Wednesday, December 2

Climate Talks

I am in Paris this week and the security visible : Gendarmes on every corner with automatic machine guns, batons and body armour - and not only in the 8th, the wealthiest of arrondisments and where the Élysée Palace is located along with the French the government. The rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, le plus à la mode, has barely any pedestrians when I arrive in the morning time, though things more alive in the evening. The mood however is overall glum.

Yet cheered up by Barack Obama who is in Paris for the kick-off of the climate talks and the last chance to save the planet. We are off to an auspicious start as Obama's motorcade of 20 town-cars and SUVs rumble along the street outside Astorg's offices.

Me: "What do you think of global warming?"
Eitan: "Pretty terrible."
Me: "Do you know about the Paris climate conference?"
Eitan: "Uh, no. Why?"
Me: "Because it effects you. Do you think about it?"
Eitan: "Not really."
Me: "Fair enough. But it's coming."

"Don't sit back and wait for them to attack us."
--David Cameron presents his reason to bomb ISIS