Fury erupted among delegates at the Copenhagen climate talks Saturday over a draft accord agreed by a select group of leaders, with several poor nations saying it amounted to a coup against the United Nations.
"You are going to endorse this coup d'etat against the United Nations," Venezuela's representative Claudia Salerno Caldera told Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, the conference's chairman, in a speech from the floor.
"Those of us who wish to speak have to make a point of order by cutting our hands and drawing blood," she added, before opening a red-stained palm.
Tuvalu's Ian Fry, whose country is one of the most at risk from global warming, said the agreement amounted to Biblical betrayal.
"It looks like we are being offered 30 pieces of silver to betray our people and our future," he said to applause in the chamber.
"Our future is not for sale. I regret to inform you that Tuvalu cannot accept this document."
"You are going to endorse this coup d'etat against the United Nations," Venezuela's representative Claudia Salerno Caldera told Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, the conference's chairman, in a speech from the floor.
"Those of us who wish to speak have to make a point of order by cutting our hands and drawing blood," she added, before opening a red-stained palm.
Tuvalu's Ian Fry, whose country is one of the most at risk from global warming, said the agreement amounted to Biblical betrayal.
"It looks like we are being offered 30 pieces of silver to betray our people and our future," he said to applause in the chamber.
"Our future is not for sale. I regret to inform you that Tuvalu cannot accept this document."
