News Flash

Advert points finger of blame

By Bao Daozu (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-11 09:49

CANCUN, Mexico - An advertisement criticizing Japan as the main stumbling block to theongoing United Nations climate talks in Cancun appeared in Friday's edition of the Financial Times, a result of the country's decision to walk away from the Kyoto Protocol.

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The ad borrows art from a popular poster for Spirited Away, Japan's all-time highest-grossing film, replacing the male protagonist's head with that of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, and with the words:

"Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is living in a fantasy - imagining he can refuse a new Kyoto Protocol commitment period without wrecking hopes for a global climate treaty.

"As UN talks in Mexico bog down, the world needs Kan to wake up; if he abandons Kyoto, the climate treaty will be washed away."

The ad is being published in international editions of the Financial Times, reaching a large readership around the world, including in Japan.

One thousand copies of the newspaper were distributed at conference venues in Cancun.

"Time is running out for negotiators in Cancun to agree on a package of decisions that would give us a basis for a strong climate treaty next year in Durban, and Japan's hard-line position is putting the entire conference at risk," said Paul Horsman, director of TckTckTck Campaign, an alliance of 250 non-government organizations calling for action on climate change.

"Millions of people around the world are getting on with taking action on climate change. Japan needs to become part of this and help ensure the survival of people and ecosystems, while realizing that a strong climate deal also benefits their own economic development," added Horsman.

"The country that gave birth to the Kyoto Protocol should not become the one that killed it," he added.