Key dumped from BBC climate change debate
BY DAVID WILLIAMS IN COPENHAGEN
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New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has been embarrassingly dumped from a climate change debate by the BBC.
In a move that may stoke trans-Tasman rivalries, Key has been elbowed out of the BBC World "Greatest Debate on Earth" on Thursday by his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd.
The debate in Copenhagen's New Concert Hall will include Mexican President Felipe Calderon and South Africa's Jacob Zuma, before an audience of 1000 people.
The BBC World News service, the British state broadcaster's 24-hour international TV news channel, attracts 74 million viewers a week and is broadcast in more than 200 countries.
A spokesman for Key said the Prime Minister's office was told on Wednesday on arriving in London.
"The decision's disappointing - the BBC had confirmed the Prime Minister would be taking part. Today they decided to change that."
It was the BBC that initially offered the spot to New Zealand.
The spokesman said Key's office was told why the BBC made the decision but preferred it came from the British state broadcaster.
Trade Minister Tim Groser said it was an unfortunate development, but little could be done about it.
"It's a bit disappointing, but that's the way the world works," he told Radio New Zealand this morning.
The dumping will be an embarrassment for Key, after Climate Change Minister Nick Smith, earlier this week, said the Prime Minister's inclusion was a "huge honour".
"Basically, what you're looking for is a non-European developed country that's seen to be constructive," Smith said.
Greenpeace political advisor Geoff Keey said the dumping was a "bit of a knock back".
He thought Rudd's role as a special negotiator in Copenhagen may have led to the Australian leader being preferred for the debate.
"Maybe we're (New Zealand) simply not seen as a player."
Key arrives in Denmark on Thursday and will attend a royal banquet later that night.
The debate will be aired at 2010 GMT on Thursday (9.10am Friday New Zealand time).
- © Fairfax NZ News
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TO THE PEOPLE OF NZ
The people of Australia Apologies. We have had enough of the Fascist Tyrant that is Kevin Rude. He is a Socialist Dictator that has sold out Australia committing Treason to earn his points to get a job on the UN Security Council. There is big changes happening in Australia, the people are fed up.
Did you know that An Australian Farmer named PETER SPENCER is on his 35th Day of his HUNGER STRIKE in Protest against Kevin Rudd's Fabian Socialist AGENDA 21, LULU_CF Land Locking Farmers Land without compensation! If this Bloke Dies RUDD with have BLOOD on his hands.
Please google Peter Spencer, who has not eaten for 35 days, is on a platform 18 metres above the ground attached to a wind mast on his Shannons Flat property, near Cooma in south-east New South Wales.
Wow, dodged the bullet indeed. Glad this idiot Key doesn't appear on the BBC programme as I doubt that he would denounce GW as the scam that it is.
First Key says he won't go to Copenhagen, Then he manages to push the ETS scam through and suddenly he will go to Copenhagen to play the big man on a BBC debate. What a media slut.
Fantastic that he got bumped. Get real Key, you idiot.
What a bunch of emotional brainless no hopers there are out there. Can you read, don't you think or reason? Global warming alarmism is dead, read the emails from Uni of East Anglia. There are even people bemoaning the lack of Helen Clark. Well the Wicked Witch of the South is there prowling the corridors of Copenhagen, sucking the blood of unwatchful neo-cons and slicing the throats of rebellious socialists.
Is it to late for Keisha to go. Who should stick to acting NOW Mr key
I would like to agree with winemaker#142. Mr Key's is seen by the world to represents the views of the New Zealand population. While small, New Zealand has a lot to be proud off. This would have given you another platform to influence world decision making on a much greater scale.
One day we all look back on this sorry little episode and realise how silly we were. Instead we will thankful for the optimal growing conditions generated by higher co2 and temperature levels.
My guess is that Two-Term John is relaxed about it. There'll be another photo-op along in a while. I'm surprised at the BBC passing up the opportunity to ridicule a lightweight though.
in fact .. all you lot slagging off John Key should get your heads out of your bottoms and get real .. he/we ARE small players in a country when lefties and greens want to stuff our country in an effort to be world leaders ala Helen freaking Clark
steven .. we have increased our greenhouse gases over the last 9 very long years and John Key has been given a hospital pass to fix it. Labour and it's supporter (yep singular) should be ashamed.
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What? Key is now a spokesman for climate change? A few days ago he didn't even want to go. He only changed his mind when he found out Obama was going. The only thing embarrassing is NZ's climate policy and the only thing more embarrassing is Key's ego.