climate change movement, not oppose it," Menuhaeo said.

Meanwhile, as the president and the Grassadellan delegation are attending the Copenhagen meetings, protestors back home in Grassadella are mobilizing. Anti-climate change rallies have sprung up in several cities, the largest of which took place in Mavocke on Capitol Row Wednesday afternoon. More than 85,000 people crowded onto the streets of the capitol campus, blocking traffic on the east side of the capitol.

While most protestors were peaceful, Mavocke Police Chief Wayne Wrevins told the NPF more than 820 were arrested for clashing with police. Wrevins also said an additional 300 officers were brought in to handle the crowds.

Similar rallies were held in Grassadella City, Christon, Lillac City, Treeton, Lake City, Monvaille, and Brookings. Protest organizers say protests will be held throughout the week.

"The people of this country are angry that our politicians are collaborating with other nations to ruin our economy to save the earth, when, in fact, we don't even know what's causing global warming," Jeff Syers, president of "Save The Economy, Not The Ozone," a grass-roots group that helped organize the rallies, told GNN News.

Politicians are taking note of the public's frustrations as well.

"People are angry, and they have every right to be," Remmington Governor Jen Stevens-Taylor, who did not attend the Copenhagen conference out of protest against climate change policy, told the GBC. "There's nothing wrong with helping our earth, but not when it's at the expense of our jobs and our economy."

Stevens-Taylor, who governs one of the dryest states in the country, told the GBC he boycotted the conference because it's "all a bunch of nonsense."

"I didn't go because I believe the goal of the radical environmentalists in Copenhagen and beyond is to take away our money and our freedoms and our way of life all in the name of saving the planet, and that's not right and that's why I didn't go," he said.

Stevens-Taylor also told the GBC he had not attended one of the anti-Copenhagen rallies, but is planning on attending a local rally in Remmington City on Friday.

President Menuhaeo will return from Copenhagen Thursday, while the rest of the delegation will return on Saturday.